Brad Tavares vs “All-American” Chris Weidman
Round 1:
Tavares landed a right hook and he prevented Weidman from clinching. Another right hand scored for Tavares and he fought off a second clinch. Time was called when Weidman was kicked in the groin. The fight continued after a minute and Tavares landed an overhand right and a leg kick. He followed with more leg kicks and Weidman landed one kick to Tavares’s body. An uppercut and a right hook landed for Tavares late in the round. 10-9 Tavares.
Round 2:
Tavares hurt Weidman badly with a leg kick in the opening minute of round two. Weidman limped away and switched stances as Tavares closed in and landed two punches. Weidman lunged forward and landed a solid uppercut, but Tavares responded with one of his own. A right hook scored for Weidman, but time was called when Tavares was kicked in the groin. Action resumed and Weidman landed a left hook, but Tavares immediately hurt him with another leg kick. Weidman shot in for a takedown and Tavares defended very well. Weidman did land an overhand right as the round entered its final minute, and he clinched once more. The fighters separated and Tavares blocked a head kick. Closer round. Still 10-9 Tavares.
Round 3:
Time was called yet again when Weidman was kicked in the groin early in round three. When the fight continued, Tavares hurt Weidman with two leg kicks and a right hook. Weidman landed a right hand and tried to clinch. He could not get Tavares down and Tavares threw a head kick. Each time Weidman switched to a conventional stance, Tavares immediately attacked his left leg. That continued in the final minute. 10-9 Tavares.
Winner: Brad Tavares by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 20-8-0.
Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues vs Denis Tiuliulin
Round 1:
Rodrigues used an early body-lock takedown to get Tiuliulin down to the mat and he passed from side control to mount. Tiuliulin rolled to his side and Rodrigues dropped elbows to his temple that quickly rendered Tiuliulin unconscious and ended the fight.
Winner: Gregory Rodrigues by KO (Elbows) at 1:43 of round one. He improves to 14-5-0.
TUF 31 Lightweight Final
Kurt Holobaugh vs Austin “Thud” Hubbard
Round 1:
Both men connected with solid right hands in the opening seconds and Hubbard took Holobaugh down. He postured up with two elbows and passed to half-guard. As Holobaught got back to his feet, Hubbard held him in a front headlock. He let it go and the fighters separated. Holobaugh landed a nice combination and he followed with a right hook, but Hubbard took him down again. Holobaught stood and he landed a body kick. Both fighters landed left hooks before the bell. Close round. 10-9 Hubbard.
Round 2:
Holobaugh landed a hard right hook in the second round and then another one when Hubbard tried to clinch. After a third right hook from Holobaugh, Hubbard dove at his ankles and Holobaugh took his back. He looked for a rear-naked choke and then mounted Hubbard. Holobaugh struck from the top and then spun into an armbar and then a triangle choke. Hubbard had nowhere to go and tapped out.
Winner: Kurt Holobaugh by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 2:39 of round two. He improves to 20-7-0, 1 NC and becomes the TUF 31 Lightweight Winner.
TUF 31 Bantamweight Final
Brad “Superman” Katona vs Cody “The Renegade” Gibson
Round 1:
The fighters briefly clinched and Katona landed two right hands, but Gibson answered with a solid right hook. An overhand right landed for Katona and he followed with a flurry. Gibson landed a body kick and two hooks, then stunned Katona with a right cross. Katona recovered and he landed two lead left hands, but Gibson cracked him with two right hooks. Katona jabbed and Gibson landed a right hand. Quick strikes were exchanged late in the round and Gibson landed a body kick. 10-9 Gibson.
Round 2:
Katona landed a left-right combo to Gibson’s body and head in the second round. Gibson closed the distance and landed an uppercut, then two right hooks. He kept the pressure on Katona with right hands to his face and body. Gibson scored with a lead left hook, but it did not slow Gibson’s output down. A combination and an overhand right landed for Gibson. Katona wobbled Gibson with a right hook as the round entered its final minute. Gibson recovered, but Katona cracked him with another hard right hand before the bell. 10-9 Katona due to the late-round rally.
