Rich Clementi returns at UFC 90, Gray Maynard likely opponent

**Tony** · 21-08-2008, 09:11

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.