‘The Ultimate Fighter’ 22 Finale Results, Play-by-Play & Updates

Chris Gruetzemacher vs. Abner Lloveras

Round 1

Lloveras sticks a jab and sends a right hand down the center as Gruetzemacher presses forward, trying to walk “Skullman” toward the fence. Gruetzemacher puts a hard right kick on Lloveras’ midsection and tries to clinch, but he’s spun around and now it’s Lloveras looking for a single-leg on the fence. Gruetzemacher pulls the leg free, though not before eating a hard knee and another jab on the split. Lloveras scores with a couple leg kicks, pushes out of another clinch from Gruetzemacher and turns the American’s head with a clean right hook. Strong work from Lloveras on the feet through the the first half of the round, now he tries a high double-leg takedown and gets stuffed. Gruetzemacher lands a couple leg kicks, then takes a slapping left high kick on the cheek. Lloveras takes a front kick to the midsection, swipes back with a counter left hook and then gets zapped by a Gruetzemacher uppercut. Lloveras quickly shakes the cobwebs and gets back to digging for a takedown, and this time he brings Gruetzemacher down to his knees. “Gritz” stands up right away, gets taken down again and finishes the round with Lloveras atop him at the base of the fence.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Lloveras
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Lloveras
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Gruetzemacher

Round 2

Gruetzemacher closes the distance straight away and launches kicks at the outside of Lloveras’ lead leg. A one-two scores down the center for Gruetzemacher, but Lloveras ducks the next punch and comes back upstairs with a nice hook. Gruetzemacher comes in sloppy and gets wrapped up by Lloveras on the fence. “Skullman” tries to jump on Gruetzemacher’s back for a standing rear-naked choke, but Lloveras is shaken off before he can set the choke. As they break apart, Lloveras is pawing at his right eye which has been bloodied by a cut. Gruetzemacher keeps the pressure coming, mixing up punches and low kicks to keep Lloveras on his back foot at all times. Lloveras is still scoring with counters but Gruetzemacher is throwing the higher volume and looks to be doing more damage in this frame. Lloveras double-pumps a jab and comes across the center with a right hand; Gruetzemacher eats them and strikes back with a low kick. In the final 20 seconds, Lloveras slips a punch and tags Gruetzemacher with a lovely counter left hook to the chin.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Gruetzemacher
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Gruetzemacher
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Lloveras

Round 3

Lloveras shoots for an early takedown, then underhooks Gruetzemacher’s arm and spins to try a back-mount when the American sprawls on the shot. Gruetzemacher shakes him off and the lightweights scramble back to their feet. Back comes Lloveras, looking for another takedown, but Gruetzemacher grabs the fence to try and defend. Lloveras instead spins to take the back; again, Gruetzemacher is able to escape the precarious position and get back to striking. Just over three minutes left to fight, Gruetzemacher connects with short left hands in a tie-up away from the fence. They fight over to the cage, Gruetzemacher still keeping hold of Lloveras to bang on the veteran’s legs with short knees. Lloveras finally completes a takedown halfway through the round. Gruetzemacher gets back up right away, Lloveras still clung to his waist, trying to jump on his back. Gruetzemacher throws elbows over his shoulder to get some space, turns and pops Lloveras with some hard uppercuts in the clinch. Final minute now and Lloveras is looking exhausted, circling the outside with his back against the fence, eating more jabs. Gruetzemacher picks up the pace with a body-head combo in the closing seconds, and Lloveras responds with a final right straight which turns Gruetzemacher’s head.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Gruetzemacher (29-28 Gruetzemacher)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Gruetzemacher (29-28 Gruetzemacher)
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Gruetzemacher (29-28 Gruetzemacher)

The Official Result

Chris Gruetzemacher def. Abner Lloveras via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Joby Sanchez vs. Geane Herrera

Round 1

Herrera tries a leaping left high kick at the start of the fight, but Sanchez gets a glove up to block. The flyweights spend the next minute circling and testing the range with punches, neither man gaining any advantage. Sanchez starts to get his hands moving with a couple body-head combinations, but the next time he goes to the body, Herrera is waiting with a pair of hooks. A straight left snaps back Sanchez’s head; Herrera walks him down and pulls the Thai clinch to land a knee up the middle. Sanchez sticks a jab as the pace slows a bit midway through the round. A couple more body blows come through for Sanchez before ducks under a big left hook. Herrera seems to be landing the harder shots when he does connect, but Sanchez has taken over the round with his volume striking. Herrera has a small cut underneath his right eye, and now he eats an overhand right on the other side of the face. Sanchez gets tripped up on a spinning back-kick and is taken down by Herrera in the last 10 seconds of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Sanchez
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Sanchez
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Sanchez

Round 2

Herrera comes over the top with a good right hand in the first 30 seconds, then zaps Sanchez with a left hook a few seconds later. Sanchez tries to step into the pocket for a body shot combination and gets swept out with a counter right hook. A long left hand and a cracking right hook from Herrera force Sanchez to take a few steps back, the Jackson-Wink MMA product now sporting a cut on his left brow. A leaping front kick snaps back Sanchez’s head, and when he tries to run back toward Herrera, he’s popped with a right hand. Herrera is turning the tide in this fight, landing nasty counters to Sanchez’s strikes and using great head movement to avoid damage when combinations come his way. Sanchez gets one back with an overhand right in the last 90 seconds as Herrera’s offensive output slows down. Sanchez runs forward with a nice uppercut, sticks a jab and tries a combination behind it, but Herrera ducks out of the way and blows up Sanchez with a massive left hook counter. Sanchez goes fetal on the ground as Herrera tacks on three or four more punches before referee Chris Tognoni intervenes.

The Official Result

Geane Herrera def. Joby Sanchez via KO (Punches) R2 4:28

Ryan LaFlare vs. Mike Pierce

Round 1

The southpaw LaFlare snaps off a few hard kicks to Pierce’s midsection as the welterweights circle in the opening minute. Pierce is sticking to the outside, not offering much as the taller LaFlare keeps the wrestler on the end of long strikes. Pierce slips throwing a head kick and scrambles up, narrowly avoiding a soccer kick to the face as he stands. Pierce shoots for a single-leg, eats a punch and a knee along the way but manages to put LaFlare on the fence. LaFlare pulls the leg away and circles out, but the next time the New Yorker throws his front kick, Pierce snatches the leg and brings the fight back to the fence. Again, LaFlare is able to escape without taking any damage in the clinch, and now the first round is down to its final 90 seconds. LaFlare is the busier fighter down the stretch, outworking Pierce who continually paws at his left eye as if trying to get something out of it. Pierce tries a high kick in the last seconds but it’s caught by LaFlare and Pierce has to do a handstand to escape.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 LaFlare
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 LaFlare
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 LaFlare

Round 2

Pierce shoots low and gets denied on the shot as LaFlare fires a knee to the wrestler’s gut. LaFlare ducks a punch and tries a takedown of his own; Pierce dead-weights him and stays vertical to circle away. Still controlling the center of the cage is LaFlare, continually pumping out long punches to keep Pierce out of range. Pierce shoots low again and runs into the same knee from LaFlare, who adds a couple chopping leg kicks after separating. LaFlare has that knee waiting each time Pierce tries to change levels. Pierce blitzes LaFlare against the fence, gets zapped by a counter left hook from the taller man and shoots for a takedown against the cage. LaFlare hops out of the single-leg attempt and resets in the center with 2:00 on the clock. Pierce connects with a left hook, tries a big right hand but it’s ducked by LaFlare, who counters with a right hook as he comes back up. Pierce ducks into yet another knee, blocks a left high kick and tries to rush LaFlare with punches in the closing seconds but only winds up holding him on the cage.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 LaFlare
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 LaFlare
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 LaFlare

