Tag: Preview/Prediction

The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks

Tim Elliott is on the precipice of one of the best comeback stories in UFC history.
The talented flyweight lost three tough fights in a row in the Octagon and was cut from the roster. He then won three straight in Titan FC and claimed its 125-pound cha…

Tim Elliott is on the precipice of one of the best comeback stories in UFC history.

The talented flyweight lost three tough fights in a row in the Octagon and was cut from the roster. He then won three straight in Titan FC and claimed its 125-pound championship before joining the cast of The Ultimate Fighter, where the winner was guaranteed a shot at Demetrious Johnson.

Johnson is the one and only flyweight champion in UFC history and the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. Elliott winning would be a massive upset and compelling story.

The B/R team is here to let you know if he can get it done. Craig Amos, Scott Harris, Steven Rondina and Nathan McCarter are breaking down each of the main card bouts for you. Ready? Let’s get rollin’.

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The Complete Guide to the Ultimate Fighter Finale: Johnson vs. Elliott

The Ultimate Fighter 24 reaches its conclusion when finalist Tim Elliott takes on dominant flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson on Fox Sports 1 this Saturday.
Johnson has run through the newly formed division, defending his title eight consecutive tim…

The Ultimate Fighter 24 reaches its conclusion when finalist Tim Elliott takes on dominant flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson on Fox Sports 1 this Saturday.

Johnson has run through the newly formed division, defending his title eight consecutive times. Only one of those fights, the first matchup with John Dodson, was even close. To spice up an otherwise lackluster weight class filled with fighters Johnson has already handled, the promotion turned to a fantastic idea: a season of The Ultimate Fighter filled with regional champions, the winner of which would face Johnson.

That tournament produced Elliott, who had already compiled a 2-4 record in his first run with the UFC. Even in a division full of challengers who would be massive underdogs to Johnson, Elliott stands out. If he wins, it will be one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport. 

Regardless, it’s always a pleasure to watch Johnson work.

The rest of the card features compelling matchups as well. In the co-main event, this season’s coaches, Henry Cejudo and Joseph Benavidez, face off in a fantastic fight at 125 pounds. The winner will have a good chance at another title shot, especially if it’s Benavidez.

Welterweight veterans Jake Ellenberger and Jorge Masvidal clash in a fun matchup, while former bantamweight challengers Sara McMann and Alexis Davis meet in a compelling bout. The prelims are nothing special, but they should still provide some quality action. 

Let’s take a look at each matchup.

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Demetrious Johnson vs. Tim Elliott: A Head-to-Toe Breakdown

The Ultimate Fighter victor on Wednesday was Tim Elliott, and his prize is a shot at Demetrious Johnson’s flyweight title on Saturday.
Johnson is the UFC’s most dominant champion. He is one of the most well-rounded titleholders to date, and h…

The Ultimate Fighter victor on Wednesday was Tim Elliott, and his prize is a shot at Demetrious Johnson‘s flyweight title on Saturday.

Johnson is the UFC’s most dominant champion. He is one of the most well-rounded titleholders to date, and he has dispatched of almost every contender in the division without much issue. Elliott is a new challenge.

Elliott fought in the UFC prior to his stint on The Ultimate Fighter. He performed well but faltered against elite competitors like Joseph Benavidez. He was cut from the roster and improved on the regional circuit.

Saturday is his chance. A tournament victory has allowed him to jump the line for a title shot. Does he pull a Matt Serra and shock everyone, or does Johnson show why he’s the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today?

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UFC Fight Night 101 Results: Matches to Make for the Winners and Losers

UFC Fight Night 101 was a fun show in spite of the lack of a strong card.
We saw excellent debuts, developing talent and a middleweight main event between two contenders. All in all, not much to complain about.
Robert Whittaker took care of Derek Bruns…

UFC Fight Night 101 was a fun show in spite of the lack of a strong card.

We saw excellent debuts, developing talent and a middleweight main event between two contenders. All in all, not much to complain about.

Robert Whittaker took care of Derek Brunson inside the first five minutes thanks in part to Brunson‘s wild game plan. Now the Aussie moves one step closer to a title shot not many had him pegged for after moving up to 185 pounds.

What’s next following the action down under? This is your look at the matches to make for the winners and losers of UFC Fight Night 101.

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UFC Fight Night 101 Results: 5 Burning Questions Heading into TUF24 Finale

UFC Fight Night 101 is in the books. The results are as follows:

Robert Whittaker def. Derek Brunson by TKO at 4:07 of the first round
Andrew Holbrook def. Jake Matthews by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Omari Akhmedov def. Kyle Noke …

UFC Fight Night 101 is in the books. The results are as follows:

  • Robert Whittaker def. Derek Brunson by TKO at 4:07 of the first round
  • Andrew Holbrook def. Jake Matthews by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Omari Akhmedov def. Kyle Noke by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
  • Alex Volkanovski def. Yusuke Kasuya by TKO at 2:06 of the second round
  • Tyson Pedro def. Khalil Rountree via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:07 of the first round
  • Seohee Ham def. Danielle Taylor by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
  • Dan Kelly def. Chris Camozzi by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
  • Damien Brown def. Jon Tuck by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Jonathan Meunier def. Richard Walsh by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Ben Nguyen def. Geane Herrera by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-27)
  • Jason Knight def. Daniel Hooker by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-26)
  • Marlon Vera def. Ning Guangyou by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Jenel Lausa def. Yao Zhikui by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Next up? The Ultimate Fighter Season 24 Finale.

For those who haven’t been keeping up, TUF24 offered fans a new look for the long-running series. Instead of the usual roundup of mediocre prospects, TUF24 brought together 16 champions from regional and international promotions for a tournament with a shot at UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson up for grabs.

While the main event has not yet officially been announced, most of the card has been. As such, it’s worth taking an early look and picking out which important questions will be answered next Saturday.

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UFC Fight Night 101 Results: The Real Winners and Losers from Melbourne

UFC Fight Night 101 is not going to earn many votes for Card of the Year. 
Nothing against anyone personally on the card, including two very good fighters in Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson facing off in the main event, but grouped together in …

UFC Fight Night 101 is not going to earn many votes for Card of the Year. 

Nothing against anyone personally on the card, including two very good fighters in Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson facing off in the main event, but grouped together in this combination, there wasn’t a great deal to recommend this event as it went down Saturday (U.S. time) from Melbourne, Australia. That is just the truth of it.

But even though the main-eventers found themselves only barely within the official top 10—and it gets far more anonymous from there—this is still the big league and there was business at hand. Could anyone distinguish themselves from the anonymous pack?

As always, the final stat lines only reveal so much. These are the real winners and losers from UFC Fight Night 101. 

Full card results appear on the final slide.

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