The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn Finale
The Ultimate Fighter Season 19 coaches, Frankie Edgar and B.J. Penn, meet on Sunday night.
The second half of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s weekend doubleheader comes live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Sunday as we reach the finale of season 19 of The Ultimate Fighter.
Following Saturday night’s UFC 175 pay-per-view, all eyes will be on Frankie Edgar and B.J. Penn as they do battle for the third time in their illustrious careers.
Meanwhile, four mixed martial arts hopefuls will look to secure a lucrative contract with the UFC as they contest the finals of this season’s Ultimate Fighter tournament.
Edgar vs. Penn
Two UFC stalwarts meet once more as team captains Frankie Edgar and B.J. Penn go to war in a five-round featherweight matchup on Sunday night.
Highly-decorated fighters, Edgar and Penn may no longer be in their prime but they’re sure to serve up an entertaining bout when they step into the octagon.
Edgar (15-4-1) will make his first appearance in a year, having not competed since defeating Charles Oliveira on July 6, 2013. That victory snapped a three-fight losing streak for the New York fighter.
Penn (16-9-2) will enter the octagon for the first time since December 8, 2012, a night that saw the Hawaiian fail to win for the third straight fight and fifth time in six fights. Penn will be hoping the layoff has been enough to curb that trend going forward.
The matchup marks the third time these two fighters have fought in the octagon. On April 10, 2010, Edgar defeated Penn at Yas Islands, Abu Dhabi, to wrest the UFC Lightweight Championship away from the Hawaiian. Four months later, Edgar once again defeated Penn, this time in Boston. Both victories came via unanimous decision.
Penn – who debuted in the UFC in May 2001 – will look to wash away the bad taste left by these defeats, proving in the process he can get the better of the younger Edgar.
Edgar meanwhile will look to get his career back on track as he looks to make a decision regarding how to close out his time with the promotion. He was unsuccessful when handed a pair of title shots against then-lightweight champion Benson Henderson, and also when given a chance against 145lbs champion, Jose Aldo. Which division he fights in in the future still appears to be in the air.
Regardless of their futures, the two TUF captains will almost certainly leave fight fans in a state of fervor after Sunday night’s bout. After all, Edgar is a seven-time Fight of the Night award winner, while Penn – the people’s favorite – is no stranger to post-fight bonuses.
Odds: Edgar (-450) is favored to defeat Penn (+325) for the third time in Sunday’s main event.
Anderson vs. Van Buren
After what has been, it has to be said, a disappointing season of The Ultimate Fighter, we reach the finals.
In the light heavyweight final, Corey Anderson (4-0-0) will meet Matt Van Buren (6-2-0) with the winner taking home a six-figure UFC contract and a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Anderson advanced to the final with wins over Josh Clark (majority decision) and fellow Team Edgar fighter, Patrick Walsh (unanimous decision).
Van Buren defeated Chris Fields (majority decision) and Daniel Spohn (TKO) to set-up the all-Team Edgar final.
Odds: Anderson (-225) is the bookmakers’ favorite over Van Buren (+175).
Gordon vs. Lima
In the middleweight bracket, Eddie Gordon (7-1-0) will take on Dhiego Lima (9-1-0).
Gordon advanced to the final with wins over Mike King (unanimous decision) and Cathal Pendred (split decision).
Lima, perhaps the most exciting fighter to have stepped into the house this season, earned a pair of submission victories to advance to the finals, using a rear-naked choke on Tim Williams in the elimination round and an armbar on Roger Zapata in the semifinals.
Odds: Lima (-170) is the favorite to win over Gordon (+140).
The preliminary portion of the card will also feature a bout between TUF contestants Patrick Walsh and Dan Spohn, the losing semifinalists in the light heavyweight bracket.
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