By Mark Gessner

The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale
Aired on Spike TV from the Pearl at the Palms in Las Vegas, NV

Following an introduction video to the show, hyping the main card, Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan welcomed viewers to the show. They put over how Ramsey and Tony were the best fighters on the season and how winning the competition would be huge for either of their careers. They then discussed Clay Guida versus Anthony Pettis who are both fighting to prove that they should be the next incline for a UFC Lightweight Championship fight.

1. Chuck O'Neil (8-4) vs. Chris Cope (4-2) [Welterweight Division]

Round One: 10-9 Cope. Cope throughout the round would double jab to the body and then come over the top with a hook. Really changed levels in his striking very well. O'Neil worked in a couple good leg kicks during the round and closed out the round with a strong kick to the body. Good opening round with Cope having the edge in their striking exchanges.

Round Two: 10-9 Cope. He continued to out strike O'Neil for the entire round. Cope displayed good head and body movement not allowing O'Neil to land with anything significant and continued to change levels well in his striking. Cope is dictating the fight and not leaving any openings for O'Neil to land counter strikes.

Round Three 10-9 Cope. Cope continued to dominate the stand up. The fight went up against the cage for a few minutes and Cope continued to dominate in the clinch with knees to the body and punches to the body and head. Cope closed out the round with a beautiful spinning backfist that landed. 30-27 Cope on my scorecard.

Official Decision: Chris Cope defeated Chuck O'Neil via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Gessner's Glance: This was the best Chris Cope looked during the entire season. He showed good head and body movement throughout the entire fight, mixed up his strikes very well, and showed really good pacing and did not look tired at all after dominating for fifteen minutes. Good fight for Cope and he will most likely be getting another fight in the Octagon following his impressive performance.

2. Kyle Kingsbury (10-2-0-1) vs. Fabio Maldonado (18-3) [Light Heavyweight Division]

Round One: 10-9 Maldonado. Really, really close round that could go either way. Kingsbury opened up the round with really good striking and good knees to the head in the muay thai clinch. Maldonado adapted though and began landing combinations to the body whenever Kingsbury went back to the muay thai clinch. Kingsbury scored two takedowns that could win him the round, but Maldonado appeared to inflict more damage with his boxing skills on display, working over the midsection of Kingsbury. Good opening five minutes.

Round Two: 10-9 Kingsbury. Landed a few big head kicks and landed more knees to the head from the muay thai clinch. Scored a few more takedowns to secure the round. Again, another closely contested round and a good back and forth battle.

Round Three: 10-9 Maldonado. Good boxing on display throughout the round and scored takedowns for the first time in the fight. He was able to work over Kingsbury's left eye and it was swollen shut by the end of the fight. Maldonado wins the fight 29-28 on my scorecard.

Official Decision: Kyle Kingsbury defeated Fabio Maldonado via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Gessner's Glance: No problems at all with the judges decision. Was a close fifteen minute battle and each of the three rounds could have been given to either of the fighters. Really good fight.

Via satellite, Joe Rogan interviewed Shane Carwin. Carwin discussed having back and neck surgery to heal an injury that has been nagging him for the past three years. He said since his last fight with Brock Lesnar last Summer, he has changed his diet and slimmed down so that he can maintain his energy in fights and not get gassed out like he did against Brock. He also said that he is excited to fight Junior Dos Santos next Saturday and that the thought of fighting a good striker like JDS gives him "goosebumps."

3. Tim Credeur (13-5) vs. Ed Herman (17-7) [Middleweight Division]

Round One: Herman dropped Credeur with a right uppercut :43 and Herman landed punches to the head of the grounded Credeur leading to referee Herb Dean jumping in and ending the fight.

Official Decision: Ed Herman defeated Tim Credeur via TKO at :48 of the first round

Gessner's Glance: Wow, great uppercut by "Short Fuse" Ed Herman. Good return to the Octagon following his nearly two year absence from the UFC due to injuries.

Via satellite, Joe Rogan interviewed Junior Dos Santos. JDS said that he did not have to change up his training much with Carwin stepping in for Lesnar. JDS said he hopes that Carwin decides to stand up and bang with him and make it an exciting fight. He closed out the interview by telling fans not to blink.

4. Anthony Pettis (11-1) vs. Clay Guida (28-8) [Lightweight Division]

Round One: 10-9 Guida. Guida scored two takedowns and kept Pettis grounded for the majority of the round. However, Pettis showed his great skills fighting off his back, maintaining wrist control while on the ground and working for submissions on numerous occasions. Guida still landed punches, elbows, and even shoulder strikes while in top position and worked enough to secure the round. Good start.

Round Two: 10-9 Guida. Took Pettis down early and kept him there. Pettis got back to his feet and threw another holy shit kick, with a spinning back kick to the midsection off the cage but Guida was able to block it. Guida scored another takedown late but Pettis was able to lock in an armbar from on bottom during the closing seconds of the round, but was not able to get the tapout before the horn sounded ending the round. Guida has one the last two rounds due to takedowns and top position but Pettis is very much in this fight and is one slip up away by Guida from locking in a submission and scoring the win. Good two rounds.

Round Three: Guida 10-9. Guida scored another takedown early and ground and pounded Pettis. Pettis was able to transition with 90 seconds left and take Guida's back but he was unable to lock in a rear naked choke or armbar. Guida out of nowhere transitioned and took Pettis' back and closed out the round with two hooks in for a rear naked choke as time expired. Guida 30-27 on my card.

Official Decision: Clay Guida defeated Anthony Pettis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Following the decision announcement, Clay Guida said that he has paid his dues, defeated the man who was supposed to be next in line for a shot at the UFC Lightweight Championship, and should fight the winner of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard.

Gessner's Glance: Great win and game plan by Guida. He took Pettis down at will and showed good submission defense throughout the fifteen minute fight. Pettis is dangerous on the ground and Guida did not let him lock anything in. While theoretically Guida should be next in line for a title fight, a fight with Jim Miller if he beats Ben Henderson in August might be next for him depending on how long until Edgar and Maynard are able to fight with their injuries.

5. Tony Ferguson (11-2) vs. Ramsey Nijem (5-1) [Welterweight Division]

Round One: Ferguson took Nijem down three times and out-wrestled Ramsey in the early part of the opening round. Nearly 4:00 into the round, Ferguson landed a left hook that dropped Nijem. Ferguson pounced on Nijem and threw a couple of punches before referee Josh Rosenthal stepped in and ended the fight.

Official Decision: Tony Ferguson defeated Ramsey Nijem via knockout at 3:54 of the first round

UFC President Dana White presented Tony Ferguson with The Ultimate Fighter Season 13 Winner plaque.

Gessner's Glance: Really good free TV show tonight. You had three closely contested three round fights and two first round knockouts. Congratulations to Tony for winning the thirteenth season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Thank you very much for checking out my coverage of The Ultimate Fighter Finale. If you have any thoughts, feel free to email at Kliq4Life28@gmail.com or shoot me a tweet @MarkGessner.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: