Clay Guida made Diego Sanchez earn his lightweight stripes.

Clay Guida made Diego Sanchez earn his lightweight stripes.

In what was easily one of the year's most competitive fights, Sanchez notched a split decision against the shaggy Chicagoan in the featured bout at "The Ultimate Fighter 9" finale on Saturday at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Two of the three judges sided with Sanchez by 29-27 and 29-28 scores; a third scored it 29-28 for Guida.

Believed to be on a short list of potential contenders for the UFC lightweight crown, Sanchez (21-2) roared out of the gates. He wobbled Guida with wicked, compact uppercuts against the cage and quickly established a foothold in the bout. Later, Sanchez dropped Guida with a head kick that would have left lesser men unconscious. Guida, however, refused to go away.

"You can't hurt this guy," Guida said. "I come for days."

Guida bounced off the stool for Round 2 and employed a strategy that was far more effective. He took down Sanchez early and worked ground-and-pound from the top. Guida ate some elbows to the top of his head for his troubles, but he kept Sanchez pinned to the mat for much of the round.

Round 3 was almost too close to call. They traded briefly before Guida ended up in top position after a scramble. Sanchez worked for a kimura and an armbar from the bottom, but the blood flowing from Guida's nose, mouth and head made it virtually impossible to secure anything of consequence against the former Strikeforce lightweight champion. They finished in a stalemate.

"The weight cut was a little tough on me," Sanchez said following his second UFC appearance at 155 pounds. "The guy has a tremendous chin. There's a reason he's never been knocked out. He's an animal. That's what the UFC is all about, bringing battles like this to the Octagon."

Sanchez has put together an impressive string of four consecutive wins since his split decision loss to welterweight stalwart Jon Fitch at UFC 76. Guida (25-10), meanwhile, saw his three-fight winning streak come to an end.

"He's a stud," said Guida, his trademark locks drenched in blood. "I took him down. He cut me up. I think it was a really close fight."