- Josh Samman def. Kevin Casey via TKO (knees) at 2:17 of the second round
=====FX Main Card=====
FIGHT ONE: BUBBA MCDANIEL VS. GILBERT SMITH (MIDDLEWEIGHT)
- No, really. Bubba McDaniel vs. Gilbert Smith.
- Don't yell at me. I'm just the messenger here. Send an email to Joe Silva, or bother Fake Joe Silva on Twitter
- Bubba is 6 inches taller than Smith, but they possess identical reach.
ROUND ONE: Mazzagatti is the referee here. Smith comes out firing early, landing a left hook. Bubba grabs a body lock and presses Smith into the cage. Smith lands a knee to the body, which sure looked like a groin shot. Bubba disengages, but lands a couple nice strikes before doing so. Smith gets Bubba down, and is inside the guard. Smith does nothing and Bubba sweeps. Bubba on top in half-guard. Smith trying to use an underhook to get back up, but Bubba pounds away at the side of his head. Smith gets up and immediately hits a double leg that plans Bubba on his back. Wide open full guard here. Ansolutely no action here. Smith's keeping his body close and putting his head in deep, risking a guillotine. Bubba has squirmed his way to the cage, and he's sitting upright now with Smith tying up his legs. Bubba lands a few elbows and hammerfists, and gets up, but Smith has him pressed into the cage still. Smith drags him back down. Bubba gets back to his knees and grabs that guillotine I was talking about. Smith gets out, but Bubba sweeps and gets on top, in half-guard. Smith passes to side control. North south no, no, back to side control. He's got Smith's back as the round ends. 10-9 Bubba
ROUND TWO: Bubba lands a heavy 1-2 that stunned Smith. Smith lunges in with a couple wild hook. Bubba backs up into the cage (god forbid we go left or right) and Smith presses him into the fence. Bubba gets a nice turn, and is working the knees. Smith it going for a kimura position, but Bubba saw it coming. Single leg attempt from Smith. Smith manages to turn Bubba with it. And Bubba gets the position back. Bubba lands a knee before separating. Nice right hand from Smith. Bubba charges forward and lands a night of his own. Bubba goes for a takedown but gets caught in a guillotine. Bubba escaped, barely, by passing out of the guard. Smith had to let it go. That was close. Bubba on top of a turtled Smith. Bubba has both hooks in. That was easy. Bubba is pounding away. Bubba gives up the back and has half-guard, looking for side control. Smith is breathing heavily. Smith is back on his feet, but Bubba landed a glancing head kick before Smith got completely free. 20-18 Bubba This is a mildly interesting fight, but neither of them are UFC caliber.
ROUND THREE: Bubba catches a kick and trips Smith. Bubba follows up with a nice little left hand. Smith drops down for a double leg, but Bubba turned him and landed on top, in half-guard. Smith is not very, what's the word, good? Yeah, Smith isn't very good. Mount for Bubba, but smith wriggled back to half-guard. Elbows from Bubba McDaniel, whi looks kind of bored. Smith turtles, and Bubba gets his back. Bubba has one hook in, and is working for the second one. He's got em, and tried to roll Smith over, but failed. Bubba's trying to get the hooks in again, but Smith rolls him over and sweeps Bubba. Unfortunately, he swept himself into a triangle. Bubba pulls on the arm, and this baby is over.
WINNER: Bubba McDaniel by submission (triangle armbar) at 2:49 of the third round.
STAR RATING AND FINAL THOUGHTS: (**) Sweet finishing sequence, I admit grudgingly. That said, the UFC spoon-fed Bubba one of the worst fighters in the house. What they see in McDaniel, other than whining that rivaled Ed Herman in season 3, is way beyond me. That said, Bubba looked fine, and should be a good addition to the very very very very very very bottom of the UFC's middleweight division.
FIGHT TWO: TRAVIS BROWNE VS. GABRIEL GONZAGA (HEAVYWEIGHT)
- Browne is five inches taller than Gonzaga, and posses a two inch reach advantage. Gonzaga is 22 pounds heavier than Browne.
ROUND ONE: The referee for this fight is Chris Tognoni. Gonzaga ducks under a high kick and grabs a single. Gonaga pushes Browne into the cage, working hard for the takedown on the taller man. Browne lands a knee to the body. Gonzaga returns fire. Elbows to the back of the head from Browne, but rules, schmules. Tognoni warns Browne not to grab the fence. Browns lands six elbows to the head of Gonzaga, who was holding onto the single, and this fight is over as Gonzaga collapses into a heap. The camera angle was bad, so it was impossible to see where those elbows landed. Upon replay, 3 or 4 of them were completely illegal, which of course Kenny Florian called as totally legal. Le sigh.
