Two of the top — and most exciting — 170-pound fighters in the world will likely collide at UFC 90 at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Ill., on October 25.
MMAWeekly.com is once again reporting that Thiago Alves (15-3) and Diego Sanchez (19-2) will throw leather, setting the stage for a blockbuster welterweight showdown that will more than likely determine the next number one title contender in the stacked division.
The talented pair were first rumored to go toe-to-toe at UFC 89: "Leben vs. Bisping" one week earlier; however, the bout was reportedly bumped once the light heavyweight showdown between Lyoto Machida and Thiago Silva was added to the European card.
Alves is fresh of ridiculous performance against Matt Hughes, taking out the former champion in the second round of their main event tilt at UFC 85: "Bedlam" just last month. Prior to that, "The Pitbull" wiped out another perennial powerhouse, Karo Parisyan, at UFC Fight Night 13.
The 24-year-old Brazilian was already on the fast track to an eventual title shot. And a win over Sanchez would certainly put him over the top.
"The Nightmare" has rebounded from back-to-back losses in 2007 to stop Luigi Fioravanti and David Bielkheden, respectively, in equally impressive fights. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season one winner seems to have recaptured his form that had most pundits expecting that he would one day soon challenge for a belt.
Again, a win over a very explosive fighter such as Alves will put him right there.
Talk about a great fight.
UFC 90 was recently made official; therefore, rumored bouts and possible match ups are scarce right now. Expect that to change real soon, however.
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