The Ultimate Fighter 14 - TUF 14 Ruminations

TUF 14 Finale Ruminations

The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale took place Saturday, December 3rd, in Las Vegas. Compared with the huge PPV events, these fights on TV sound like they’re in a pool hall rather than an arena, which is confounding. This didn’t keep Dana White from putting on another great event with many stellar fights.

Miller team member John ‘The Magician’ Dodson (12-5)* TKOed Bisping fighter TJ Dillashaw (4-1) in the bantamweight final. Showing a more mature demeanor, Dodson weathered Dillashaw’s fluid movement and patience, and dropped the Team Alpha Male fighter. Dillashaw was purposefully scrambling when halted, the fight ending faster than reality show marriage. Dodson was rightfully happy he won, and had every right to celebrate as he did---with back flips and schoolgirl giggles---but when a UFC fighter wins, he ought to act like he’s done it before and will again.

Team Bisping’s Brazilian fighter, Diego ‘Ceara’ Brandao (14-7), submitted Team Mayhem’s Dennis ‘The menace’ Bermudez (7-3) in the featherweight final, and said he will use his six figure prize to buy his mother in Brazil a house. Brandao had used explosive speed and power to overwhelm and KO fighters through season 14, but was well-matched with Bermudez, a high-level wrestler who was able to scramble up from a downed position and keep Brandao at bay by pushing forward with solid strikes.

Brandao rocked Bermudez more than once, but got caught with a short, perfectly placed right to the mandible that put the Brazilian down. Bermudez swarmed, trying to finish the fight with ground and pound and hammer fists. In the flurry, The Menace left his arm open for Brandao to transition to an armbar, showing how a good submission can be as crushing as any KO.

Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping (22-3) soundly defeated Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller (23-8) as the coaches of season 14 squared off. Bisping entered the octagon looking focused and calm. In contrast, Mayhem looked as nervous as an audit victim, his mouth a quivering zigzag. He looked especially edgy as the fight was announced.

Mayhem used awkward, lethargic stand-up and good ground control early to confuse and eventually semi-mount Bisping and eek out the first round. In a prefight interview, Miller had called Bisping “a British point fighter who jabs and jogs”, which isn’t entirely wrong. But Mayhem soon tired and could not hang with Bisping’s technical striking, punches in bunches and take down defense.

Each fighter is unlikable in his own way---Bisping can be a whiner and Mayhem a childish prankster--- so this fight was doomed to feel empty once it was over and a hand was raised, and in that it didn’t disappoint. Both men were surprisingly respectful and polite, though, after a heated season coaching upstarts.

Refereeing UFC events cannot be easy, but knowing when to stop a fight needs to be top priority: stop it too soon and the efforts of the losing fighter are lost; stop it too late and you risk injury. Refs are fallible, but fans and fighters have their tolerances. Improper refereeing and judging have to be limited.

*All fighter’s records include these December 3rd’s fights.

To get Renko's hard-boiled MMA thriller, go to Xystermma.com

By Renko Styranka
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer

The Ultimate Fighter logo used with permission from the UFC


	<![if lt IE 4]> <script src="http://www.servedbyadbutler.com/adserve/;ID=154450;size=728x90;setID=119711;type=js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <noscript> <a href="http://www.servedbyadbutler.com/go2/;ID=154450;size=728x90;setID=119711"> <img src="http://www.servedbyadbutler.com/adserve/;ID=154450;size=728x90;setID=119711;type=img" border="0" height="90" width="728" alt=""></a> </noscript><![endif]>
About \| MMA \| Events \| Rankings \| UFC Previews \| UFC Results \| MMA Forums \| MMA Merchandise \| Tickets \| Profiles \| TUF \| Writers \| MMA Blog
TUF 14 Finale Ruminations The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale took place Saturday, December 3rd, in Las Vegas. Compared with the huge PPV events, these fights on TV sound like they’re in a pool hall rather than an arena, which is confounding. This didn’t keep Dana White from putting on another great event with many stellar fights. Miller team member John ‘The Magician’ Dodson (12-5)* TKOed Bisping fighter TJ Dillashaw (4-1) in the bantamweight final. Showing a more mature demeanor, Dodson weathered Dillashaw’s fluid movement and patience, and dropped the Team Alpha Male fighter. Dillashaw was purposefully scrambling when halted, the fight ending faster than reality show marriage. Dodson was rightfully happy he won, and had every right to celebrate as he did---with back flips and schoolgirl giggles---but when a UFC fighter wins, he ought to act like he’s done it before and will again. Team Bisping’s Brazilian fighter, Diego ‘Ceara’ Brandao (14-7), submitted Team Mayhem’s Dennis ‘The menace’ Bermudez (7-3) in the featherweight final, and said he will use his six figure prize to buy his mother in Brazil a house. Brandao had used explosive speed and power to overwhelm and KO fighters through season 14, but was well-matched with Bermudez, a high-level wrestler who was able to scramble up from a downed position and keep Brandao at bay by pushing forward with solid strikes. Brandao rocked Bermudez more than once, but got caught with a short, perfectly placed right to the mandible that put the Brazilian down. Bermudez swarmed, trying to finish the fight with ground and pound and hammer fists. In the flurry, The Menace left his arm open for Brandao to transition to an armbar, showing how a good submission can be as crushing as any KO. Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping (22-3) soundly defeated Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller (23-8) as the coaches of season 14 squared off. Bisping entered the octagon looking focused and calm. In contrast, Mayhem looked as nervous as an audit victim, his mouth a quivering zigzag. He looked especially edgy as the fight was announced. Mayhem used awkward, lethargic stand-up and good ground control early to confuse and eventually semi-mount Bisping and eek out the first round. In a prefight interview, Miller had called Bisping “a British point fighter who jabs and jogs”, which isn’t entirely wrong. But Mayhem soon tired and could not hang with Bisping’s technical striking, punches in bunches and take down defense. Each fighter is unlikable in his own way---Bisping can be a whiner and Mayhem a childish prankster--- so this fight was doomed to feel empty once it was over and a hand was raised, and in that it didn’t disappoint. Both men were surprisingly respectful and polite, though, after a heated season coaching upstarts. Refereeing UFC events cannot be easy, but knowing when to stop a fight needs to be top priority: stop it too soon and the efforts of the losing fighter are lost; stop it too late and you risk injury. Refs are fallible, but fans and fighters have their tolerances. Improper refereeing and judging have to be limited. All fighter’s records include these December 3rd’s fights. To get Renko's hard-boiled MMA thriller, go to Xystermma.com > Check out the UFC apparel & hats and Punishment MMA clothing & merchandise online through ProFighting-fans.com!* By Renko Styranka ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer The Ultimate Fighter logo used with permission from the UFC