411’s UFC – The Ultimate Fighter VII Finale Report 6.21.08

Posted by Larry Csonka on 06.22.2008

Amir Sadollah completes the Cinderella story to become the latest winner of the Ultimate Fighter!

Remember to leave a score of 1-10 in the comment section as well as your fight of the night!

The Ultimate Fighter VII Finale 6.21.08~!
-Live from the Pearl at the Palms, in Las Vegas Nevada!

-Mike Goldberg welcomes us to the show and explains how winning the show can change your life. Joe Rogan joins is and they talk about Tanner and Grove both being on a downward spiral, and that the loser may be leaving town. Talk then moves onto Jesse Taylor being kicked off of the show, which gave CB Dollaway a second chance.

-The first fight of the night will be Matt Riddle vs. Dante Rivera.


-Rampage and Forrest are in attendance.

-We get a video package for Matt Riddle vs. Dante Rivera.

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT: Matt Riddle (0-0) vs. Dante Rivera (10-2):

ROUND ONE: The official is Herb Dean. They touch and here we go. Both guys tentative thus far, a good left by Rivera, they clinch and go to the cage. Knees by Rivera, Riddle looks for a single leg but Rivera has a loose guillotine and drives knee shots to the head of Riddle. Riddle escapes that guillotine, knees by Rivera still and some dirty boxing is exchanged. Knees by Riddle now as they are staying clinched. Someone loses a mouthpiece, it is Rivera and Dean stops it so he can get it back. Back to action with Rivera throwing some looping lefts at Riddle. To the cage again, low knee by Riddle and he gets a warning. Both guys trade knee strikes against the cage, Riddle almost gets a takedown but Rivera stays up. Rivera gets a knee to the face, leg kicks follow. Another, they clinch again and Riddle gets a takedown into the half guard, drops some solid elbows but Rivera shoves him off as the round ends.

SCORECARD: It was a very close round, almost too close to call, but with the takedown at the end, I will go with Riddle 10-9; but I could see it going either way.

ROUND TWO: Round two begins, Rivera looks for a big left but Riddle takes him down and then stands and works some kicks to the legs. Rivera with up kicks and back to his feet. They trade shots and back to the cage, clinch and both work the knee strikes. Riddle getting the better of the knee strikes here, Rivera gets out of that with a great combo but they just end up clinched again. Foot stomps by Riddle, knees by Riddle again. He looked for a single leg, but backed off of that and keeps driving knees to the legs of Rivera. Rivera just cannot take Riddle down at this point. Huge left by Rivera, they go down and Riddle is on top. He has full mount and starts to light him up. He tries an arm bar, but Rivera reverses it and gets guard. Riddle with good defense from his guard, Riddle almost finishes it with a arm bar but Rivera survives the round.

SCORECARD: Riddle looked great in that round, 20-19 overall.

ROUND THREE: Round three begins and we go to the cage once again, both guys trade knees and then Riddle gets some clean knees and takes Rivera down. Rivera tries to work rubber guard, has it and was looking for the Omaplata, but Riddle is able to stop that. Riddle to half guard and lands a big elbow strike. They opt to stand, Rivera finally shows some aggressiveness but they just end up against the cage again. Rivera basically pulls Riddle down on him, allowing Riddle into his guard. Riddle works the rubber guard again, and Herb Dean stands them up for no apparent reason. Riddle shoots for a single leg, gets his down and full mount. Rivera tries to hold on for dear life and the round ends.

SCORECARD: Riddle takes this round again, and should win 30-27 across the cards.

THE RESULT: Matt Riddle via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Joe Rogan is with Matt Riddle. Riddle says he got to have a real camp and he feels like he belongs. He talks us through some of the replays, thanks some people and loves his mom.

Joe is with Rivera now. He says Riddle did a good job and just won the fight.

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-Joe Rogan is here with Dana White. They talk July 19th, and Anderson Silva moving to Light Heavyweight. Dana says it is a great time to be an MMA fan, especially with the pound for pound best fighter in the world fighting on free TV.