WINNER: Travis Browne by TKO (elbows to the back of the head) at 1:11 of round one.
STAR RATING AND FINAL THOUGHTS: (***) if you think elbows to the back of the head are legal. (*) if you think the rules should be applied as written. That said, it was a bruuuuutal KO. To get that much power with his back against the cage, and from that short distance is really, REALLY scary. But, you know, he cheated just as much as you possibly can.
FIGHT THREE: MIESHA TATE VS. CAT Zingano (WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT)
- The winner of this fight gets to coach against Ronda Rousey in the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter, with a title shot to follow. And better yet, the best orthopedic surgeon in the country will then fix her arm afterward.
- Zingano has a huge five inch reach advantage.
ROUND ONE: Kim Winslow is the referee for this fight, thereby guaranteeing someone's death, whereas Rousey only guarantees a mangled arm. Tate charges forward and immediately grabs a body lock. Takedown, side control. Sigano back up immediately, nice. Zingano is caught in a front facelock, but presses Tate into the fence. Tate reverses and now has her head caught in a front facelock of Zingano. Zingano has a standing guillotine. Tate's in trouble. Tate trips Zingano and worms free. Tate gets back up and stuns Zingano with a left hand. Takedown for Tate, who moves into side control. And we're less than 2 minutes in. Tate got too aggressive looking for a choke, and Zingano reverses to side control herself. Nice exchanges so far. Tate trying to use the cage to get free, and it works. Tate is up, and eats a head kick. Tate lands a few shots of her own. Tate shoots, but eats a big knee. Left hand from Tate. Now they're both just clubbering! Great stuff. Takedown from Tate, and she has Zingano pressed into the cage. Half-guard. Such a furious pace so far. Even the ring card girls are craning their necks trying to see what's going on right in front of them. Big elbow from Tate, make that tow. Tate's looking for an arm-triangle, but the cage is in her way. Another elbow, and I think Zingano got busted open. 10-9 Tate Hell of a round!
ROUND TWO: Tate gets the fast takedown and has half-guard with Zingano's head on the fence. Tate spends a full minute trying ot pass to side control before Winslow tells them to work. I don't know wtf Winslow is watching. Tate gets mount and uses it to go to a belly down armbar. That was nice, but Zingano got out. Zingano on top with a deep north south, but her arm is still hanging out there. Tate works to get Zingano's back, and now has full mount. Tate starts pounding and is again looking for that arm. Moves to side control, and Winslow tells her to watch the eyes. Tate goes for Zingano's back, but Zingano reverses and gets on top. Tate grabs a leg, looking for a heel hook from the bottom. Zingano might be in trouble here. No, it's a stalemate. Zingano can't roll, but her leg is still trapped. Tate adjusts, and Zingano has to be very careful here. Tate rolls, and Zingano counters and gets free. Big elbos and right hands from Zingano who is on top, in side control. Zingano is pounding away. Half0guard now. Tate turtles, and Zingano goes for her back. Bad leverage, and Tate is on her feet. Tate immediately shoots a double as the horn sounds. Fight of the year. 10-9 Tate. 20-18
ROUND THREE: Tate with a front kick. Zingano lands a head kick but falls on her butt. Zingano gets back up. Zingano shoots and gets her own takedown. She's been effective from the top. Winslow just warned Tate THREE TIMES in 15 seconds to watch the eyes. I don't think I've ever heard anyone get warned for that, not even Koscheck. Zingano is working to get mount, but Tate is trying to get free. Tate left her head otu there and Zingano manhandled her back to the mat. Winslow warning Tate multiple times to watch the back of the head. What good are warnings if you don't take a point? Zingano blasting away at Tate, but Tate is active as heel, which slows down Zingano's offense. Tate's got a broken nose. She's bleeding buckets. Zingano's pounding away like crazy. Tate gets to her feet and is immediately dropped with a knee strike. Tate gets back up, and eats three massive knees, make it four. and a right elbow. This fight is over a Tate crumples to to the canvas. This is one of my favorite ten or so fights of all time.
WINNER: Cat Zingano by TKO at 2:55 of the third round.
STAR RATING AND FINAL THOUGHTS: (****) Every moment of this fight was fast-paced, savage, brutal deluxe. LA VIOLENCIA!
- Dana White announces that TUF 18 will be moving off of FX to the Fox Sports 1 Network, which debuts on August 17. TUF 18 begins the following month.
- Season 17 Ultimate Fighter submission, fight, and KO of the season award have been announced. Each winner earns $25,000 from the UFC.
- Kelvin Gastelum wins submission of the year for his semi-final rear naked choke over Josh Samman.
- Dylan Andrews and Luke Barnatt won the fight of the year.
- Uriah Hall won KO of the year for his opening round KO of Adam Cella. You know, the spinning shit.
