Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will pack the house inside "The Chelsea" at The Cosmopolitan tonight (Fri., Dec. 11, 2015) for the second night in-a-row as the promotion brings a stellar The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 22 Finale: "Edgar vs. Mendes" mixed martial arts (MMA) card to Las Vegas, Nevada.
Atop the FOX Sports 1-televised card is a marquee main event match up between elite Featherweight competitors Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes. The two possess nearly identical fight styles, which will undoubtedly produce a fun tilt.
A Lightweight, co-main event tussle between Top 10-ranked fighters Edson Barboza and Tony Ferguson is sure to produce fireworks as both know how to bring the heat on the feet and on the ground.
Elsewhere on the main card will be a TUF 22 Lightweight final exchange between prospects Artem Lobov and Ryan Hall, as well as a bout pitting the always entertaining Joe Lauzon against gritty grappler Evan Dunham.
However, before we can get to the six-fight main card, which will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), beginning at 10 p.m. ET, fight fans will be treated to a set of four "Prelims" fights, starting with a 155-pound bout between TUF 22 castoffs Chris Gruetzemacher and Abner Llovera at 8 p.m. ET (also on FS1).
Below are the results for the four FS1 "Prelims" tilts:
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Konstantin Erokhin
The veteran heavyweight Gonzaga tangled with the heavy-handed Erokhin in the "Prelims" main event.
Minimal action for the first minute. Erokhin almost clips Gonzaga. ALMOST. Definitely going to be a flash KO in this fight. Good inside leg kick by Gonzaga. The Brazilian goes to the body. We're at the 2:30 mark and there's been about five strikes so far. Gonzaga connects with an overhand right. He goes for a takedown, but it's stuffed by the Russian. Erokhin lands a left hook behind the ear. Gonzaga counters with the right hand. Erokhin is throwing serious power though. Big body kick finds the mark for "Napao." He lands the takedown and settles into half guard to end round one.
A jab sneaks through for Erokhin. Overhand right scores for Gonzaga. To the body goes Erokhin. Some jabs, but very little action from either man. Erokhin seems to be moving a bit better, looking for an opening. Gonzaga goes high and misses with 0:50 left. He ducks a high kick from Erokhin and searches for the takedown. Erokhin pops back up and we're in the clinch. Gonzaga lands a couple of good knees to close out round two.
Gonzaga shoots early and slides into half guard. UFC commentator Jon Anik says there has been 22 total significant strikes landed through two rounds between both men. Let that be the story-telling detail of the fight for you Maniacs. So far, Gonzaga is just laying on Erokhin. He lands a good elbow. Gonzaga begins to posture up. He could be working on a kimura. Gonzaga has the full mount. Erokhin sneaks out the back and clips Gonzaga with a left hand. Erokhin is telegraphing his right hand, which Gonzaga routinely slips. He circles and stays on the outside to wrap up this snoozefest.
Gonzaga stops the bleeding of a three-fight win streak, while falls to 0-2 in UFC.
Result: Gonzaga via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-28)
Ryan LaFlare vs. Mike Pierce
Former top-15 Welterweight LaFlare welcomed Pierce back to the Octagon after the latter's long layoff.
A lull to start round one. LaFlare strikes first to the body, and is finding a home for his kicks. More front kicks coming from LaFlare, who lands a jab behind it. An outside leg kick finds the mark for Pierce, who then lands a high kick. LaFlare scores with a one-two combination. The Oregon native Pierce searches for the takedown and brings the fight to the cage. They broke with 2:15 to go. Pierce catches the kick of LaFlare and bullies him into the fence. Pierce with one underhook. If LaFlare can utilize his athleticism, this is his fight to lose. Nice slip and left hand counter by LaFlare. He snaps the jab. A good inside leg kick from Long Island's LaFlare. He scores with another one-two, but eats a high kick from Pierce to end round one.
LaFlare opens round two with a body kick. Another beautiful front kick. Pierce has no answer. Good left hand from LaFlare. LaFlare buries a couple of knees in the abdomen of Pierce. Pierce scores with an outside leg kick. Pierce hurts LaFlare and charges in with bombs. He's heavy on a single leg. He lets it go and we're back to striking with 2:00 to go. Pierce scores with the left hook. Good body kick and left hand from LaFlare. He connects with a body shot. A high kick grazes by LaFlare grazes Pierce, who instigates the clinch as we conclude round two.
