All-American Wrestler C.B. Dollaway Chosen for “The Ultimate Fighter 7?

Amateur wrestling standout C.B. Dollaway (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will be a cast member on the “The Ultimate Fighter 7,” the latest installment of the UFC and Spike TV’s reality series.

Sources close to the fighter tell MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the former Arizona State Sun Devil learned he had been selected for the show last month.

“The Ultimate Fighter 7,” which debuts April 2 on Spike TV, features UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson and season-one winner Forrest Griffin as coaches. Sixteen middleweight fighters vie for a UFC contract in a tournament-style competition.

Dollaway is a former high school state champion, a junior college national champion, and a 2005 collegiate All-American while at ASU. His transition into MMA has been a smooth one. Despite his wrestling background, he’s posted five stoppages — four by way of knockout.

During a 13-month career, Dollaway, an Arizona Combat Sports team member, has faced some solid competition in some top organizations. Victories over Hans Marrero (11-5), Joe Bunch (7-1) and George Hartman (3-2) have come in fight promotions such as HDNet Fights, the IFO, and Rage in the Cage. He made his MMA debut at a November 2006 Cage Fighing Federation show and earned a 17-second victory with a knockout via slam (watch it on YouTube).

As we previously reported, the 24-year-old middleweight was supposed to face Freddie Espiricueta last month at HDNet Fights II, but it was announced Dollaway had to pull out of the fight with a rib injury.

As with past seasons, MMAjunkie.com will continue to reveal cast members’ names as they’re learned. We’ve previously reported that Luke Zachrich (7-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and former UFC fighter Steve Byrnes (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) will also be cast members on “The Ultimate Fighter 7.”

For the latest news about “The Ultimate Fighter 7,” including the latest list of rumored cast members, check out the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

(Touch of gloves: Maggie, my fellow Mizzou Tiger, at Chicks Heart Fights)