UFC Fight Night: Thomas vs. Florian
| Industry | Mixed martial arts event |
|---|---|
| Founded | September 19, 2007 |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada |
| Parent | Ultimate Fighting Championship |
UFC Fight Night: Thomas vs. Florian, also identified as UFC Fight Night 11, was a mixed martial arts competition organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on September 19, 2007. The event took place at the Palms Casino Resort located in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was broadcast live across the United States and Canada on Spike TV, serving as a lead-in to The Ultimate Fighter 6.
Background
Originally, the headline bout was planned as a rematch between The Ultimate Fighter 1 alumni Chris Leben and Mike Swick. However, Leben declined to participate, later revealing that his management made the decision without his consent. Following this, Swick was booked to face Canadian fighter Jonathan Goulet, with confirmation announced on July 18. Veteran competitor Chris Lytle was also under consideration for the matchup. On September 2, Swick withdrew due to a rib injury, resulting in Goulet competing against Dustin Hazelett instead.
The main event shifted focus to a lightweight clash between Din Thomas and Spencer Fisher, but Fisher pulled out on August 7 because of a staph infection in his knee. He was subsequently replaced by former title contender Kenny Florian.
Despite these changes, Chris Leben remained on the fight card, scheduled for a middleweight contest against Terry Martin. Furthermore, Nate Quarry, notable as the first The Ultimate Fighter participant to vie for a UFC championship, made his return after nearly two years since his appearance at UFC 56.
Bonus awards
Monetary bonuses of $40,000 were awarded to fighters for exceptional performances:
- Fight of the Night: Cole Miller vs. Leonard Garcia
- Knockout of the Night: Chris Leben
- Submission of the Night: Dustin Hazelett