Round 3:
A high pace was maintained in the final round as both men threw quick punches. Katona was effective with his jab, but Gibson scored with a solid right hook. Katona landed uppercuts in close and then backed Gibson up with lead left hooks. He threw more left hands, but Gibson answered with a right hook and an uppercut. Katona lunged forward with a left hook and stuffed a takedown. 10-9 Gibson.
Winner: Brad Katona by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 13-2-0 and becomes the TUF 31 Bantamweight Winner.
Andre Petroski vs Gerald “GM3” Meerschaert
Round 1:
Petroski landed two early right hooks and a leg kick. Meerschaert responded with a left cross and he avoided a Petroski head kick attempt. Petroski chased after Meerschaert and landed two right hands in close before Meerschaert circled away to his left. Time was called when Petroski was poked in his right eye, but action resumed and he landed a jab. Petroski took Meerschaert down and Meerschaert held him in place with a loose inverted triangle choke from the bottom. Back-and-forth opening round. 10-9 Meerschaert by a slim margin.
Round 2:
The second round began with an exchange of left hooks and Meerschaert countered a leg kick with a nice one-two that caused Petroski to lose his balance against the cage. He regained his footing and Meerschaert landed a left hand. Another left hook scored for Meerschaert, but Petroski lunged forward and connected with a one-two. Meerschaert fought off a takedown attempt and Petroski landed a left hook to his liver. He dropped Meerschaert with a left hook and followed with punches and elbows on the ground, but Meerschaert recovered quickly and returned to his feet in the final seconds. 10-9 Petroski.
Round 3:
Meerschaert secured an early takedown and he landed an elbow from the top while preventing Petroski from getting back to his feet. Petroski threw up his legs for a triangle choke attempt and then rolled over and scrambled up. Meerschaert landed punches on the feet as Petroski slowed down. He countered a Petroski takedown with a guillotine choke attempt that Petroski escaped from immediately. Petroski then tried to secure a top-side guillotine choke and Meerschaert scrambled free. The fighters stood and Meerschaert landed a knee. He backed Petroski up with several winging punches late in the competitive round. 10-9 Meerschaert.
Winner: Andre Petroski by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 10-1-0.
Natália Cristina da Silva vs Andrea “KGB” Lee
Round 1:
Lee countered two early kicks from da Silva with a right hook, but da Silva scored with a hard combination and then wobbled Lee with a right hand. Lee recovered and da Silva threw kicks that Lee blocked with her right hand. She began to shake out the hand as if it was injured and da Silva bloodied Lee’s nose with a combination. Da Silva threw two quick kicks to the upper body and a spinning back kick late in the round. 10-9 da Silva.
Round 2:
The pace slowed somewhat in the second round and da Silva threw kicks from a distance. She landed a side kick and used it to set up a four-punch flurry. Lee grazed with a head kick and da Silva jabbed. Leg kicks were exchanged and da Silva countered another head kick with a right hook. Closer round. Still 10-9 da Silva.
Round 3:
Da Silva landed a side kick to Lee’s face in the final round and she knocked Lee down with a second side kick to the upper body. Lee stood and da Silva landed a jab-cross combo. Lee stepped in with a lead left hook, but da Silva immediately countered with a spinning back kick to the body. In the final minute, da Silva bloodied Lee’s nose again and stayed busy with quick jabs and body kicks. 10-9 da Silva.
Winner: Natália Cristina da Silva by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. She improves to 16-5-1.
“Killer” Karine Silva vs Maryna “The Iron Woman” Moroz
Round 1:
Silva kicked Moroz’s lead leg early in the fight and Moroz came up short with jabs. She dropped Moroz with a lead left hook and followed with more punches as Moroz got to her feet. Moroz clinched and held Silva against the cage. Both women landed elbows over the top and Silva followed with a head kick after the fighters separated. She took Moroz down and moved to side control. When Silva tried to set up a North-South choke, Moroz swept into top position. Silva locked on a tight guillotine choke from the bottom and Moroz tapped out just before the bell sounded.
Winner: Karine Silva by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 4:59 of round one. She improves to 17-4-0.