The Ultimate Fighter 15 live finale will take place on Friday night. The stacked card features the championship match between Mike Chiesa and Al Iaquinta as well as an intriguing battle between Jake Ellenberger and Martin Kampmann.
UFC will be looking to build off the success of UFC 146, which saw Junior dos Santos defend the heavyweight championship against Frank Mir. It’s important for the promotion to keep building momentum as it gains traction amongst sports fans.
Many of the fighters on the finale card aren’t big names yet, but they are looking for a chance to move up the ladder. With that in mind, here’s all the key information and some predictions for Friday’s event.
Where: Palms Casino Resort in Paradise, Nev.
When: Friday, June 1
Watch: Facebook (5:45 p.m. ET), Fuel TV (7 p.m. ET) and FX (9 p.m. ET)
Fight Card
Main Card
Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann
Mike Chiesa vs. Al Iaquinta
Justin Lawrence vs. John Cofer
Preliminary Card
Jonathan Brookins vs. Charles Oliveira
Max Holloway vs. Pat Schilling
Daron Cruickshank vs. Chris Tickle
Myles Jury vs. Chris Saunders
Cristiano Marcello vs. Sam Sicilia
Jeremy Larsen vs. Joe Proctor
John Albert vs. Erik Perez
Main-Card Predictions
Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann
Ellenberger comes into the fight off one of the most impressive performances of his career in a victory over Diego Sanchez. It was his sixth straight win and established him as a contender in the welterweight division.
He’ll face another tricky test from Kampmann, who defeated Thiago Alves in his last bout. After a strong start to his career, things have been a little rocky for “Hitman” lately. A marquee win over Ellenberger will get him right back on track, though.
This should be a really good back-and-forth battle between two competitors with a lot to prove. I give Ellenberger the edge due to his recent form, which will lead him to a late knockout. There’s a good chance it will be the fight of the night.
Prediction: Ellenberger by knockout.
Mike Chiesa vs. Al Iaquinta
Chiesa and Iaquinta both face the biggest challenge of their young MMA careers as they look to become the champion of The Ultimate Fighter 15. A win will establish one of them as a rising star in the sport and open up more doors moving forward.
Nobody has been move impressive throughout the competition than Chiesa. He defeated Justin Lawrence and James Vick in the last two rounds to reach the finals. Prior to the show, he held a 7-0 career record, so his run hasn’t been a fluke.
Iaquinta entered The Ultimate Fighter after a loss to Pat Audinwood, but has bounced back nicely to reach the finals. He brings a lot of power to the table, but I don’t think it will be enough to end Chiesa’s undefeated run.
Prediction: Chiesa by submission.
Justin Lawrence vs. John Cofer
After entering the competition as one of the favorites, Lawrence was knocked off by Chiesa. He still has a bright future, however, and will get a chance to prove that against Cofer. A solid performance is necessary to illustrate that potential.
Cofer entered The Ultimate Fighter with a lot of experience, but wasn’t able to parlay that into much success. That said, a victory over Lawrence would provide a major boost. He must showcase his all-around ability to make it happen.
All told, I expect this match to go the distance and Lawrence walking away with a narrow victory. Even though he didn’t win the competition, he’s definitely a name to watch moving forward as he continues to develop.
Prediction: Lawrence by decision.
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