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History will be made this weekend at the UFC Fighter 18 Finale when the first female TUF Champion will be crowned when Julianna Pena faces Jessica Rakoczy. An epic trilogy will also be coming to an end when lightweight competitors Nate Diaz and Gray Maynard fight for the third time. Also, a men’s TUF bantamweight champion will be crowned and more female competitors will be in action.
Kicking off the action is a women’s bantamweight division fight as Roxanne “The Happy Warrior†Modafferi (15-10-0) competes against Raquel “Rocky†Pennington (3-3-0). Modafferi will be making her official UFC debut in this fight, but does so while on a five fight losing streak. Pennington will also be making her official UFC debut in this fight and she is coming off of a two fight run in the Invicta FC promotion. Modafferi’s limited offense will not be very effective against Pennington, who will out strike Modafferi on the way to a victory.
More women’s bantamweight action is up next as Jessamyn “The Gun†Duke (2-0-0-1NC) does battle against Peggy “The Daywalker†Morgan (2-0-0). Duke is going to be making her official UFC debut in this fight after spending her entire career in the Invicta FC promotion. Morgan is another fighter who is making her official UFC debut in this fight and has had both of her career fights go to a decision. These are two fighters who are very good at using their range, but Duke will use her range more effectively to nab the victory.
The TUF 18 men’s bantamweight finals is up next as “Dangerous†Davey Grant (8-1-0) battles Chris Holdsworth (4-0-0). Grant earned his spot in the tournament finals after earning victories over Louis Fisette and Anthony Gutierrez. Holdsworth was able to call himself a tournament finalist with a pair of victories over Chris Beal and Michael Wootten. The men’s side of the reality show has been practically invisible this season, but it will be Holdsworth taking home the UFC contract.
Up next is the TUF 18 women’s bantamweight tournament finals as Julianna “The Venezuelan Vixen†Pena (4-2-0) faces Jessica “Ragin†Rakoczy (1-3-0-1NC). Pena found herself in a position to win the tournament after defeating both Shayna Baszler and Sarah Moras. Rakoczy was the upset queen of the entire tournament, defeating Roxanne Modafferi and Raquel Pennington on route to the finals. Rakoczy has shocked the TUF world by making it all the way to the finals, but her lucky streak will end as Pena becomes the first female TUF champion.
Headlining this card is a lightweight division contest as Nate Diaz (16-9-0) takes on Gray “The Bully†Maynard (11-2-1-1NC). Diaz won the first encounter between the two during the UFC Ultimate Fighter 5 reality show, but that bout was an exhibition fight. Maynard won the second encounter between the two by decision back at UFC Fight Night 20 in Janaury 2010. Maynard’s wrestling is far better when compared to Diaz and that skill set is what will carry him to a victory in the rubber match.
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