TUF 9 Finale Predictions: The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale Preview
The preview & predictions for The Ultimate Fighter's Season 9 finale
Last night, on the final episode of Season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter, the loveable Frank Lester from Team U.S. found himself up against the man who took him out of the competition in the quarterfinals, James Wilks. Although Lester was game as ever, proving his toughness if nothing else throughout this season, Wilks’s far superior striking game completely outclassed the discouraged U.S. welterweight en route to a third round TKO victory.
Wilks will now face the sole surviving member of Team U.S., DaMarques Johnson, in the live TUF 9 finale on Spike TV Saturday, June 20 at The Pearl at the Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada while Lester will get a shot at fellow cast member and Team U.K. striker Nick Osipczak.
TUF 9 Preliminary Fight Predictions:
Nick Osipzcak vs. Frank Lester
Neither one of these fighters was overwhelming in their bouts on Season 9 of TUF, but the Brit should have a sizable advantage in the stand-up department in this contest between strikers. Lester has almost no wrestling or submission abilities, and Osipczak showed a sturdy chin and the heart of a champion in his semifinal loss to DaMarques Johnson near the end of the season. Look for Osipczak to adopt a similar game plan as Wilks did in both of his battles with Lester, as he tags the U.S. welterweight early and often en route to a second round knockout.
Prediction: Nick Osipczak over Frank Lester by KO (Round 2)
Cameron Dollar vs. Jason Dent
While these lightweights may have been on the same team on Season 9, both—perhaps more vehemently, Dent, however—were vocal during the airing of the show about their dislike for one another. This fight should come down to experience, as both of these men were beaten by physically superior competition in the lightweight semifinals. Dent (18-9 MMA) looks to have the significant advantage over Dollar (2-1 MMA) there, and he is difficult to finish, but he has yet to taste victory inside the UFC. Will this be his first?
Prediction: Jason Dent over Cameron Dollar by Unanimous Decision
Mike Ciesnolevicz vs. Thomasz Drwal
These men are by no means contenders—or even serious players—at this point in the light heavyweight division. Nevertheless, Drwal (15-2 MMA) is a very solid Polish prospect that is coming off of his first UFC win, a first round knockout of Ivan Serati in January, while Ciesnolevicz (17-3 MMA) is coming off of an impressive submission victory over heavyweight Neil Grove in February. Look for Drwal to get another victory, but don’t expect Ciesnolevicz to go down easy.
Prediction: Thomasz Drwal over Mike Ciesnolevicz by Split Decision
Brad Blackburn vs. Edgar Garcia
Blackburn (16-9 MMA) has had his share of ups and downs in his nine-year professional career, while his opponent Garcia (7-0 MMA) has only seen ups. The difference in this fight will be experience on the big stage. Garcia recently fought on his first WEC show before the promotion’s welterweight division folded into the UFC, but Blackburn is currently 2-0 in the big leagues and competed for the solid and now-defunct IFL promotion for two years, racking up notable wins over Chris Wilson and Jay Hieron along the way.
Prediction: Brad Blackburn over Edgar Garcia by TKO (Round 2)
Melvin Guillard vs. Gleison Tibau
He is only 26 years old, but “The Young Assassin” Melvin Guillard (21-7-2, 1 NC MMA) is one of the most experienced lightweights in the UFC. He is explosive and well rounded, but his inconsistency will spell disaster for him yet again in this contest. Tibau (16-6 MMA) is big enough to match Guillard in strength, he has a solid chin, and he has the technical skills and presence of mind to end the bout with a submission early on.
Prediction: Gleison Tibau over Melvin Guillard by Submission (Guillotine Choke) (Round 1)
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TUF 9 Main Fight Predictions:
Chris Lytle vs. Kevin Burns
These two men rank somewhere in the middle of the UFC’s stacked welterweight division, but it is not for lack of tough competition. Burns (7-2 MMA) is somewhat new to the game, but he has already competed against veteran Roan Carneiro and up and comer Anthony Johnson (twice), winning in two of the three contests, although one was a controversial eye-poke-induced stoppage over Johnson. Lytle (26-17-5 MMA) is one of the most experienced fighters in the UFC in any division, and he has proven his mettle time and time again in competitive losses to Matt Serra, Matt Hughes, Thiago Alves, and Marcus Davis. Expect Lytle to slow down as the bout wears on, allowing the younger, fresher Burns to capitalize and steal a decision in the second and third rounds for the upset.
Prediction: Kevin Burns over Chris Lytle by Split Decision
TUF 9 Lightweight Finale Bout:
Andre Winner (Team U.K.) vs. Ross Pearson (Team U.K.)
Both Winner (9-2-1 MMA) and Pearson (8-3 MMA) are well known on the growing European MMA circuit, where they have put together impressive resumes. Pearson probably has the edge if this one goes to the ground based almost solely on his superior strength and wrestling ability, but Winner has shown his submission skills in the house, so Pearson will be in danger on the ground as well. On the feet, Winner looks to have a comfortable advantage over the shorter and stockier brawler in Pearson. This one should be an exciting scrap, with Winner coming out on top with a competitive decision victory.
Prediction: Andre Winner over Ross Pearson by Unanimous Decision
TUF 9 Welterweight Finale Bout:
DaMarques Johnson (Team U.S.) vs. James Wilks (Team U.K.)
Johnson (9-6 MMA) and Wilks (5-2 MMA) both have relatively unimpressive professional records when compared with many of their UFC counterparts, but both have shown well-rounded skills both in the house and in their pro careers, winning almost as many fights by knockout as by submission. Wilks is difficult to finish, but Johnson should be able to get the job done late into the fight, earning the welterweight TUF “belt”.
Prediction: DaMarques Johnson over James Wilks by TKO (Round 3)
Joe Stevenson vs. Nathan Diaz
This is a very intriguing match up between two savvy ground aces. Unfortunately, it probably won’t be too much of a fight. Unless Stevenson (29-10 MMA) has finally seen the error of his ways in losing three of his past four bouts—albeit to world-class opposition—the younger Diaz (10-3 MMA) is going to be too much for him, both on the ground, and on the feet with his superior range and boxing. Stevenson does not have the power or ground technique to finish Diaz, nor will he come away with the decision. A third loss in a row, and a fourth in his last five, isn’t going to be good for Stevenson’s Octagon career.
Prediction: Nathan Diaz over Joe Stevenson by Submission (Choke) (Round 2)
The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale Main Event:
Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida
A battle between the original Ultimate Fighter winner and a man that has recently adopted the moniker of “TUF Slayer,” Sanchez (20-2 MMA) vs. Guida (25-9 MMA) should validate all of the hype with a rousing war that should take place anywhere and everywhere these two explosive lightweights decide. While Sanchez came out with the W over Joe Stevenson in February in the main event of UFC 95, he was expected by many to finish the inconsistent former contender. By the same token, Guida has a habit of going to decision, at least in his UFC career, but he has fought nothing but top-flight competition thus far. This should be a back and forth brawl, but Sanchez’s size and speed advantage will prove too much for Guida to control, as the true original Ultimate Fighter proves himself too tough for the “TUF Slayer.”
Prediction: Diego Sanchez over Clay Guida by Unanimous Decision
By Steven T. Kelliher
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer