THE ALL-STAR names of Chael Sonnen and Jon Jones have reinvigorated “The Ultimate Fighter” show this season but we have to wait a little longer to see them throw down.
Instead the relentless and always exciting Urijah Faber faces Scott Jorgensen in the main event while Miesha Tate and Cat Zingano do battle to see who will coach opposite Ronda Rousey in the next series.
Uriah Hall and Kelvin Gastelum duel to see who has the honour of fighting among this talent on a more regular basis while Travis Browne and Gabriel Gonzago look to state their heavyweight credentials as Robert McDaniel and Gilbert Smith make up the main card.
“TUF” task for Gastelum
With a lucrative UFC contract just a fight away from both Uriah Hall and Kelvin Gastelum, the pressure is really on to see if these two have what it takes to become a mainstay on the UFC roster.
Hall entered the “Ultimate Fighter” household with an already sterling reputation and he proved to be among the best of this season’s talent as he punched and kicked his way to an unbeaten stint in the house. It was his perfectly-timed spinning heel kick KO of Adam Cella that brought him to everyone’s attention, prompting Dana White to claim “That was the most brutal KO in the history of TUF.”
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His opponent Kelvin Gastelum has cruised under the radar somewhat but upset the odds in the semi-finals when he choked out the much fancied Josh Sammon in the first round. Gastelum has shown that he possess a dangerous submission game as well as one-punch KO power so this is by no means a walkover for Hall. A much stronger stand-up game and ability to avoid a takedown means that Hall’s signature should be on that all-important UFC contract come the weekend.
WEC veterans headline finale
Urijah Faber is the dictionary definition of “perennial contender.” Despite having lost his last five title fights, Faber is still regarded as arguably a top three fighter in his division and will no doubt have at least another one title tilt before he hangs up his gloves.
Like his opponent, Scott Jorgensen had a certain amount of success in the now defunct WEC organisation, reaching the heights of a title shot before succumbing to the all-conquering Dominick Cruz. Jorgensen has since struggled against top level competition such as Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland, and Urijah Faber should prove too fast, strong and elusive for the “Young Gun” as moves a little closer to title contention yet again.
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Miesha Tate will have to draw on all of her experience if she is to snap the unbeaten streak of Cat Zingano. The former Strikeforce bantamweight champion is looking for revenge over Ronda Rousey and a victory for her here would set up the next TUF series nicely. We all know that things don’t always work out the way you want and in Zigano she faces a well-rounded fighter, but as Tate has faced a better standard of opponent in the past, favour lies with her in this bout.
Travis Browne has vowed to put his first professional loss to “Bigfoot” Silva behind him as he faces Gabriel Gonzaga this Saturday. Having been on the fringes of title contention before that last loss, Browne must bounce back in spectacular style if he is to re-enter the title picture. Gonzaga has been somewhat of a journeyman throughout his UFC career and although he has won his last two fights, Browne should get back on track with a victory here.
