(L-R) Urijah Faber punches Scott Jorgensen in their bantamweight fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on April 13, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
When the UFC announced the end of “TUF 17” would occur in an event named “Finale,” and not with the usual numbering of the organization, many people balked. But after the fights, this card has no way to deny that it was one of the best of 2013.
Filled with submissions, the TUF 17 Finale was marked not only by the finale of an American reality show, but the second duel of women in the UFC, in which there was a controversial knockout, Travis Browne over Gabriel Gonzaga, and the fight between bantamweight friends Urijah Faber and Scott Jorgensen.
The end featured fighters from Team Sonnen, but in the preliminary fights, the athletes from Team Jones carried the day, and dug three wins against only one of the rival group. Dylan Andrews, semifinalist on the program, beat Jimmy Quinlan by TKO. Josh Samman got the same result over Kevin Casey after having survived countless near finishes in the first round. Luke Barnnat had the presence of Chael Sonnen in his corner, and defeated Collin Hart with a unanimous decision. Clint Hester also knocked out Bristol Marunde.
The five main card fights were devastating. Opening the card, pupil of Jon Jones, Bubba McDaniel showed superiority on the ground, and finished more experienced teammate Gilbert Smith in a triangle very well fitted. Despite having snatched the three pats on the opponent, Bubba was already winning the first two rounds on points.
Photo via Getty Images/Josh Hedges/Zuffa
The only Brazilian in the TUF 17 Finale, Gabriel Gonzaga started very well in combat, pressing Travis Browne and clinching him against the cage. However, the American delivered several elbows in his opponent’s clinch, eventually knocking out the Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Replays showed that some shots may have hit the back of Gonzaga’s head, but the referee saw no irregularity. Browne still got the knockout of the night bonus, and pocketed $50,000.
Gabriel had two straight wins since returning to the UFC, both by submission.Travis, in his previous challenge in the UFC, in October 2012, suffered the first loss of his career against Antonio Silva. On that occasion the Brazilian heavyweight knocked out the American.
Through Facebook, Gabriel Gonzaga’s coach, Marco Alvan, revealed that they will appeal the outcome of Saturday’s fight because they believe that the Brazilian took illegal elbows. At the press conference after the event, Browne defended the suspicions and said, “I remember having hit an elbow, but the referee was right there and found no irregularities. I hit two more, but he was already knocked out.”
(R-L) Cat Zingano kicks Miesha Tate in their bantamweight fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on April 13, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Continuing the show’s second UFC fight of women was one of the most active of the night, and even won the best fight of the event. Miesha Tate and Cat Zingano were not out to play and showed good game standing and on the ground. Miesha, who was the Strikeforce champion used her experience, seeking submissions of all kinds: guillotine, armbar, heel hook, but the undefeated Cat Zingano defended from all positions, and fought back with hurtful blows to the face of opposition.
In the third round and needing a knockout or submission to win, Zingano did not listen to her corner, who spoke to her to take the fight down, and a sequence of devastating knees made the referee stop the duel, declaring victory by TKO.
Ronda Rousey was Octagon-side, watching everything close. She and Zingano secured the right to be the next coaches on The Ultimate Fighter, which will have two mixed teams, composed of men and women. At the end of the season, the two will face each other for the women’s UFC title.
Miesha left the fight with her face quite bruised, but mostly without the revenge she so dreamed and envisioned against Ronda Rousey. Zingano has already written her name in the history of women’s MMA and conquered everyone with his determination and willpower.
Photo via Getty Images/Josh Hedges/Zuffa
In the co-main event, Uriah Hall and Kelvin Gastelum fought in the finals of TUF 17. Both Team Sonnen, the Jamaican was seen as overwhelming favorite after his knockouts inside the house. He became known for his vicious knockouts, sending his opponents straight to the hospital after the first or second round. Gastelum, the youngest participant in the history of the program, “The Ultimate Fighter” also had good wins on the show, leaving no decision in the hands of the judges. Nevertheless, the 21-year-old athlete was the big underdog in this fight.
Uriah Hall assumed a pretentious attitude at the beginning, lowering his guard and dodging punches, imitating Anderson Silva. Gastelum did not bother, and focused, used his strong wrestling to take the fight to the floor and worked the ground-and-pound in the first and third round. Gastelum managed to not only control his opponent’s game, but also he was aggressive and it earned him a points victory in a split decision.
With this result, Gastelum earned a six-figure contract with the UFC, and even won a Harley Davidson motorcycle. For the best submission in the program, a rear-naked choke against Josh Samman in the semifinals, the U.S. still led the jackpot of $ 25,000.
Uriah Hall will probably also get the chance to continue in the UFC. The middleweight won the award for best knockout of TUF 17, for the amazing spinning kick applied to Adam Cella during the show.
Dylan Andrews and Luke Barnatt received the best fight bonus program, which fought the battle in the quarterfinals. Recalling, in a very busy fighting and portable, Andrews landed a knockout in the third round on Barnatt. The fighters received a hefty $ 25 thousand each.
In the most anticipated duel TUF 17 Finale, bantamweight Urijah Faber and Scott Jorgensen faced off. Friends and former training partners, the athletes were seeking a victory that would draw them closer to a title fight or making their names stand out more in the rankings. As might be expected, the “California Kid” put the fight down to the ground as many times as he wanted, working the ground-and-pound against his opponent.
Listening to his corner, Jorgensen, who seemed to find space to beat Faber, improved in the second and third round. Nevertheless, his effort was not enough to beat Urijah, who in the fourth round fit a rear-naked choke and finished his friend. The two embraced at the end of the fight, showing affection to each other.
Check out the full results of the TUF 17:
Main Card
- Josh Samman def. Kevin Casey by TKO at 2:17, R2
- Luke Barnatt def. Collin Hart by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Dylan Andrews def. Jimmy Quinlan by TKO at 3:22, R1
- Clint Hester def. Bristol Marunde by TKO at 3:53, R3
Preliminary Card
- Josh Samman def. Kevin Casey by TKO at 2:17, R2
- Luke Barnatt def. Collin Hart by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Dylan Andrews def. Jimmy Quinlan by TKO at 3:22, R1
- Clint Hester def. Bristol Marunde by TKO at 3:53, R3
- Cole Miller def. Bart Palaszewski by submission (rear naked choke) at 4:23, R1
- Maximo Blanco def. Sam Sicilia by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Daniel Pineda def. Justin Lawrence by submission (kimura) at 1:35, R1
