Top 5 Fights From TUF Season Finales
5 Terrific Battles That Happened At Finales Of The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 of the Ultimate Fighter is in the books. Chris Holdsworth and Julianna Pena emerged with the six-figure contracts for capturing the respective men’s and women’s titles, and they both now look forward to their official UFC careers. In an explosive main event, Nate Diaz dominated with an emphatic first-round stoppage of Gray Maynard in their trilogy rubber match. Diaz put himself back into the title hunt in the 155-pound division with an impressive performance, while the career of Maynard seems in tatters after back-to-back brutal knockout defeats.
It will be interesting to see what TUF Season 19 will bring, as B.J. Penn will make an unlikely return as a featherweight for a third fight with Frankie Edgar. They will be the respective coaches next season and while there isn’t likely to be the mutual hatred that we saw between women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and challenger Miesha Tate, it should prove to be very intriguing.
Over the years, there have been some truly terrific fights on the Ultimate Fighter finales, including fights that were seen as Fights of the Year, and of course a fight that is still seen as the most important contest in the history of the promotion.
I thought after another TUF season-ending event, this would be a good opportunity to examine the top five fights of all-time from Ultimate Fighter finales. These fights feature a number of participants who went on to become fan favourites in the UFC and even future champions.
Rick LaFitte is an MMA Writer for Rant Sports
5. Rashad Evans vs. Brad Imes
This TUF Season 2 finale back on November 5, 2005 was for the heavyweight season title, and it was Evans defeating the much larger Imes in a true David vs. Goliath matchup. It was intriguing to see the 5-foot-11 Evans tangling with the 6-foot-7 Imes, and it was “Suga” who emerged victorious. He was able to rock his mammoth opponent at times and got the better of Imes via split-decision in a spirited contest. Evans showcased the athleticism that would make him a star in the UFC and an eventual light heavyweight champion.
4. Nick Diaz vs. Diego Sanchez
When it comes to intense competitors, this matchup was as good as it gets. Sanchez, who captured the TUF Season 1 middleweight final, was on the receiving end of plenty of trash talk from Diaz. The Stockton native didn’t believe Sanchez belonged in the UFC just by winning a reality TV show. Sanchez proved Diaz wrong by being the better man at the TUF Season 2 finale. In a fight that featured wild exchanges and great action on the ground, it was Sanchez earning the unanimous decision victory.
3. Clay Guida vs. Roger Huerta
This was a classic affair from the TUF Season 6 finale on December 8, 2007. This contest involving two exciting lightweights proved to be a thriller. Guida seemed to have gotten the better of Huerta in the first two rounds thanks to his dominant wrestling and better striking, but it would all change in the final stanza. Huerta landed a couple of big knees before sinking in a finishing rear-naked choke submission.
2. Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida
During their careers, both Sanchez and Guida have been involved in some epic affairs, and this was one of them. This encounter took place at the TUF Season 9 finale on June 20, 2009. The intensity and ferocity of this matchup was a sight to behold. Sanchez had Guida in all kinds of trouble in the opening round as he landed a number of solid uppercuts and a devastating head kick that Guida somehow managed to survive. Guida would rebound in round two thanks to a takedown and dominant control. Sanchez earned a split decision victory thanks in large part to his striking in the final round. It was hailed by many as the 2009 Fight of the Year.
1. Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar
What can you say about this April 9, 2005 matchup? Not only is it one of the greatest fights in UFC history, there can be no argument that this is definitely the promotion’s most important fight ever. Millions of fans watched Griffin and Bonnar put on a fantastic three-round effort in the TUF Season 1 light heavyweight final. The men traded bombs throughout and showed incredible resolve and courage in their quest to get that six-figure UFC contract. In the end, it was Griffin emerging with the unanimous decision victory, but the epic magnitude of the fight saw UFC president Dana White announce that both men had earned a contract with the organization. Griffin would go on to have the better career as he became a UFC light heavyweight champion. It was only fitting that both men would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on the same weekend.
