Two bouts for the live finale of this season’s “The Ultimate Fighter” were made official Wednesday. Fast-rising light heavyweight
Jon Jones will take on
Matt Hamill, and lightweights
Frankie Edgar and
Kurt Pellegrino will square off Dec. 5 on Spike TV, according to a news release distributed by the UFC.
Jones (9-0) will put his undefeated record on the line against a formidable foe and his toughest test to date in Hamill. Jones has shown a knack for the unorthodox in his three UFC fights and has developed a wave of momentum in the tough 205-pound division.
Hamill, 33, returns to action after a devastating knockout victory over Mark Munuz at UFC 96 in March of this year. The former wrestling standout sports a 7-2 record with losses to
Rich Franklin and
Michael Bisping.
Edgar (10-1) has returned to his winning ways, taking two straight after suffering the first loss of his career to
Gray Maynard in April 2008. The 28-year-old scored one of the most impressive wins of his career by defeating former UFC lightweight champion
Sean Sherk in May and may put himself into title contention with another victory or two.
Pellegrino, 30, will look to add to his three-fight winning streak against Edgar. He has amassed a 14-4 record as a pro, including a respectable 6-3 inside the Octagon. He will look to add to that resume against his fellow New Jersey native.
The card will also include the final of “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” tournament.