TUF 20 Finale Main Card Results: Carla Esparza Wins Inaugural Women’s Strawweight Title

Tonight’s (Sat., December 13, 2014)The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 20 Finale is underway, kicking off the promotion’s doubleheader weekend from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza have proven that they are ahead of the pack at women’s strawweight, and they battled in the evening’s main event for the inaugural 115-pound title. The women didn’t waste any time, winging combos in the center of the octagon. Esparza got a takedown and rained down a few shots, and Namajunas got tricky with a flying knee and spinning backfist. She snapped a few good front kicks, but Esparza got an easy double leg and an exchange ensued before “The Cookie Monster” ended the fast-paced round with another takedown.

Namajunas scored some good kicks and punches early in the second, but Esparza’s takedown put a stop to “Thug’s” offense. She scored with elbows on an apparently tiring Namajunas, earning the mount to land a ton of punches to the point where only the bell saved her. A takedown opened the third for Esparza, and she quickly took Namajunas’ back to lock on a rear naked choke and earn the submission.

Exciting featherweights Jeremy Stephens and Charles Oliveira squred off in the co-main event. Stephens got the fight to the ground earlier, but “Do Bronx” quickly went for an armbar from the guard. “Lil’ Heathen” got free to land some hard elbows and the fighters traded to close out the first. Oliveira came out in the second, landing some Muay Thai strikes before taking Stephens’ back.

Once again he attempted an armbar and had it locked on tight, but somehow Stephens persevered. Oliveira went for a choke and ended the round going for another unsuccessful armbar to eat some punches. Oliveira dragged the fight to the ground again in the third, then unleashed a spinning heel kick. Stephens turned it on towards the end of the round, but it wasn’t enough as Oliveira earned the unanimous decision.

Former Strikeforce lightweight champion K.J. Noons faced Daron Cruickshank. “The Detroit Superstar” began with several of his vaunted kicks, landing some hard punches and a strong slam. Noons was relentless in his pursuit, hitting Cruickshank with a big knee. Cruickshank came out with a knee of his own in the second, but Noons rocked him with a big combo. Cruickshank complained of an eye poke, and a replay revealed that it was the poke, not the knee, that felled him. It was so bad that referee John McCarthy unofrtunately called off the bout.

Lightweight Joe Proctor met Yancy Medeiros, with Medeiros unleashing several spinning back kicks in the first. One caught Proctor flush, and Medeiros swarmed to lock on a tight guillotine choke to earn the finish.

TUF 20 semifinalists Jessica Penne and Randa Markos kicked off the main card. Penne showed excellent flexibility on the ground, scoring points with a solid takedown. The fighters traded shots in the second, and Penne pushed the pace. Markos countered with a takedown but Penne reversed to end the round on top. Markos came out with some spinning backfists in the final frame, following up with some big uppercuts. Penne got a takedown to ride out the rest of the round win the back-and-forth fight by split decision.

TUF 20 Finale Main Card (on FOX Sports 1):
Carla Esparza def. Rose Namajunas via R3 submission (rear naked choke, 1:24)
Charles Oliveira def. Jeremy Stephens via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
K.J. Noons vs. Daron Cruickshank declared a no contest at 0:25 of round two (eye poke)
Yancy Medeiros def. Joe Proctor via R1 submission (guillotine, 4:37)
Jessica Penne def. Randa Markos via split decision (29-28, 30-27, 28-29)