Roxanne “The Happy Warrior” Modafferi took on Nicco Montano in the finale.
The 26th season of The Ultimate Fighter came to an end Friday Night with the crowning of the first ever UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion. After a very entertaining season of the show, we finally reached the pinnacle. The main event featured the first UFC Women’s Flyweight Title fight as Roxanne “The Happy Warrior” Modafferi (21-15) is going to take on Nicco Montano (5-2). The prelims were almost like a blur with the number of finishes that went on. We saw a full display of armbars that ended fights very quickly. If the UFC was hoping that this fight card would boost the lead in for tomorrow night they certainly got what they wanted. The main event was also a great fight with a lot on the line and it certainly delivered. Let’s take a look back at the night that was The Ultimate Fighter Season 26 finale.
We start off the night with one fight on UFC Fight Pass at 7:30p, and it features two cast members of the season as Gillian “The Savage” Robertson (4-2) takes on Emily “Spitfire” Whitmire (2-2). Whitmire came out moving at Robertson fast, but Robertson landed a nice counter right hand. Whitmire went for the clinch and when she backed off she ripped a two punch combination. Robertson went for a takedown, and was trying to get in to mount, but ended up taking Whitmire’s back with her back against the cage. Whitmire was able to escape and ended up on top, but Robertson was looking for an armbar. Emily did a good job escaping that and coming down with a heavy shot while staying on top. However, Robertson snatched the arm and had a tight armbar very quickly. The tap came and Gillian Robertson the youngest member of the Ultimate Fighter cast got her first UFC victory. There is a lot of room to grow for the 22-year-old, but this 1st round submission victory is a great start.
Kicking off the FS1 prelims Ariel Beck (4-5) and Shana “Danger” Dobson (3-1) enter the Octagon. Beck was initially out here throwing kicks to the body and landing them solidly. Dobson was taking her time getting into the action and landed a hard low leg kick. Dobson then fired off a jab and two hard kicks. The two traded two low leg kicks, and then Beck came back with a straight left hand and a body kick that connected. Dobson landed a hard low leg kick that put Beck to a knee despite Beck landing a hard left hand. Beck grabbed for the clinch and had Dobson pressed up against the cage. Dobson missed with a right hand and ate a body kick. Dobson recovered with another right hand just before the bell ending the round. Both fighters were out early throwing leg kicks back and forth with Dobson’s appearing to have the harder of the shots land. Dobson landed a low kick and short right hand that forced Beck back. Dobson hit an inside shot in the clinch before backing away. Dobson was staying out of harm’s way, but Ariel was continuing to throw combinations. Dobson landed a big right hook and then an uppercut and Beck turtled up on the mat and this fight was all over. A great debut for Shana Dobson who showed her striking and power to get an important win in the brand new division.
Two more teammates did battle as Karine “Princess” Gevorgyan (3-3) took on Rachael Ostovich (4-3). The fighters touched gloves and two straight low kicks from Ostovich to start. Ostovich set up a combination and immediately went for a takedown and secured it. Karine went for an armbar, but Ostovich was able to escape and Karine got back to her feet. In doing so Ostovich got her back and then transitioned to an armbar. The armbar was in quickly and deep and that was all she wrote. Rachael Ostovich made her presence known with a big submission victory for her first UFC win. These types of finishes early in the fights are big for the new weight class, and she could find herself up in the top 5 after something like this.
The first non-cast related bout was next between Andrew “El Dirte” Sanchez (10-3) and Ryan Janes (9-3). Janes was coming out fast trying to land some right hands. Sanchez scored a double leg takedown, but Janes got back to his feet almost immediately. Sanchez landed a hard straight left, and then a clinch battle ensured. Sanchez landed a hard right hand and Janes crumpled to the mat. Sanchez went for a finish, but Janes was like a zombie eating more shots and a huge head kick as well. Janes grabbed him and held on. Sanchez was able to finish, and Janes was back in the center of the Octagon moving forward towards Sanchez. They clinched up against the cage, but they separated quickly and Janes landed a hard right to the body. Janes went for the clinch, but Sanchez was able to push him off and get the fight back to the middle. Sanchez hit another right hand, but he had slowed considerably and Janes landed a small flurry right at the horn. Janes was moving forward almost immediately in round 2 and was eating straight shots from Sanchez. Janes had to eat a spinning back fist but fired back with a knee, Sanchez changed levels going for a takedown, but Janes was able to get right back to his feet. Sanchez was trying his best to use the clinch to get the fight to the mat. Janes walked Sanchez across the cage in the clinch, and they just kept going back and forth position wise against the fence. Janes ripped a hard left hand to a very tired Sanchez and Janes kept going to that well. Sanchez scored a takedown, but Janes got right back to his feet and landed a huge knee as they rose up. A big left hook from Janes did some serious damage, and he walked through a big right hand from Sanchez. The round came to an end with Janes really having the momentum over an exhausted Sanchez. Sanchez landed aright hand with almost nothing behind it to start round 3. Sanchez went for a takedown, but Janes shrugged him off easily. Janes was unloading against the cage on Sanchez. Janes landed another big combination sending Sanchez down to 1 knee and Janes just absolutely unloaded and this fight was over. This was a crazy fight from Janes essentially being knocked out in round one to coming back and scoring a finish in round 3. Janes showed a ton of heart and willpower to stick through all the damage from round 1. Janes made the most of this chance and will get another fight in the UFC for sure.
