TUF 25 Finale results: Jesse Taylor submits Dhiego Lima, achieves ultimate UFC ‘Redemption’

The two finalists of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 25: “Redemption” series, Dhiego Lima and Jesse Taylor, faced off tonight (July 7, 2017) at the Finale event inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, airing live on FOX Sports 1, for a $290,000 grand prize.

Taylor opened with a shot almost immediately, and Lima fought it tenaciously. Taylor got him to all fours briefly, hanging on Lima and returning him to the mat. He leapt on Lima’s back for a moment, then returned to the wrestler’s ride. He finally slammed Lima and took top position, landing ground and pound from the guard. Lima tried to control his wrists, then scrambled to the fence. Lima took his back momentarily, looking for a rear-naked choke, but Lima scrambled free. Jesse Taylor stayed in top position, taking Lima’s back again. Lima exited to the safe side, escaping another rear-naked choke. Lima alternated between hitting Lima and looking to advance position. What an absolutely dominant round for Taylor, who ended the round postured up and landing punches on a desperately scrambling Lima

Lima dropped Taylor with a counter left hand to open the second round, but when he looked to pounce, Taylor reversed him and took his back, locking in a rear-naked choke! Lima is forced to tap, and 34-year-old Jesse Taylor just made more than a quarter-million dollars!

In the post-fight interview, Taylor claimed tonight’s win is for everyone who messed up in life, and to never give up. He says he is an rear-naked choke master, and his perseverance is the story of his life -- he gets dropped and keeps going. What a moment and a win for “JT Money!”

Final result: Jesse Taylor def. Dhiego Lima via rear-naked choke in round two

For full TUF 25 Finale results and play-by-play click here