Round 3

Pierce emerges for the final frame sporting a nasty hematoma on his left temple, evidently from a clash of heads which occurred late in the second frame. He closes in on LaFlare and holds him against the cage, working for a single-leg takedown. LaFlare denies the shot, so Pierce comes upright and tries a bodylock, but LaFlare gets an overhook and shoves the Oregonian back to the center. Three minutes remain and LaFlare is still pumping his jab, preventing Pierce from getting inside to throw hands. Pierce takes a knee to the chest as he tries to get close, but he does succeed in pushing LaFlare against the cage. LaFlare breaks away, and now it’s looking like a lost cause for Pierce unless he can come up with something here in the final 90 seconds. Pierce tries to get into a slugfest but can’t come up with anything as LaFlare slips and ducks out of range. LaFlare puts a front kick in Pierce’s breadbasket and it seems to get the attention of Pierce, who draws a deep breath and comes foward. A left hand connects for Pierce, now an uppercut, now a short right hook as the stunned LaFlare wobbles along the fence. Pierce has a chance here, denying a clinch to push LaFlare’s back against the cage and then backing up to wing punches. Both men are exhausted, neither landing cleanly but both swinging for the fences when the final horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Pierce (29-28 LaFlare)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Pierce (29-28 LaFlare)
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Pierce (29-28 LaFlare)

The Official Result

Ryan LaFlare def. Mike Pierce via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Konstantin Erokhin

Round 1

The big men get off to a slow start, Erokhin working from the center and Gonzaga moving slowly around the edge, cutting short angles. Gonzaga lands a single leg kick and then goes back to standing outside Erokhin’s range with hands held high. The crowd starts to jeer after nearly two and a half minutes of inactivity, and Gonzaga quells them momentarily with a kick to Erokhin’s gut. An overhand right scores for Gonzaga before the Brazilian comes shooting for a double-leg takedown in the center of the Octagon. Erokhin sprawls all over the shot, and the heavyweights are back to their stalemate. Erokhin throws a hard left hook but Gonzaga gets a glove up to block. Gonzaga ducks an overhand from Erokhin, counters with a right hand and tries another takedown, but he’s denied again. Gonzaga closes out the round with a hard shot to Erokhin’s ribs and a fast takedown in the final 20 seconds.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Gonzaga
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Gonzaga
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Gonzaga

Round 2

It’s more of the same as the second round begins, lots of circling and slow stepping from the heavyweights. Gonzaga slides backward, very flat-footed, while Erokhin is trying to bounce on his toes, moving his hands around a bit as he prepares to strike. The boxer Erokhin is still not letting go of his hands, however, and through two minutes, he’s being outworked by Gonzaga’s meager offense. Erokhin flicks out some jabs, pulls up short with most of them and hits Gonzaga’s high guard with the others. Gonzaga puts another good kick across the Russian’s midsection, and now they’re down to the final minute of the round with very little decided. Gonzaga times an Erokhin high kick perfectly, ducking under the strike to shoot for a takedown. Erokhin blocks the shot by grabbing the cage, drawing a warning from referee Chris Tognoni. “Napao” finishes the round on his knees, still working for the takedown.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-10
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-10
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Gonzaga

Round 3

No surprise, it’s another slow start to the final frame, but Gonzaga breaks up the inactivity after 30 seconds by shooting for a takedown. Erokhin denies the first attempt but succumbs to the second, and now jiu-jitsu black belt Gonzaga is in the Russian’s half guard with more than four minutes to work. Gonzaga leans right to left, looking to pin down Erokhin’s left wrist for a kimura. Erokhin counters with short, right-handed body shots on the other side. Gonzaga gives up on the arm, flattens out Erokhin and postures up to land a couple punches while referee Tognoni tells the Brazilian to “work to improve” his position. Gonzaga goes back to the kimura, Erokhin defends by grabbing his own trunks and “Napao” complains to the ref, who informs Gonzaga that it’s legal for a fighter to grab his own trunks, just not those of his opponent. With 1:50 on the clock, Erokhin kicks off the fence and scrambles back to his feet. The big men are back to circling, now even slower than before as both are exhausted. Gonzaga has a shot denied by Erokhin as the final minute ticks down with little action of note.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Gonzaga (30-28 Gonzaga)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Gonzaga (30-28 Gonzaga)
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Gonzaga (30-27 Gonzaga)

The Official Result

Gabriel Gonzaga def. Konstantin Erokhin via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-28) R3 5:00

