Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
The women of the UFC are taking over this weekend as the first UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion will be crowned at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale. The highly anticipated finals for the title will feature a key bout between former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza and Rose Namajunas. Besides the women’s title fight, fourteen other women will be stepping into the octagon, making it the most women’s fights on a UFC card. Also, the men take center stage as well with Jeremy Stephens facing Charles Oliveira and KJ Noons facing Daron Cruickshank.
Main Card
Main Event
UFC Women’s Strawweight Title Fight
Carla “Cookie Monster†Esparza (9-2-0) vs. Rose “Thug†Namajunas (2-1-0)
Esparza was the favorite to win the whole thing from the beginning and with good reason, as she was easily the most talented female fighter on the show. The one thing nobody counted on though was how much better Namajunas would get as the show went on. Esparza has already earned gold as a fighter, having previously held the Invicta FC Strawweight Title, as she defeated TUF alumni Bec Rawlings for the gold. It takes a lot to defeat Esparza, as the only two women to defeat her are current WSOF Women’s Strawweight Champion Jessica Aguilar and Japanese MMA legend Megumi Fujii. Namajunas has a far superior submission game when compared to Esparza, just check out her flying arm bar submission over Kathina Catron at Invicta FC V. Namajunas has improved incredibly as a fighter since entering the TUF house, but Esparza has dominant wrestling and that will guide her to become the first UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion.
Co-Main Event
UFC Featherweight Division Fight Charles “Do Bronx†Oliveira (18-4-0-1NC) vs. Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen†Stephens (23-10-0)
Oliveira is easily one of the most talented fighters ever to enter the UFC, but the majority of that talent seems to fade away when he is matched up with equally talented opposition. Stephens is a fighter who has seen his career revived since dropping to featherweight, winning three of four in the division. Oliveira may have found his groove in recent fights though, as he became the first fighter to ever submit Hatsu Hioki, which happened back at UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt. Stephens has far superior striking skills when compared to Oliveira, which is an advantage he must use to notch the victory. Oliveira always seems to crumble when he matched up with top level competition and that will happen again as Stephens knocks him out in the first.
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
“The Detroit Superstar†Daron Cruickshank (16-5-0) vs. “King†KJ Noons (13-7-0)
This fight is easily going to be the show stealer of the event, as both fighters are some of the better strikers in the division. Cruickshank has won three of his last four, including key victories over both Anthony Njokuani and Erik Koch. Noons has not lived up to the hype since joining the UFC from Strikeforce, but he enters the fight riding a two fight winning streak. Cruickshank is one of the better karate style fighters to ever step into the octagon, with Stephen Thompson being the lone competitor who may be better. This fight is going to be nothing short of a slugfest, but it will be the far better striker in Cruickshank leaving Noons staring at the lights in the first.
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Yancy “The Kid†Medeiros (10-2-0-1NC) vs. Joe Proctor (10-2-0)
Medeiros is a fighter who is in a desperate need of a victory in this one, as he has only won just one of four fights in the UFC. That lone win was actually a pretty impressive win over Damon Jackson, who is a former Legacy FC Lightweight Champion. Proctor has fared far better in the UFC when compared to Medeiros, as he has defeated Cristiano Marcello and Justin Salas in consecutive fights. Medeiros is not the prospect that he was when he entered the UFC, but Proctor is on a far better roll and he will win his third straight when he decisions Medeiros.
UFC Women’s Strawweight Division Fight
Randa “Quiet Storm†Markos (4-1-0) vs. Jessica Penne (11-2-0)
These are the two women who lost in the semi-finals of TUF 20, but they are being given a golden opportunity to kick off the main card. Markos has not competed in a professional MMA in nine months and her lone defeat came to TUF alumni Justine Kish. Penne is a former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion, losing the gold to Michelle Waterson at Invicta FC V. The winner of this fight could easily be in line for a title shot and it will be Penne submitting Markos in the third to become a top contender.
Preliminary Card
Felice Herrig over Lisa Ellis
Bec Rawlings over Heather Jo Clark
Joanne Calderwood over Seo Hee Ham
Tecia Torres over Angela Magana
Aisling Day over Alex Chambers
Emily Kagan over Angela Hill
