411’s UFC: The Ultimate Fighter Finale V Report 6.23.07
Posted by Larry Csonka on 06.23.2007
Season V is over and in the end Diaz and Penn are the big winners and we have controversy on top of that! No, not with Herb Dean. Seriously.
Feel free to send in your thoughts on the show! If you do, please include your BEST and WORST fight, and score the PPV from 0-10!
UFC The Ultimate Fighter Finale V Predictions:
-Here are the predictions I made for the Forum Pick ‘Em Contest, that way I can be made fun of when I make some atrocious picks.
-Brian Geraghty vs. Matt Wiman – Geraghty, RD 2, Submission
-Allan Berube vs. Leonard Garcia – Garcia, RD 1 TKO
-Rob Emerson vs. Gray Maynard – Maynard, decision
-Andy Wang vs. Cole Miller – Miller, RD 2 TKO
-Brandon Melendez vs. Joe Lauzon – Lauzon, RD 1 submission
-Floyd Sword vs. Thales Leites: Leites, Decision
-Roger Huerta vs. Doug Evans: Huerta, TKO, RD 1
-TUF Finals: Manny Gamburyan vs. Nate Diaz: Gamburyan, Decision
-Jens Pulver vs. B.J. Penn – Penn, TKO, RD 2
Dark Match Results: -Matt Wiman defeated Brian Geraghty via RD 1 TKO
-Leonard Garcia defeated Allan Berube via RD 1 Submission
UFC: The Ultimate Fighter Finale V:
-LIVE from the Pearl at the Palms is Las Vegas Nevada!
-Mike Goldberg hypes the history of Penn vs. Pulver as Joe Rogan joins us. Talk turns to Manny vs. Nate for the Season V crown.
-It looks like Roger Huerta vs. Doug Evans will open the show.
-Back from commercial and we get a video package for Roger Huerta vs. Doug Evans.
LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT - Roger Huerta (19-1-1) vs. Doug Evans (6-0):
-Pre-Fight Prediction: Huerta, TKO, RD 1
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: Steve Mazzagatti is the official. Evans with leg kicks to begin, Huerta trips him when he tries to kick him and they clinch. Huerta with a good escape as they went to the ground. Clinched against the cage right now, Evans in control and gets a forearm shot. Huerta tries to battle out but Evans has leverage control. They both throw hands and connect solidly. Out from the cage and another good exchange. Evans isn't afraid to throw with him right now. Huerta with a good right and then a body kick follows. Huerta shoots, Evans sprawls and keeps standing. Against the cage, Evans leaps onto his back now and Huerta is down. Evans has a full body triangle on Huerta and looks for the choke. Huerta rolls and out of the triangle and to their feet. Evans has a guillotine, releases after he is slammed into the cage and they are against the cage again. Final minute now and Evans with knees connect. They exchange big time and back against the cage again. To the mat, Evans on top and gets guard. Huerta fights out a bit as the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Evans looked dominant and Huerta looked as if he was not prepared. Evans 10-9.
ROUND TWO: They come out throwing to begin. Huerta looks more motivated and connects with kicks and punches. Leg kick connects for Huerta, another. Evans gets a takedown and is on top. Huerta looked for a triangle, and Evans tries to leap to his back again but Huerta counters and against the cage they go. Another takedown by Evans, looks for side control and Huerta rolls to his knees. Huerta is side control now, nice exchange there. Evans works off the cage trying for a head scissors almost, Huerta still on top. He lands some shots now and Huerta tries for his back, starts to land great shots now from the back and Evans covers up. Huerta looks for a choke, and then lands some more unanswered shots. Huerta lands about 20 shots before it is stopped.
-The Result: Roger Huerta via RD 2 (3:30) TKO.
Joe is Huerta now. Joe asks about being on SI and Huerta says it was crazy. Evans was tough and he thanks GOD and his mom as well as his trainers. Joe says the first round was tough, and Huerta talks us through the end of the 2nd round.
-We see Floyd Sword and Thales Leites preparing backstage.
-We get a video promo for UFC 73: STACKED.
-Back from commercial and we get a video package for Floyd Sword vs. Thales Leites.
MIDDLEWIEGHT BOUT - Floyd Sword (14-2) vs. Thales Leites (10-1):
-Pre-Fight Prediction: Leites, Decision
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: The official is Yves Lavigne. Leg kicks by Leites to begin. A spin kick misses, they exchange and Sword charges in with a few shots. They clinch against the cage, Sword looks for a takedown and Leites trips him down with a leg sweep. Leites is on top, side control and Sword pulls away from the cage and then gets his back against it. To his feet and Leites looks for another takedown. He gets a nice throw and has side control. Sword fights into full guard and Leites is standing, lands a few body shots and then kicks to the hips of Sword. Leites back down and looks to get Sword's back, hooks a leg in and some punches to the head. Arm triangle by Leites and Sword taps!
-The Result: Thales Leites via RD 1 (3:50) Submission
Joe is with Thales Leites. Leites says he trains the position that got him to the arm triangle. He talks us through the replay and explains how it worked.
-Mike Goldberg hypes the TUF finals and Penn vs. Pulver.
-Back from commercial with a video package for Maynard vs. Emerson.
LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT - Rob Emerson (8-6) vs. Gray Maynard (3-0):
-Pre-Fight Prediction: Maynard, decision
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: The official is Steve Mazzigatti. Maynard in with shots, but Emerson lands first. Gray lands some bombs, a knee but Emerson takes him down. Emerson tries to get the back and choke, transitions to a triangle try and Maynard stays away. Maynard down with a standing shot and into the mount. Rights by Maynard lands and he stands. Emerson almost with a triangle again, Maynard escapes and they get to their feet and knees by Maynard. Pulls him down, tries a guillotine but then gets side control. Elbows by Maynard, Emerson tries a triangle again but Maynard with knees stops that. Side control and knees by Maynard. Maynard mounts him and almost gets his back. Emerson tries a heel hook, Maynard escapes and Maynard stands. Good shots by Maynard, Emerson with a body shot keeps fighting. Side control by Maynard again, gets his back and looks for the choke as we enter the final minute. Emerson in trouble but is able to spin onto his back, Maynard still on top. Maynard starts to land some good shots as the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Maynard had control and really punished Emerson and easily takes the round 10-9.
ROUND TWO: We begin round 2 and Emerson looks tired here breathing heavy. They both throw and Emerson almost trips. Big uppercut by Maynard, he picks up Emerson and gives him a spinebuster and Emerson taps. Maynard lands on his head ala a DDT and knocked himself out. Maynard is moving, and the fight has been stopped since Emerson tapped. Emerson tapped because he looked to damage his ribs badly.
Joe and Goldberg say that Maynard won the fight since Emerson tapped.
-The Result: No Contest (Neither Fighter Could Continue)
The crowd hates the decision.
Joe is with Maynard. They discuss the ending and Maynard says he was not out. They watch the replay and Maynard says he was not out. He remembers everything. He says he rolled off when he felt the tap. Rogan says he is out, but when he landed he was still pushing off of the cage. Maynard says he does not understand this and that he was never out.
Joe talks to Emerson. He apologizes for the ending. He was injured coming in and tried hard. His rib is busted and he wants to do it again. We see a sick body shot that hurt him badly. He has torn cartilage in his rib cage. Emerson says he felt dead weight on top of him, but also says he could not continue. We see Maynard after the fight falling back down and not able to stand.
-Goldberg discusses the ruling as we see more replays. Joe says Maynard doesn't realize he was out and that is why he thought he won.
-Back from commercial as they hype Bruce Lee day tomorrow on SPIKE. Joe is with Bruce Lee's daughter. Shannon says it is a source of pride and he was a great role model. Joe asks what it is like seeing all of the shirts and love for her dad. She says it is surreal and amazing to see how popular he still is today. The UFC works with the Bruce Lee foundation and in designing a new shirt to help keep his legacy alive. She has the shirt and Joe wants one and she gives it to him. They hype Bruce Lee day tomorrow.
-Goldberg continues the hype and then we get another video for UFC 73: STACKED.
-We get hype for the TUF finals.
-Back from commercial with hype for Melendez vs. Lauzon.
LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT - Brandon Melendez (11-5) vs. Joe Lauzon (13-3):
-Pre-Fight Prediction: Lauzon, RD 1 Submission
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: Melendez did not make weight (157.) The official is Herb Dean. They touch and here we go. Melendez gets a big left early and stumbles Joe. Joe shoots in and gets north south for a moment, side control and knees by Joe. Big shots from the top by Joe and Melendez tries to push him off. Melendez wraps the legs from the bottom, Joe slams him down and works for side, but gets his back and looks for the choke. He has it and wraps the legs, but gets mount for a moment and back to the back of Melendez. Joe works for the choke again, Melendez fights to stay out of it and rolls and escapes. To their feet, a good kick by Melendez and back down they go with Melendez on top. He slides Joe against the cage, Melendez stands and lets Joe stand. A good right by Melendez, good body kick follows but Joe gets the takedown and top. Joe passes awesomely and gets Melendez‘s back. Melendez slides against the cage to nullify the advantage of Joe, who still looks for the choke. Great escape by Melendez and he is on top. Big shots by Melendez, Joe rolls and tries a knee bar now and looks for a heel hook and grabs it as the final seconds run out.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Joe dominated the round with beautiful submission work, Melendez just survived. Joe wins the round 10-9.
ROUND TWO: They come out and Melendez backs Joe off, good combo by Melendez and then Joe shoots in and takes him down. He works for side control, gets mount and then the back of Melendez. Melendez gets Joe pushed against the cage to nullify control, but Joe keeps working for the choke, some shots to the head and Melendez escapes. Joe slaps on a triangle tight and Melendez taps.
-The Result: Joe Lauzon via RD 2 (2:09) Submission
Joe Rogan is with Lauzon. Lauzon says going in he knew he would give up the back, so he took it. Lauzon wanted guard because he knew he could finish out of it. We go through the replay.
-Back from commercial and we get hype for Manny vs. Diaz. They discuss how Manny was overlooked but fought his way to prove himself.
-We get the long video package for the finalists. It is Manny's mom's birthday.
-The finalists get full entrances.
TUF V LIGHTWEIGHT FINALS: Manny Gamburyan (5-2) vs. Nate Diaz (5-2):
-Pre-Fight Prediction: Gamburyan, Decision
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: Herb Dean is the official. Kicks by Diaz to start, but Gamburyan shoots in and works for a takedown. North south now, Gamburyan looks for a guillotine and Diaz tries to escape, rolls over, Gamburyan holds on and Diaz manages to escape. Good shots by Gamburyan who is on top. He looks for side control now, Diaz looks to stop that and Gamburyan starts to land some big shots, Gamburyan has his back but Diaz stands to stop that. Diaz tries to turn, they clinch against the cage and Gamburyan takes him down. Both men with shots on the ground, Gamburyan with more now and goes for his back again, back to top and Gamburyan is swinging hard. Diaz looks calm though and keeps working from the bottom. Diaz in closed guard, Diaz looks for a kimura as Gamburyan looks for side control. Diaz almost had the arm, keeps looking for it and Gamburyan escapes. Constant work from both men here, Gamburyan still on top and Diaz for the Kimura again but fails. Crowd very into Diaz. North south now, toothier feet and Gamburyan has a guillotine chance. Diaz continually fighting to escape as the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Great round. Diaz did a lot of great work, but Gamburyan had the takedown and control so he gets the round 10-9.
ROUND TWO: Diaz with jabs to begin, and a big kick by Gamburyan. He shots in, great sprawl by Diaz and Gamburyan dislocates his shoulder or breaks a collarbone, and the fight is stopped when he taps. Damn that looked bad. That has to be disappointing for Gamburyan.
-The Result: The Ultimate Fighter V Champion Nate Diaz via RD 2 (0:20) Tap Out
Dana White is with Diaz. Diaz and Manny hug, good sportsmanship. Diaz gets his trophy and watch. Joe is with Diaz now. He says it was a long road for him. Diaz says the house sucked. He is glad he won, he puts Manny over as doing very well and he respects him. Joe says he did well overall and says he has a great career ahead of him. He thanks his team, Jake Shields, and Nate who wasn't allowed to be there. He says his brother needs more respect, and thanks Dana.