Julian Erosa vs. Marcin Wrzosek

Round 1

Erosa steps in with a low kick and eats a combination from Wrzosek, who follows up with a right hand to the temple as the lightweights move to the outside. Erosa knocks Wrzosek to the ground with a push kick and the “Polish Zombie” stands back up to ding another overhand right off the American’s face. After a brief clinch, Wrzosek puts a pair of kicks on Erosa’s body and then goes upstairs with two more overhand rights. Another clinch on the fence finds Erosa on the outside with over-unders, looking for a trip. Wrzosek stays standing, so Erosa gives him a knee to the body as they spin along the cage. Wrzosek nearly breaks free at the halfway point, gets tangled up by Erosa and instead drops levels for a takedown. Erosa grabs a guillotine on the way down and uses it to put Wrzosek on the bottom. Wrzosek tries to stand, leaning up against the fence, and Erosa sees the opening for a D’arce choke. Erosa wraps up the neck and rolls Wrzosek away from the fence, but Wrzosek peels away his opponent’s hands and explodes to his feet after a scare. The fighters go back to the clinch in the last minute, working one another’s legs with knees and hammerfists as they trade positions. Wrzosek gets a knee to the gut and responds with four or five good pieces of dirty boxing in the clinch.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Erosa
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Erosa
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Wrzosek

Round 2

Wrzosek closes the gap with a jab and a right hand, shoots in and takes down Erosa with a double near the fence. Erosa pops the standing Wrzosek with an upkick, so the Polish fighter kneels down in his opponent’s guard. The rangy Erosa posts and stands up against the fence, putting the 155ers right back in the clinch where they spent the majority of round one. They break apart and Wrzosek connects with a left hook on the temple, then a left straight that rocks Erosa’s head. Erosa tries to clinch, gets spun around on the fence and has to widen his base to defend a Wrzosek double. Erosa takes the outside position now and lands a few knees to the body, while Wrzosek keeps busy with short right hands to the head. They separate with just over two minutes remaining in the round. Wrzosek dodges a left hook as he shoots and completes another takedown. Once again, Erosa is able to regain his footing after a few seconds. “Juicy J” puts another knee on Wrzosek’s body before he’s reversed. Wrzosek exits with a right hand and they’re back to striking from range in the last minute. Wrzosek bounces on his toes, sticks a jab and hits another takedown in the last 30 seconds.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Wrzosek
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Wrzosek
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Wrzosek

Round 3

Wrzosek comes away from an early exchange grabbing his cup, having received an unintentional foot to the groin as Erosa missed with a knee to the body. The “Zombie” recovers quickly but comes back to eat a flying knee. Wrzosek eats it and keeps pressing forward, slugging Erosa with a hard left on the chin. Just over a minute into the round, Erosa shoots for and completes a takedown, then has to extract his head from a loose guillotine which Wrzosek grabbed on the way down. Wrzosek scrambles up, gets a long right hand on the jaw and has a takedown attempt denied by “Juicy J.” Erosa digs an underhook and shoves Wrzosek against the cage with three minutes left to fight. Wrzosek tries to circle away and stumbles to the ground, then comes right back to the clinch where he’s reversed. The lightweights split briefly before Wrzosek dives on Erosa’s legs again. Erosa stands him up, reclaims the outside position in the clinch and bangs Wrzosek’s gut with a pair of knees. Wrzosek creates some space, ducks low as Erosa runs toward him and eats another leaping knee. Down to the final minute now, Erosa hits another takedown in the center. Wrzosek grabs another guillotine but releases almost as soon as he hits the mat. Erosa wraps up another D’arce choke but Wrzosek rolls through and frees himself, and the fighters scramble up to finish the fight on their feet.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Erosa (29-28 Erosa)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Erosa (29-28 Erosa)
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Erosa (29-28 Wrzosek)

The Official Result

Julian Erosa def. Marcin Wrzosek via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) R3 5:00

Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Jason Knight

Round 1

Knight takes the center of the cage immediately and sticks Kawajiri with a jab as the “Crusher” tries to come inside. Another stiff jab gets Kawajiri blinking, then shooting for a takedown which he easily completes near the center of the cage. Knight throws up a high guard, nearly turns it into a triangle but can’t cinch it, so instead he throws slicing elbows at the top of Kawajiri’s head. Kawajiri postures up and pulls backward to free himself from the triangle, tries to shuck Knight’s legs and pass to the side but gets denied by the American’s long limbs and shifting hips. Kawajiri works from Knight’s closed guard with three minutes on the clock, advancing to half guard about 30 seconds later. Knight reclaims full guard but Kawajiri gets through with a few good elbows to the face. Kawajiri backs out of the guard when Knight goes to pivot off the fence, then comes back and presses “The Kid” on the ground to land a hammerfist. A few more punches and Knight has a cut opened up beneath his left eye. Referee John McCarthy warns Knight for lacing his toes in the fence as he tries to kick off and escape. Kawajiri keeps top position to the end of the round, smothering Knight, who has blood leaking into his eye as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Kawajiri
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Kawajiri
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Kawajiri

Round 2

Kawajiri whiffs on a spinning backfist as the round begins, resets and shoots on Knight’s legs away from the fence. Knight willingly drops to his guard, trying to pull a triangle as he goes down, but Kawajiri breaks the position right away. Rubber guard won’t work for Knight either, as Kawajiri postures up to crack the American with an elbow on his already damaged left cheek. Kawajiri is doing his thing and having his way through the first half of the round, mashing on Knight with short elbows and hammerfists as he pressures from the top. Referee McCarthy brings the fighters back to their feet with just over two minutes remaining and they’re back on the ground seconds later thanks to another Kawajiri double-leg. The former Shooto champ nearly passes to full mount but has his right foot trapped between Knight’s legs. The position also blocks Kawajiri from completing an arm-triangle choke, so the “Crusher” releases and smashes Knight’s face with one more elbow before the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Kawajiri
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Kawajiri
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Kawajiri

Round 3

Kawajiri opens the round with another spinning attack, a kick to the body this time, and he lands flush to Knight’s gut. Another takedown follows soon after, Knight planted on his back in the middle of the cage again. Kawajiri passes to half guard and puts his weight on Knight to keep him flat on the ground. Referee McCarthy stands them up a little quicker this time, so Kawajiri just hits another takedown. With Knight’s feet pushing off the fence, Kawajiri passes to side control on the American’s right, then moves to north-south position. Kawajiri throws punches backward, behind his left leg, and manages to connect with Knight’s face. The ref calls for action with 2:20 on the clock and Kawajiri moves back to side control to drop hammerfists. Knight kicks his legs up and traps Kawajiri’s right arm with his left leg, but Kawajiri is kneeling down on Knight’s right arm, leaving neither fighter in a position to strike. The featherweights are brought back to their feet with one minute remaining, and they’re back on the ground with 45 seconds left. Kawajiri stacks up Knight at the base of the fence, defends a last-ditch armbar attempt and ends the fight throwing hammerfists.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Kawajiri (30-27 Kawajiri)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Kawajiri (30-27 Kawajiri)
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Kawajiri (30-27 Kawajiri)

The Official Result

Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Jason Knight via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Joe Lauzon vs. Evan Dunham

Round 1

Long southpaw Dunham opens with a nice combination, sending a few hooks off Lauzon’s head and arms. Lauzon tags him back with a pair of overhand lefts to the temple. Dunham keeps the combos coming until he’s shoved against the fence by Lauzon, who eats an uppercut as Dunham breaks away. The lightweights fight on the fence, Lauzon landing a hard elbow in the clinch and then angling away. Lauzon tries a clinch and gets a left hook, right hand to the face. Lauzon tries to come inside but is cleared out by Dunham’s fast combinations and push kicks to the body. “J-Lau” is connecting with solid punches here and there but is being outworked by Dunham through four minutes. Dunham lands a knee to the gut that sends Lauzon shooting for a takedown. The fighters scramble up and Lauzon gets the last word with a straight right hand.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Dunham
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Dunham
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Dunham

