UFC Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale Results: Post-Fight Analysis and Other Thoughts
by Matthew Roth on Dec 3, 2011 11:27 PM EST
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The Ultimate Fighter's run on Spike TV has come to a close. The UFC and Spike's relationship has soured and fans will no longer watch episodes of TUF lead into Blue Mountain State. This season though was stacked with great talent and two coaches who are both charismatic and talented. The Ultimate Fighter 14's finale didn't disappoint by any definition of the word. From top to bottom, fans were able to enjoy some extremely fast paced fights from the bantam and featherweight divisions. The headlining bout between Michael Bisping and Jason Miller was an exciting affair which saw Bisping dominated in the first only to come back and wear out Miller in the second to finish him in the third round. With the fight's fresh in mind, let's take a look at the night.
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The way that Bisping can make any of his opponents likable is a great character trait. His ability keep a pace of output shows how far he's come since winning the third season of the Ultimate Fighter. It should be said that there were various illegal strikes thrown by Bisping including the attempted headkick at a downed Mayhem as well as the 12-6 elbows. It was nice seeing him humble in victory.
- Mayhem Miller cared more about the walkout than the actual performance in the fight. He gassed after the first round and just couldn't implement any kind of offense. His chin is phenomenal but that doesn't win fights when he can't actually do anything to change the tide. The final round was as one sided as I've ever seen and really calls into question his desire to put in the time to be a full time fighter.
- Diego Brandao is a monster. The stand up he displayed was explosive. His punching power shouldn't ever be doubted and his ability to regain his faculties after being rocked by Dennis Bermudez shows that he's definitely going to be a must-watch fighter at featherweight. That was one of the slickest arm bars I've ever seen and can't wait to see him enter the octagon again. He's still sloppy but his power and grappling with take him far in the UFC's featherweight division.
- John Dodson will be a monster at flyweight if he chooses to drop when the UFC adds the division in 2012. The big question is will he still have the speed and power advantage at 125 that he displayed tonight at 135? For the man that was the "villain" of the season, he's definitely made me a fan after the performance that he put on tonight. The kid is nonstop and like his teammate Diego Brandao, I can't wait to see him fight in the UFC again. He's just too fun to keep sidelined.
- While Tony Ferguson picked up a nice win over Yves Edwards, I don't agree with the score cards. Scoring the fight 30-27 is hilarious to me. I personally had the fight 29-28 for Yves and wasn't upset with the 29-28 card for Ferguson, but there is no way that was 30-27. Tonight was the best that Edwards has looked in years and showed us that Ferguson may not be as good as advertised. I hope that Zuffa gives Edwards another shot because of the questionable judging.
- The Johnny Bedford-Louis Gaudinot match was ridiculous. The size difference was apparent and was essentially a lightweight vs. a flyweight. Gaudinot may not be a great fighter, but he deserves a better matchup than a guy who is absolutely massive for 135. Bedford is a nice addition to bantamweight but he's gotta show he can beat up people that are his same size.
Additional thoughts after the jump...
SBN coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale
The undercard was highly entertaining. Steve Siler looked great in the clinch using the thai plumb to batter Josh Clompton with knees. I've never seen that dominant usage of the thai clinch before and if he can figure out how to generate more power on those knees, he'll be a monster. He's only 24 and can become a bit of a force if he can develop as a fighter.
It's a shame that Dennis Bermudez' night ends with a broken arm because he looked great against Diego Brandao before the arm bar. I have no doubt that he'll be back in the UFC but it's gonna take time for that wound to heal both physically and mentally.
T.J. Dillashaw still has a future in the UFC but he's obviously not the bantamweight prospect that we were led to believe he was. He opted to stand and trade with a faster, stronger, and more technical striker and paid the price. Was the stoppage a bit premature? Probably. But that doesn't change the fact that he was getting annihilated on the ground before Herb Dean stepped in.
John Albert's ground work was so good. That was an incredibly dominant performance. It's a shame that Dustin Pague went out like that since he was one of the more likable fighters of the season.
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Mayhem hadn’t fought in over a year, and hadn’t fought a high level guy since Shields. I’ll give his cardio a pass on this fight, but UFC should try and get him active and a quality fight against someone like Ed Herman, Aaron Simpson, or Dan Miller as soon as possible.
This Card should be up for Card of the year. Great fights, and exciting finishes from top to bottom. It was a commercial for UFC to hurry up and get the 125lbs division going, and to give 135, and 145 some more slots on the main cards
I think he just had to much riding on him.
I was wondering about that position he had Bisbing in during a chuck of the first round. It kinda looked like Bisbing was just sitting there while Miller was using alot of his energy holding the position. Maybe that helped drain him, but I just think it was all too much.
