The title fight will be heading the November PPV instead of the finale of The Ultimate Fighter 6 as originally planned.
In a bulletin posted on Myspace, current UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra says that his scheduled title match against former champion Matt Hughes is more than likely going to take place at UFC 79 in November and not that the finale of season 6 of The Ultimate Fighter which the two are currently taping.
Here’s what the bulletin says:
Serra and Hughes, coaches who are currently taping the welterweights-only sixth season of The Ultimate Fighter, were expected to fight on the show’s live finale in December. The finales usually air for free on Spike TV. Instead, the Serra vs. Hughes fight will likely headline a UFC event that comes with a pay-per-view price tag.
The event — which looks as though it’ll be UFC 79 — is expected to take place in November at the Continental Airlines Arena (aka Meadowlands Arena) in East Rutherford, N.J.
Back in May, UFCjunkie.com posted a story stating that UFC president Dana White expected the UFC to hold an event in New Jersey in October or November of this year.
The UFC hasn’t held an event in New Jersey since Atlantic City’s “UFC 53: Heavy Hitters” in June 2005.
Serra, who won the title by upsetting Georges St. Pierre at UFC 69 in April, currently lives in East Meadow, N.Y. and should be a major draw for the event. Continental Airlines Arena can accommodate more than 20,000 spectators.
The Ultimate Fighter 6 is expected to finish taping next month and will debut in September on Spike TV.
Nothing official has been announced by the UFC, but it does make more sense to have a UFC title fight headline a PPV and not a free televised event.