Round 2

Dunham picks off the incoming Lauzon with a sweeping right hand and then angles off to the other side of the cage. Lauzon keeps pressing forward and touches Dunham with a left hand on the end of a combination. Dunham is bleeding from his right ear but still throwing the greater volume of strikes, scoring particularly well with a right hand down the middle. Lauzon catches a kick and knocks Dunham backward with a punch. Dunham grabs a bodylock and tries to spin Lauzon to the ground, but the Massachusetts native keeps his footing with his back pressed against the cage. They separate halfway through the round and Lauzon lands a vicious knee to the face of Dunham, who just eats it and marches forward to land a left hook. The knee has opened up a cut on Dunham’s right eye which leaks onto both men as Dunham handles Lauzon in the clinch. Good dirty boxing and short elbows from Dunham here, roughing up Lauzon and keeping the smaller man trapped. Lauzon busts free with a slashing elbow inside the last minute of the round, but Dunham gets him back with a clinch knee and a couple clinch uppercuts as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Dunham
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Dunham
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Dunham

Round 3

Lauzon continues to push forward at the start of the final frame, but he’s beaten to the punch by Dunham nearly every time. Long combinations stay in Lauzon’s face and are sometimes followed by body kicks or chops to his lead leg. A right hand behind the ear seems to stagger Lauzon for a second but he turns around and walks straight after Dunham seconds later. Dunham lands a head kick, an uppercut and split Lauzon’s mitts with a straight left. Lauzon tries to drop to guard as they hit the halfway mark, but Dunham wants him back up. Lauzon’s face is getting increasingly bloody as Dunham racks up the uppercuts and left hands. A kick appears to connect to Dunham’s cup in the last two minutes, but he tells referee Herb Dean that he can keep fighting. Another straight left snaps back Lauzon’s head, but he steps right forward on Dunham and zaps him with a nice lead uppercut. Dunham seems unfazed and keeps on bouncing, keeps throwing combinations down the stretch.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Dunham (30-27 Dunham)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Dunham (30-27 Dunham)
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Dunham (30-27 Dunham)

The Official Result

Evan Dunham def. Joe Lauzon via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27) R3 5:00

Tony Ferguson vs. Edson Barboza

Round 1

Both men stick hard jabs at the onset of the bout, then Ferguson shoots low and is denied on a single-leg attempt. Ferguson takes a few leg kicks before he rolls for a kneebar, bringing Barboza to the ground in the process. “El Cucuy” connects with three or four hard hammerfists from his back, followed by an elbow to the side of Barboza’s face. With his leg still tangled, Barboza tries to scramble up and gets kicked in the face on the way. Referee John McCarthy pauses the action for the illegal kick as Barboza stumbles to his feet. The doctor is called in to check on Barboza, who nods that he’s able to continue. Referee McCarthy takes a point from Ferguson and action resumes with 3:30 on the clock. Barboza digs a left hook to the body of Ferguson, who answers with a cracking right hook. Another ripping left hook connects to Ferguson’s gut, then another. Ferguson dives for another leglock but comes up with nothing this time. Barboza ducks a wide right hand from Ferguson and dings the American’s body as he sidesteps away. Barboza gets a quick takedown and allows Ferguson to stand after only a few seconds on the mat. They’re down to the last 90 seconds of a frantic first round, and both men plant hard right hands on their opponent’s jaw. Barboza gets Ferguson staggering backward with a left hand to the temple, then sidesteps another rolling leglock attempt from the “TUF” winner. Ferguson doubles up on his jab, gets a spinning back-kick in the breadbasket. Ferguson has a kick caught but slugs Barboza with a right straight while hopping on one leg. Barboza ends the round with a spinning kick to Ferguson’s haunches.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 9-9
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Barboza
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-8 Barboza

Round 2

Ferguson is cut open in the first minute of the round, a slice leaking from his right brow down into his eye. Barboza is opened up, too, by an elbow which opens a gash on his forehead. Barboza catches a kick and takes Ferguson to the ground, where the action stalls and the fighters are brought back to their feet with 3:30 on the clock. Barboza sends a pair of hard rights down the middle, then whips around with a spinning kick and finds nothing as Ferguson ducks low. Ferguson lands a spinning elbow, though it’s partially blocked, then sprawls on shot from Barboza and snares the Brazilian in a D’arce choke. Barboza pushes away Ferguson’s hips, tries to escape, but the choke is tight and he’s forced to submit.

