LAS VEGAS — The fifteenth season of The Ultimate Fighter officially comes to a close this evening as Team Faber lightweight tournament finalists Al Iaquinta and Mike Chiesa battle for a six-figure contract with the UFC.
The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale takes place this evening at The Pearl inside Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and will air LIVE on FX starting at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT (local time). Preliminary card action starts at 6:25 p.m. ET/3:25 p.m. PT (local time) and airs LIVE on Facebook, then moves to FUEL TV at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT (local time).
Headlining tonight’s card will be a match-up between top welterweight contenders Martin Kampmann and Jake Ellenberger. ProMMAnow.com is on the scene and will provide LIVE results and play-by-play commentary for all of tonight’s action. We will also have a complete photo gallery of tonight’s fights which will be posted over the weekend.
While waiting for the fights to start, be sure to go back and check our extensive pre-fight coverage of The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale including several exclusive video interviews and fight breakdowns.
TUF Live Finale quick results:
MAIN CARD (FX)
- Martin Kampmann def. Jake Ellenberger by knockout (strikes) Rd 2 (1:40)
- Mike Chiesa def. Al Iaquinta by submission (rear-naked choke) Rd 1 (2:37)
- Charles Oliveira def. Johnathan Brookins by submission (guillotine choke) Rd 2 (2:42)
- Max Holloway def. Pat Schilling by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Justin Lawrence def. John Cofer by knockout (head kick) Rd 3 (:19)
PRELIMINARY CARD (FUEL TV)
- Daron Cruickshank def. Chris Tickle by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
- Myles Jury def. Chris Saunders by submission (Guillotine Choke) Rd 1 (4:03)
- Sam Sicilia def. Cristiano Marcello by TKO (punches) Rd 1 (2:53)
- Joe Proctor def. Jeremy Larsen by TKO (strikes) Rd 1 (1:59)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
- Erik Perez def. John Albert by submission (verbal due to armbar) Rd 1 (4:18)
TUF Live Finale play-by-play:
Press F5 on your keyboard to refresh the page, as play-by-play is updated in real time following each round of action.
John Albert vs. Erik Perez
Round 1 – Inside leg kick by Perez. Albert pushes him to the cage, knee to the body, again, again. Perez turns him around and backs out and they square up in the center and exchange punches. Front kick from Perez. Leg kick. Lands a right hook. Head kick from Albert, he shoots for a single, gets Perez down briefly. Albert takes his back but falls off while too high. Perez now inside his full guard. Albert throws up a tight triangle. He pulls down the head of Perez while Dennis Hallman coaches him on. Hammerfists to the jaw from Perez. Two minutes to go. Our buddy Kim Winslow is the ref, looking on closely. Albert has been locked up for well over a minute now. Perezt landing several punches until Albert lets go. Perez scrambles and gets top position, goes for an armbar and this fight is over. Kim Winslow stopped the fight. There was no visible tap but the official ruling was a verbal tapout at 4:18.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Erik Perez def. John Albert by submission (verbal due to armbar) Rd 1 (4:18)
Perez: “Yeah, I was a little surprised it was stopped, but I definitely had his arm really hard. I was thinking I was going to break his arm, or maybe had already broken it. He was a tough guy.”
Albert: “No, I never submitted. I was trying to get out, I started to yell, and then the referee stopped it.”
Jeremy Larsen vs. Joe Proctor
Round 1 – Proctor connects first with a couple punches. Clinch up, knee to the body from Proctor, throws a big right. Nice jab from Larsen. Inside leg kick from Proctor. Nice left to the body and right over the top from Larsen. Left hook and a right from Proctor. Left hook from Larsen. Right to the body left to the head from Larsen. Left from Larsen connects. Right from Proctor. Larsen somes in swinging and Proctor grabs a Thai plum, gives him a knee to the face followed by several hammerfists forcing Herb Dean to stop the fight. Larsen jumped right up as if he were going to complain about the stoppage but stumbled back to the ground. Beautiful finish by Proctor. Be sure to check out our pre-fight interview with Proctor.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Joe Proctor def. Jeremy Larsen by TKO (strikes) Rd 1 (1:59)
Proctor: “Tonight this win set in stone what I want to do in my life — and that’s fight. He may have dictated the pace early but I always come out slow, which is something I need to work on. But I always knew what he was doing even though I was feeling him out. Then I capitalized and got the finish.”