FIGHT FOUR: URIAH HALL VS. KEVIN GASTELUM (MIDDLEWEIGHT)
- Hall is three inches taller, and has a 9.5 inch reach advantage. Standing 6', Hall has an 80.5 inch reach. Yikes! That's 2.5 inches longer than the 6'7" Travis Browne.
ROUND ONE: Herb Dean is the referee for this fight. Gastelum takes the center of the cage early, but it's 30 seconds until either fighter throws a strike. Gastelum lands a quick punch and puts Hall onto the cage. Gastelum with a nice overhand elbow on the cage. Both fighters trade knees. Gastelum has his hands clinched looking for the takedown. It's not there, so he backs out. Leg kick from Gastelum, unchecked. Superman punch from Gastelum. Hall fakes a knee, and Gastelum backs up about 20 feet. Hall working the jab. Gastelum lands consecutive superman punches, and Hall is stunned. Gastelum is being very aggressive here. Gastelum ducks under a jab and gets the takedown. Side control, to half guard. Gastelum is pounding away from top position. Heavy elbows from the top. Hall looks confused. Hall finally gets his wits and locks his hands around Gastelum's back. Hall gets Gastelum to full guard. 1 minute remains. Back to half-guard. Gastelum moves Hall into the cage. Hall gets to his feet, but eats a knee to the thigh and an elbow to the head. Leg kick from Hall, and Gastelum did not like that at all. Gastelum walks into a jab. Hall shoots a takedown and gets it, but Gastelum gets back up as the horn sounds. 10-9 Gastelum
ROUND TWO: Hall comes out aggressively, landing a front kick to the chest early. Jab from Hall. Hall's hands are really low. Hall is landing a ton of jabs. Right head kick from Hall. Gastelum charges in and misses badly with a hook. Hall is baiting Gastelum. Gastelum shoots and gets the takedown. Half-guard. Gastelum presses his forearm against Hall's throat. Can't say that I saw this coming, but neither did you, so shut up. Hall doing well to control posture from the bottom. Gastelum isn't doing much, but not for a lack of effort. If Herb Dean tells them to work, I'm going to be pissed. Gastelum gets mount for half a second, but Hall rolls through and gets top position. Hall to his feet and lands a knee and a left hand as Gastelum gets back up himself. Gastelum shoots, but Hall stuffs it. Gastelum has Hall against the cage. Knees from Gastelum, but Hall trips him and has half-guard. Not doing much with it, but he has an underhook at least. Hall doing literally nothing here. This is not the same guy that fought on the show, or so I've been told. Gastelum gives up his back in order to get to his feet. Hall peppering him knees to the thigh before landing an overhead suplex to get Gastelum back down. Gastelum springs back up and gets Hall into the cage. Flashy but useless. 19-19
ROUND THREE: Nice knee from Hall, but it was low, so maybe not, you know, nice. Restart comes quickly. Hall back ot the jab. Gastelum still bouncing on his toes and pressing forward. Hall drops his hands and landing everything he throws. He's NOT Anderson Silva, as Gastelum timed him and got the takedown. Hall reverses and pounds away. This could be the end. No! Gastelum escapes, and now he has Hall's back on the cage again. Impressive kid this Gastelum is, Joe! Trading knees, and Gastelum backs out. 2:30 left. Gastelum lands an overhand left. Hall fakes a shot, to no effect. Leg kick from Gastelum. Hall continues to arrogantly pretend he's Anderson Silva, but he has no takedown defense, and, foreshoadowing, he's put on his ass by Gastelum. Looking for an armbar, no. Gastelum on top with less than a minute left. Gastelum pounds away until the end of the fight. 10-9 Gastelum, 29-28 Gastelum
WINNER: Kelvin Gastelum by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
STAR RATING AND FINAL THOUGHTS: (***-) Uriah Hall is nowhere as good as his Big Giant Head thinks he is. Gastelum is tough and scrappy, but so are most fighters, you know? It was a good, entertaining fight, so no complaints there. But sometime the narrative doesn't match the facts. Uriah Hall is a mid0level fighter who beat the hell out of bad fighters, and did so in entertaining manner. IF HE WERE ANY DAMN GOOD, HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ON THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER, OKAY?????
FIGHT FIVE: URIJAH FABER VS. SCOTT JORGENSEN (BANTAMWEIGHT)
- Faber has two inches of height and three inches of reach. Faber has bad braids, Jorgensen has a red mohawk. Jorgensen has legendarily bad tattoos, so give me Faber here.
- Technical analysis for the win!
Jorgensen is listed as 2 inches shorter than Faber, but he's the taller man, per the staredown.
