SPIKETV ANNOUNCES NEXT UFC FIGHT NIGHT EVENT

By Spike TV

“THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER” ALUMS JOE “DADDY” STEVENSON AND MELVIN “THE YOUNG ASSASSIN” GUILLARD DO BATTLE IN KEY LIGHTWEIGHT MATCH ON SPIKE TV APRIL 5

Boston Bruiser and TUF 1 Finalist Kenny Florian vs. Dokonjonosuke Mishima in Co-Feature First Ever UFC® Fight Night™ From The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas.

New York, NY – March 5, 2007 – Joe “Daddy” Stevenson and Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard step into the Octagon® in a match-up of top UFC lightweight contenders on Spike TV’s UFC® Fight Night™ live from The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort on Thursday, April 5 at 8:00pm ET. Stevenson (31-7) was The Ultimate Fighter 2 champ in the welterweight division and will drop down in weight to fight at 155 lbs. against fellow The Ultimate Fighter 2 alum, Guillard (39-6-3).

In the co-features, The Ultimate Fighter 1 finalist and Boston native Kenny “Ken-Flo” Florian (7-2) takes on Japan’s Dokonjonosuke Mishima (17-4-2). Florian recently lost a 5-round grueling battle to Sean Sherk for the vacant UFC lightweight crown. Veteran UFC heavyweight Frank Mir (9-2), whose impressive UFC resume includes victories over Tim Sylvia and Tank Abbott, takes on Antoni Hardonk (4-2).

Fighting out of Las Vegas, “Daddy” Stevenson is known for his overwhelming wrestling and ground and pound. Like Guillard, Stevenson fought his way through The Ultimate Fighter 2 competition to the finals where he defeated Luke Cummo by unanimous decision in a classic fight to earn his claim as the welterweight winner. Since then, Stevenson scored a second round TKO over Yves Edwards at UFC 61, and recently won a first round submission over Mishima at UFC 65. At the upcoming UFC Fight Night™, Stevenson is planning a convincing victory over Guillard to show he will be the new favorite in the UFC lightweight division.

Fighting out of Baton Rouge, LA, Guillard is an explosive fighter with good wrestling and striking skills. His brash personality made him stand out immediately on The Ultimate Fighter 2, but with a decisive win over Marcus Davis in the finale, Guillard proved he has more than just attitude. After a setback against Josh Neer at welterweight, Melvin dropped down to the lightweight division at UFC 60 and destroyed Rick Davis quickly in the first round. Continuing as a lightweight, he followed that win with a second round TKO over Gabe Ruediger at UFC 63. Now Guillard is ready to take on Stevenson and prove his new-found dominance in the UFC’s 155-pound division.

The complete card of UFC Fight Night will be announced shortly.