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411’s Ultimate Fighter 27: Undefeated Report 7.04.18

July 4, 2018 | Posted by Larry Csonka
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The Ultimate Fighter 27: Episode TWELVE
INTRODUCTION: Season 27 of the Ultimate Fighter is here. This season will feature undefeated featherweights and lightweights, with current UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic against current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier serving as the coaches ahead of their upcoming fight. There will be a lightweight and a featherweight winner. Last week, Joe Giannetti defeated Alan Zuniga via RD1 submission. This week, the final semifinal with Jay Cucciniello (8-0, 0-1 TUF) vs. Tyler Diamond (9-0, 1-0 TUF).

– We start off with Cucciniello training. Team Miocic is trying to improve his speed so that he can pull the trigger quicker and not rely on single strikes that hang out there and allow him to get caught. Back at the house, Diamond and others sit and chat about their fathers and when they lost them in life. Diamond was very close with his father, and credits him for his mental toughness and ability to show compassion. He just wants to make his father proud. Cucciniello talks about dealing with a lot of loss in life, but also the great things he’s experienced. He discusses his time fighting in Afghanistan, and having to stare death in the face, and then coming home whole and able to live life to the fullest. He also wants to make his father proud.

– Diamond talks about fighting Cucciniello off of a loss, and while Cucciniello tasted a loss, he knows that Cucciniello will be more dangerous this time around. Team Cormier & Diamond do some tape study on Cucciniello, and notes he likes to change stance at random a lot. Cormier is very confident in Diamond, who was his #1 pick. Diamond knows he has to pressure and take control as soon as possible.

WEIGH-INS: Cucciniello (145), Diamond (146).

– Cormier brings a chef to the house to cook for the team. Bryce Mitchell was the assistant. The food looked amazing. Cormier praises his team for their work this season. Cormier says this is a tradition he does with his family the night before he fights.

– We get the usual pre-fight warm-ups.

FEATHERWEIGHT SEMIFINAL: Jay Cucciniello (8-0, 0-1 TUF) vs. Tyler Diamond (9-0, 1-0 TUF) ROUND ONE: Cucciniello lost his first fight but got back into the competition due to injuries, and now has a real shot at redemption. Cucciniello is older, but everything else is basically even. Diamond comes out aggressively, catches Cucciniello and backs him off and then drops him. To the ground they go, but Cucciniello gets right to his feet. They circle and trade, Cucciniello starts to land rights and Diamond shoots and gets the takedown. He works to north south position, but Cucciniello gets to his feet and they work along the cage. They separate and trade again, really firing away and lighting each other up. Diamond takes things to the ground again, Cucciniello cage walks and is back on his feet. They grind along the cage and then get separated. They trade, Cucciniello stuffs a shot and the round ends. Good round. SCORECARD: Diamond 10-9

ROUND TWO: Diamond out aggressively again to start, Cucciniello is playing better defense here and islanding good counter strikes. He’s connecting well and backing off Diamond, now mixing on body shots as well. Diamond has noticeably slowed his striking output, mostly backing off now. Diamond shoots and Cucciniello stuffs him along the cage, but Diamond transitions and takes his back. Cucciniello shrugs him off and is back to his feet. They separate but Cucciniello is getting the better of things, mixing strikes and kicks as he’s found a groove. Diamond is getting slow and sloppy here, allowing Cucciniello to land solid stuff and rocking Diamond a bit. Diamond looks exhausted now and the clinch as the round ends. SCORECARD: 10-9 Cucciniello, 19-19 overall.

ROUND THREE: Final round as Diamond is wearing round two all over has face. He’s very flat footed here, allowing Cucciniello to continue his onslaught from round two. Cucciniello stuffs the shot and they work along the cage. Diamond tries to pressure, they separate and trade body kicks. Cucciniello is still getting the better of things as Diamond is mainly backing off, and stuck along the cage as Cucciniello picks up his volume of strikes. Diamond is rocked, flailing sloppily and Cucciniello takes him down. Diamond to his credits back up but is rocked as he tries to throw wildly. Cucciniello starts peppering him with body kicks, stuff the shot and drops Diamond for the stoppage. OFFICIAL DECISION – Jay Cucciniello via RD3 stoppage

– Diamond was devastated in loss, but praised Cucciniello like a man, no excuses.

– We get the official stand offs for the finals as well as Cormier vs. Miocic.

Dana White: ” Incredible! That was an ABSOLUTE war! That is who I like bringing into the UFC, guys who leave it all in there like that. That was easily one of the best fights ever on The Ultimate Fighter.”

Stipe Miocic: “That was one of the best fights I have ever seen in person. Those two are warriors and today was Jay’s day. I love that guy so much and he deserved the second chance he was given and he ran with it.”

Daniel Cormier: ” Holy s***! That is the only way to explain it. Jay took advantage of that second chance. Tyler hurt him in the first round, but Jay looked great overall and really grew from that first fight. Tyler will learn from this experience.”

THE FINALS
LIGHTWEIGHT FINALS: Mike Trizano (6-0, 2-0 TUF) vs. Joe Giannetti (6-0, 2-0 TUF)
FEATHERWEIGHT FINALS: Brad Katona (6-0, 2-0 TUF) vs. Jay Cucciniello (8-0, 1-1 TUF)
– Brad Tavares vs. Israel Adesanya
– Martin Bravo vs. Alex Caceres
– Barb Honchak vs. Roxanne Modafferi
– Alessio Di Chirico vs. Julian Marquez
– Montana De La Rosa vs. Rachael Ostovich
– Luis Pena vs.Richie Smullen
– John Gunther vs. Allan Zuniga
– Matt Bessette vs. Steven Peterson
– Gerald Meerschaert vs. Oskar Piechota

TEAM MIOCIC
* LW: Mike Trizano (6-0, 2-0 TUF) – finalist
* FW: Jay Cucciniello (8-0, 1-1 TUF) – finalist on a second chance
* LW: Allan Zuniga (13-0, 1-1 TUF)
* LW: John Gunther (6-0, 0-2 TUF)
* FW: Dulani Perry (4-0, 0-1 TUF)
* FW: Suman Mokhtarian (8-0, 0-1 TUF)
* LW: Jose Martinez Jr. (4-0, 0-1 TUF)
* FW: Kyler Phillips (5-0, 0-1 TUF)

TEAM CORMIER
* FW: Brad Katona (6-0, 2-0 TUF) – finalist
* LW: Joe Giannetti (6-0, 2-0 TUF) – finalist
* FW: Tyler Diamond (9-0, 1-1 TUF)
* <1>FW: Bryce Mitchell (9-0, 1-1 TUF)
* LW: Richie Smullen (3-0-1, 0-1 TUF)
* LW: Thailand Clark (7-0, 0-1 TUF)
* FW: Ricky Steele (5-0, 1-0 TUF) – medical DQ
* LW: Luis Pena (4-0, 1-0 TUF) – medical DQ

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR FOLLOWING ME FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF ULTIMATE FIGHTER COVERAGE, IT HAS BEEN APPRECIATED.
– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”