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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER 16 FINALE
DECEMBER 15, 2012
LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
=====Preliminary Card Quick Results=====
-Tim Elliott def. Jared Papazian via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)
-Mike Rio def. John Cofer via submission (armbar) at 4:11 of the third round
-Hugo Viana def. Reuben Duran via TKO at 4:05 of the first round
-T.J. Waldburger def. Nick Catone via submission (triangle choke) at 1:04 of the second round
-Rustam Khabilov def. Vinc Pichel via KO at 2:15 of the first round
-Johnny Bedford def. Marcos Vinicius via KO at 1:00 of the second round
-Mike Pyle def. James Head via TKO at 1:55 of the first round
=====FX Main Card=====
-They didn't have enough time to adjust the opening video package, so they had the Jamie Varner and Melvin Guillard portions still there. Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan then open up the broadcast, breaking down the Ultimate Fighter finals bout tonight. The reaffirm the loss of Guillard-Varner, and then it's on to the first bout of the night.
FIGHT ONE: DUSTIN POIRIER VS. JONATHAN BROOKINS (FEATHERWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Poirier closed the distance early and tried to throw the overhand right, but he got hit by a jab. Poirier kept the pressure on and he landed a nice shot. Brookins then rocked him, though, and backed him up to the cage. They started swinging wildly at one another, with Brookins connecting on several strikes with Poirier on the cage. Poirier then shot in and clinched. He got Brookins' back briefly standing, then they separated. Poirier closed the distance again. Brookins put him on the fence and they swung at each other again. Poirier landed a nice elbow on separation as they broke off again. Poirier initiated another clinch. Brookins landed an uppercut to the body and backed off. Poirier landed a nice leg kick and a hook behind it. Brookins caught a kick and tripped Poirier up, but Poirier got up. He reached in for a few strikes that missed. Poirier landed a couple of nice strikes and got Brookins backing up a bit. Brookins landed a jab and they traded leg kicks. Poirier stunned Brookins with a straight right, but Brookins popped right back up. Poirier backed off just a little and teed off. Brookins Dropped down, and Poirier locked on a D'Arce choke. He rolled to tighten it and forced the tap. Man that was a wild fight.
WINNER: Poirier via submission (D'Arce Choke) at 4:15 of the first round
STAR RATING: (***) That was a wild and crazy one round brawl, but there was some nice technique on display as well. Poirier landed a great straight right that dropped Brookins and set up the rest of that sequence, and that was great awareness by him to set up the choke when Brookins dropped down.
-Poirier commented that he tried out for the season of TUF that Brookins won, so this was his Ultimate Fighter Finale win right here.
-The Rustam Khabilov vs. Vinc Pichel fight is replayed after the break. Must-see work from Khabilov in that fight.
FIGHT TWO: PAT BARRY VS. SHANE DEL ROSARIO (HEAVYWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Del Rosario opened things up with a kick to the body. Barry landed an inside leg kick. Barry landed a hard kick outside. Del Rosario clinched up and landed a couple knees. He drove Barry to the cage, and landed another knee to the body. Barry used the cage to help him avoid a takedown, and he nearly pulled off a slick move before Del Rosario caught the cage with his hand to steady him. Tit for tat on that one. Del Rosario landed a couple more knees to the body against the cage. Del Rosario kept the pressure on him in the clinch. Barry finally shoved him off. Del Rosario landed a leg kick and Barry moved forward. Barry just missed a big overhand right as Del Rosario popped in. Del Rosario got in a kick. He shot in and Barry stuffed another takedown. Only briefly, though, as Del Rosario dragged him down and took his back. He set up for the rare naked choke, but he was too high up and lost the hold. Barry tried to slam him down, but lost his arm in there. Del Rosario went for it, but lost it. He stayed on Barry's back and got a hook back in. He got both hooks in, but transitioned for the arm again. He lost it, and Barry ended up on top in side control as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Del Rosario. He pressed the pace with his grappling attack, and held positional control throughout. Good defense for the most part from Barry, though.
ROUND TWO: Barry landed a good strike early. He landed a huge left that hurt Del Rosario, and the killer instinct kicked in and he rushed in. He blasted Del Rosario with a couple of strikes, and then knocked him down and out with a huge right to the jaw. Beautiful finish.
WINNER: Barry via KO at :26 of the second round
-A very emotional Barry broke down talking about getting the text message about yesterday's tragedy, and telling everyone to hug their loved ones and how he just wants to go home and be with his girlfriend. He gave Joe Rogan a hug in the cage. He said he's either throwing heat all the way or losing all the way, there's no in between.
STAR RATING: (**+) Sloppy, but fun, first round, and Barry showed off some more improved defense in the grappling department, but that finish was sick in the second round. Barry's always had power, and he showed that off in spectacular fashion after clipping Del Rosario. Great, exciting finish from Barry.
-They re-air the Mike Pyle-James Head bout from the preliminary card.