Larsen: “This is very disappointing to say the least. I definitely felt I had it going but then I made a mistake.”
Cristiano Marcello vs. Sam Sicilia
Round 1 – Sicilia throws the first punch but misses. Front kick from Marcello misses. Marcello dodging everything so far, he shoots, stuffed. Sicilia head hunting. Misses two, three rights, lands a haymaker. Marcello swings back. Front kick from Marcello scores. Left hook from Sicilia scores. Right to the body, front kick to the body. Misses a big left hook. Catches a kick and dumps Marcello to the ground. He butt scoots and Sicilia lets him up. Sicilia misses with three hooks. Marcello tries to pull guard but Sicilia gets out of the way. He’s back up, lands a front kick. Body shot from Sicilia. Sicilia misses a gain with three haymakers. Marcello sees them all coming. He shoots, stuffed. High kick blocked. PMN scores the round 10-9 Sicilia.
Round 2 – Marcello slips to the ground, but is back up. Lands a body kick. He shoots, eats several hammerfists, lets go the leg. Marcello dodging most of Sicilia’s punches. Sicilia lands a big right though. Marcello lands a combo. Sicilia lands a big one in return. Marcello lands a couple more punches. Left from Sicilia. Sicilia slowing down. Body kick from Marcello. Sicilia breathing hard, wings a couple more punches. Lands a right, then a left, a knee, a couple rights, a knee and Marcello goes down. Sicilia follows up with several right hands as he hovers over Marcello and the Brazilian goes out. The ref let him take about eight unanswered blows to the chin.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Sam Sicilia def. Cristiano Marcello by TKO (punches) Rd 1 (2:53)
Sicilia: “This is a big, big win, but also a bittersweet one. We have really become good friends and he really looked out for me during the show. I’m always looking for the knockout. Once I land one, I hit gears I don’t even know I have.”
Marcello: “I feel OK. I’m not happy I lost, but I love to fight. I didn’t expect a fight like this. I think if I had taken him down, it would have been different. That was my plan. His defense was good, but I made a mistake by not trying more to take him down.”
Myles Jury vs. Chris Saunders
Round 1 – Leg kick from Jury, front kick. High kick from Jury. Leg kick from Saunders. Front kick from Jury. Again. High kick blocked. Left hand from Saunders, leg kick. Right hand from Jury, inside leg kick. High kick from Jury blocked. He catches a kick, throws a counter right. Leg kick from Saunders. Leg kick Jury. High kick. Winslow halts the action to check on Jury’s eye after taking a poke. Big right hand from Jury connects. Again. Flying knee, Saunders catches it for the takedown. Jury locks on a guillotine as it goes down. It’s an arm-in choke and Saunders taps out after about 15-20 seconds of trying to maneuver himself lose. Beautimous!
OFFICIAL RESULT: Myles Jury def. Chris Saunders by submission (Guillotine Choke) Rd 1 (4:03)
Jury: “Winning my first UFC fight is literally a dream come true. Whatever way the UFC wants to use me, I’ll do. People ask me what I’m doing here, I say, ‘I’m living my dream.’ This is what I want to do and now I am doing it. All I want is to keep living the dream.”
Saunders: “I thought I was doing great but then we went down after he threw that knee. I didn’t want to go to the ground. That’s not my game. I want to stand. But I made a mistake and it cost me. Every fight somebody has to win and somebody has to lose. Tonight, I was the one who came up on the wrong end.”
Daron Cruickshank vs. Chris Tickle
Round 1 – Cruickshank, known for his striking, shoots immediately. Tickle locks on a guillotine choke in the first few seconds of the fight. Cruickshank is free, now inside the full guard of Tickle. Short elbow from Cruickshank. He postures up as Tickle holds onto his arms to prevent him from striking. Tickle gets up swinging but Cruickshank uses an inside trip to put him right back down. Tickle lands an illegal kick to the head of a grounded opponent. Ref deducts one point from Tickle. It really didn’t even appear to land solid. Tickle shoots, pushes Cruickshank to the cage. Cruickshank uses an inside trip to put Tickle on his back. Lands inside full guard. Cruickshank postures up, lays back inside full guard. Couple big elbows from Cruickshank. Tickle with a closed guard. Ref tells them to keep working. Cruickshank stays busy with elbows until the bell. Due to point deduction, PMN scores the round 10-8 for Cruickshank.
Round 2 – Spinning back kick from Cruickshank. Punch combo from Tickle. Big leg kick from Cruickshank. He shoots and Tickle locks on a D’arce choke, but Cruickshank pops his neck free and is now on top and in control. A brief scramble as Tickle tries to escape his position. Cruickshank is inside full guard, lands an elbow. Ref stands them up. Head kick from cruickshank, he eats it and Tickle floors Cruickshank with a right hand. Tickle tries to follow up with ground and pound. Cruickshank has full closed guard. Tickle trying to stay busy enough not to get stood up. Cruickshank with half guard. Elbow from Tickle. Elbow strike. Body shot from Tickle. PMN scores the round 10-9 for Tickle.
Round 3 – Big leg kick from Cruickshank. Body kick from Cruickshank, eats a left hand from Tickle. Cruickshank goes for a takedown, Tickle counters and ends up on top in side control. Tickle tries to take Cruickshank’s back, gets too high, slips off and now Cruickshank has top position, inside full guard. Cruickshank staying busy with ground and pound. He postures up, tries to mount. Tickle uses the cage to get up but Cruickshank trips him once again, landing in full mount and Cruickshank unleashes some elbow strikes. Now in half guard. Cruickshank goes for a guillotine, now Tickle ends up on top in side control with 10 seconds to go. Cruickshank sweeps and ends up on top in side mount before the bell. Fun fight. PMN scores the round 10-9 and the fight 29-27 for Cruickshank.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Daron Cruickshank def. Chris Tickle by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27) Rd 3 (5:00)
Cruickshank: “I feel awesome. You have to go with the flow, and that’s what happened in there. I feel I can do it all and tonight I had to wrestle more. Everybody’s different and you have to make adjustments. You fight guys what they’re bad at, not what they’re good at. I love to fight and am already looking forward to the next one.”
Tickle: “I thought I fought good. On the point deduction, I thought he was posturing. I knew I was behind and I really wanted to stop him. I gave it my best.”
Justin Lawrence vs. John Cofer
Round 1 – Touch gloves. Lawrence uses a jump side kick and Cofer puts him on his back right away. Lawrence gets up, catches a kick and puts Cofer on his back. Lawrence stands up, gives a kick to the thighs of his downed opponent, then lets him up. Right from Lawrence, left from Cofer, another left stuns Lawrence and knocks him backward off balance. They square back up and Cofer lands an uppercut. Shot near the back of the head by Lawrence. They tie up, couple of knees from Cofer. Jumping knee from Lawrence. Left hand from Lawrence. Left from Lawrence, they trade left hands. Nice knee from Cofer from the Thai clinch. Leg kick from Cofer. Switch kick from Cofer. Jumping knee from the Thai Clinch from Lawrence. PMN scores the round 10-9 for John Cofer.
Round 2 – Leg kick Cofer. High kick from Lawrence. Front kick from Lawrence. Left counter from Lawrence. Body kick from Cofer. Left hook from Lawrence. Cofer slams Lawrence to the mat.
Round 3 – Right hand from Lawrence. One, two, head kick from Justin Lawrence starches John Cofer. My man is out cold, never saw it coming, picture perfect right leg cemetery right to the jaw and this fight is done like two burnt eggs.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Justin Lawrence def. John Cofer by knockout (head kick) Rd 3 (:19)
Lawrence: “This is just the beginning. I got myself in a few bad spots but didn’t panic. KO of the year? Well, I’m happy with the KO but I’m not satisfied. I won’t be satisfied until I crack the top five. Then I’ll be happy. If I’ve come away with anything the last three months, it is to have fun in there and enjoy the moment.”
