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Ultimate Fighter Finale TUF 9: The Ultimate Fighter season 9 will come to a conclusion tonight at The Pearl in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to the lightweight and welterweight Ultimate Fighter finales, the UFC has stacked the card with a number of quality fights, including a headliner between Diego Sanchez and Illinois tough guy Clay Guida. Online bookmaker BetUS.com has Sanchez listed as a -300 moneyline favorite in their Diego Sanchez vs Clay Guida Ultimate Fighter Finale TUF 9 Odds.

It looked as though the Ultimate Fighter season 2 winner, Diego Sanchez, might have been at a career crossroads after losing back-to-back fights against Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch in 2007, but those days — and times — are long gone. The man referred to as "Nightmare" is now within striking distance of a lightweight title shot after three straight wins, the latest being a unanimous decision victory over Joe Stevenson at UFC 95 in February.  

A win over Guida tonight should make Sanchez, who possesses a 22-2 MMA record, the number one contender in the lightweight division and put him in position to take on the winner of the B.J. Penn/Kenny Florian fight at UFC 101 in August. 

Sanchez, who once relied almost exclusively on his mat skills, has displayed some vastly improved striking chops in his most recent fights. Although he submitted David Bielkheden at UFC 82, he dominated both Luigi Fioravanti and Stevenson with his stand-up talents.

The 27 year old's well-rounded fight game has oddsmakers looking for a Sanchez win in Vegas tonight. While the San Diego native knows the dangers of Guida, he is envisioning the same thing.

"I have a lot of respect for Clay, but I am still technically superior [to him] in all aspects" Sanchez said.

Clay Guida, who always fights at a frenetic pace, has also won three fights in row as well and he is quickly moving up the lightweight food chain. The former carpenter last fought in January at UFC 94 and won a split decision victory over the always tough Nate Diaz.

Guida, who owns a 25-6 professional MMA record, has noticed the change in Sanchez' fighting approach, but he feels that he will be able to get the better of him regardless.

"Diego is a talented lightweight whose unorthodox southpaw style is awkward," Guida said. "Diego has changed up his style in the past couple of years from ground and pound wrestler to more of a patient jiu-jitsu style fighter with improved striking. I am confident this feeds better into our game plan of being able to control the pace on the feet, clinch, and on the ground."

BetUS.com Diego Sanchez vs Clay Guida Ultimate Fighter Finale TUF 9 Odds

Diego Sanchez (-300) vs Clay Guida (+200)

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