"I've never seen that dominant usage of the thai clinch before "
And now introducing Ben Saunders! And this other guy with the initials AS ;)
coughcough
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by Tim Bernier on Dec 3, 2011 11:54 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Even tho Shogun loss isn't as embarassing as this one
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No, it's just the victory doesn't prove that much when Gaudinot is that undersized
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5'3'' isn't exactly rare for a bantamweight
I can think of two top ten bantamweights that tall, and John Dodson is 5’3’’ as well. I don’t see why it should detract from his victory as all
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There's no denying that he's a small BW though
Yeah it was a great performance, but it’s not exactly indicative of his potential in the division.
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No
The onus is on him to not be that much bigger than his opponent? That’s absolutely silly.
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by Charles Awad on Dec 4, 2011 12:12 AM EST up reply actions
Once again NO ONE said that.
They are just saying that he fought a natural flyweight that was just trying to get exsposure by fighting on the show at a weight class he is not physically suited to fight at. We all just want to see the guy fight an actual bantamweight.
Drink.
Pee.
Repeat.
by DonnMcslick on Dec 4, 2011 12:29 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
All I’m gonna say is this is just the reverse of Edgarand Maynard. Sometess the little guy kicks the bigger guys ass.
by boscomma on Dec 4, 2011 10:10 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I'm not placing fault on him.
I’m placing fault on the match making. There were other BW on the season that were similarly sized. Gaudinot is a 125er who went up in weight.
by Matthew Roth on Dec 4, 2011 12:19 AM EST up reply actions
Siler needs to get hooked up with a good Strength & Power coach,
and develop that boyish body of his. I love me some good thai clinch work, though.
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While Tony Ferguson picked up a nice win over Yves Edwards, I don’t agree with the score cards. Scoring the fight 30-27 is hilarious to me. I personally had the fight 29-28 for Yves and wasn’t upset with the 29-28 card for Ferguson, but there is no way that was 30-27. Tonight was the best that Edwards has looked in years and showed us that Ferguson may not be as good as advertised. I hope that Zuffa gives Edwards another shot because of the questionable judging.
That’s hardly questionable judging. I had it 29-28 Ferguson but 30-27 didn’t surprise me either. Your really trying hard to undersell Fergusons performance here. Yves Edwards is a sixty fight vet who has a huge toolbox and Ferguson outfought him after you plainly stated this is the best Yves has looked in years. So I don’t see how Ferguson isn’t as good as advertised, he just beat a guy whose career is a decade longer then his.
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by sitnam90 on Dec 3, 2011 11:46 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
I had it 29-28 Yves too
but 29-28 for ferg was reasonble & both rds 2 & 3 were close, but i was farely certain that Yves won rd 2
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Agreed
The biggest problem I had with the fight is it seemed there were moments were Tony could have initiated a takedown and potentially finished on the ground. That being said, he showed a damn stout chin and put on a very good standup battle with one of the better strikers in that division. 30-27 didn’t bother me. I think all the rounds were close.
I have no idea how anyone could have scored the 2nd round for Ferguson, that wasnt a close round in anyway. If someone wanted to score the 3rd for Ferguson, I disagree but it is at least debatable. I dont see how the 2nd was.
i'll have to rewatch it
But I felt the third leaned more towards Yves then the second
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"Yves Edwards is a sixty fight vet who has a huge toolbox and Ferguson outfought him after you plainly stated this is the best Yves has looked in years."
That doesn’t factor into scoring. People like to use rationals for how fights should be scored that are outside the criteria of the scoring. Like my friend was arguing that Hendo/Shogun wasn’t a draw (which I was saying it was) because Hendo beat Shogun up 3 and a half rounds. But it doesn’t matter if that is true because it’s judged round for round. I think it’s because people like to view these as fights rather then contests.
Scoring that fight for Yves is a joke
Third round was a 10-10 from where I’m sitting.
Head conductor of the Charles Oliveira hype train.
I agree with Diego Brandao being legit with massive potential,
but that fight was pretty even until Dennis Bermudez left his arm out there. I was pretty impressed with Bermudez actually, considering he was all but written off. If that right he landed had anymore power behind it, we may have a different TUF winner. All speculation of course, but I am curious to see Brandao against a legit, experienced 145’er before I totally jump on his gonad containing pouch of skin.
He’ll be fun to watch though. Congrats to him.
"This is the best BJ we have seen in a long time" - Joe Rogan
"It was just such a glorious moment for me" - Jon Jones
I was hoping Bermudez would pull it off, and was literally thinking he had, but he got wild and sloppy in a Brazilian guard. tsk tsk.
