The TUF 14 season finale aired on Spike TV, and the card consisted of five fights: Team Bisping’s Louis Gaudinot vs. Team Miller’s John Bedford; the bantamweight final, featuring Team Bisping’s TJ Dillashaw vs. Team Miller’s Johnny Dodson; the featherweight final, which pit Team Bisping’s Diego Brandao against Team Miller’s Dennis Bermudez; Tony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards; and in the main event, the coaches, Michael Bisping and Jason Miller, squared off.
First up was bantamweight action — Louis Gaudinot (5-1) vs. Jonny Bedford (17-10-1). The guys started out with a little bit of a feeling out process, with some striking, until Bedford took Gaudinot down and landed multiple knees from on top. After Gaudinot was able work his way back to his feet, Bedford just tripped Gaudinot back to the ground, dominating him with ground and pound before securing a high mount. From there, Bedford got Gaudinot’s back and tried to secure a submission, mixing in intermittent striking between his submission attempts. Eventually, Bedford ended up back on top in half guard, punching Gaudinot. Gaudinot tried to get up, but ate the punches on the way up as the bell rang.
In Round 2, Bedford threw varied strikes, and Gaudinot managed to land a few of his own, but as he ducked under Bedford’s strikes, Bedford was able to muscle him to the ground, although the two quickly made it back to their feet. Gaudinot attempted a submission, but Bedford was able to escape and put Gaudinot back on the ground. Bedford, from on top, was able to land some body shots, and posture up to land harder strikes with Gaudinot on the ground. Gaudinot attempted to actively defend and fight back with up kicks, until Bedford threw a flurry of punches. From there, Bedford was able to mount Gaudinot, landing more power strikes before attempting an armbar. However, Gaudinot was able to survive until the bell rang.
When Round 3 started, both guys didn’t look as tired as they should have been! Both threw some single strikes and combinations. Gaudinot in particular was light on his feet, but Bedford began to take control with his striking. Eventually, Gaudinot ended up curled up on the ground, barely defending himself, until the ref stopped the fight. Johnny Bedford won via TKO.
Next up lightweights Tony Ferguson (13-2) and Yves Edwards (41-17-1) squared off. As Round 1 began, both of these guys were ready! Ferguson struck first and Edwards threw a few, then Ferguson responded with multiple kicks. The guys continued striking, with Ferguson throwing a quick and sharp front kick, then proceeding to kick Edwards’ outside leg. In response, Edwards threw a high kick to Tony’ head, but it brushed by rather than making full contact. Edwards started to throw more kicks, but Ferguson looked very comfortable standing, and then started teeing off on Edwards, who was backed against the cage. However, Edwards was able to recover and land a head kick! From there, both guys were throwing leather on the feet, and trying submissions on the ground for the rest of the round.
Round 2 began with both fighters feeling each other out, with Ferguson throwing punches and kicks, and Edwards returning fire with strikes of his own. Ferguson threw some combinations, but Edwards retaliated with punches, kicks, elbows, and even a Thai knee. From there, these guys went all out with non-stop striking until the bell rang.
In Round 3, both guys came out with the energy to continue where they had left off in the previous round with non-stop striking. For the entire round each fighter punched, counterpunched, kicked, blocked, and tried to find holes in the other’s game. When the final bell sounded, both men had given it their all.
The winner of this back and fourth match was Tony Ferguson, by Split Decision.
Bantamweights TJ Dillashaw (5-0) and John Dodson (12-5) were up next. The first round started with both guys trying to find range with their kicks before throwing punches. Dodson landed a sneaky punch on Dillashaw, who was keeping his hands way too low. Dodson was able to land a left hook on Dillashaw, dropping him before finishing him with punches. After the referee stoppage, John Dodson was crowned the The Ultimate Fighter bantamweight winner for season 14.
Next up was the TUF 14 featherweight final of Diego Brandau (18-7) vs. Dennis Bermudez (8-2) took place. Round 1 began with both guys coming out striking and bullying each other. Bermudez was not afraid of Brandao, and attempted a submission, but Brandao got out of it, and both men continued striking with tight combos. Bermudez went after Brandao with punch combinations and kicks. Brandao hurt Bermudez slightly with a punch and continued with very strong striking. Bermudez landed on his back with Brandao on top, but that didn’t last long, as they were up then down then up again! Bermudez fought aggressively, knocking Brandao to the ground, but Brandao attempted submissions as Bermudez threw hard punches from the top. Suddenly, Brandao locked on a tight arm bar, and Bermudez tapped! Diego Brandao became the Ultimate Fighter 14 featherweight champion.
The last fight to feature competitors from this TUF season was a bantamweight contest: Team Miller’s Dustin Pague (10-5-0) vs. Team Bisping’s John Albert (7-1-0). As Round 1 started, neither guy wasted any time before getting going, and all of a sudden, Albert went on auto-pilot, striking hard. Pague fell to the ground, and then Albert jumped all over his back! Albert, holding Pague’s arms down with one arm while striking with the other arm, really tied up Dustin Pague. Pague could not defend himself, and the ref stopped the fight. Albert won via TKO, one minute and 9 seconds into the first round!
Last, but by far not least…Both coaches from this TUF season were up for a 5 round war! Michael Bisping (22-3) took on Jason “Mayhem” Miller (34-8-1). In Round 1, Miller started off with a leg kick and punch. He went in for a takedown early, but Bisping reversed him and forced him against the cage. Miller pulled Bisping’s head as they locked up close for a few seconds, but then they broke it up, and went back to the center of the Octagon. After some striking and pushing by both men, Miller got the takedown again, but with Bisping on his back. This was Miller’s world, and Miller was able to soften up Bisping with few body shots. Miller held Bisping up against the cage on the ground, throwing a few strikes as Bisping tried to push him off. When the fight returned to the feet, Bisping threw a head kick, and Miller blocked it. Round 1 ended with both guys throwing punches.
Round 2 started with Miller being the aggressor, but Miller was using an awkward striking style, and Bisping struggled to find openings, before deciding to give Miller a kick. Miller attempted another takedown, but this time Bisping defended it, and then the fight continued until Bisping got poked in the eye, which forced the ref to stop the fight for a few seconds.
They resumed fighting with hard striking, both determined to win. Bisping landed knees from the Thai clinch, and Miller continued the unorthodox striking. Bisping began to land with multiple punches, and Miller looked slightly tired, as Bisping bloodied his nose. Bisping continued with hard striking, but Miller took the blows, then shot for a takedown, before ending up with Bisping on top of him, striking away until the bell rang and saved him.
As Round 3 opened, Miller looked tired and battered, and he was breathing heavy. While both men threw hard punches, it was obvious that Miller wanted to get the fight to the ground. Bisping’s punches were regularly making contact with Miller’s face, but Miller would not quit, continuing to battle and shoot for takedowns until both guys were on the ground with Bisping on top. Miller attempted submissions, but Bisping’s Ground and Pound was ferocious, and eventually, Miller turtled up with Bisping throwing bombs at him. The ref stopped the fight because Miller was not intelligently defending himself, and Michael Bisping won via TKO.
And that was the finish to an incredible TUF season which brought lots of fresh, new talent to the UFC. TUF 15 will be around the corner, so please join me and MMA Ratings for more updates!
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