The final FS1 Prelim was another Ultimate Fighter matchup as Christina Marks (8-9) takes on Montana De La Rosa (8-4). De La Rosa tried to come forward right away, and Marks landed a big right hand that forced De La Rosa to clinch. After the wild first exchange, De La Rosa was holding the clinch against the cage to recover. De La Rosa appeared to recover and land a kick. Marks caught kick to the body and forced the fight to the mat, but De La Rosa immediately grabbed an armbar and was very close to locking it in. De La Rosa got the tap and that was that for this one. Montana De La Rosa is a very skilled grappler and her Jiu Jitsu really helped her here. She is the second youngest fighter form the cast and is only getting better, and with that ground game, the sky is the limit.
We head to the Main Card on FS1 and the bantamweights kick it off with former title challenger Joe Soto (18-6) taking on the undefeated Brett “The Pikey” Johns (15-0). Johns immediately came right out and was pressing forward on Soto. Johns ripped a combination that was mostly blocked by Soto. Then a level change and a takedown from Soto that Johns is able to reverse and roll Soto over. As he rolls him Johns grabs for a calf slicer and Soto taps. In arguably the one way most would have never predicted Brett Johns submitted Joe Soto. Brett Johns is a real threat moving forward having taken out a former title challenger he needs a top 15 opponent sooner rather than later.
Up next is another Ultimate Fighter matchup as the #4 seed Deanna “Vitamin D” Bennett (8-3-1) and #7 seed Melinda Fabian (4-3-2) met in the Octagon. Bennett led out the fight with a low leg kick, and then Fabian started coming forward. Fabian landed a few combinations that finished with kicks before Bennett grabbed her and a clinch battle ensued. Bennett was trying to work for a takedown, but Fabian was doing a great job staying on her feet. Fabian reversed the position briefly, but Bennett eventually got back on the outside. Eventually, Big John separated the 2 and they got back to the center of the cage. Fabian landed a big right hand and then continued to land combinations with the right hand heavily featured. Bennett grabbed for the clinch and kept her pressed up against the cage. Right before the end of the round Fabian separated and went for a flurry of punches that ended with a clean head kick that sent Bennett flying. Fabian briefly celebrated then pounced, but the round came to an end. Big John made sure Bennett could continue and we were set for round 2. Bennett immediately went for a takedown to start round 2which was letting her continue to recover. Fabian was staying on her feet very well. Bennett was working and working, and as she got close Fabian grabbed the fence to stay up. Big John warned her three times and then stopped the fight to take a point away from Fabian, which could loom large. They restarted in the same position, and Bennett was back to going for the takedown. Big John stepped in and separated them again, and Bennett went right back to the clinch against the fence. They were separated again, and we went right back to the same position with Fabian continuing to depend. Bennett had landed 5 strikes through almost 2 full rounds, which seems almost impossible. Another late round flurry from Fabian ended round 2. Fabian came out early in round 3 and was landing combinations with her right-hand multiple times for the first minute and a half. Then Bennett again went for a takedown, which was stuffed by Fabian. The clinch game was getting very old, and Big John finally separated it again. Fabian was landing again on the separation, and yet another takedown and attempt leads to a clinch battle. Fabian battled off the fence and Fabian unloaded another head kick that was blocked. Fabian had her leg kicked out by Bennett who jumped on her and ended the fight on top landing a few shots to the body. The judges were accessed for the first time tonight and they scored it 29-27 Fabian and then two judges had it 28-28 making it a majority draw. Fabian deserved the win, but that point deduction loomed large.