The Official Result

Tony Ferguson def. Edson Barboza via Submission (Brabo Choke) R2 2:54

Artem Lobov vs. Ryan Hall

Round 1

Hall flicks out a few kicks as he’s backed up toward the fence. As soon as Lobov comes close enough, Hall rolls for a leglock and transitions straight onto Lobov’s back. With one hook in, Hall wraps up a rear-naked choke but can’t get completely underneath Lobov’s chin. Hall shifts to secure the back-mount with a body triangle and abandons the choke to drop punches on Lobov with just under four minutes left in the round. Lobov buries his chin to the left while Hall drops right hands, looking for an opening to wrap up the neck again. Minutes pass with Hall maintaining the dangerous position and Lobov defending by staying almost totally still, save for a few punches over his shoulder. Hall squeezes Lobov’s midsection with the body triangle and leans back to throw harder punches to the side of the head. With 40 seconds left, Hall rolls Lobov away from the fence and fishes for the rear-naked choke again as the Russian gets to his knees. The RNC does not materialize, so Hall ends the round with more punches from the back.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-8 Hall
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Hall
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-8 Hall

Round 2

Lobov knocks Hall to his backside with a push kick, but the jiu-jitsu ace gets up and rolls for a leglock. This time, Lobov sidesteps the attempt and then walks back at Hall with his hands held low. Lobov grabs a leg and Hall willingly drops to guard, where he slaps on a body triangle from the bottom. Hall rolls for a leg again and Lobov escapes to his feet. They’re back on their feet for only a few seconds before Hall drops to guard, but Lobov wants none of it. Lobov’s hands are by his waist as he walks forward on Hall, who grabs hold and pulls the “Hammer” into his guard halfway through the round. Hall holds the position with another body triangle from his back, but Lobov sits up to land his first solid ground punches of the fight. Hall swings his legs up for an armbar, freezes up Lobov and socks him with a couple hammerfists from the bottom. Another heel hook attempt from Hall inside the final minute ends with Lobov rolling atop the American with their legs entangled. Hall drops back to give the heel hook one last try, and that’s where the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Hall
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Hall
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Hall

Round 3

Lobov comes out swinging a big left hand, misses with an uppercut and has to sprawl on a Hall takedown attempt. Hall resets and dives on Lobov’s legs again, this time locking up the Russian’s right leg with a figure four. Hall stretches out the leg and tries an inside heel hook, but Lobov pulls the limb free and scrambles up. Hall gives chase, shooting for another takedown and winding up on his back, holding Lobov in another body triangle. Referee Herb Dean calls for action as the lightweights fight on the ground with three minutes remaining in the third. Hall jumps on Lobov’s back as they scramble up, but Lobov traps his opponent’s hands, leading to a stalemate as they lean against the fence. Hall is losing his body triangle, slowly sliding off the back, but he’s got his right hand free now and pops Lobov with short punches to the body and head. Lobov is frozen, can’t really do anything from the position even as Hall has fallen nearly completely off his back. Hall readjusts with 35 seconds left and goes for the rear-naked choke again after securing the back-mount. Lobov defends, so Hall goes back to punching and grimacing as the crowd as he nears what should be a decision win.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Hall (30-26 Hall)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Hall (30-26 Hall)
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Hall (30-26 Hall)

The Official Result

Ryan Hall def. Artem Lobov via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27) R3 5:00

Frankie Edgar vs. Chad Mendes

Round 1

Referee John McCarthy is the third man in the cage for tonight’s main event, with judges Chris Lee, Marcos Rosales and Glenn Trowbridge scoring at cageside. Edgar splits the gloves of Mendes with a jab, has a leg kick checked by the Californian and takes one in return. Mendes connects with a right hook and gets a warning from referee McCarthy to keep his hands closed while striking. Edgar fakes a shot, gets pushed away and eats another right hand, but “The Answer” responds with a stinging three-piece combo. Mendes lands a leg kick and circles back to the center, where Edgar follows and absolutely starches “Money” with a beautiful counter left hook to the chin. Mendes hits the ground on his back and wakes up after Edgar lands a coffin nail. It’s a flash knockout, but it’s too late: McCarthy rightly runs in to halt the bout just as Mendes rolls to his feet. Frankie Edgar records a stunning knockout in this crucial featherweight bout.

The Official Result

Frankie Edgar def. Chad Mendes via KO (Punch) R1 2:28