(“Nice hair, douchebag.” — Both of them. / Image via MMAFighting.com)
Is Uriah Hall really the next big thing at middleweight, or will the constantly-overlooked Kelvin Gastelum pull off another upset? Which rock-solid female bantamweight is going to earn a reality-TV coaching gig (and future title shot) against Ronda Rousey? How much tread is left on The California Kid‘s tires? How exactly does one drink a Gatorade from a reclining position, in the traditional Brazilian style? These questions — and many others — will be answered tonight, folks. Prepare yourselves.
Handling play-by-play duties for our TUF 17 Finale liveblog is Alex Giardini, who will stack up results from the FX main card broadcast after the jump beginning at 9 p.m. ET. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest, and please share your own thoughts in the comments section.
Hello there, tasty ones…welcome to The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale. Tonight’s main event features title shot alumni Urijah Faber against Miami Ink’s own, Scott Jorgensen. A win for Faber means “The California Kid” could be next in line for a light heavyweight or middleweight title shot (his choice, really) and a win for Jorgensen means…well, a two-fight win streak.
The Ultimate Fighter middleweight tournament winner will be crown as Uriah Hall takes on Kelvin Gastelum, who at this point probably has three people in this world who thinks he’s going to leave Las Vegas the winner. In all seriousness, this fight should be a lot closer than most people think.
A salivating (creep alert) matchup between Miesha Tate and Cat Zingano will also take place on this card and I’m warning you now, updates may take a little longer during this one. Technically, you are all ‘Taters…but tonight I’m sure there will be some ‘Zingers in the house too. Anyway, the winner of this one gets a title shot and coaches alongside Ronda Rousey in next season’s Big Brother.
A heavyweight scrap between Gabriel Gonzaga and Travis Browne should be thoroughly entertaining and opening the night is a scrap between TUF 17 castoffs Bubba McDaniel and Gilbert Smith. Also on the card tonight are former Strikeforce ring card girls Chrissy Blair and Vanessa Hanson. Good God, those bangs-ba-bangs-bangs-bangs….let’s do the damn thang.
Intro video begins and I must say Tate and Zingano are by far the prettiest fighters ever to take part in this montage. Yeah, you’re going to have to deal with this all night. Gastelum declares himself as the underdog once again – hard not to root for guys like that. Faber says he’s basically getting another title shot with this win. Hmm, would have never thought…
I’m also expecting a .gif of that blonde in the crowd wearing the white tanktop by tomorrow morning, courtesy of the MMA community (a.k.a. sick freaks).
Bubba McDaniel vs. Gilbert Smith
Round 1: They do not touch gloves. Smith with a miss to the body. Bubba with a left that misses but pushes Smith towards the fence. Smith with a good knee, could have been a groin. Bubba with a nice combo, left and rights. Smith gets a takedown by pulling Bubba’s foot from underneath of him and sets up his guard. Bubba reverses and ends up in half-guard. Good elbow from the position by Bubba. Bubba with some jabs and Smith gets up, setting up a double-leg takedown. Smith attempts a triangle but fails. Smith in Bubba’s guard, not staying very busy. Bubba with a few elbows from the bottom. Bubba works his way to the cage and posts his back against the fence. Smith still grinding as Bubba is attempting to standup. Bubba on his knees, firing elbows to the side of Smith’s head. He gets up shortly but Smith takes him back down. Bubba working a guillotine. It looks quite deep but doesn’t commit and switches to a sweep. Bubba now in side control, works and gets Smith’s back. A big knee to the ribs by Bubba at the end of the round. Close, but Bubba did more damage. 10-9 Bubba.
Round 2: Both men clinch at the center. Smith charges Bubba all the way to the fence and is working another takedown. Bubba pressures him and ends up reversing Smith against the fence. Smith attempts a kimura but no success. Smith working a single, Bubba defending with his back against the cage and laying down some hammerfists. Knee to the head by Bubba. Both men now exchanging, Bubba using effective legkicks. Smith misses a wild left. Bubba attempts the takedown and Smith gets him in a guillotine. It looks very tight. Bubba gets out of it and is now in side control. Bubba moves to the back, gets double-underhooks and rains down punches. Bubba in half-guard and clips Smith with a good elbow. Smith gets up and they are both on their feet. Jab misses by Smith. Bubba with a nice right hook. Smith jabs but Bubba shuffles away. 10-9 Bubba.
