Mirroring his game plan on that of BJ Penn in the recent fight with Jon Fitch, Tony Ferguson took Ramsey Mijem out of his element as he scored a first round victory at Saturday’s UFC Ultimate Finale.
The Team Lesnar fighter was expected to represent the “striker” in the “striker vs. wrestler” battle Saturday, but he surprised Mijem with an early takedown. Utilizing his wrestling background later in the round as well, Ferguson kept Mjiem from comfortably setting up his own wrestling base and was able to setup for a big first round knockout. After dropping Mijem with a left hook, it took just one clean follow-up on the ground for referee Josh Rosenthal to step in and confirm Ferguson as this season’s “Ultimate Fighter.”
In the co-main-event, the final WEC Champion Anthony Pettis saw his dreams of a UFC Championship drift away as he lost a decision to Clay Guida. Originally promised a shot against the winner of January’s Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard fight, Pettis saw his opportunity delayed when the Edgar-Maynard draw commanded a rematch. He accepted this fight with Guida in the interim, and it unfortunately resulted in the loss of his title shot.
Guida, quite simply, was too strong for Pettis–he controlled Pettis with wrestling and made a clear case for a unanimous, three-round decision. While Pettis threatened with some submissions, and even a strike or two, from the bottom, he was never able to put enough together to get the stoppage. A scramble late into the third round gave Pettis an opening–he had Guida’s back–but he tried to work from too high-up and ended up being reversed.
All three judges scored it 30-27 in favor of Guida.
What else happened on the show? Results follow:
Reuben Duran b. Francisco Rivera via submission (RNC) at 1:57 of Round Three
Scott Jorgensen b. Ken Stone via KO (punches) at 4:01 of Round One
Clay Harvison b. Justin Edwards via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Shamar Bailey b. Ryan McGillivray via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
George Roop b. Josh Grispi via TKO (punch) at 3:14 of Round Three
Jeremy Stephens def. Danny Downes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Chris Cope b. Chuck O’Neil via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Kyle Kingsbury b. Fabio Maldonado via decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ed Herman b. Tim Credeur via TKO (punches) at :48 of Round One
Clay Guida b. Anthony Pettis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Tony Ferguson b. Ramsey Nijem via KO (punches) at 3:54 of Round One