Another season of The Ultimate Fighter has wrapped up and we got to see the talent showcased. So here’s the review of the TUF 18 Finale:
TUF 18 Finale: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate in Review
*Please note that although it was not on the televised main card, the Corassani vs. Blanco match up will count towards the predictions.
Main Event: Gray Maynard vs. Nate Diaz
Prediction: Maynard by decision. Result: Diaz by strikes. Diaz’s boxing was on pare as was his ground defense resulting in a standing finish.
Co-main Event: Julianna Pena vs. Jessica Rakoczy
Prediction: Pena by submission. Result: Pena by strikes. Pena used grappling to take Rakoczy to the ground and finish to earn the contract.
Chris Holdsworth vs. David Grant
Prediction: Holdsworth by submission. Result: Same. Grant fought valiantly but his take down defense wasn’t good enough to stop Holdsworth.
Jessamyn Duke vs. Peggy Morgan
Prediction: Duke by submission. Result: Duke by decision. Duke had better Muai Thai and ground and pound and utilized her lanky body.
Roxanne Modafferi vs. Raquel Pennington
Prediction: Modafferi by decision. Result: Pennington by decision. Pennington earned the win but I hope veteran Modafferi gets another fight.
Akira Corassani vs. Maximo Blanco
Prediction: Corassani by decision. Result: Corassani by disqualification. These things happen in the heat of the moment and it’s unfortunate.
Overall score: 3/6; 0.5 prediction percentage. 0.5 for Pena, 1 for Holdsworth, 0.5 for Duke, 0.5 for Pennington’s decision and 0.5 for Corassani.
UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Bigfoot
Main Event: Mark Hunt vs. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva
Prediction: Silva by strikes. Both men have recently had revitalized careers but Bigfoot is the more athletic of the two giant heavyweights.
Co-main Event: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. James Te Huna
Prediction: Te Huna by strikes. Aside from his last fight, Te Huna has been on the rise in the UFC whereas Rua’s had a checkered UFC career.
Ryan Bader vs. Anthony Perosh
Prediction: Bader by strikes. Bader is just coming off of a loss against Glover Teixeira and is going to be hungry for a rebounding win.
Pat Barry vs. Soa Palelei
Prediction: Palelei by strikes. Palelei is on a nine fight winning streak including his UFC debut and hasn’t lost in over two years.
Dylan Andrews vs. Clint Hester
Prediction: Andrews by strikes. Out of the two TUF 17 alumni, Andrews has more experience and is on a six fight win streak in pro fights.
Julie Kedzie vs. Bethe Correia
Prediction: Kedzie by decision. Kedzie has more experience but cannot underestimate the undefeated prospect Correia with all finishes.
What did you think of The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale? Leave a comment and tell us!