The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale Live Play-By-Play & ResultsThe Ultimate Fighting Championship came to Colisée Pepsi in Québec City, Québec, Canada tonight for The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale. The event was headlined by a middleweight matchup between bitter rivals Michael “The Count” Bisping and Tim Kennedy that was scheduled for five rounds.

In the co-feature, TUF coaches Patrick “The Predator” Côté and Kyle “KO” Noke met in a battle between Canada and Australia. Sheldon Westcott took on Elias “The Spartan” Theodorou in the middleweight final and Chad “The Disciple” Laprise faced Olivier Aubin-Mercier in the welterweight final.

 

Tim Kennedy vs Michael “The Count” Bisping

Round 1:
Kennedy shot in for a takedown and got Bisping down in the opening minute. He landed short punches from half-guard and kept Bisping pinned down against the base of the cage. Bisping eventually stood and Kennedy took him right back down. He mounted Bisping and landed punches, then tried for a rear-naked choke before the bell. 10-9 Kennedy.

Round 2:
Bisping established his jab in the second round, but Kennedy got through with a trio of right hooks over the top. He blocked a head kick and countered a right hook with a one-two. Kennedy tried for a takedown and Bisping stayed on his feet. Bisping attempted a flying knee and he landed a pair of looping right hooks. He set up a combination with a head kick attempt, but Kennedy answered with a right hand. The fighters traded punches late in the round and Bisping got the better of the exchange. 10-9 Bisping.

Round 3:
Kennedy landed a big right hand in round three and took Bisping down. He punched from the top in half-guard and fought free of a Bisping kimura attempt. Kennedy passed to side control and dropped short elbows to Bisping’s face. He continued to punish Bisping with strikes until the bell sounded to end the round. 10-9 Kennedy.

Round 4:
Kennedy backed Bisping up against the cage and worked for another takedown in the fourth round, but Bisping stayed up. He pulled his leg free and escaped from Kennedy’s grasp. Kennedy landed two solid right hands and he dropped levels for another takedown attempt. Bisping thwarted Kennedy’s attempt to take the fight to the mat and he landed a nice combination. Kennedy wobbled him with a right hook and Bisping backpedalled. More punches scored for Kennedy and both men landed right hooks. 10-9 Kennedy.

Round 5:
Kennedy scored a big takedown in the final round and he kept Bisping pinned against the cage. Bisping tried to stand and Kennedy briefly took his back. Bisping rolled to his back again and Kennedy struck from the top. He nearly got to mount, but Bisping held on for a standup and referee Yves Lavigne obliged. Bisping landed a stiff jab and a head kick, but Kennedy appeared to be unfazed. Bisping jabbed and landed a body kick, but Kennedy fired back with a right hand. Another right hook scored for Kennedy and Bisping responded with punches. 10-9 Kennedy.

Winner: Tim Kennedy by Unanimous Decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) after five rounds. He improves to 18-4-0.

 

Patrick “The Predator” Côté vs Kyle “KO” Noke

Round 1:
Time was called right away after Côté was kicked in the groin, but action resumed and Noke landed a nice front kick to the body. Côté countered kicks with right hands and he backed Noke up. Noke caught a kick and clinched against the cage. Côté took him down into half-guard and escaped from a guillotine choke. Côté landed punches and elbows from Noke’s guard. He stayed busy from the top with more short punches and avoided Noke’s attempts to set up an armbar. Noke postured for a triangle choke and Côté powered out with elbow strikes. 10-9 Côté.

Round 2:
Côté pressed the action with punches in the second round and dropped levels for a takedown, but he fell right into a knee from Noke, who followed with a barrage of punches. Côté weathered the storm and got back to his feet, but he began to bleed from the top of his head. Noke landed more knees and body kicks as Côté walked forward. Côté took Noke down and landed four solid elbows from the top. Noke used the cage to get back to his knees and Côté landed a knee to the body as the fight returned to the feet. Côté attempted a body kick in the final ten seconds, but came up short. 10-9 Côté.

Round 3:
The pace slowed somewhat in the final round as the fighters traded jabs and leg kicks. Noke kicked at Côté’s lead leg and body as Côté pressed forward and looked to set up a right hand. Côté caught a kick and took Noke down. He landed short punches to the head and body. Côté continued to work from Noke’s guard with punches and elbows and he passed to half-guard briefly. Noke got back to guard, but Côté cut him with an elbow. He closed out the fight with more strikes from the top. 10-9 Côté.

Winner: Patrick Côté by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 20-8-0.

 

TUF Nations Middleweight Final

Elias “The Spartan” Theodorou vs Sheldon Westcott

Round 1:
Westcott attacked with punches right away and he tried for a takedown. He got Theodorou down on his second try and quickly took his back. Theodorou stood and Westcott tried for a standing rear-naked choke. Theodorou eventually shrugged him off and landed punches as Westcott fell. Westcott stood and Theodorou landed hard knees to the body and head. He fought off a takedown attempt with a guillotine choke and Westcott flopped to his back. Theodorou stood over him and landed a big right hand, then backed away and allowed Westcott to stand. Theodorou kicked to the body late in the round. 10-9 Theodorou.

