The TUF 20 Finale took place Friday night at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the card overall had its moments, with the main card providing quite a bit of excitement for the fans in particular. Overall from a betting perspective, five favorites and four underdogs won based on the closing odds at Several Bookmakers, while one fight was a push and one fight closed as a Pick ’em. Here’s a quick recap for each fight. Pick ‘Em Fights In the main event of the evening, Carla Esparza defeated Rose Namajunas via third-round submission (rear-naked choke) to become the inaugural UFC women’s strawweight champion. Esparza landed takedown after takedown and in the third was able to lock in the submission on the ground for the win, and the belt. Esparza closed at -105 (bet $105 to win $100) while Namajunas also closed at -105. Underdogs That Won In a lightweight bout, Charles Oliveira defeated Jeremy Stephens via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x 2). Oliveira was able to get the fight to the ground in every round, and although Stephens was tough enough to not get submitted, Oliveira still clearly won the fight. Oliveira was +170 while Stephens was -185. In a women’s strawweight bout, Jessica Penne defeated Randa Markos via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28). This was an extremely competitive bout between two excellent strawweights, but Penne overall was the slicker grappler and deserved the nod. Penne was +135 while Markos was -145. In a women’s strawweight bout, Heather Clark defeated Bec Rawlings via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3). Clark was able to land takedowns in the first two rounds to do enough to win a decision on the judges’ cards. Clark was +175 while Rawlings was -190. Favorites That Won In a lightweight bout, Yancy Medeiros defeated Joe Proctor via first-round submission (guillotine choke). Medeiros hurt Proctor with a spinning back kick that dropped him to his knees, and he quickly sunk in a guillotine choke for the victory. Medeiros was -250, while Proctor was +230. In a women’s strawweight bout, Felice Herrig defeated Heather Clark via second-round submission (armbar). Herrig was the better grappler throughout the contest and after searching for the submission most of the fight, landed one in the second half of the second round. Herrig was -335 while Ellis was +305. In a women’s strawweight bout, Joanne Calderwood defeated Seohee Ham via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 30-26). Calderwood was the more effective striker throughout the fight and easily earned the decision. Calderwood was -650 while Ham was +535. In a women’s strawweight bout, Tecia Torres defeated Angela Magana via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 30-26). Torres kept the fight standing and outstruck Magana to take home a clear-cut decision. Torres was -740 while Magana was +595. In a women’s catchweight (118lbs) bout, Aisling Daly defeated Alex Chambers via first-round submission (armbar). Daly was able to land a dominant position on the ground early in the fight, fish for submissions, and as the seconds waned down in the round, finished the fight with a beautiful armbar. Daly was -220 while Chambers was +200. In a women’s strawweight bout, Angela Hill defeated Emily Kagan via unanimous decision, 30-26 x 2, 30-27). Hill stopped Kagan’s takedowns and lit her up on the feet with her muay Thai to easily win the decision. Hill was -175, Kagan +165. No Contests In a lightweight bout, Daron Cruickshank and KJ Noons fought to a draw after Noons accidentally poked Cruickshank in the eye in the second round and the doctor stopped the bout because Cruickshank couldn’t see. Therefore, neither Cruickshank at -220 or Noons at +220 cashed.