Cofer: “This is a very disappointing loss. I congratulate Justin Lawrence. He’s a hard worker. He did a good job and got the win.”
Max Holloway vs. Pat Schilling
Round 1 – Schilling shoots for a single, switches to a double, up against the cage, switches back to the single and gets him down but Holloway immediately is back to his feet and waits for Schilling to stand. Holloway attacks with strikes. Schilling shoots, stuffed, rolls for a kneebar. Holloway gets out of the way. Spinning backfist from Schilling misses. Right counter from Holloway connects moments later. Left to the body from Holloway, right to the jaw. Body jab from Holloway. Right to the body from Schilling. Counter right to the jaw from Holloway. He lands s combo. Double left jab from Schilling. Body kick from Holloway forces a shot from Schilling, he goes for the leg at the bell. PMN scores the round 10-9 for Holloway.
Round 2 – Nice right hook from Holloway, jumping knee. Schilling goes for a takedown, pushes Holloway to the cage. Holloway backs out. Right, left, double uppercut from Holloway. Two peas and a biscuit from Holloway and a big right score. One two hurts Schilling as he flails to the ground. Ref lets him up. Holloway hurts Schilling with more punches and a knee. Schilling covers up, shoots, Holloway gets out of the way. Three big body shots from Holloway, he’s picking Schilling apart. Three or four more body shots and Schilling is barely able to stand. He flails to the ground once again and the ref lets him up. Schilling catches a kick and goes for the takedown. Holloway escapes. REf lets Schilling up. Double jab, and a missed head kick from Holloway. Big right to the body, Schilling shoots, flails. Back up. Right to the body from Holloway. Spinning backfist from Schilling scores. Left hook to the body, Schilling crunches down against the cage and eats a combo as the bell sounds. PMN scores the round 10-8 for Holloway.
Round 3 – Schilling said something is wrong with his right shoulder. Left from Holloway, several left jabs, body kick. Right hand from Schilling scores. Right to the body from Holloway. Schilling tries to tie up, then shoots for a takedown. Holloway easily shrugging him off. Big left to the body from Holloway. Left to the body, left to the chin from Holloway. Schilling shoots, stuffed, takes a knee to the face. Left right to the jaw from Holloway stuns Schilling, he flails to his back. Ref lets him up. Left to the body, right over the top scores. Holloway with a cage kick attempt, lands a big right. Schilling’s face is brutalized. PMN scores the round 10-9 for Holloway and the fight 30-26 for Holloway.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Max Holloway def. Pat Schilling by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Rd 3 (5:00)
Holloway: “I feel awesome to get this win. The game plan was to throw whenever I saw openings, so when the body opened up, I went there. I thought the fight was over in the second round after I landed a shot and he was not that fast getting up. To be the best, you must fight the best, so it doesn’t matter who they line up for me next.”
Schilling: “I hurt my shoulder in the first round, and couldn’t throw punches like I wanted. I may have caught a kick on it, I don’t know. I couldn’t lift my shoulder all the way up. So, that basically was the fight.”
Jonathan Brookins vs. Charles Oliveira
Round 1 – Leg kick from Oliveira. Brookins eats a right. Leg kick Oliveira. Body kick. Triple right hands from Brookins. They trade knees, body kick from Oliveira. Big right from Oliveira. Leg kick. Left hand from Oliveira, jumping knee attempt from Oliveira. Brookins catches him for a slam. Oliveira goes for an armbar. Brookins pulls out, eats an upkick. Brookins stands back and lets him up. Oliveira hunting. Right hand from Brookins. Leg kick from Oliveira. Big right from Oliveira rocks Brookins, knocks him back against the cage, he regains his footing. Leg kick from Oliveira. Right hand, leg kick from Oliveira. Right left, another right from Oliveira. Brookins fires back with a couple nice punches of his own that connect. Big leg kick from Oliveira. Inside kick. Right hand, knee from Oliveira. Uppercut from Brookins. Jumping knee caught by Brookins, they trade punches. Great first round… fight of the night so far. PMN scores the round 10-9 Oliveira.