The next match was between two grapplers Eric “Zebrinha” Spicely (10-4) and Gerald “GM3” Meerschaert (27-9). Meerschaert came out early and was establishing his left hand landing it several times in the first 30 seconds. Meerschaert was landing a ton of shots, but Spicely was blocking a lot of them. Spicely returned fire and Meerschaert had to back off. Spicely then went for and secured a takedown, and transition to taking Meerschaert’s back and locking in a body triangle very early in the round. Spicely was trying to soften him up and open up a shot for the rear naked choke, but Meerschaert was doing a great job staying out of trouble. Spicely tried to transition to an armbar, but Meerschaert used that to escape and actually ended the round one on top in Spicely’s guard. Meerschaert was trying to move forward again in round 2 and landing shots. Meerschaert stuffed a takedown from Spicely and landed a very hard body kick. Meerschaert stuffed another takedown then as he is backing Spicely back down to the cage Meerschaert uncorks another hard body kick, and as soon as it landed Spicely crumbled to the mat. Herb Dean stepped in immediately and this one was over. Meerschaert hasn’t shown his striking this much with this type of success since joining the UFC, but after a lot of adversity in round one to come back and close the match with a body kick like that it was impressive.
A matchup of top 3 seeds from the show was next as Barb “The Little Warrior” Honchak (10-4) and Lauren “Lucky” Murphy (10-3). Murphy came out across the cage first as Honchak stayed back early. Murphy was trying to land combinations, but Honchak was staying out of range. Murphy landed a hard right hand, but Honchak was unaffected. Murphy put together another nice right hand and was continuing to pressure Honchak and move her back. Honchak landed a hard right leg kick, but Murphy was continuing to come forward. Honchak was starting to land right hands of her own as the round wore on. The last 30 seconds was action packed with both fighters landing shots in the center of the Octagon as the round ended. Honchak was finding more right hands early in round 2. There was another big right-hand form Honchak that backed Murphy off. She wasted little time coming back at Honchak however with a right hand of her own. There were two more right hands from Honchak who was really starting to pile them on. Murphy was still not worried and returning rights as well. Murphy then changed levels and scored a big double leg takedown, but Honchak was able to get almost right back up to her feet with Murphy on her back. Murphy dragged her down again, but Honchak was able to reverse the position and finish the round on top. Honchak was landing her shots early in round three with a stiff left hand that was landing. Honchak landed an inside leg kick and then another right hand, but Murphy returned fire with a right hand as well. Honchak threw a body kick that Murphy caught and led to a takedown for Murphy. Honchak was not allowing any offense from Murphy on the mat, just keeping her tied up Honchak grabbed for an armbar, and Murphy was forced to defend it. Honchak transitioned to a triangle choke and then back to an armbar, but Murphy was able to survive. Murphy actually transitioned to taking Honchak’s back, but was not doing much damage and just trying to open up for a rear naked choke as the round and fight came to an end. The judges scored this very close fight 29-28 Honchak, 29-28 Murphy, and 29-28 for the split decision winner Lauren Murphy. This was a very big win for the late replacement Lauren Murphy. She is now in the real hunt at 125 in the new division.
The UFC debut of “Sugar” Sean O’Malley (9-0) came in with some hype and took on Terrion “Flash” Ware (17-7). O’Malley was out there moving around and throwing heavy kicks a head kick that was blocked and then two hard body kicks that landed. O’Malley landed a spinning back fist, but Ware came in and landed a right hand and followed up with the clinch up against the cage. O’Malley was able to escape and create space between the two. O’Malley landed a left and right hand followed by a question mark kick that landed. O’Malley just continued to move in and out and sneak in punches that were landing. Ware, however, was starting to move forward and O’Malley brushed him off to the ground. As Ware got up O’Malley landed a hard straight left hand. O’Malley went for a late takedown that was stuffed by Ware just before the round ended. O’Malley landed a hard body kick early and spent a lot of time avoiding strikes until Ware let off a hard low kick that got his attention. Ware continued to move forward and walked into a big head kick, but just kept moving forward. Ware was really finding success and ripped three big knees in the clinch against the cage. Ware closing the distance was really giving him a lot of success in the round. O’Malley was slowing and Ware just kept coming forward. O’Malley threw a jumping head kick and slipped and Ware jumped on top of him on the mat. Ware went down with him briefly, but they got back to the feet and O’Malley hit a hard spinning back fist. Now it was Ware who appeared to slow and O’Malley went for a late flying triangle attempt. Ware went down with him, but O’Malley got back to the feet as the round ended. Ware moved forward immediately to start round three, but it was O’Malley who was landing more of the significant shots. O’Malley landed an over had right and then a left-right combination right behind it. Ware was not throwing much out of low leg kicks that were still finding a home. O’Malley was moving better in this round than round 2 and was landing the majority of the shots. Ware ate a spinning wheel kick and then, even more, punches before shooting for a takedown, but O’Malley stuffed it and switched it around to one of his own. Ware got back to his feet and was met with a hard body kick and a head kick. O’Malley got him back down and went for a D’arce choke, but he slipped off and they got back to the feet. Ware was holding his back, but O’Malley escaped and scored one last late takedown as the time expired. The judges scored this one 29-28 across the board all for Sean O’Malley. This was a solid debut for O’Malley who really fought through adversity in the second round. He showed a lot of heart and improved his record and got that super important 1st UFC victory.
Main Event time and it is for the first ever UFC Women’s Flyweight Title as Roxanne “The Happy Warrior” Modafferi (21-15) is going to take on Nicco Montano (5-2). Modafferi came right out across the cage trying to close the distance, and Montano met it with a low leg kick. Montano was pressing forward and had Modafferi against the cage briefly before pushing off. Montano landed a hard inside leg kick and Modafferi returned with a body kick and leg kick of her own. The two clinched up and Modafferi went for a trip takedown, but it was stuffed by Montano. Montano caught a body kick and took Modafferi down and tried to land elbows from the top. Modafferi was actively looking to set up submissions from the bottom. Montano was doing a good job staying out of trouble, but Modafferi kept her in the guard. Montano was able to get away and get Modafferi to stand up. Immediately however Modafferi went for a takedown and was successfully in side control. Montano was defending well on the ground and not taking a ton of damage as the round came to an end. Modafferi came out with a head of steam in round 2 and landed a big right hand early that appeared to stun Montano. Modafferi was trying to follow up, but Montano was able to survive and get out of the clinch against the cage. Montano slipped in a right hand on the break of a clinch, but Roxanne was just relentlessly moving forward. Two leg kicks and a left hand came form Montano as she was starting to find a home on the feet. Montano came forward with a nice body kick and then tried to clinch, but Modafferi was able to avoid it. Montano went for a takedown, but Modafferi was able to reverse and throw, but found herself in a triangle choke from Montano. The round ended with Montano having the triangle choke and elbows coming from the bottom from Montano. The third round kicked off with Modafferi pushing forward and sneaking in shots. Montano was countering well with her right hand however. Montano ended up clinching Modafferi up against the cage, but the takedown did not come and they got back to the center of the cage. Modafferi put a string of right hands together that connected. Montano was starting to move forward, and had to eat a hard body kick from Modafferi for her effort. They both traded right hands, as they continued to dance around the center of the Octagon. They traded up against the fence as the 3rd round ended and we headed to the championship rounds. Montano started the 4th round with a hard straight left that connected. Modafferi found a home for a right hand, but Montano came rushing forward with a bunch of rights and a low leg kick that landed and forced a clinch. Montano slipped in a takedown, but Modafferi got back to her feet before any real damage was caused. Modafferi went for a takedown from the clinch, but Montano was able to get back up off her knees quickly. Montano was able to get the fight off the cage, but Modafferi landed two big right hands and then a third that force Montano to go for a takedown and was successful with it. Montano was landing elbows to the ribs and stayed on top. Montano backed off in the last 10 seconds and this fight was going to the 5th and final round. These two came out in round 5 and immediately started trading in the center of the Octagon. Modafferi came forward, and Montano immediately went for a takedown and secured it. Montano ended up in mount briefly, but was bucked off and we were back to our feet. Roxanne went for a takedown, but Montano was able to reverse it and found herself on top in side control. Montano was in full mount again briefly, but Modafferi slipped out and got back to the feet. Modafferi rushed forward and connected with some big right hands and grabbed for the clinch. Montano reversed a throw and almost got caught in an armbar, but Montano was able to escape and get back on top. Modafferi was so close to a fully extended armbar, and at the last second Montano was able to slip out and then get back on her feet. Modafferi threw a big superman punch in the last 10 seconds, but the judges would award the first ever Women’s Flyweight Title. They scored it 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46 all for the new Flyweight Champion Nicco Montano. The decision was correct for sure. The #14 seed Nicco Montano was able to secure the first-ever championship in the newly formed Women’s Flyweight Division. IT will be interesting to see who gets the first crack at the newly crowned champion after that grueling run to the title and really fun finale.
This was a fun night of fights that ended what was a really solid season of The Ultimate Fighter. The main event was a real grueling war, and the crowning of a new champion in Nicco Montano in Cinderella fashion was excellent. She defeated the top 3 seeds in the tournament on her way to the top and that is one of the biggest accomplishments in recent UFC history. The UFC Rankings when they come out for this weight class will be very interesting to see who the next contender may be. There could be a nice rematch from the show where Lauren Murphy who was victorious would look to avenge her loss on the show to the new champion Nicco Montano. This was a perfect lead-in for the absolutely stacked UFC 218 card Saturday night. Let’s hope that card is just as fun as Friday nights fights.
