TUF 12 Finale - Main Card Live Blog
Who will be this season's Ultimate Fighter? Jonathan Brookins or Michael Johnson? Will Kendall Grove upset Demian Maia? How will Stephan Bonnar fare against Igor Pokrajac? Find out by reading our live blog! SPOILERS AHEAD!
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Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan
Leonard Garcia had a fight of the year candidate with Chang Sung Jung, the Korean Zombie. Nam Phan turned out to be Team Koscheck's ace in the hole. And we're fighting at featherweight in the UFC for the first time on TV. If you can't get up for this one, please just quit pretending you're a fight fan.
And that's Garcia walking to that one Kanye song. You know the one. That'll be a popular choice on future cards.
Round 1
Phan swings away early and catches Garcia with a solid hook. Going to take a few more to hurt a chin like his, though. Phan blocks the high kick and answers with a loud body kick. Phan let loose with a combo that definitely hurt Garcia, who answers with wild swings. Not surprisingly, Phan's boxing is crisper. Garcia tries the spinning back fist but that didn't work. Phan gets another jab. Phan comes in with another great combo followed by a headkick. Phan with more big shots that Garcia shakes off like an annoyed relief pitcher. Phan wobbles Garcia again near the end of the round but they finish still on their feet.
Round 2
Garcia starts with a switch kick and throws haymakers that Phan blocks. Nam Phan gets a few more in as Garcia is leaving himself open. Garcia changes strategy and gets a double leg to put this one on the floor. Phan is able to pop out from getting pressed on the cage. Phan ROCKS Garcia, closes in, misses a head kick but wobbles him with uppercuts, and rains down shots from the top. He takes Garcia's back and works for a choke. Phan gets some shots in from behind and goes back to the choke. Garcia looks like he might have tapped there but we're still going. Phan gets a few more in before the horn.
Round 3
Unsurprisingly, Leonard Garcia comes out swinging and suddenly Phan has quite a gash on him. Garcia gets another double leg but Phan is up quickly. Phan throwing more shots that Garcia just eats. Garcia tries an overhand right, and Phan sprawls to avoid a takedown. Phan keeps on the body and staggers Garcia yet again. Garcia misses a sloppy headkick. More on the feet and Garcia just smiles when you hit him. Or at least when Phan hits him. Another left uppercut and another laugh from Leonard Garcia. More trading and we go the distance.
Winner by Split Decision: Leonard Garcia (29-28, [27-30], 29-28)
Crowd is *not* happy with that call. Garcia is very humble in victory, saying he'll gladly rematch Phan given the choice. Big hand for Nam Phan. "Asian brother can't get no love" indeed.
Johny Hendricks vs. Rick Story
Rick Story walking out to Killswitch Engage and giving old wrestling fans flashbacks by doing so. Johny Hendricks has the one and only Marc Laimon in tow. Steve Mazzagatti your 3rd man.
Round 1
Story gets some body shots and tries a takedown. Story gets him on the fence and throws hands. Both men cautious but not tentative. Hendricks ties up the neck and gets a jab in on the break. Story starts throwing wild to no avail. Story gets a leg kick. Hendricks catches a body kick and completes the takedown, which may be enough to steal the round. Hendricks gets Story's back as the round ends.
Round 2
Hendricks opens with a nice combo, Story goes to the body, gets on top and near guillotined for his troubles. Story gets Johny's back with over/under control. Hendricks slips out and grabs a front choke, and they're up and clinched on the cage. They trade body shots and Story gets a knee. Hendricks tries and tries the single but Story is up immediately. Lots of clinch work and Story working the thigh with his knee.
Round 3
Hendricks gets the takedown and Story looks like he's got the guillotine, But he does not. Story spwaled out working the body. Story tries for a kimura, and the crowd turns on the inaction. Hendricks manages to get control with a headlock and keeps pushing for the cage. Hendricks keeping control but doing nothing else. Hendricks trying the takedown, Story hoping for the kimura. And that's how it ends.
Winner by Unanimous Decision: Rick Story (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
