TUF Finale: FS1 Prelims Results Recap

Fernando Bruno (16-4) vs. Gray Maynard (13-6-1, 1 NC)

(Featherweight Bout – 3 Rounds)

Bruno and Maynard were the main event of the preliminaries and made the most of it as they went to war for the first 90 minutes of the round throwing huge bombs, power punches and slick combinations at close range. The former 155lbs UFC title contender unloaded his best hooks and body shots along the cage wall as Bruno gladly launched his best and hardest punches at Gray. Both men hurt one another and were on the bad end of crushing shots but equally landed clean in the pocket to continue giving the rowdy fans going crazy in the arena multiple swings in momentum to keep the energy at a fever pitch. With about 40 seconds left, Bruno secured a takedown off of a single leg then transitioned to mounting Maynard’s back. ‎The Las Vegan kept his composure, powered his way back to his feet and reversed the move looking for a guillotine which he could not secure as the round came to an end.

Going into Round 2 “The Bully” Maynard marched towards his man leading with hooks as Bruno planted his feet winging away heavy shots and counter hooks. After roughly a minute in and another toe to toe trade in the middle of the Octagon, the Rio de Janeiro native took a few steps back to gather his wits then in an exchange dropped levels looking for another takedown. This time ‘The Bully’ sprawled ‎it , turned the corner and pulled guard for a guillotine attempt. Nothing came off of the submission attemtp so he moved to attacking his man’s back. As Bruno did his best to climb back up, Maynard rode his back and stayed close to him via body lock. As soon as they created space, Maynard went for a takedown, didn’t get it and so he used a high crotch to drag his man to the Octagon floor, keeping a tight body lock which he used to bring his man back down to the mat as soon as the Brazilian stood back up. Maynard kept top position for the next few seconds as the match came to an end.

Going into Round 3 Bruno went for a desperation takedown which failed and for his troubles Maynard stuffed it, then pushed him unto the mat. Clearly the fresher of the two fighters, Maynard worked out of his Brazilian adversary’s guard putting in some good ground and pound. Bruno tried to turn then roll out but the Las Vegas resident kept him in tight with a body lock that he would not break for the next minute. With 2 minutes left Bruno stood up, was pressed against the cage by Maynard then applied a guillotine choke on the former title contender. He escaped the hold popping his head out of his foe’s armpit then walked backwards along the cage with Bruno dropping levels to attempt a takedown. Maynard stuffed it so Bruno gave up on the attack, stepped back and swung for the fences on his man, missing wildly and falling to the mat from the exhaustion as Maynard returned to top control as the round came to an end.

RESULT: Gray Maynard ‎defeats Fernando Bruno via Unanimous Decision with scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 30-27.
Matheus Nicolau (12-2-1) vs. John Moraga (16-5)

(Flyweight Bout – 3 Rounds)

The only 125-pound bout of the evening featured 1-time title contender, Moraga taking on Nicolau in what resembled sparring for a muay Thai fight using 4-ounce MmA gloves. The two warriors traded jabs and lead hooks for the bulk of the 5 minutes implementing very frugal pace. Towards the end of the stanza Moraga looked for a takedown that was stuffed by Nicolau just before the round came to a close.

Round 2 was very much like it’s predecessor with both men staying on the outside looking to land one shot or maybe two, at the most. What lacked from both flyweights were 2 or 3-punch combinations as well as a variety of leg kicks as they played a game of ‘cat and mouse’. The fighters showcased their angles and movement in and out ‎of the pocket but completely avoided much of a game plan or violent emphasis to create fire works.

Going into Round 3 the fight was on the table for anyone who decided to step on the gas. But, both combatants figured that any big opening could lead to a game changer so they stuck to the one-and-out approach. The Arizona native was now trying to counter with a check left hook and Nicolau ‎was coming in with his straight right, following up with a short left hook. Nicolau came in for a takedown with less than a minute left, he got it as the Phoenix representative failed to stuff it and wound up in his man’s guard for a few moments not too long before the round ended.

