TUF 24 Finale: Fight Pass Prelims Results Recap
(Middleweight Bout – 3 Rounds)
The 185ers traded some punches before Mutapcic landed a low right leg kick to Smith and partial punch that put him on his back side right by the cage wall. Smith fought off of his back as Mutapcic landed some vicious standing to ground strikes with Smith attacking with a heel hook to slow down his man’s aggression. Mutapcic tried slipping the lock by spinning around then diving into his man’s guard as he broke him down with some hammer fists and right hand punches. He moved to full guard and kept working his ground and pound successfully as Smith tried a half butterfly guard before trying to push kick his man off with his feet. With about 2 minutes left the action temporarily slowed down as he created some space but Mutapcic was on him like glue, pushing forward landing his ground and pound again as Smith struggled to wall walk or pull guard or put on a body lock to keep his man in close, maybe even applying a clinch. Mutapcic kept at it with his great ground and pound as the last 30 seconds ticked away with him pinning his foe along the cage wall going to work in what could arguably be a 10-8 round for Mutapcic.
Going into Round 2 Smith kept the match standing and launched some clean 1-2s that totally changed the look of the match. The momentum favored him drastically on the feet as he easily started landing a jab and straight shots for the first couple of minutes while Mutapcic had no answer as the left sife of his head began streaming blood from a cut opened up by Smith’s deadly right hand punch. Mutapcic was also visibly tired so his upper body movement was absent as well as any variety of take down attempts. About halfway into the 2nd Round, Smith kept at it with the successful left hand-right punch combination and mixed in some leg kicks. After they traded some blows at close range, Smith used the clinch to close the distance then landed a monster right elbow right on the temple of his man. Mutapcic folded up like a lawn chair and as he was laying on his back, Smith followed up with three hammer fists that went unanswered prompting the referee to call a stop to the match.
RESULTS: Anthony Smith stops Elvis Mutapcic via TKO at (3:27 ) of Round 2 via strikes.
Devin Clark vs. Josh Stansbury
(Light Heavyweight Bout – 3 Rounds)
TUF alum Stansbury and Clark kicked off the night for The Ultimate Fighter season 24 Finale inside The Pearl from the Palms resort and casino. It had been a while since the TUF show had taken place inside The Pearl and it was great to see fans flood into the Palms to catch the card. Clark spent a couple of minutes trading straight shots to answer his foe’s leg kicks before dropping levels along the cage wall and hitting a solid take down. Stansbury managed to work his way back upright and began trading leather on the feet against Clark but close to the 2 minute mark Devin hit another take down on his man and kept him there for a few moments working his ground and pound. Stansbury got the fight back standing and shortly thereafter both traded hard hooks at close range, showing off good chins as they ate the shots. In the last 30 seconds Stansbury tried a take down of his own, and used his position to sink in a guillotine on his man before transitioning to a standing guillotine. Clark defended well and stayed alive as the bell sounded to end Round 1.
Going into Round 2 Stansbury was now the aggressor pushing forward behind his strikes before using a body lock to try and force the match to the ground. Clark stopped it and the pair of 205ers banged it out along the cage wall, cracking each other with short hooks and crosses on the inside. Clark held his own in the boxing department but at the halfway mark was still with his back along the cage wall with Stansbury using a clinch or body lock to keep him pinned along the cage. With 2 minutes left Clark broke away from his opponent’s underhooks to create space and bring the match back to the center of the Octagon but he looked a little fatigued at this point. He threw a few straight rights and jabs but they were arm punches as the final minute began, nonetheless they were enough to keep his foe at bay. Stansbury’s condition allowed him to push his man along the cage again but rather than unleash some strikes it was Clark who turned it up and landed some punches in the pocket then fished for a single leg before the round ended.
Heading into Round 3 Clark’s left eye was beginning to close from the success of Stansbury’s clubbing rights. He pushed forward as Clark tried to time him coming in with a counter punch but, he alertly changed levels looking for a take down as Clark defended the shot via a kimura attempt. They broke away from the cage and traded punches in the center of the Octagon in what was now the middle of Round 3. Clark shot in and got stuffed for his troubles then Stansbury tried a reversal which was blocked by his foe. Now Clark used double under hooks to mash his man along the cage wall, and sneak in some knees on the inside and punches on the inside. In the last minute of the match both men pushed their jab and Clark threw some wide uppercuts or big right as Stansbury flicked some leg kicks but tired or not, Clark was allot more active and aggressive. In the final 15 seconds Clark shot in, turned the corner and got the take down then worked to sink in a rear naked choke as he rode his foe’s back for the final seconds before the final round came to an end.
RESULTS: Devin ‘Brown Bear’ Clark defeats Josh Stansbury via Unanimous Decision. Scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28
by: armando romo jr
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