Round 2 – Touch gloves. Leg kick from Oliveira. Jumping front kick just misses. Jab from Brookins, light leg kick. Punch combo from Brookins, pushes Oliveira to the cage. Oliveira moves out. Couple of slaps from Brookins. Big right from Oliveira, jumping knee, caught. Clinches. Brookins grabs his neck. Oliveira puts him on his back inside guard. Oliveira locks on a guillotine, very deep, locks his legs around the waist of Brookins and Brookins taps out. Beautimous!
OFFICIAL RESULT: Charles Oliveira def. Johnathan Brookins by submission (guillotine choke) Rd 2 (2:42)
Oliveira: “I worked so hard for this fight so I’m very glad I came out on top. He’s a tough fighter, a former TUF champion. I respect him. I thought my technique and strength may have been the difference. I will continue working. I’m patient. I know that if I take it step by step, I’ll get to where I’m supposed to be.”
Brookins: “I let myself down tonight. I just didn’t have it. I tried to convince myself that I did but, unfortunately, I am going to have to use this fight as something to try and build up off.”
Mike Chiesa vs. Al Iaquinta
Round 1 – Right hand from Iaquinta. Leg kick. He catches a Chiesa leg kick and gives him some punches. Chiesa goes for a single. Iaquinta fights out of it. Left hand from Chiesa. Misses a high kick. Inside leg kick from Chiesa. Superman punch and a left from Iaquinta. He catches a leg kick, fires off a right. Chiesa shoots, gets a body lock, then the takedown, takes Iaquinta’s back, both hooks in, looking for the choke. He gets under the chin and Iaquinta goes to sleep. Mike Chiesa is The Ultimate Fighter. What a remarkable story from the young man who lost his father during the the show. His sister and mother come into the cage to congratulate and hug him.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Mike Chiesa def. Al Iaquinta by submission (rear-naked choke) Rd 1 (2:37)
Chiesa: “I did it! This is so real, it’s unreal. It’s insanity. Each and every day has been a battle when it comes to my Dad. He’s responsible for all of this. He’s the one who told me what hard work and putting in the time was all-about.
“The money is great, the contract is great, but this piece of glass means more than everything. I will have it the rest of my life.
“Al’s tough. He’s a tough guy. I’m just kind of sneaky so when I made it to my choke , I squeezed and squeezed. My hat’s off to Al. He has a big future in the UFC.”
Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann
Round 1 – Left hook from Ellenberger, he lands one more that drops Kampmann. He gets on top of him trying to finish with several punches as Kampmann covers up and holds close to Ellenberger. Kampmann holding a guillotine position from full guard. Ellenberger laying on Kampmann with his back to the cage. Holding him there at this point. Postures up with a couple shots. Kampmann holding Ellenberger’s head as Ellenberger ties up both Kampmann’s legs. Kind of a stale mate right now as a few boos start from the crowd. No strikes have been thrown in quite some time now. Elbow from Ellenberger as Kampmann stands up, knees from Kampmann, he drops levels looking for the takedown. PMN scores the round 10-9 Ellenberger.
Round 2 – Leg kick Ellenberger. Right hand from Kampmann, left hand. Ellenberger rocked and fires back and scores. Kampmann retreats wobbling and covers up. Both guys are bleeding and we have ourselves a fight folks. Ellenberger breathing deep. Head kick from Kampmann blocked. Kampmann throws a right to the temple, it wobbles Ellenberger. Kampmann goes after him, gets a Thai clinch, lands a few big knees to the face, Ellenberger goes down and is done as referee Mazzagatti steps in to stop the fight. What an incredible rally by Kampmann. Amazing! Apparently Kampmann will fight Johny Hendricks in a title eliminator.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Martin Kampmann def. Jake Ellenberger by knockout (strikes) Rd 2 (1:40)
Do work Body Snatcher!