Now that Diego Sanchez has won The Ultimate Fighter Season 9, he's ready to take on the world, or the UFC Lightweight Championship at least. The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 finale last Saturday night, June 20 at the Pearl in the Palms Resort Casino, was a heart-stopper, with a special main event on the card featuring Sanchez, middleweight division winner of The Ultimate Fighter Season 1, and Clay Guida, contender for the lightweight UFC title. Ultimately it came down to a split decision favoring Sanchez. Does that make him the UFC lightweight contender now? He thinks so. Always a ham for the cameras, he hinted to Cagewriter at filling in for B.J. Penn if he drops out of UFC 101 on August 8.

Also in The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 finale:

• Lightweight Joe Stevenson won his bout against Nate Diaz
• In the TUF lightweight finals, Brit Ross Pearson beat Brit Andre Winner
• Welterweight Chris Lytle won his bout against Kevin Burns
• In the TUF welterweight finals, James "Lightning" Wilks beat DaMarques Johnson

Filed under: The Ultimate Fighter