5 Terrific Battles That Happened At Finales Of The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 of the Ultimate Fighter is in the books. Chris Holdsworth and Julianna Pena emerged with the six-figure contracts for capturing the respective men’s and women’s titles, and they both now look forward to their official UFC careers. In an explosive main event, Nate Diaz dominated with an emphatic first-round stoppage of Gray Maynard in their trilogy rubber match. Diaz put himself back into the title hunt in the 155-pound division with an impressive performance, while the career of Maynard seems in tatters after back-to-back brutal knockout defeats.
It will be interesting to see what TUF Season 19 will bring, as B.J. Penn will make an unlikely return as a featherweight for a third fight with Frankie Edgar. They will be the respective coaches next season and while there isn’t likely to be the mutual hatred that we saw between women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and challenger Miesha Tate, it should prove to be very intriguing.
Over the years, there have been some truly terrific fights on the Ultimate Fighter finales, including fights that were seen as Fights of the Year, and of course a fight that is still seen as the most important contest in the history of the promotion.
I thought after another TUF season-ending event, this would be a good opportunity to examine the top five fights of all-time from Ultimate Fighter finales. These fights feature a number of participants who went on to become fan favourites in the UFC and even future champions.
Rick LaFitte is an MMA Writer for Rant Sports
5. Rashad Evans vs. Brad Imes
This TUF Season 2 finale back on November 5, 2005 was for the heavyweight season title, and it was Evans defeating the much larger Imes in a true David vs. Goliath matchup. It was intriguing to see the 5-foot-11 Evans tangling with the 6-foot-7 Imes, and it was “Suga” who emerged victorious. He was able to rock his mammoth opponent at times and got the better of Imes via split-decision in a spirited contest. Evans showcased the athleticism that would make him a star in the UFC and an eventual light heavyweight champion.
4. Nick Diaz vs. Diego Sanchez
When it comes to intense competitors, this matchup was as good as it gets. Sanchez, who captured the TUF Season 1 middleweight final, was on the receiving end of plenty of trash talk from Diaz. The Stockton native didn’t believe Sanchez belonged in the UFC just by winning a reality TV show. Sanchez proved Diaz wrong by being the better man at the TUF Season 2 finale. In a fight that featured wild exchanges and great action on the ground, it was Sanchez earning the unanimous decision victory.
3. Clay Guida vs. Roger Huerta
This was a classic affair from the TUF Season 6 finale on December 8, 2007. This contest involving two exciting lightweights proved to be a thriller. Guida seemed to have gotten the better of Huerta in the first two rounds thanks to his dominant wrestling and better striking, but it would all change in the final stanza. Huerta landed a couple of big knees before sinking in a finishing rear-naked choke submission.
2. Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida
During their careers, both Sanchez and Guida have been involved in some epic affairs, and this was one of them. This encounter took place at the TUF Season 9 finale on June 20, 2009. The intensity and ferocity of this matchup was a sight to behold. Sanchez had Guida in all kinds of trouble in the opening round as he landed a number of solid uppercuts and a devastating head kick that Guida somehow managed to survive. Guida would rebound in round two thanks to a takedown and dominant control. Sanchez earned a split decision victory thanks in large part to his striking in the final round. It was hailed by many as the 2009 Fight of the Year.
1. Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar
What can you say about this April 9, 2005 matchup? Not only is it one of the greatest fights in UFC history, there can be no argument that this is definitely the promotion’s most important fight ever. Millions of fans watched Griffin and Bonnar put on a fantastic three-round effort in the TUF Season 1 light heavyweight final. The men traded bombs throughout and showed incredible resolve and courage in their quest to get that six-figure UFC contract. In the end, it was Griffin emerging with the unanimous decision victory, but the epic magnitude of the fight saw UFC president Dana White announce that both men had earned a contract with the organization. Griffin would go on to have the better career as he became a UFC light heavyweight champion. It was only fitting that both men would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on the same weekend.