-We get a video package for Spencer Fisher vs. Jeremy Stephens.

LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT - Spencer Fisher (21-4) vs. Jeremy Stephens (15-2):

ROUND ONE: The official is Steve Mazzagatti. Here we go. Stephens misses a huge kick and almost falls on his face. Fisher in with a combo, a good left and they clinch. High knee by Fisher, Stephens takes him down but he is right back up. Fisher takes Stephens down. Works for side control, but has to settle for guard. He postures up, Stephens is active but Fisher stands and drops some big shots down on Stephens. Stephens works some elbows from the bottom, gets warned about them, hammer fists by Fisher connect and now Stephens with more elbows from the bottom. Stephens tries a triangle, can't keep it and Fisher goes to half guard. Some really good elbow strikes by Fisher now. Fisher to half guard, now mount and has his back and starts to land Stephens got out and back to guard. Fisher postures up, stands and then drops down with some good rights. Stephens keeps working hard from the bottom as the round ends, but I don't think it will be enough.

SCORECARD: Fisher had the dominating position, both guys were working the whole time as it was an active round. I'll go Fisher 10-9.

ROUND TWO: Leg kicks by Fisher to begin, Stephens answers back with a solid combo. They clinch, to the cage and Stephens with a great combo. Back center, they trade standing. Stephens eats a right hook as he tries to fly in with a knee. Back to the clinch against the cage, knees by Fisher now and someone lost a mouthpiece, it was Fisher. He got it back and we're good to go. Spinning back fist by Stephens lands, they clinch and we go back to the cage, Stephens tries a trip but Fisher reverses and gets the takedown. Fisher has side control, tried mount but gets half guard. He drops some god elbows, rights and lefts as well. Fisher stands, drops down back into the guard. Stephens is occasionally trying for a guillotine but failing. Back elbow by Fisher, stands and then drops into side control. Stephens works to his feet, and then gets a slam on Fisher as the round ends.

SCORECARD: While Stephens showed life there at the end, Fisher dominated the round and takes this one as well, he's up 20-18 on my card.

ROUND THREE: Round three is underway and both guys hang and bang. Stephens got a great left that looked to have rocked Fisher a bit. Stephens misses with the superman punch, gets a great knee and right to the body. Leg kicks by Fisher followed by a good combo. Fisher shoots, Stephens stops and looks for that guillotine again. Fisher back to side control to escape, and now gets mount. He lands some shots, gets a warning for shots to the back of the head and goes back to side control and then guard. They stand, Stephens gets a takedown and lands some solid elbows. Fisher is bleeding from the eye as Stephens works more elbow strikes. Stephens has his worked to the cage, backs off and they goes for the guillotine again. Fisher escapes it, gets some elbows but Stephens gets the guillotine again! Fisher survives the final 15-seconds with the guillotine locked in.

SCORECARD: Stephens did everything he could to finish the round, but he just didn't have enough. I will go Fisher 29-28.

THE RESULT: Spencer Fisher via Unanimous Decision (29-28 across the cards)


Joe Rogan is with Spencer Fisher. Fisher says he is tough as…crap. He thanks all the people, and gives a "WOOOOOOOOOO" since he's a Flair mark.

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-Guys Choice Awards hype.

-UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin hype.

-Joe Rogan is with both men now. Rampage says Forest is cool, ugly, and drinks too much coffee. He works hard and he respects that. Joe talks with Forrest, who is excited. He says he never watched his practice because he was always kicked out of Rampage's practice. He then says the Shogun fight was a long time ago, it is the past and this fight is what that matters.


-We get a video package for Diego Sanchez vs. Luigi Fioravanti.

