McCrory finishes Samman with a SICK triangle choke, gives @JoeRogan the 'hardest high five' of his life #UFCOrlando https://t.co/P7HHWLdhHZ
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) December 19, 2015
In a hard fought, back-and-forth affair on the UFC on FOX 17 "Prelims" tonight (Sat., Dec. 19, 2015), the returning Tamdan McCrory defeated The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 17 contestant Josh Samman by way of triangle choke in the third round.
The finish occurred after a thoroughly grueling duel on the mat as "The Barn Cat" and "Anqa" went tit for tat for nearly 15 minutes.
Though one of Samman's strengths is his striking, the 27-year-old made it an effort to make the fight ugly from the start.
Samman scored the early trip takedown and tried to settle into top position, but McCrory wasn't about to let him get comfortable.
Numerous reversals and scrambles ensued, with both men trading various dominant positions, but it was Samman who kept the pressure and forced McCrory to expend a lot of energy off of his back. McCrory searched for submissions, which included a triangle choke, but couldn't secure it.
It was rinse and repeat for the next two rounds, as Samman scored quick takedowns, but he was outgrappled by the more astute jiu-jitsu practitioner in McCrory. McCrory began the final round decimating Samman with punches, but made a critical mistake and gave up position.
Then, just as Samman appeared to be stealing round three back, McCrory went for the triangle choke and secured it for the tap with less than a minute to go in the fight.
For more UFC on FOX 17 news and notes, including up-to-the-minute live updates, click here and here.
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