As for Brandao, I think tonight gives us a decent indicator of how he’ll do. He’ll be exciting, and he’ll knock out some of the unranked or lesser ranked FWs, but in the upper levels, he’s gonna be a highlight for guys like Aldo and Hominick. That wasn’t exactly a huge punch that put him down, just in the right spot as he got careless. Still, he’s gonna be fun to watch. He seems like a Leonard Garcia with more power and less chin. Shame they train together, would be a fun fight.
Sadly, I still think Bermudez has the higher upside.
You know, Brandao is still young and has potential to improve. I don’t know if he’ll fight someone like an Aldo or Hominick immediately. Who knows how much he’ll improve or not once he even hypothetically reaches the upper levels. We can’t act like this is the best we’ll see of any of these fighters this season in the future.
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That punch was close to what Tito used to put out Bader. Just like him, Diego was also coming forward. That hit with some force, I’d say.
"A belt only covers two inches of your ****and the rest you need to back up on your own." Royce Gracie (allegedly...I just read it somewhere and thought it was cool for my sig!)
That short right is about as hard as you possibly can hit somebody.
Brandao has a legit chin and Bermudez wasn’t gonna put him out if that one didn’t. TKO maybe but holy shit that was a crazy punch to survive.
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by pdl on Dec 4, 2011 2:00 AM EST up reply actions
I concur...
With the scoring as well in the Edwards/Ferguson fight. I was very surprised not to see a split decision, but damn Ferguson can take a shot, he also took a few from Riley that surprised me.
’’Apparently the the only way to kill a lion is by rear naked choke…personally I'd just kick it in the head.’’ – Bas Rutten
I had Ferguson Edwards 30-28 10-10 rd2
I would like to see Maia Mayhem fight down the road
For the first time since I got into MMA I think TUF did its intended job of making me care/interested in fighters I am really interested in Dodson,Dillashaw and Brandao now. Dillashaw will do well at bantamweight the dude has 5 fights under his belt.
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I’m disappointed Bisping looked so shitty in the first round. Bisping better not had lost. All the “logic” said that Mayhem was over his head and bs’ing to much with TV
by Inspectorxr5 on Dec 4, 2011 1:19 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I thought
Yves chin was gone by the way right? I remember a lot of people around here saying that he wouldn’t be able to come back from a KO like that not only did he win his fight after that. I think most everyone can agree he won tonight 29-28. As well as got rocked and recovered fast.
I picked Bisping to beat Mayhem and I still think he’s the better fighter but… there must have been something wrong with Miller. He was completely gassed by the start of the second, and it wasn’t like Bisping did a Diaz and turned the pace way up and exhausted Miler, Miller was on top for half the first round. I think Bisping wins no matter what he’s the better fighter but I also think we’ll find out that Mayhem had a bad cut or was sick in the coming days.
Nah. He was over-hyped and wore himself before the fight started.
I do think the first round is telling. If Miller had kept his head and not gassed, I think he would have had it. Round One was his easily. He lost due to emotions. Adrenaline dump and Rogan called it is real and is what lost Miller the fight.
Miller hosted his own TV show and fought in front of bigger crowds in japan. There’s no reason why he should’ve been overly excited just because it was the UFC.
"A belt only covers two inches of your ****and the rest you need to back up on your own." Royce Gracie (allegedly...I just read it somewhere and thought it was cool for my sig!)
Fighting in the UFC actually means a damn for his real career.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Dec 4, 2011 9:04 AM EST up reply actions
I think
Mayhem suffered from being too hyped up over his return to the UFC. That’s the only logical reason for him gassing so badly. Adrenaline takes over and gas burns fast. That said it was rather idiotic to suggest he cared more about the walkout/entrance than the actual fight. Kind of smacks of bias.
by TheWaker on Dec 4, 2011 2:26 AM EST via mobile reply actions
i think he was more or less joking
i’d agree that mayhem must’ve got too much adrenaline. he’s one of those fighters that’s insane and gets hyped up, he must’ve gotten too hyped. i just refuse to believe he didn’t train his cardio at all like that. it was an embarrassing performance on his part. seemingly way too talented of a guy to get rolled on like that
"I will beat you into a living death" – Ken Shamrock
That was odd. I’ve never seen him gas like that before.
