If you were to look at this past season of the Ultimate Fighter as a whole, you would’ve probably chosen Tony Ferguson and Ramsey Nijem as two guys who had a great chance to make it to the finale. They also have distinct styles, which makes it an interesting match-up. Ferguson is always looking for the knockout, while Nijem uses his wrestling to wear his opponents down, though, he can put punches together too.
In the main event, Showtime Pettis faces Clay Guida. Pettis was in line for a lightweight championship fight, but when Dana White wanted to see Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard rematch their January draw, Pettis was put on the back burner. This is a great back burner. I haven’t heard one person who isn’t excited for this one.
1. Chris Cope vs. Chuck O’Neil
People are already shouting, “Woo!” for Cope. Cope looks like the bigger and stronger of the two, but he also seems a bit reckless and leaves himself open to getting hit. O’Neil is mostly throwing leg kicks. Cope landed a huge left hook that looked to hurt O’Neil. Cope settled down a bit and looks pretty comfortable. He’s throwing a double jab and following it up with leg kicks, moving in and out. It was a strong first round for Cope.
The second round wasn’t as intense as the first, but it was another decent round for Cope. It was a lot more flash than actual landing like he did in the first round, but he was more active and O’Neil is either tired, or he’s having problems pulling the trigger. Cope has figured out that he’s fighting on the big stage. I’m not sure O’Neil has.
Best shot of the round was a spinning backfist and he followed up with a barrage of shots while O’Neil was covering up. The round started off with a lot of holding against the cage, but Cope became unglued and started landing shots. O’Neil hasn’t figured out how to be the first to engage. Everything he tries to set up is after Cope has engaged first.
Winner: Chris Cope by way of unanimous decision
2. Fabio Maldonado vs. Kyle Kingsbury
Jeezus, Kingsbury looks like a beast in there compared to Maldonado. In the clinch, he threw about 6 knees in a row, which didn’t all land, but just showed how much stronger Kingsbury is. He looks at least 20 pounds heavier. Kingsbury got a takedown, but was put in a tight guillotine that he got out of. Kingsbury’s stand-up is mechanical, while Maldonado’s striking is much more fluid. Maldonado is throwing shots to the body as well. Kingsbury tripped him down and landed some elbows while in Maldonado’s half guard. I think Maldonado came back to win the round, but it was very much back and forth.
Kingsbury probably eked out the round, mostly because Maldonado was less active. Kingsbury stayed outside, peppering him with kicks. He scored one takedown, but was also taken down himself. In this round, his knees from the clinch, were more impressive than anything Maldonado was able to do.
Maldonado has figured that Kingsbury is open to both the left and right hook. Maldonado dared Kingsbury to hit him in the face and dropped his hands and Kingsbury then took him down. Kingsbury has all of a sudden become a bloody mess. His left eye is now a bullseye for Maldonado’s right hand. Both of Kingsbury’s eyes look to be in bad shape now. He’s going for takedowns and was taken down himself and then stuffed. I’d lean toward Maldonado in the round and give him the decision. Good fight.
Winner: Kyle Kingsbury by way of unanimous decision
All judges scored it 29-28 in his favor.
3. Tim Credeur vs. Ed Herman
Ed Herman made quick work. He hit Credeur with two straight uppercuts and followed him to the ground and pounded him out.
Winner: Ed Herman by way of 1st round TKO
4. Clay Guida vs. Anthony Pettis
Guida was using his crazy in and out style. Pettis landed a quick combination. He threw a leg kick and was immediately taken down. Pettis is doing more on the bottom than Guida was doing on the top, trying to get wrist control and also landing hammer shots from the bottom. I would imagine that the judges will give Guida the round, though he didn’t really do much other than hit him with shoulders.
Guida got one takedown and was working for a second for most of the round. Pettis landed a high kick and then tried a spinning back kick off the cage, but missed it. Guida took him down again with just under a minute, which probably wins the round for him. With five seconds left, Pettis sunk in an armbar, but the round ended.
Guida followed up a connecting overhand right with a takedown. Pettis sat up and Clay piledrove him back down to the mat with another takedown, but Pettis rolled over and ended up on top. He got his back and sunk in the hooks. Guida got out of it and that’s probably going to win Guida another round and the fight.
Winner: Clay Guida by way of unanimous decision
Clay won all three rounds. I would’ve given Pettis the first, but that’s it.
5. Tony Ferguson vs. Ramsey Nijem
Nijem comes out of the gate throwing punches and Ferguson is the one who gets the takedown. Ferguson is using his reach, while Nijem, when he comes in, he just throws multiple shots and makes Ferguson move backward. Ferguson is showing really good head movement. And just like that, Ferguson throws a looping left hook off a right hand and Nijem’s legs just went out from under him. He followed him to the ground and it was stopped.
Winner: Tony Ferguson by way of 1st round TKO
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