Round 3: They touch gloves and Bubba knocks him down with a left shortly after. Bubba gets another left hook in but Smith responds with the same. Smith goes for a takedown but Bubba reverses it into a takedown of his own. Bubba in side control, passes guard and mounts. Bubba back in half-guard after Smith postures effectively. Bubba takes the back after a crossface. Bubba looking for underhooks, secures one. Bubba attempting to stretch Smith out for a rear-naked choke. Smith countering very well, and reverses Bubba. However Bubba gets a triangle-armbar in. Smith tries to escape but Bubba locks it in and Smith eventually taps.
Bubba McDaniel def. Gilbert Smith by Submission (Triangle choke), Round 3, 2:49.
Decent fight to start the main card. Nice promo video for next week’s card, featuring Mir, Cormier, Nate, Melendez and etc.
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Travis Browne
Round 1: Browne with a wild overhead kick that misses and Gonzaga nearly turns it into a takedown. Gonzaga has Browne clinched up against the fence. Gonzaga working a single-leg, Browne defending with a left-underhook. Ref warns Browne not to grab fence. Browne hits Gonzaga with four or five elbows and my goodness, Gonzaga falls flat, out cold.
Travis Brown def. Gabriel Gonzaga by KO (Elbows), Round 1, 1:11.
Those elbows were brutal. Some hit the temple, some hit the ear, one definitely hit the back of his head. More or less inevitable when you’re trying to pound someone’s lights out. Anik interviews Browne, who says he’s got to show these young bucks how to get bonuses. Fair enough.
Crowd shots of both CM Punk, promoting straight-edgery with an “X” in the air and IBF Light Middleweight champ Ishe Smith.
Anik joined by Jones and Sonnen. Jones says the final should be a great fight. Sonnen hits a promo on the final, business as usual. Anik asks Jones a question in which Jones shrugs off and says the work is done. Sonnen says if he goes down, he will go down as a gangster. Jones does not even look at Sonnen. Jones said it’s not about hate, it’s about love. Yeah, honestly I’m as confused as you are. Whatever, second-women’s-fight-in-UFC-history time and aww, shot of Rousey in the crowd.
Miesha Tate vs. Cat Zingano
Zingano stares at Tate intensely before “Cupcake” can even get into the cage. Tate dancing in her corner and rapping alongside Nicki Minaj before Buffer spews their names. Cuuuuuute.
Round 1: Lurdge Winslow gets them going. Tate comes out blazing and gets the takedown. Cat escapes and now Tate securing in a choke. Tate digs Cat into the fence and Cat working a guillotine of her own. Cat relaxed against the fence. Cat has a guillotine in tight, trips Cat and now they’re back on their feet. Tate rocks Cat with a number of punches and Cat drags Tate to the bottom, getting in another choke. Cat now in side control. Cat on top, trying to work an armlock. They both get up and Cat gets a nice highkick in. Tate rocks Cat back with a huge right. Big knee from Cat! Followed by a jab and big uppercut from Cat. Tate gets another takedown, aggressively trying to work. Tate now in side control and trying to mount. Tate has her leg caught in Cat’s half-guard. Big elbow from the top from Tate followed by one more. Tate trying to get her leg free. Tate with a big elbow from the top. Round ends with Miesha on top, raining down punches. As Tate gets up, she shoves her hand in Cat’s face who walks towards Tate but Winslow separates them. Oh my. 10-9 Tate.
Round 2: Cat comes forward with a flying knee, misses. They scramble for takedowns and Miesha now in side control against the fence. Tate trying to find an advantageous position but Cat still trapping that leg. Tate trying to mount. Big shots from the top, by Tate who transitions into armbar. Cat escapes and both are in an opposite north-south position, battling for supremacy. Cat in mount once more, raining down punches. Tate in side control once more, trying to mount. Now Cat reverses and is on top. Tate sets up a leglock. Cat trying to break her leg free and Tate gets her in a heel-hook. Cat patiently waiting for an opportunity. Cat with some punches to the legs of Tate and her face. Tate still working off her back. Tate trying to turn but Cat counters. Big shots from Cat on top. Cat raining down some ground and pound revenge. Cat still in top position. Tate gets up, Cat misses with a knee and both try for a takedown as the horn sounds. FOTN, easily. 10-9 Tate.
