The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight for The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale. The event was headlined by a lightweight trilogy fight between standout wrestler Gray “The Bully” Maynard and outspoken jiu-jitsu specialist Nate Diaz.

In tonight’s historical co-feature, Julianna “The Venezuelan Vixen” Peña took on Jessica “The Ragin'” Rakoczy to determine the first ever TUF female winner. Chris Holdsworth battled Davey Grant in the TUF 18 men’s tournament final. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the main card.

 

Nate Diaz vs Gray “The Bully” Maynard

Round 1:
Looping hooks landed for both fighters in the opening minute and Maynard tripped Diaz to the ground. Diaz stood and threw Maynard to the mat. The fighters scrambled up to their feet and Diaz dropped Maynard with a left hand. Maynard stood and Diaz teed off with punches. A badly dazed Maynard staggered around the cage as Diaz battered him with hard shots. Maynard appeared to be out on his feet and Diaz continued to punch until referee Yves Lavigne finally intervened to rescue Maynard.

Winner: Nate Diaz by TKO (Punches) at 2:38 of round one. He improves to 17-9-0.

 

TUF 18 Women’s Bantamweight Final

Julianna “The Venezuelan Vixen” Peña vs Jessica “The Ragin'” Rakoczy

Round 1:
Peña closed the distance right away and took Rakoczy down, but Rakoczy kicked her off and scrambled back to her feet. Both fighters landed knees to the body and Peña tripped Rakoczy to the mat again. Peña rained down punches, then stood and dove into side control. She mounted Rakoczy and landed more ground and pound. Peña continued to tee off with punches and elbows as Rakoczy turtled up and the fight was finally stopped.

Winner: Julianna Peña by TKO (Punches & Elbows) at 4:59 of round one. She improves to 5-2-0 and becomes the TUF 18 women’s bantamweight winner.

 

TUF 18 Men’s Bantamweight Final

Chris “Hold It Down” Holdsworth vs “Dangerous” Davey Grant

Round 1:
Holdsworth clinched early in the fight, but Grant stunned him with a combination. Holdsworth answered back with a right hook and initiated another clinch against the cage. The fighters separated and both threw looping right hands. Holdsworth tried for a takedown and landed a knee. Grant attempted a body lock throw, but Holdworth reversed on the way down and he landed short punches from the top until the bell. 10-9 Holdsworth.

Round 2:
Grant ate a head kick early in round two and Holdsworth kept the pressure on with punches and knees. The fight went to the ground and Holdsworth used short punches to set up a move to back control. Holdsworth locked on a rear-naked choke and a bloodied Grant was forced to submit.

Winner: Chris Holdsworth by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:10 of round two. He improves to 5-0-0 and becomes the TUF 18 men’s bantamweight winner.

 

Jessamyn “The Gun” Duke vs Peggy “The Daywalker” Morgan

Round 1:
Duke scored with some solid left and right hooks early in the fight. She followed with knees to the body and Morgan clinched against the cage. Duke pulled guard with a guillotine choke and soon transitioned to a triangle choke. She landed elbows from the bottom and tightened the triangle. Duke continued to strike from her back until the end of the round. 10-9 Duke.

Round 2:
Duke opened round two with punches and a body kick. Left hooks and one-twos scored for both fighters. Morgan backed Duke up with punches, but Duke fired back with counter hooks to the head and body. She attempted a head kick and followed with a knee to the body. More knees landed for Duke and she forced Morgan to backpedal after snapping her head back with a one-two. Duke used a body lock takedown to get Morgan down just before the bell. 10-9 Duke.

Round 3:
Duke punished Morgan with left hooks, knees and body kicks in the final round. She backed Morgan up with punches and landed more knees in the clinch. Duke pulled Morgan to the ground with a bulldog choke, but she lost the position and Morgan worked for a rear-naked choke from back control. She postured up with punches and Duke rolled over into half-guard. Referee Kim Winslow stood the fighters up for no reason and Duke landed a combination late in the fight. 10-9 Duke due to the late rally.

Winner: Jessamyn Duke by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. She improves to 3-0-0, 1 NC.

 

Raquel “Rocky” Pennington vs Roxanne “The Happy Warrior” Modafferi

Round 1:
Modafferi mixed up her strikes with jabs and leg kicks early on. Pennington looked to set up big right hands and the fighters traded power punches. Modafferi landed another combination and a body kick. She continued to press forward, but Pennington countered with two right hooks. Modafferi flurried with punches and she continued to get the better of the striking exchanges. Modafferi clinched and Pennington reversed against the cage. She landed two elbows and a big right hand late in the round. 10-9 Modafferi.

Round 2:
Pennington was move active with her strikes in the second round, but Modafferi clinched again and tried for a trip takedown. Pennington stayed up and Modafferi backed away. Pennington scored with a pair of one-two combos and she stuffed a takedown. From the top, Pennington landed short elbows, but Modafferi tied her up. Pennington postured up and landed punches until Modafferi trapped her in an armbar. The fight returned to the feet and both women landed hard left hooks in the final seconds. Close round. 10-9 Pennington.

Round 3:
The final round began with an exchange of punches and both women landed. Pennington fought off a takedown attempt and scored with a combination. Modafferi clinched and Pennington reversed against the fence. She caught a kick from Modafferi and backed her up with a one-two. Modafferi shot in for a takedown and Pennington wound up in top position. She fought off Modafferi’s armbar attempts and punched to the body. Modafferi stood and Pennington took her down into mount with a tight guillotine choke. Modafferi narrowly survived until the bell. 10-9 Pennington.

Winner: Raquel Pennington by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 4-3-0.

 

Undercard Fights:

– Akira Corassani defeated Maximo “Maxi” Blanco by DQ (Illegal Knee) at 0:25 of round one. He improves to 12-3-0, 1 NC with the win.

– Tom “Stoneface” Niinimäki defeated Rani Yahya by Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 21-5-1 with the win.

– Jared “The Big Show” Rosholt defeated Walt “The Big Ticket” Harris by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 9-1-0 with the win.

– Sean “Black Magic” Spencer defeated Drew Dober by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 11-2-0 with the win.

– Joshua “The Gremlin” Sampo defeated Ryan “Baby Face” Benoit by Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) at 4:31 of round two. He improves to 11-2-0 with the win.