...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Following the conclusion of the Ultimate Fighter's eleventh season on Spike TV with last night's double episode, next week's live finale event has added a number of this season's fighters to the night's preliminary card.
Bouts pitting Jamie Yager against Rich Attonito, semifinalist Brad Tavares against Seth Baczynski and Chris Camozzi against James Hammortree, according to separate reports from MMAJunkie.com.
Camozzi won his opening round bout over Victor O'Donnell to earn his way into the TUF house, but he broke his jaw in the fight and was unable to continue in the tournament. He was replaced on the show by Baczynski, but the 12-3 fighter has been given an opportunity to enter the UFC.
He'll now face James Hammortree, who was eliminated twice in consecutive fights, as he was brought back as an injury replacement for Nick Ring after losing a decision to Tavares. He was then submitted by finalist Court McGee in the quarterfinals. He's 5-1 in his professional career, his sole loss coming last year to UFC fighter John Salter.
Tavares and Baczynski are facing off in a rematch of their quarterfinal bout on the show. Tavares won the bout by disqualification after Baczynski blasted him with an illegal soccer kick that briefly knocked him out at the end of the first round. He then went on to get submitted by McGee in the semis. Baczysnki is the far more experienced fighter, boasting an 11-5 record to Tavares' 4-0 record, and he'll now get a chance to get that DQ loss back.
Finally, Jamie Yager, who was received in very hostile fashion by his Team Ortiz teammates for his friendship with Team Liddell's Tavares, steps into the Octagon against 7-3 Rich Attonito.
Attonito was forced out of the tournament due to a broken hand suffered after his second round DQ victory over Kyavey Uscola. He was hit with an illegal knee to the head, and though it appeared to be a questionable blow and decision, he moved on but was unable to take his spot in the quarterfinals anyway. He now gets a chance to get a statement victory and pass on some punishment to Yager for his many cast mates who did not receive that opportunity.
The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale takes place from The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, next Saturday, headlined by a light heavyweight bout between matt Hamill and Keith Jardine.
Penick's Analysis: These are all fairly good match ups for the night's preliminary card, and as with every season many of the fighters are getting a chance to make a statement to show the UFC that they belong there. I'm glad to see Camozzi getting this shot, as he won his fight in the first round but wasn't able to take his rightful spot in the TUF house. Yager is sure to be out to shake off the image of him quitting on his stool against Josh Bryant as well. These are all simply solid fights that will determine if any of these guys gets to continue fighting in the Octagon.
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
Interested in joining MMATorch's writing team? Send idea for a theme to your column (for Specialist section) or area of interest (i.e. TV Reporter) along with a sample of writing to mmatorch@gmail.com.
