James McSweeney returns to 205 pounds, meets Tom Blackledge at UFC 120
British fighter and "The Ultimate Fighter 10" cast member James McSweeney (4-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) returns to his homeland (and the light-heavyweight division) and fights a fellow Englishman when he meets UFC newcomer Tom Blackledge (10-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC 120.
McSweeney today announced the fight via Twitter.
UFC 120 takes place Oct. 16 at The O2 in London. The night's main card airs via same-day delay on Spike TV.
The McSweeney vs. Blackledge bout is likely to be part of the event's un-aired preliminary card.
McSweeney was one of 16 heavyweight cast members on "TUF 10," where he advanced to the reality-show tournament's semifinal round before a loss to eventual show champ Roy Nelson. However, the former kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter earned a UFC contract after scoring a third-round TKO of castmate Darrill Schoonover (10-0 at the time) at the show's live finale.
McSweeney, though, then suffered a TKO loss to UFC newcomer Travis Browne at the TUF 11 Finale in June, and he's now lost three of his past four MMA fights. He could be fighting for his UFC future at UFC 120.
Blackledge, meanwhile, is one of a handful of Wolfslair MMA Academy fighters who recently signed with the UFC. In fact, he was an assistant coach for Wolfslair teammate and former UFC champ Quinton Jackson on "TUF 10." (McSweeney was the first-round pick on the rival team coached by Rashad Evans.)
The Cage Rage vet enters the UFC with recent back-to-back M-1 Challenge victories over Enoc Solves Torres and Tatsuya Mizuno. Like the eight victories before it, both the wins came via stoppage.
Source: http://mmajunkie.com/news/19899/james-m ... fc-120.mma