UFC Veteran Sam Hoger Returns to the Cage

Sam Hoger, a cast member from the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" who later fought in the UFC, will return from a 16-month layoff and move up a weight class to fight heavyweight Braden Bice at a Sept. 19 World Championship Fighting 4 event.

The Northeast-based WCF organization today announced the bout.

The event takes place at the Aleppo Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, Mass.

Hoger, who entered "TUF" with a 4-0 mark, was knocked out of reality show competition by eventual show winner Forrest Griffin in the semifinals.

Hoger, an outcast among his fellow competitors after he was accused of stealing clothing and training gear from them, defeated Bobby Southworth at the show's live finale in what was considered a pretty significant upset.

However, over his next four fights in the UFC, he faced many tough match-ups and lost to Stephan Bonnar, Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida, though none of the fighters was able to finish him. At UFC 56: Full Force, Hoger picked up a submission win over Jeff Newton.

Hoger then left the UFC and fought once in the IFL, where he suffered a submission loss to veteran fighter Vernon White. That fight was in April 2007, and he hasn't fough since. Instead, Hoger has stayed busy opening his own MMA academy, Miletich Fighting Systems Houston.

He'll now meet Brice, a 21-year-old Pennyslvania-based fighter who's won four of his past six fights. The stand-out wrestler earned two top-five places in state tournaments.

"I can't wait to get back in the ring," Hoger stated in today's press release. "It's been a long time so I just want to get back out there and show everyone what I can do. ... I'm not looking past my opponent, but I plan on making big waves in the MMA world again and this will be my first step."

Tickets for World Championship Fighting 4 are now on sale and range from $40 to $250. Special guests booked for the show include Marcus Davis, Kenny Florian, Sean Gannon, Jorge Rivera and "TUF" coaches Mark DellaGrotte and Peter Welsh.

Source: mmajunkie.com