WELTERWEIGHT BOUT - Diego Sanchez (20-2) vs. Luigi Fioravanti (12-3):

ROUND ONE: The official is Josh Rosenthal. Fioravanti catches Sanchez as he shoots in, but Sanchez quickly back up and throws a nice high kick. Leg kick by Fioravanti, Sanchez with some shots that miss but backs off Fioravanti. Sanchez with a great combo and the a flying knee to Fioravanti. Both men land some light shots, jabs by Sanchez and then a great head kick lands. Sanchez shoots, Fioravanti stuff him and lands some shots as Sanchez backs off. A good combo by Fioravanti, but Sanchez back with a right hook and combo to follow that. They clinch against the cage, knees by Sanchez and they separate. Sanchez catches a kick for a takedown, but Fioravanti is able to pop right back up. Sanchez tries for the big head kick again, misses, shoots in but Fioravanti stuffs him. To the cage, they clinch and Fioravanti gets a slam on Sanchez as the round ends.

SCORECARD: Sanchez did enough with the stand up to win the round, even with the slam at the end by Fioravanti. 10-9 for Sanchez.

ROUND TWO: They both land good jabs to begin the round. Sanchez with a great right, drops Fioravanti and he dives in on him. He starts to land some elbows, has half guard and is working for the kimura. Sanchez looks for mount, Fioravanti stops that and they are back to their feet. A head kick by Sanchez again, they work to the cage and Sanchez tried to leap onto his back, but fails. They circle and trade shots and rock each other, Sanchez recovers quicker and has Fioravanti down against the cage, Sanchez then tries a kimura and Fioravanti escapes. Body kick by Fioravanti, Fioravanti then slips but is fine. A knee by Sanchez, Fioravanti back with a wild combo and lands. Sanchez tries to shoot in as the round ends.

SCORECARD: A dominating round for Sanchez, he should be up 20-18.

ROUND THREE: Round three begins and both throw lefts and connect. Head kick again by Sanchez, but blocked. They trade in close, both landing solidly. Leg kicks by Sanchez now, Fioravanti shoots in, to the cage and an uppercut by Sanchez. Sanchez looks for a single leg, but Fioravanti fights it off. Uppercut and a combo by Sanchez, followed by a knee as he works Fioravanti to the cage. Sanchez fails at another takedown try but lands a god right hook. To the ground, Sanchez gets Fioravanti's back but Fioravanti rolls out and is back to his feet. Sanchez ROCKS Fioravanti with the head kick, it was almost delayed and Fioravanti is down. He then gets a knee and dives in and starts to unload on Fioravanti with wild rights and lefts and that is all.

THE RESULT: Diego Sanchez via RD3 (4:07) TKO


Joe Rogan is with Sanchez. Rogan says it was impressive and the striking was improved. He says his striking as underestimated and he is back. He thanks a bunch of people.

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-BIG NOG and MIR are here. They hype the next season of the Ultimate Fighter, as their title fight in December.

-We get extended video packages for Amir Sadollah vs. CB Dollaway.

ULTIMATE FIGHTER VII CHAMPIONSHIP MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT - Amir Sadollah (1-0) vs. CB Dollaway (7-1):

ROUND ONE: The official is Herb Dean. They touch and here we go. Leg kicks by CB, push kick in return by Sadollah. Another push kick and CB back to the leg kicks. Gets a high kick to connect to the shoulder, and then a slam by CB. CB traps the right arm of Sadollah, has to let go and into the full guard. CB postures up, works for side control and has it. They work to north south and then back to guard. CB stands and drops down with good shots, has Sadollah against the cage up kick by Sadollah, CB stacks him up and Sadollah gets a arm bar! CB slams him but it stays on tight, and he taps! CB tries to say he didn't tap and acts all pissed.

THE RESULT: Amir Sadollah via RD1 (3:02) Submission


Dana White is with Amir Sadollah. He presents him with the trophy. Rogan is here now and Amir wants to say funny stuff, but he can't think of anything. He's blown away at what happened and that he is talking to Joe Rogan after a fight.

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-Rogan is with two of the guys from the new Spike show Factory. We get a clip.

-We get a video package for Evan Tanner vs. Kendall Grove.

-Tanner's beard is spectacular.

