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[pa99fighter]

Rich Clementi returns at UFC 90, Gray Maynard likely opponent
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Aug 20, 2008 at 9:10 pm ET
Veteran fighter and resurgent lightweight Rich Clementi (32-12-1 MMA, 5-3 UFC) will go for his seventh consecutive victory when he returns Oct. 25 at UFC 90.

Sources close to the fighters have told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) that Clementi is expected to fight Xtreme Couture's Gray Maynard (5-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) at the Chicago-area event.

Although bout agreements have not been signed, an official announcement could come soon.

UFC 90, which features a main event of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva vs. Patrick Cote, takes place at Allstate Arena near Chicago.

Clementi, who confirmed his UFC 90 participation today during a radio interview in Louisiana, has been on a tear since appearing on a special comeback fourth season of "The Ultimate Fighter." After suffering a submission loss to Din Thomas at the show's live finale, Clementi has gone 7-1; his only loss came via decision to Roan Carneiro. In his most recent fight, he earned a unanimous-decision win over British fighter Terry Etim at UFC 84. The victory came just 35 days after a split-decision win over Sam Stout at UFC 83.

Maynard, meanwhile, has also excelled since appearing on "The Ultimate Fighter." Since a bizarre no-contest with Rob Emerson at the show's live finale, the season-five stand-out has rattled off three consecutive UFC victories. He most recently handed Frankie Edgar his first career loss at April's UFC Fight Night 13.

Rich Clementi returns at UFC 90, Gray Maynard likely opponent | MMAjunkie.com
Maynard will win this via UD

[leedogg900]

This would be a great test for both guys. UFC 90 is looking really stacked.

Maynard by UD. He's kind of a big LW and with that good wrestling I'd say he pulls off a UD. Clementi could pull off a sub, but I'm still picking Maynard by UD.

[Quintessential Studmuffin]

Pulling for Clementi,but I think Gray wins a close decision.

[Bubbles]

Rich is gonna take it

[Gurry]

I honestly doubt Rich will take this i might be wrong, Gray's striking is improving and his pace is great, he just runs thru guys sometimes.

Wasnt Gray supposed to be fighting Wiman?

[pa99fighter]

Originally Posted by Gurry

I honestly doubt Rich will take this i might be wrong, Gray's striking is improving and his pace is great, he just runs thru guys sometimes.

Wasnt Gray supposed to be fighting Wiman?

It was rumored but I'm glad he's not.

[ArMnHC]

Originally Posted by pa99fighter

It was rumored but I'm glad he's not.

why not? thatd be an awesome fight!

anyways, WOW Maynard/Clementi is a fight id never expect to be made. but hell, i'll bet its FOTN! im think Maynard by decision as well, but ill be pulling for Clementi. i wouldnt be surprised if he was able to pull off a sub.

UFC 90 is shaping up to be a great card

[scottsec]

No Love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[smoogy]

Its a good fight on paper I suppose, though one clearly suited to Maynard's strengths. But sometimes it just feels like all these lightweights are treading water, with no clear hierarchy. Tyson Griffin, Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard, Kenny Florian and even Clementi I suppose could all make the claim that they are the #1 contender, and the only fights between any of them so far is Edgar vs. Griffin and Edgar vs. Maynard. Then you've got Sherk and Joe Daddy, who will be re-established in the minds of the UFC faithful as top dogs if they can come back with wins. I guess it is coming along slowly, but the way they've put the focus on guys like Florian and Huerta when they've existed in a bubble outside of all the guys I just mentioned trivializes things. An organized ladder or tournament that took place in the division across several PPVs would really help things at this point