Round 3: Tate bleeding from the nose. Both circle, faking. Cat misses a highkick and falls but gets up. Cat works a takedown and charges Tate down. Warning from Winslow for Cat to watch the eyes. Big elbow from side control by Cat. Tate on her back and Cat drilling down punches. Good, short elbow from Cat from the top. Cat looking for a choke. Cat pounding away, with shots and elbows. Tate scrambling but Cat is relentless in side control. Tate’s nose looks messy. Cat really pounding away, Tate gets up and Cat drops her with a knee. Tate gets up and another knee from Tate. Cat with a few more big strikes, elbows, and the ref steps in.
Holy hell, that fight was intense. Shot of Rousey sitting by Chael, who is giving the champ some advice based on what he saw. Rousey looks intrigued by Cat.
Cat Zingano def. Miesha Tate by TKO (Strikes), Round 3, 2:55.
Rousey and Dana with Anik now. Rousey said she’s really able to perform under pressure and Dana said she looked amazing tonight. I wonder if The Baldfather told Rousey to wear that blazer to promote next season’s Big Brother. Dana announces next season will move to Fox Sports One. In other news, many of the commenters down below will masturbate to the replay of our last fight in approximately 53 minutes.
Pre-fight promo video shows Gastelum with his mother back at home. She talks about his trophies and triumphs. He says he owes his life to her. Screen shots of NY and footage of Uriah’s sister busting his chops. His mother tells him, “Mama says Knock him out”. Uriah says Kelvin does not possess what he has. Bring on the winner…
Uriah Hall vs. Kelvin Gastelum
Round 1: Herb Dean gets us going. They touch gloves and Gastelum takes the centre. Both very patient, feeling each other out. Hall working backwards. Gastelum lands with a left after missing a wild one. Gastelum clinching Hall against the fence, working with knees. Gastelum with a shoulder strike after his arms are being controlled by Hall. Both men still clinched against the fence. They separate and Gastelum gets a legkick in. Hall goes for a lead-in knee and misses his right hook. Hall connects with a short right. Gastelum with a superman punch and rocks Hall. Gastelum swinging for the fences. Gastelum misses a wild right and sets up a takedown. Throwing bombs from side control, Gastelum mounts. He ends up in half-guard and clips Hall with a short punch. Gastelum trying to ground and pound but Hall looks like he’s doing well from the bottom. Hall uses the fence to get up and Gastelum knees him. Hall gets in a beautiful inside legkick that nearly spins Gastelum around. Hall with a big takedown but Gastelum gets up and Hall ends the round by clinching him against the fence. Gastelum 10-9.
Round 2: Hall comes out blazing and misses a frontkick. Gastelum moving nicely, shuffling back and forth. Hall misses with a spinning strike but gets a straight right in. Big highkick by Hall. Hall misses with a few fancy highkicks and Gastelum secures another takedown. Gastelum trying to mount but Hall working nicely off his back. Gastelum secures and underhook but Hall reverses him and gets on top. Hall stands up and lays into Gastelum with a big knee, who also gets up seconds after Hall. Gastelum has Hall clinched up against the fence again. Trip by Hall and ends up on top of Gastelum on the ground. Short elbow by Hall on the ground. Dean urges Hall to work. Hall ends up getting Gastelum’s back as they both on their feet and a huge belly-to-back suplex by Hall. Gastelum quickly rises and turns Hall against the fence. Gastelum using his wrestling background effectively. Knee lands inside by Gastelum. Tough one to score. 10-9 Gastelum.
Round 3: Gastelum misses with a wild right hook and Hall hits him with a knee to the body. Gastelum points to the crotch and the fight stops. After a few seconds, Gastelum is ok. Hall misses with a patented karate kick. Hall trying to catch his opponent with those familiar spinning kicks. Hall with his hands down catches Gastelum with a big jab. Gastelum takes him down from the back and Hall escapes and gets a takedown of his own, dropping bombs from the top. Both men standup and Gastelum clinches Hall towards the fence once more. Hall misses with a jab. Hall gets a nice left jab in. Hall almost catches him with a highkick. Hall misses with a frontkick to the body. Gastelum catches Hall with an overhead left. Inside legkick by Gastelum. Big double-leg takedown by Gastelum and he transitions into an armbar. Hall going for a triangle off his back. Gastelum escapes and is mounted, trying to do damage from the top. Hall firing away from the bottom with wild, hard punches. Gastelum goes for an armlock and Hall reverses it, gets his back and the horn sounds. Sudden victory round could be looming. 10-9 Gastelum.