It’s a shame, despite what Dana White thinks I thought he won the first round and might have been able to win if he didn’t just fall on empty.
by discoandherpes on Dec 4, 2011 3:02 AM EST up reply actions
I really look forward to him in the division
but honestly he looked kinda small(unless its just me) tonight. is bisping huge at 185? i know he used to fight 205(like when he lost to hamill(right, right, am i right?)) but i know miller has made 170 before(i know he barely did it and was completely gassed againt the current lord of lay and pray). idk what i’m getting at. i’m just very very upset at his performance, partially because i despise bisping as a human being(it has nothing to do with him being british, he’s a cuuuuuunnttt regardless), and plus i really like miller, funny guy and really down to earth.
tl;dr wtf miller, bisping you still suck you beat another unranked guy
"I will beat you into a living death" – Ken Shamrock
I was thinking he looked pretty small too
maybe the weight cut is what killed him, he looked really….. gaunt?
I JUST WANT MY BASKETBALL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Sean in Vancouver on Dec 4, 2011 3:09 AM EST up reply actions
YES
exactly. like i was pretty drunk watching it, but idk he just didn’t look “filled out” tonight. like is bisping that big? i very well could just be hugely biased because i wanted miller to rip bisping’s arm off of his body, but still.
basically i really wanna know miller’s natural weight. i’m guessing its like 190ish, and that 185 is an easy cut, and that 170 is an absurd cut…..assuming i’m correct, should he pack on muscle to help his grappling strength at 185, or try to get mike swick slim and cut to 170?
"I will beat you into a living death" – Ken Shamrock
He didn’t gas too hard against GSP considering the circumstances.
Unfortunately, Dana White doesn’t seem to like Mayhem a whole lot, and even though he is a UFC level fighter his next fight might be do or die, or out of the UFC.
by discoandherpes on Dec 4, 2011 3:15 AM EST up reply actions
i hope not
it’s weird if dana indeed doesn’t like him, he’s got a great personality, which usually is a huge plus in the business. and although he’s not a knockout fighter, the guys got heart…..and of course a good amount of skill to back it up. he’s legit , bispings gay boxing just messed him up….(don’t bash me, i’m completely joking, bispings boxing was great and miller had no answer, i’m just super butthurt that he lost)
"I will beat you into a living death" – Ken Shamrock
Yeah, that was super dissapointing
At the very least I thought he’d stay composed throughout the fight, but once he gassed he just shut everything down.
by hcblankscreen on Dec 4, 2011 3:38 AM EST up reply actions
I think you guys were misled by the headkicks in the Ferguson fight
Rewatch the fight. Yes those headkicks landed, but Tony was winning most of the punching exchanges. Round 2 is debateable but 1 and 3 were in the bag.
by Andre on Dec 4, 2011 2:43 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
IMO, Ferguson won every round
30-27 makes it sound dominating, it wasn’t that, it was a close fight, but I never thought Yves was winning.
Mayhem as coach >> Mayhem as fighter
Brandao/Bermudez was an awesome fight. and a Rousey-esque armbar to finish it.
Dodson is a star in the making. Super fast exciting style, fun personality, post fight back flips, overall sparkplug-ness. Definitely a guy who needs to be on some Fox cards.
I JUST WANT MY BASKETBALL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Sean in Vancouver on Dec 4, 2011 3:08 AM EST reply actions
Ferguson has a hell of a chin, but personally, I translate that as a fighter who has bad defense. We see guys like Nick Diaz get by with that and Ferguson will get by with that, but I just think it’s smarter to hit the guy and take as little damage yourself.
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"Mayhem Miller cared more about the walkout than the actual performance in the fight. "
Wow, that whole paragraph is kind of a vindicative fox-new-esque analysis, i.e. there’s absolutely no content and you simply seem to want to bash Miller for some reason.
You did not care to factor in ring rust, stress, etc. in your analysis ?
I’m not making excuses for Miller, but these factors were obviously present; whether they played a significant role or not in the fight is up for debate.
he’s a pro fighter, if he cant adapt to the pressure of the big stage then he isn’t a great fighter. adapting to stress is something that every good fighter should have a grip of.
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by The Omaplatapus on Dec 4, 2011 9:18 AM EST up reply actions
Miller's striking was horrendous
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, repeatedly leaping in with that long jab, eyes to the floor. I kept waiting for Bisping to land that Uppercut-Hook combo that Paulo Thiago used on Kos
That still wouldnt knock him out
That said, the striking did look really bad. Mayhem really does live his life like his ‘character’, he’s insane and add and out of control and everything else. After thinking back to his fight with shields, it’s sad but it seems he can’t turn this off and turn on the focus in the cage. I think he would be a different fighter if he’d show that kind of discipline.
by TheWaker on Dec 4, 2011 2:41 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Oh I know,
but it was still a combo that looked like it was there for the taking, which would still deal some serious damage
Fair enough
I’m just glad that wasn’t the case, mayhems face already looked bad enough.
by TheWaker on Dec 4, 2011 6:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
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