The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 lightweight winner Efrain Escudero (11-0) announced yesterday during a live Q&A session via his official website that he's in talks to face American Top Team lightweight Cole Miller (15-3) at UFC 103, though a date and venue have yet to be determined for this event.
Escudero bested season favorite, Phillipe Nover, via unanimous decision at TUF 8 Finale to capture the 155-pound crown at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 13. He was supposed to lose, but he didn’t, relying on his strong wrestling background to frustrate the Filipino for three rounds.
Prior to the win, the collegiate wrestling standout choked out Ido Pariente, Shane Nelson and Junie Browning to punch his ticket to the finals. Browning called for a rematch after he stopped Dave Kaplan, but came up short against Cole Miller at UFC Fight Night 18 on April 1.
Like Browning, submission defense will be a priority when Escudero faces "Magrino." Miller was a talented up-and-comer who fell just short of the TUF finals, eventually succumbing to Joe Lauzon after being rattled with an illegal punch to the back of his head in the TUF 5 semifinals.
Since his UFC debut in June of 2007, Miller has gone 4-1, including an impressive submission victory over exiled lightweight Jorge Gurgel at UFC 86 and then the quick work of "The Lunatic" earlier this month.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more details on UFC 103 as they become available.
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