Kelvin Gastelum def. Uriah Hall by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Rocky Balboa never got tired of the underdog role, so why should Gastelum. Congrats to Kelvin, The Ultimate Fighter 17 Middleweight Winner.
Main event time…
Urijah Faber vs. Scott Jorgensen
Round 1: Both men come out aggressively. Faber lands with a few strikes and works on a front headlock. Faber clinches Jorgensen against the fence. Jorgensen gets a takedown and tries to work on the bottom. Faber attempts an armbar but no dice. Nice reversal by Faber and he takes down Jorgensen. Faber attempts a guillotine and takes his back instead. Both men get to their feet and both land a few jabs. Huge knee to the midsection by Faber. Jorgensen drops and Faber capitalizes on top of him. Faber takes his back and secures position for a rear-naked choke. Jorgensen tries to escape but Faber relentlessly continuing. Jorgensen escapes but Faber gets in a guillotine. Faber shuffles and continues to secure the choke. Faber switches position and gets Jorgensen’s back once more. Faber gets an underhook in as Jorgensen tries to get to his feet and the horn sounds. All Faber in the first. 10-9 Faber.
Round 2: Both fighters come to trade in the centre. Jorgensen misses a big left hook. Faber misses with a combo. Faber kicks Jorgensen in the groin by accident and Jorgensen drops. After about a minute, Jorgensen continues. Good jab by Jorgensen. Beautiful knee by Faber to the face. Straight right by Faber and a counter by Jorgensen. Uppercut by Faber and Jorgensen gets a takedown. Faber gets up quickly and clocks Jorgensen with another knee. Faber checks a highkick from Jorgensen. Nice left hook by Faber. Faber going to the body, using kicks and hits Jorgensen with a nice elbow. Faber with a nice left hook. Faber with a kick to the midsection. Jorgensen working his combinations effectively but Faber is so fast that nothing is landing. Takedown by Faber. Jorgensen trying to work a kimura from the bottom. Faber scrambles and both men stand up. Nice left by Jorgensen. Uppercut by Jorgensen. Faber lands a big right. Faber clinches Jorgensen against the fence. Jorgensen reverses and gets a bodylock against the cage. Both jockeying for position. Both men fight off to get to the center and Jorgensen closes the second round with a nice left hook. 10-9 Faber.
Round 3: Both men circle at the center. Nice straights by Jorgensen but he can’t catch Faber clean. Good knee by Faber. Jorgensen connecting with his lead jab. Nice right hand by Jorgensen. Knee to the body by Jorgensen. Faber misses with a right but lands a legkick. Good combo by Faber, closes with a left hook. Nice combination by Jorgensen that lands. Body shot by Faber. Faber with a good left hook. Faber again with a left hook as Jorgensen comes forward. Jorgensen has Faber against the fence and works double-underhooks. Jorgensen now has Faber’s back and misses with a big elbow. Faber escapes and catches him with a big right hand. Jorgensen gets a right in of his own and sneaks in a takedown. He has Faber’s back and Faber escapes but eats an elbow on the inside. Jorgensen connects with an uppercut and a few good punches. Legkick by Jorgensen. Jorgensen throws another kick but almost slips. Good counter punch by Faber. Faber gets a double-leg and now has Jorgensen’s back. Horn sounds and a big round for Jorgensen. 10-9 Jorgensen.
Round 4: Jorgensen opens the round with a right hook. Faber connects with a straight right. Jorgensen connecting with a string of punches. Faber catches him with a right hand. Jab by Faber. Jorgensen shoots for a takedown but ends up in a high-elbow guillotine. Jorgensen escapes and both exchanges punches. Faber stuffs a takedown. Jorgensen gets in a knee to the body as Faber went forward. Big elbow by Faber. Both men clinch at the center. They break apart and Faber clocks him with a right. Faber fainting successfully and jabs Jorgensen. Left hook by Faber. Big takedown by Faber. Faber gets his back and gets an arm in across Jorgensen’s face. Faber gets in a rear-naked choke and Jorgensen is an inch away from the fence, trying to escape. Faber sinks it in deep and Jorgensen taps. Another submission for “The California Kid”.
Urijah Faber def. Scott Jorgensen by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 4, 3:16.
Fun card…these TUF Finales usually are. Faber praises his buddy and hopes they fight for the belt one day. Tate and Zingano definitely the highlight of the night. Hope y’all enjoyed the card. Take care homies.