FWP: Neer vs. Pellegrino

Yawn ...

Not to take anything away from either fighter, but are you kidding me?

How is this fight taking place on the main card of a UFC Pay-Per-View event? Thales Leites goes from "fighting" Anderson Silva for the Middleweight title to non-televised preliminary card and we get this battle between two middle of the pack lightweights?

Though it could be billed as one of the weirdest children's book titles of all-time (Batman Meets The Dentist), this fight has Ultimate Fight Night written all over it.

"The Dentist" Josh Neer (25-7-1) vs. "Batman" Kurt Pellegrino (13-4)

So Nate Diaz loses two in a row and headlines September's UFN, the last two guys he's beaten get the opening spot on UFC 101's broadcast and Gray Maynard and Roger Huerta get second or third billing on that same September card?

Sounds about right ...

Since it's already been mentioned, these two share defeats at the hands of Nathan Diaz; Pellegrino famously via the "Dual Middle Finger Triangle Choke of Death," while Neer lost a Split Decision that many, myself included, think should have gone the other way.

Make no mistake about it, Josh Neer is a talented kid who could be a contender in the lightweight division. He's earned wins over tough veteran Din Thomas and former TUF winner Mac Danzig to go along with his loss to Diaz and used to train with Miletich Fighting Systems.

Pellegrino is as tenacious as they come and doesn't get beaten easily. He went the distance with Joe Stevenson two years ago and earned a very hard fought decision over Thiago Tavares at UFC 88 that became an instant classic.

Both fighters are coming in off wins at UFN 17 back in February; Neer over Danzig and Pellegrino over Rob Emerson.

One of these guys will earn a victory and take another step up the ladder into the deeper-than-you-think lightweight talent pool, while the other will be left treading water.