-Bonuses handed out for this season of TUF. Jon Manley took "Submission of the Season," Eddy Ellis and Colton Smith earned "Fight of the Season," and Mike Ricci earned the "Knockout of the Season." All four fighters earned $25,000 for their efforts.
FIGHT THREE: MIKE RICCI VS. COLTON SMITH (TUF 16 FINALS)
ROUND ONE: Smith ducked under a kick from Ricci and shot for a single leg. Ricci landed a series of elbows and broke loose. Smith rushed him and grabbed a body lock, but Ricci held him off well on the cage. Smith scored the takedown, but Ricci got to his feet. Smith dragged him down briefly, but Ricci got up again. Smith tried to get hooks in standing. Ricci tried to spin him over, but Smith got him down. Smith landed some strikes, but Ricci continued defending well. Ricci continued defending well with Smith on his back. Ricci then reversed nicely and popped to his feet. Ricci tried to walk Smith down, but he was a bit tentative to engage. Smith shot in for a leg and Ricci landed a couple of strikes. Back to the body lock and Smith pressed Ricci to the cage. Smith scored another takedown. Ricci got to a knee. Smith landed a couple knees to the body as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Smith. The wrestling advantage for Smith is the story right now. Ricci's got to avoid the takedowns and get in some striking before the grappling is initiated or this will be a long night for him.
ROUND TWO: Smith landed a kick to the groin but referee Steve Mazzagatti didn't halt the action. Smith tried to rush in and Ricci landed a strike, but Mazzagatti didn't stop the action. Unacceptable. Ricci recovered with Smith on him in the clinch. Smith scored a takedown, but Ricci scooted to the cage. Ricci gave up his back, but got to his feet. Smith got in the hooks and worked for a choke. Ricci got loose and got to his feet again. Smith stayed on him with the body lock again and scored another takedown. Smith got the back with another hook in. He got the second hook in and rolled with it. Smith tried to grab the choke, but Ricci continued defending. They stayed in that position to the end of the round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Smith. The grappling is too much for Ricci right now. However, the takedown was set up by Mazzagatti's complete ineptitude with that low blow. How you don't halt the action there is mind boggling.
ROUND THREE: Ricci checked a kick. Smith landed a kick to the body. Smith rushed in with a clinch and dragged him down. Smith took his back again. Smith again tried to set up a choke, but didn't have it locked on. Smith continued trying to get a choke, but Ricci fought it off every time. Smith landed some strikes from the back. Smith continued to work, and Ricci just laid there defending with Smith on his back. Ricci tried to turn over and explode out, and Smith stayed on him. The fans boo loudly. I don't blame them. Ricci finally spun out and got on Smith's back. Ricci went for an armbar, but Smith got out and took Ricci's back, riding him out to the end of the round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Smith. Ricci couldn't stop the takedown, but Smith had no finishing ability. That makes for a bad, repetitive, fight, and that's what we got. The worst TUF season in years if not ever goes out with a fizzle.
WINNER: Smith via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
-Smith was being presented with a Harley Davidson motorcycle for winning this fight, and he wasn't paying attention. Dana White almost yelled at him, saying "do this!" Ridiculous.
STAR RATING: (*) I hated that fight. Smith's size and strength allowed him to dominate Ricci in the grappling department. However, he came nowhere near finishing the fight, leading to a monotonous, repetitive, unexciting 15 minutes. I don't think anyone's going to be clamoring to see Colton Smith fight moving forward.
MAIN EVENT FIGHT FOUR: ROY NELSON VS. MATT MITRIONE (HEAVYWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Mitrione tried to pop in from range and back out. He threw a high kick that was blocked. He avoided the big shot early. He landed a kick high. He continued throwing it and avoiding Nelson's shots. Nelson got in close with a body lock and looked for the takedown. Mitrione turned him around and landed a knee to the body. He got in another. He landed an elbow as he separated. Mitrione landed a hard right after having a kick to the head blocked. He landed another hard body kick. Nelson threw a few big strikes, but Mitrione covered up well. Mitrione connected on a right. He landed a solid leg kick. Nelson landed a hard right. Nelson knocked MItrione down with a big uppercut with a left behind it. He followed up with a big series of punches on the ground that caused Herb Dean to step in. Was that outcome ever in doubt?
WINNER: Nelson via TKO at 2:58 of the first round
STAR RATING: (**) Decent enough action early on, but it was just an inevitable outcome that Nelson would find a home for the power shot at some point. Mitrione was never going to be able to stop him, and it was just a matter of time before he got clipped.
-The remainder of the broadcast will feature prelims from earlier in the night. Thanks for sticking with us tonight for a mostly entertaining night of fights on FX! We'll have reactions to this and last night's UFC on FX 6 event throughout the week, then we'll head into the holiday weekend and more anticipating the year-end UFC 155 event in two weeks!
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_PPVs_6/article_15326.shtml
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