TUF 10 Finale Report: 'Big Country' Wins UFC Reality Show
By Dean Parr
Former IFL Heavyweight Champion 'Big Country' Roy Nelson proved that in spite of his rather large physique, he is a very good fighter, by defeating Brendan Schaub last night at the TUF 10 finale.
Schaub (240lbs) started confidently, using the jab and getting combinations off. Unfortunately for him though, Nelson (263lbs) soon sank in the clinch, and took Schaub down, gaining side control. Schaub worked his way up, but looked more tired as a result of the previous exchange. Nelson's boxing was starting to become more of a potent weapon, and then out of nowhere, 'Big Country' unleashed a huge right straight, which put Schaub out cold.
With this impressive KO, Nelson takes home a six figure contract, and improves to 14-4 in his pro career. Schaub on the other hand moves to 4-1, but he will in all probability get another shot in the UFC.
Jon 'Bones' Jones (206lbs) dominated Matt 'The Hammer' Hamill (also 206lbs) like no one else has ever done before, although it wasn't to matter as he was disqualified in the very first round. At first, Jones kept his striking unorthodox, keeping Hamill guessing, until he got the takedown. Jones consequently took mount, and unleashed some horrific ground and pound on Hamill, bloodying him up with some tremendous punches. The elbows that finished the fight were downwards though, and therefore illegal, and as a result of this, Jones was disqualified. His first loss takes him to 9-1, while 'The Hammer' moves to 9-2, but it was a very shallow victory for him.
Kimbo Slice's (212lbs) fight with Houston Alexander (208lbs) failed to live up to the lofty expectations placed on it, although when in close it was fairly eventful. The first was dire. Houston spent the whole round circling, and landing light inside leg kicks on Kimbo, who seemed reluctant to throw anything.
The second started in a similar fashion, but after two minutes of the round, Kimbo unbelievably took Alexander down and took the mount. Alexander worked his way up, but slipped en route to his feet, and Kimbo capitalised on this with some massive right hands and a huge slam from behind. Alexander was really looking in bad shape at this point.
However, he did better in the third, even knocking Slice down with a heavy leg kick to his arthritis stricken knee. Slice managed to get the takedown after this, although Alexander stood up again, and hit Kimbo with heavy elbows and a right hook which wobbled the tired Kimbo at the end of the round. This wasn't to be enough to win him the fight though.
The judges scored the bout 30-27 and 29-28 twice, all in favour of the YouTube sensation Slice. With his first victory inside a UFC Octagon, Kimbo moves to 4-1, while Houston Alexander decreases to 9-5 1NC.
Despite being opposed by the game Matt Veach (155lbs), Frankie Edgar stuck to his game plan and won by submission in the second round. In the first, Veach used his wrestling well, even doing two 'Matt Hughes style' slams on his foe, but it should also be noted that when standing, Edgar had a huge advantage, with his great technical boxing being utilised to maximum effect.
The second was quite close until Edgar landed a perfect right hand which floored the previously undefeated Veach. After this, Edgar was all over his opponent, ground and pounding him from the top and the back, and despite the steeliness of Veach, his time was up, as Frankie sank in a rear naked choke, forcing him to tap. The records of both Veach and Edgar now stand at 11-1.
Marcus 'Big Baby' Jones (262lbs) was in a grudge match of sorts on the undercard against Matt Mitrione (256lbs), and while he showed signs of promise, it wasn't to end well for him. The first action of the opening round was Jones taking Mitrione down from the clinch, but as happened three other times in the session, Mitrione worked his way up. On their feet, Mitrione had a big advantage over the robotic Jones although at one point, 'The Darkness' nearly sank in a guillotine choke from standing.
Round two began with Mitrione knocking Jones out cold with a right straight, and following up with ground and pound until the referee pulled him off. With this impressive KO, Mitrione moves to 1-0, while Jones decreases to 4-3.
Brit James McSweeney looked great against fellow TUF 10 alum Darrill Schoonover, showing excellent striking and ground and pound. McSweeney dominated the first and second rounds with his much improved ground game, maintaining top position against the heavier Schoonover. The American was exhausted going into the third, when McSweeney turned it up and forced the stoppage after a knee sent Schoonover to the floor. This win takes the Brit to 4-3, while his American foe loses for the first time and falls to 10-1.
Joe Brammer (155lbs), training partner of the likes of Josh Neer, suffered a loss in his UFC debut against world class BJJ competitor Mark Bocek (156lbs). The first started well for Brammer, who was getting strikes off from southpaw, but as soon as Bocek got the clinch and the takedown, the submission seemed inevitable. Brammer did actually manage to stand up to his credit, but Bocek was still all over him, and sank in the rear naked choke from standing, because of which Brammer had to tap. Bocek has improved to 8-2, while Brammer's first loss takes him to 7-1-1.
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