Joe is with Manny. Manny says is was hard, he trained harder than ever for this and he knew it would be a war. He is sorry he couldn't finish and this is a reoccurring injury. It was a popped shoulder. He thought he broke it and had to tap.
-We see BJ and Jens preparing backstage.
-Back from commercial and we see Penn and Jens preparing backstage.
-Next is a video package for Miller vs. Wang.
LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT - Andy Wang (8-6) vs. Cole Miller (11-2):
-Pre-Fight Prediction: Miller, RD 2 TKO
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: Yves Lavigne is the official. They touch and here we go. Miller in with shots early, Miller backs him down and against the cage they go. Back center and both go for knees, Wang shoots and nothing. Miller tries to back him down with the reach, a big high kick by Miller and he pounces on Wang and lands about 16 shots and it is stopped.
Wang says it is a quick stoppage as he gets checked.
-The Result: Cole Miller via RD 1 (1:10) TKO
Joe is with Miller. Miller says the stop was fine. He dedicates the fight to his grandfather. Cole talks us through the replay and thanks his team.
-Back from commercial as they hype the battle of the coaches.
-Goldberg and Rogan discuss the battle between Penn and Jens. There is bad blood there from the first fight via decision.
-We get the long video package for Pulver vs. Penn.
-BJ and Jens get full entrances.
COACHES BATTLE - LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT - Jens Pulver (21-7-1) vs. B.J. Penn (11-4-1):
-Pre-Fight Prediction: Penn, TKO, RD 2
-The Fight: ROUND ONE: Steve Mazzigatti is the official. Penn backs Pulver off and shoot sin, SLAMS Pulver down and works for side control. Penn lands some shots, swings out and backs Pulver against the cage. Pulver tries to keep him away, Pulver stand sand gets SLAMMED right back down. Pulver is doing well keeping Penn out of position, half guard now and Penn gets mounts and a big right. Penn gets his back and gets the arm but Pulver escapes. Penn works a triangle now, shots to the head of Pulver by Penn. Pulver works body shots and sits up to escape. Pulver on top now, gets Penn against the cage and works to land more shots. Big left elbow by Pulver, and Penn escapes. They stand and trade shots. Good uppercut by Penn, they clinch and exchange shots . Knees by both and they separate. Pulver with a nice body kick and they trade standing and the round ends.
LARRY'S SCORE CARD: Great opening round. Very close, BJ scored early and Pulver escaped well. I will go Penn 10-9.
ROUND TWO: Round 2 begins and they come out striking. Pulver lands good shots, but Penn takes him down. Penn looking for side control now, Pulver working well to keep him from it and Penn on top and a few good shots land. Mount by Penn, good rights connect now. Body shots now by Penn, more rights to the head and Pulver works to get to his side and Penn unloads now with rights and elbows. Penn gets his back and lands more shots. Penn controls and works for a choke, Pulver defends well and then Penn gets the choke and Pulver taps.
They hug after and make nice.
-The Result: BJ Penn via RD 2 (3:12) Submission
Joe is with Jens now. He says they got rid of the hatred and he says Penn tried to beat him and he respects him. He thanks UFC for all of the chances and the show. Jens says he needed to be motivated and he will go and train with BJ now. Jens said they built the weight class together and it is great for them to do this. Jens is going to 145 officially.
Joe is with Penn. Penn gets a pimp watch as well. Penn says to go to his site if you want to know his thoughts and leaves.
-Goldberg and Joe discuss the fight and Penn's win. They say Penn has always had conditioning issues, and he looked great tonight. They say it is sad that he wants to go back to 170. Joe says with Jens at 145, he will go to WEC and can help set that division and promotion on fire. They say his weight is better for him. They also offer congrats to Diaz for his win tonight.
-UFC 73 is in 2-weeks!
Stay tuned for Monday Morning when "My Take on MMA" returns with a complete breakdown and final thoughts on the show~!
Feel free to send in your thoughts on the show! If you do, please include your BEST and WORST fight, and score the PPV from 0-10!