RESULT: ‎Matheus Nicolau defeats John Moraga via Split Decision with scores of 29-28, 28-29 and 29-28.

Josh Stansbury (8-3) vs. Cory Hendricks (3-1)

(Light Heavyweight Bout – 3 Rounds)

‎Hendricks and Stansbury fought with what could only be described as a steady and calculated but mostly calm pace for the first 5 minutes of their 205lbs match. The two TUF alumni exchanged takedown attempts, jabs and lead left hooks plus 2-punch combinations throughout the stanza yet lacked the activity or action seen in their previous fights. However, neither fighter really stepped on the gas opting to fight more to not lose rather than fight to win.

“The Sandman” Stansbury took control of Round 2 after successfully boxing his man from the outside using a crisp jab and angles plus great upper body movement for the first couple of minutes of the round. He emphasized his ability to want to control the fight and commanded where it went getting the only takedown of the round partially thanks to keeping his man on his back foot. Stansbury got the takedown and then stayed inside of his man’s guard landing some good ground and pound and maintaining top control for the next couple of minutes. With a little less than 2 minutes left, they were stood up by the referee but Stansbury was the fresher of the two returning to his steady diet of popping out jabs and churning out hooks.

The East Liverpool, Ohio native did not ease up on the previously successful ground assault heading into Round 3 by securing a clean takedown early into the stanza. From there he kept top control, passed his foe’s guard and with 2 minutes left was going to work out of side control. The Ohio representative landed short elbows on the inside and hammer fists as Hendricks did his best to defend but rarely bucked his hips to escape or maybe gave up his back in order to roll out of trouble. Stansbury ‎cruised the rest of the way keeping his man planted on the mat and working his ground and pound.

RESULT: ‎ Josh Stansbury defeats Cory Hendricks via Majority Decision with scores of 29-27, 29-27, 28-28.
Anthony Smith (25-12) vs. Cezar Ferreira (11-5)

(Middleweight Bout – 3 Rounds)

After about a minute-long feeling out process, 185ers Smith and Ferreira ‎made their way to the ground off of a Smith standing knee that the Brazilian absorbed in order to force his man to the ground. He took the shot then started to work out of Smith’s guard but didn’t get too much of an offense going for 60 seconds or so therefore the referee stood them back up. A step in knee from Smith came which landed on Ferreira followed by another one ‎not too long after that also connected but, the TUF Brasil winner took them just fine as well as eating a looping left hook from Smith. Ferreira kept his guard high, then closed in on his foe and took him to the ground off of the clinch where he remained in top position for the last minute of the 1st Round.

Going into Round 2 Ferreira was working just outside of range now easily mixing in low leg kicks. Smith took the bait of keeping the match standing and about a minute in threw a strike as the Brazilian dropped levels and secured a takedown. This time Smith was able to get back to his feet rather quickly and the two then traded jabs and lead lefts and low kicks ‎in the middle of the Octagon. Ferreira hit another takedown with 2 minutes left which let him eat up a minute of the round from top control. The fight got back upright for the last minute with both fighters eager to trade now at close range, Smith used the clinch to land some solid punches and short elbows on his man which hurt the Brazilian forcing him to circle the cage and retreat. Smith pursued the finish looking to land something before the round ended but time ran out without him able to do so.

Early in Round 3 Smith was taken down by another Ferreira shot from inside range. He maintained top control for the next couple of minute as Smith kept an open if not a closed guard to try and defend. At the halfway mark the referee stood them back up but in the blink of an eye, Smith shot in and got the takedown on his foe then rolled for a guillotine choke from the bottom. The move was not tight enough and Ferreira kept his cool, snapped his head out of Smith’s armpit after a few moments then ‎used his position to move to Smith’s half guard where he remained until Round 3 came to an end working his ground and pound and staying in top position.

RESULT : Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira defeats Anthony Smith via Unanimous Decision with scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 29-28.