Round 2:
Theodorou landed counterpunches and knees in round two and he slammed Westcott down to the ground on two occasions. Westcott stood and dumped Theodorou to the mat, but Theodorou easily escaped from a guillotine choke and he rained down punches from the top. The fighters were stood up and Theodorou hurt Westcott with punches and knees. He took him down and punches from the top. Theodorou alternated between mount and back control and he landed hard punches and elbows. He battered Westcott with more punches and elbows until the fight was finally stopped.

Winner: Elias Theodorou by TKO (Punches & Elbows) at 4:41 of round two. He improves to 9-0-0 and becomes the TUF Nations Middleweight Winner.

 

TUF Nations Welterweight Final

Chad “The Disciple” Laprise vs Olivier Aubin-Mercier

Round 1:
Laprise landed a series of inside-leg kicks in the opening 90 seconds and he stuffed a takedown attempt. Aubin-Mercier cut him below the left eye with a short punch in close and Laprise answered with a looping right hand. Both men landed punches and Laprise attempted a head kick. Laprise stuffed another takedown and landed a series of hard punches that forced Aubin-Mercier to back up. Aubin-Mercier landed a body kick and a left hook, but Laprise kept him at bay with jabs and leg kicks. He scored with a knee to the chest late in the round. 10-9 Laprise.

Round 2:
Aubin-Mercier closed the distance and slammed Laprise to the mat in round two. He tried for a guillotine choke in a scramble, but Laprise escaped and got back to his feet. Laprise landed a right hook to the body and he knocked Aubin-Mercier down with a front kick. Aubin-Mercier began to find success with body kicks and he followed with a left cross. A lead right hook also connected for Aubin-Mercier and Laprise fired back with a right hand of his own. Both men landed kicks in the final 20 seconds. Close round. 10-9 Aubin-Mercier, barely.

Round 3:
Laprise stuffed another takedown attempt in round three, but Aubin-Mercier caught a kick and got him down soon after. Laprise quickly stood and Aubin-Mercier landed body kicks. Laprise connected with a combination and Aubin-Mercier answered with a flurry in return. A short left hook scored for Laprise and he easily avoided a takedown attempt. Laprise knocked Aubin-Mercier off-balance with a one-two combo in the final minute and the fighters traded leg kicks. Laprise landed a spinning back kick to the liver and just missed with a second one. 10-9 Laprise.

Winner: Chad Laprise by Split Decision 30-27, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 8-0-0 and becomes the TUF Nations Welterweight Winner.

 

Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier vs Akira Corassani

Round 1:
The fighters traded punches throughout the opening minute and Poirier backed Corassani up with a quick flurry. He established his jab and kept Corassani on the outside. Corassani dropped him to a knee with a counter hook, however, and he followed with two more hard punches. A flashy spinning kick missed the mark for Corassani and Poirier landed a counter one-two. Both men landed hooks and Poirier backed Corassani up with a left hand.

Corassani answered with two punches and the fighters teed off in close. Corassani landed a hard right hand and Poirier responded with one of his own. He stuffed a takedown and locked on a Brabo choke. He switched to a Peruvian necktie and Corassani was in some trouble, but he managed to escape. The fighters stood and Poirier landed punches to the face of a bloodied Corassani. Excellent round. 10-9 Poirier.

Round 2:
Poirier hurt Corassani with an uppercut early in the second round. He swarmed on him with punches to the head and body as Corassani wilted and collapsed to the mat, forcing referee Dan Miragliotta to wave off the fight.

Winner: Dustin Poirier by TKO (Punches) at 0:42 of round two. He improves to 16-3-0.

 

Undercard Fights:

– “King” K.J. Noons defeated Sam “Hands of Stone” Stout by KO (Punches) at 0:30 of round one. He improves to 13-7-0 with the win.

– Sarah Kaufman defeated Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. She improves to 17-2-0, 1 ND with the win.

– Ryan “The Big Deal” Jimmo defeated Sean “The Real OC” O’Connell by KO (Punches) at 4:27 of round one. He improves to 19-3-0 with the win.

– George “Money” Roop defeated Dustin “The Diamond” Kimura by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 15-10-1 with the win.

– Mark Bocek defeated Mike “El Cucuy” de la Torre by Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 12-5-0 with the win.

– Nordine Taleb defeated Vik “The Spartan” Grujic by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 9-2-0 with the win.

– Richard “Filthy Rich” Walsh defeated Chris Indich by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 8-1-0 with the win.

– Mitch Gagnon defeated Tim “The Psycho” Gorman by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 11-2-0 with the win.