Matt Mitrione vs Marcus “The Darkness” Jones
Round 1:
Jones immediately pushed forward and clinched, then slammed Mitrione to the mat. He moved to side-control and looked to set up a crucifix, but Mitrione regained half-guard and worked back to his feet. The fighters separated and both landed hooks. Jones tried for another takedown, but Mitrione defended. Knees were exchanged in the clinch and Jones backed away.
Jones landed a leg kick and a one-two, then pulled guard with an arm-in guillotine. Mitrione escaped and pulled out of a triangle choke from Jones. Mitrione kicked at Jones’s legs until Jones stood up. Left hooks landed for both fighters and Jones scored a brief takedown. Two lead lefts landed for Jones, but Mitrione rocked him with a combination. Jones scored another takedown late in the round. 10-9 Jones.
Round 2:
The second round ended almost immediately, as Mitrione floored Jones with a counter right hook. He landed a second right hand as Jones fell to the ground. Big win for Mitrione in his professional debut, while Jones, who was already considering retirement, likely won’t be fighting again.
Winner: Matt Mitrione by KO (Punch) at 0:10 of round two. He improves to 1-0-0.
James “The Hammer” McSweeney vs Darrill Schoonover
Round 1:
A lengthy striking exchange opened the fight and McSweeney connected with a flying knee. He dragged Schoonover to the mat with a tight guillotine choke, but Schoonover narrowly escaped. McSweeney scored with elbows from the bottom and Schoonover stood up. McSweeney upkicked from the ground and Schoonover dove back into his guard. Schoonover passed to half-guard and briefly to mount, then tried for an arm-triangle choke.
McSweeney regained half-guard and swept, then passed to side-control. He tried for a keylock from the top, then let it go and moved to mount. Schoonover gave up his back and McSweeney tried for a rear naked choke. McSweeney stood and kicked Schoonover’s legs, then landed an axe kick. Schoonover connected with a big knee and punches. Excellent round. 10-9 Schoonover.
Round 2:
Schoonover connected with hard punches early in round two, but McSweeney tripped him to the mat. He dove into Schoonover’s guard with a lunging punch and he added more punches to Schoonover’s face and body. Schoonover scrambled to his knees and ate a pair of punches. McSweeney tried to take Schoonover’s back and partly did so.
McSweeney landed punches and elbows from partial back control. He tried to set up a rear naked choke, but Schoonover reversed and took top position. McSweeney swept and worked from side-control. Schoonover tried for an armbar and McSweeney stood up. McSweeney pushed Schoonover to his back again and briefly moved to mount. He landed strikes from back control until the bell. 10-9 McSweeney.
Round 3:
An exchange of kicks opened the final round and McSweeney scored a big takedown. From side-control, he landed elbows and punches to the body. McSweeney looked to set up an arm-triangle choke, then attempted a guillotine choke. The referee stood the fighters up and Schoonover countered a knee with a big right hand. McSweeney answered with a front kick and a one-two.
A solid left hook followed for McSweeney and he clinched briefly. Schoonover backed away and McSweeney drilled him with a flying switch knee and a head kick. Another knee and three punches dropped Schoonover in a heap. Solid win for McSweeney.
Winner: James McSweeney by TKO (Knee & Punches) at 3:20 of round three. He improves to 4-4-0.
Mark Bocek vs Joe “The Southside Strangler” Brammer
Round 1:
Brammer opened the fight with kicks and Bocek answered with hooks over the top. More kicks landed to the legs and body for Brammer and Bocek replied with a hard right hook. He clinched against the cage and landed strikes in close. Brammer backed away, but Bocek quickly took him down. Brammer worked to his feet, but was slammed down again.
Bocek took Brammer’s back and locked on a body triangle. He looked to set up a rear naked choke, but Brammer defended well. Brammer battled back to his feet, but Bocek retained back control. Seconds later, Bocek secured a rear naked choke from the koala position and Brammer was soon forced to submit. Excellent win for Bocek.
Winner: Mark Bocek by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:36 of round one. He improves to 8-2-0.
Undercard Fights:
Jon Madsen defeated Justin Wren by Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. The close first round saw the fighters trade sloppy punches, with Wren appearing to hold a slight edge and landing more than Madsen. The second round saw Madsen begin to pick Wren apart with crisp strikes and it was more of the same in round three. Wren’s aggression looked to be enough to steal the final round, but the judges disagreed and Madsen took the fight on two scorecards. Madsen improves to 3-0-0 with the win.
“The All-American” Brian Stann defeated Rodney Wallace by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. Wallace was relentless in takedown attempts in the first round, but was unable to keep Stann down for long and could not land anything damaging. Stann held top position for parts of the second round and landed some vicious elbows, then hurt Wallace in the final round and did just enough to take the close round and the fight. Stann improves to 8-2-0 with the win.
John “Doomsday” Howard defeated Dennis “Superman” Hallman by KO (Punches) at 4:55 of round three. Continuing his streak as the luckiest fighter in the UFC, Howard followed up on his two gift Split Decisions at UFC 94 and UFC 101 by knocking out Hallman with a pair of desperation haymaker left hooks with just five seconds remaining in this fight. Hallman had been in complete control, but suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Howard, who once again somehow avoids a sure loss and spoils Hallman’s UFC return. Howard improves to 13-4-0 with the win.
While the Kimbo Slice vs Houston Alexander fight turned into a disaster and a controversial disqualification marred Jon Bones’s otherwise impressive showing, the TUF 10 Finale was an entertaining event and crowned a deserving winner in Roy “Big Country” Nelson.