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT - Evan Tanner (34-7) vs. Kendall Grove (10-5):

ROUND ONE: The official is Steve Mazzagatti. Jabs by Grove to begin. Tanner in, they clinch and to the cage they go. Elbow by Grove, Tanner wraps him up and drives Grove down. He is right into side control, they go to the feet and Tanner lands a HUGE knee to the face of Grove. Clinched against the cage, big elbow by Grove, clinch and knees by Grove, followed by an elbow and Tanner is cut. Grove misses a high kick, falls and is back up. Grove with a jab, working the reach and then another elbow strike. Tanner looks for a single leg, but Grove gets a leaping knee to the head of Tanner. Tanner looking for a takedown, Grove gets warned for grabbing the fence, and Tanner gets the takedown. Into the guard of Grove, Grove looks for a triangle and Grove escapes. Grove gets a takedown now, has the back and gets one hook in. Grove gets the other hook in, Tanner counters and Grove is down, Tanner stands and eats an up kick. He drops into the guard of Grove, works him against the cage and lands a few solid lefts as the round ends.

SCORECARD: A fun first round. Grove ended up doing more damage with solid control, so I will go Grove 10-9.

ROUND TWO: Tanner out quickly, but eats a jab. Grove with a right and a knee that backs off Tanner. Another jab by Grove, body kick as well. Tanner with jabs, pressures in and they go to the cage. Tanner drags him down, but Grove back to his feet. Tanner goes for a single leg again but eats a knee again. Tanner does get the takedown, in the full guard and has Grove against the cage. Grove to his feet, Tanner works knee strikes and they scramble and Grove gets a huge elbow followed by an uppercut and knees. Tanner is rocked and trying to hang on. He does as they stay locked up against the cage and then separate. Another knee by Grove, Tanner gets a warning for a low blow as they work against the cage. Head kick by Grove to back off Tanner, jab, another jab and the round ends.

SCORECARD: Grove takes this round as he almost had it finished, 20-18.

ROUND THREE: Final round now, to the cage and Grove works knee shots. Tanner backs off, a combo by Grove connects as he continues to work his reach advantage. They both work the body shots as they go against the cage again, Tanner looks for the takedown but Grove with inside elbows to the face. They separate again, leg kick by Tanner, another, uppercut by Tanner and then a jab. Back against the cage, short elbow by Tanner and now some lefts. Good overhand right by Tanner, they trade knees and Tanner backs off. Back center cage and Tanner gets a good right, a jab and short uppercut all connect. A good jab by Grove, Tanner keeps throwing for the fences. Grove slips, they clinch against the cage and Grove keeps him away with a jab and a knee as the fight ends.

SCORECARD: I think Tanner did enough in desperation to take the round, but he still will lose 29-28.

THE RESULT: Kendal Grove via Split Decision (29-28 Tanner, 30-26 Grove, 30-26 Grove)


Joe Rogan is with Grove. Grove says Tanner did well and he isn't surprised by the spilt decision. He knew Tanner would be tired, but he did what he had to, to keep his job.

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MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT - Marvin Eastman (15-7-1) vs. Drew McFedries (6-3):

ROUND ONE: The official is Steve Mazzagatti. They come out, McFedries dives in with a flying knee, Eastman catches him and takes him down. Both back up, McFedries catches Eastman with a left, then some uppercuts and Eastman is rocked. McFedries with a knee and Eastman is in big trouble. Eastman tries a single left, McFedries with rights and drops Eastman down and Mazzagatti stops the fight.

THE RESULT: Drew McFedries via RD1 (1:08) TKO

Joe is with Drew. He says he couldn't waste anytime because Eastman is way too strong. He took it to him and it went his way. He thought he rocked him right away and he just had to do it. He went through so much and lost so much this year, and tonight he felt like he got it all back,

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-We see Grove backstage as well as Amir, relaxing and celebrating.

Remember to leave a score of 1-10 in the comment section as well as your fight of the night!