ROUND ONE: Steve Mazzagatti is the referee for this main event fight. Faber lands a couple punches and immediately shoots for the takedown. Faber gets turned into the cage. Faber counters and turns Jorgensen into the cage. Seriously though, Jorgensen's ink... Damn. Jorgensen gets the tkedown with a solid inside trip. Not too ooften that Faber on back his see we Joe! Faber gives up his back in order to get up. Jorgensen picks up Faber, but Faber grabs the cage and lands on top. Mazzgatti was too busy taking a point from Brock Lesnar to bother to see it. Jorgensen gets back up, and we're back to the middle. Faber lands a nice 1-2. Faber goes to the body with a straight right. Faber lands a standing knee which Jorgensen felt. Faber on top, and tkes Jorgensen's back. He has both hooks, and a GREAT TAN! I mean, the man is really, REALLY tn. Jorgensen working hard from the bottom, but Faber is locked in. Jorgensen is face down with Faber riding him. Jorgensen scrambles back to his feet, but eats a knee and is thrown back down. Faber going for a guillotine. Nope. Trying again, and this one is really tight. Faber is on top, and Jorgensen is out. Faber is dangerous, and Jorgensen is hanging in there. Faber has his back again, and has the figure four. Faber looks great. Jorgensen is defending expertly, but Faber always knows the counter to the counter. The round ends with Faber on Jorgensen's back. 10-9 Faber
ROUND TWO: Jorgensen took a kick to the stones, and we're pausing the action for about 45 seconds. We're back. Jorgensen working the jab, missing each one by at least 3 inches. Jorgensen with a crisp low kick, and Faber still almost caught it. Faber charges in with a running knee to the face. Well done by Jorgensen to eat that one and stay awake. Faber lands a nice body kick. Jorgensen eats an uppercut and tries to get Faber down off of it, but no go. Nice knee from Faber again. Faber lands a couple short left hooks. Faber works to the body. He's throwing everything but the kitchen sink. Jorgensen doesn't have the speed to keep up. Faber goes body head and then secures a takedown in the middle of the cage. Faber is in guard, and Jorgensen is looking for a kimura. That's keeping Faber at bay. Nice scramble from both fighters, which winds up with both fighters standing. Well done by Jorgensen. Jorgensen is stalking now, landing a couple nice rights. Faber is aware of Jorgensen's power, and looks a little tentative now. Jorgensen gets Faber on the fence, and is looking for a takedown. Faber pushes back and turns position. they disengage, and back to the middle to end the round. Jorgensen came on late, but... 20-18
ROUND THREE: Nice standing knee from Faber. Jorgensen working the jab more, and looks better than he did early on. He still needs a finish or a 10-7, though. Crowd is dead silent, probably burnt out from the last two fights. Faber lands a right hook to the ear, and Jorgensen ate it well. Jorgensen grabd Faber's head and lands a couple strikes, utilizing some solid dirty boxing. Jorgensen grabs Faber and gets his back standing. Jorgensen is working hard to get Faber down, but Faber slides free. Good knee by Faber. Jorgensen lands a solid left. Faber shoots a weak single and gets stuffed. Jorgensen gets on top of Faber and takes his back standing. Jorgensen lands a nice elbow as Faber gets free. Jorgensen looks goos. Jorgensen lands a good combination, ending with a straight left. Leg kick from Jorgensen. The crowd is booing, but they should be on their feet. This is a good fight. I just NOW remembered it's five rounds. Faber gets the takedown with a double and takes Jorgensen's back. On to the fourth! 29-28 Faber
ROUND FOUR: Jorgensen starts the round by mixing up jabs and low kicks. Faber lands a big right hand, but Jorgensen fires back on his own. Both fighters lands left hooks at the same time. Faber going to the jab now. Faber misses on a hook and shoots, but Faber stuffs him and goes for a guillotine attempt. Jorgensen gets out, and we're back to standing. Faber shoots a single, weakly. Jorgensen shrugs him off. Faber has shot a couple of horrible singles tonight. Jorgensen lands a big standing elbow. Faber felt that. Jorgensen is getting stronger as the fight goes on. Jorgensen thinks he's found something with the standing elbow, as he's gone to them a few times. Faber shoots and gets the takedown, and goes straight to Jorgensen's back. Faber has the figure four, and Jorgensen is in trouble here. He's got the rear naked choke, and it's over. That was fast. And man, Jorgensen was en route to tying the fight up going into the fifth.
WINNER: Urijah Faber by submission (rear naked choke) at 3:16 of the fourth round
STAR RATING AND FINAL THOUGHTS: (***) That was a really good fight, that played out exactly as I thought it would, which almost never happens because I'm generally an idiot. Faber was faster, Jorgensen was stronger, and when Jorgensen got the fight down he was neutered by Faber's submission game. Faber's getting the winner of Barao-Wineland, just you wait.
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