After a great TUF Brazil 3 season, the finale should feel bigger than it is. But after losing Junior Dos Santos in the main event, it doesn’t seem all that big.
Not that Junior Dos Santos vs Stipe Miocic was necessarily a fantastic fight on paper, but it would’ve showed us where Miocic is when it comes to the heavyweight division and. And also, it’s always great to see Junior scrap.
When you go from Dos Santos to Fabio Maldonado, who is actually a light heavyweight, it takes the card down a notch. Maybe we’ll get some Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva antics? It will be interesting to see what they say about Silva and having to replace him on UFC 175 after spending a full season of TUF promoting a match with him that won’t happen.
By the way, this is the second of two UFC cards today. Earlier in Berlin, Gegard Mousasi beat Mark Munoz by rear naked choke.
Follow along our The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale Live Coverage.
We’re just blogging the last five fights.
1. Robbie Peralta Vs Rony Jason
Jason landed a nasty spinning back elbow. He also knocked him down with a leg kick. These guys started to pick it up and were unloading on each other at the end. Jason won the round. He’s knocking Peralta backward.
Peralta had a nice comeback round. They are throwing hard punches. Peralta got Jason on the ground, but didn’t want to stay down there with him. Jason came back later in the round, but I think Peralta took it.
Third round was very close. Jason gave Peralta a bad eye poke. Peralta unloaded with a right hand that knocked Jason backward and a little wonky. Jason got a takedown late and then Peralta maneuvered out of it. Close round.
Winner: Robbie Peralta by way of split decison
All three judges had it different. The scores were 29-28, 27-30, and 30-27.
2. Alexander Yakovlev Vs Demian Maia
Maia knocked him down and followed him to the ground. He was in the mount and raining down shots. Easy round for him.
Maia got another easy takedown. Yakovlev had some success in the round, but he’s not submitting Maia. Maia’s up 2-0.
This was a boring Maia fight. He got a takedown again and won the round, but he wasn’t all that impressive. Yakovlev actually looked decent in the round, but the skill-level is too wide.
Winner: Demian Maia by way of unanimous decision
3. Warlley Alves Vs Marcio “Lyoto” Alexandre
Warlley put him down with a right hand quickly. Lyoto got back up to his feet, but he was pushed up against the cage. Warlley picked him up and slammed him back down. Warlley set up a takedown by throwing a reverse kick that you could see coming a mile away, but still overwhelmed Lyoto. Warlley got another take down.
Warlley is just too strong for Lyoto. He’s like a vicious Mike Tyson. Lyoto threw a kick and he caught it and tossed him down. Warlley needs to shore up his stand-up technically, but the man has a vicious mean-streak.
Warlley finished Lyoto with a guillotine. He set it up with a right hand that sent him backwards. Lyoto went out.
Winner: Warlley Alves by way of 3rd round submission
4. Antonio Carlos Junior Vs Vitor Miranda
Junior tried to tap gloves, but Vitor wanted none of it. In a clinch, Junior got him right in the balls with a knee. Junior is so much bigger and stronger. I wasn’t so sure until they started fighting. Lots of kicks and Junior landed punches as well. Vitor is game, but Junior is the better athlete.
Junior wanted to tap gloves again, but Vitor decided to throw a kick. Junior got the takedown and held Vitor down. Junior is comfortable on his back. Vitor couldn’t decide whether to go down there or try kicking. He went down with him, but that’s where Junior wanted him. I have Junior up 2-0.
Round 3 was ownage. Junior had Vitor on his back the entire round and Vitor couldn’t do anything. Junior owned the round and wins the fight quite easily.
Winner: Antonio Carlos Junior by way of unanimous decision
The scores were 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28.
5. Fabio Maldonado Vs Stiple Miocic
Maldonado ducked right into a right hand and was knocked down and stopped on the ground. Not sure why anyone would defend a top notch boxer like that.
Winner: Stipe Miocic by way of 1st round TKO