Pierce looks to bring the fight back to the clinch. Somewhat surprised we haven't seen the wrestling of LaFlare, but he does have the advantage striking. One underhook for Pierce. More body shots coming from LaFlare. He's popping the jab a bit now. A huge knee by LaFlare connects to the body of Pierce. He's running away with the round and the fight. Just as I say that, LaFlare is rocked by Pierce, who pours it on the reeling Blackzilians representative.
LaFlare gets back in the win column and is 6-1 in UFC. Pierce loses for the second straight time.
Result: LaFlare via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Joby Sanchez vs. Geane Herrera
Sanchez looked to notch his first win streak in UFC when he took on the ground specialist Herrera in a flyweight frenzy.
Herrera goes high with the kick to start. Swing and a miss on a one-two from Sanchez. Herrera connects with a solid jab. Sanchez counters with a good left. "The Revolutionary" finds the mark with a right. Sanchez scores, but eats a knee. Sanchez tags Herrera with a right. Good inside leg kick from the Jackson-Wink representative Sanchez. Very good jab from Sanchez. Head kick by Herrera blocked. Sanchez is utilizing some good faints; showing body but targeting the head. Sanchez connects with the overhand right. Herrera is having a hard time pulling the trigger. The Florida-based Herrera lands a takedown, as Sanchez misses on a spinning back fist, to conclude round one.
Herrera puts together an excellent one two to start off the second round. He then lands a hook. Herrera is getting better at countering the pressure of Sanchez. Big swing and a miss from Sanchez. He's got to reign himself in. Herrera stuffs the takedown. A right hand opens up a cut on Herrera. He gets hit, but continues to counter well. Front kick from Herrera connects, and Sanchez immediately returns with a flurry. They trade jabs. Good lefts and body blows by Sanchez. Huge body shot by Sanchez and a knee from Herrera on the return. Sanchez scores with a very good uppercut. WOW. Herrera stuns Sanchez with a huge left hook for the knockout at 4:28 mark of round two.
Herrera tallies his first UFC victory, while Sanchez drops his second tilt in ZUFFA.
Result: Sanchez via second-round knockout
Chris Gruetzemacher vs. Abner Lloveras
Two competitors from the latest season of TUF aimed to make a statement in their first UFC bout as Gruetzemacher took on Lloveras.
Lloveras connects with a straight right and jab early. A body kick lands for Gruetzemacher as he plods forward. He bullies his way into the clinch. Lloveras reverses position. A nice knee finds the mark for "Skullman." Lloveras scores with a body kick. Another knee from Lloveras in the clinch. Gruetzemacher has to find a better way inside. He's leaving himself open to strikes. Back to the clinch with 2:20 to go. Lloveras has him up in the air for a second, but "Gritz" has good takedown defense. Gruetzemacher lands a couple of solid kicks. The Spaniard Lloveras keeps the distance well and is winning the striking battle. Guetzemacher can't consistently get off, but lands a good uppercut. Lloveras ends round one with a takedown.
Lloveras starts of round two by establishing control of the Octagon. Gruetzemacher connects with a one-two combination. He's starting to find a home for the uppercut. Lloveras ties up Gruetzemacher and almost got his back. The rear-naked choke isn't there and the American scurries out. Lloveras has some blood on his face. Gruetzemacher goes back to the leg. Lazy spinning back fist from Gruetzemacher, but he connects to the lead leg. He looks like the more fresh fighter in round two. Very few kicks coming from Lloveras. Gruetzemacher attacks the body. A good counter right lands for Lloveras. Gruetzemacher rips one to the body. They duke it out in the middle of the Octagon to end round two.
Lloveras shoots for a takedown to start the final frame. He gets him Gruetzemacher down briefly, but the latter gets out and is back on his feet. The MMA Lab representative continues his forward pressure. A fence grab by Gruetzemacher stops a takedown from Lloveras, who aims to take the back. Dirty boxing from both guys. A good knee in the clinch from Gruetzemacher. He tees off and connects with a right. The pair tie up. Lloveras moves Gruetzemacher into the fence. Lloveras really needs to make something happen and steal this round. It's likely one round apiece. Lloveras scores with another takedown, but Gruetzemacher avoids the ground and is back up. Lloveras shoots again for the takedown, but it's a weak attempt. Gruetzemacher punishes the lead leg. Gruetzemacher's output is high until the final bell. Lloveras lands a couple of strikes to close out the first fight of the night.
Gruetzemacher picks up his 12th win in-a-row. Lloveras sees his four-fight win streak snapped.
Result: Chris Gruetzemacher via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
For the complete TUF 22: "Edgar vs. Mendes" card and results, including live updates and play-by-play, click here and here.