After landing himself in the UFC through The Ultimate Fighter 10's heavyweight challenge, James McSweeney will next move down in weight for a 205-pound scrap at UFC 120.
Sweeney will take on Tom Blackledge in a battle of Brits at the Oct. 16 card at the O2 Arena in London.
Sweeney (4-5) won his UFC debut last December against cast member Darrill Schoonover but last month suffered a TKO loss to UFC newcomer Travis Browne. After the fight, McSweeney claimed that illegal elbows played a part in his loss and planned to appeal the loss with the commission.
McSweeney's camp told MMAFighting.com Monday that there has been no updates with the appeal and that McSweeney will instead focus all his efforts on his upcoming fight. McSweeney is well aware that he needs to "make a statement" after his loss to Browne, his camp says.
For his cut, Sweeney will work with nutritionist PR Cole of Fuel The Fighter as well as his strength and conditioning coach John Chamberg.
Although with nowhere near the amount of spotlight McSweeney received on the show, opponent Blackledge (10-6) was also on TUF 10, not as a competitor, but as a coach. The Cage Rage and M-1 Challenge veteran served under Quinton "Rampage" Jackson through their affiliation with the Wolfslair Academy.
UFC 120 will feature Michael Bisping vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama and Dan Hardy vs. Carlos Condit as co-headlining bouts.
Sweeney will take on Tom Blackledge in a battle of Brits at the Oct. 16 card at the O2 Arena in London.
Sweeney (4-5) won his UFC debut last December against cast member Darrill Schoonover but last month suffered a TKO loss to UFC newcomer Travis Browne. After the fight, McSweeney claimed that illegal elbows played a part in his loss and planned to appeal the loss with the commission.
McSweeney's camp told MMAFighting.com Monday that there has been no updates with the appeal and that McSweeney will instead focus all his efforts on his upcoming fight. McSweeney is well aware that he needs to "make a statement" after his loss to Browne, his camp says.
For his cut, Sweeney will work with nutritionist PR Cole of Fuel The Fighter as well as his strength and conditioning coach John Chamberg.
Although with nowhere near the amount of spotlight McSweeney received on the show, opponent Blackledge (10-6) was also on TUF 10, not as a competitor, but as a coach. The Cage Rage and M-1 Challenge veteran served under Quinton "Rampage" Jackson through their affiliation with the Wolfslair Academy.
UFC 120 will feature Michael Bisping vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama and Dan Hardy vs. Carlos Condit as co-headlining bouts.