Jay Primetown gives his thoughts on each of the fighters who competed at The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jay gives his letter grades for each fighter on TheMMA-Analysis podcast which can be found on MMAOddsbreaker.com
Gillian Robertson vs. Emily Whitmire
Robertson: She had top position, but was reversed. She had to absorb a bit of ground and pound, but it worked out for her as she was able to secure an armbar from the bottom to win by submission in the opening bar. At just 22 years of age, she’s an interesting prospect moving forward. Debut grade is D
Whitmire: She did well to reverse position on the mat, but being oblivious to the armbar attempt from Robertson is inexcusable and it cost her the bout. Debut grade is D-
Ariel Beck vs. Shana Dobson
Beck: She did some nice work to the body, but took too many clean punches to the head and eventually was TKO’d. Debut grade is D-
Dobson: She showed a nice striking arsenal landing leg kicks as well as combinations on the feet. It was this multi-faceted attack from Dobson that was able to get her a TKO win. Debut grade is D+
Karine Gevorgyan vs. Rachael Ostovich
Gevorgyan: She was no match for her opponent having been quickly to the mat and submitted. Given that she missed weight and lost badly, it’s hard to see Gevorgyan getting a second opportunity in the UFC. Debut grade is F
Ostovich: She some nice grappling tools in this bout securing a quick finish. I’d like to see what she can offer on the feet before raising her grade much further. Debut grade is D+
Ryan Janes vs. Andrew Sanchez
Janes: He was nearly knocked out multiple times in the first round, but was able to recover and then beat up a gassed opponent to earn a third round stoppage. Upgraded from D- to D
Sanchez: He’s a decent fighter for five minutes, but he has one of the worst gas tanks in the division and is able to mount very little offense after five minutes. If he’s going to be able to stick around in the UFC, he needs to work significantly on his conditioning. Downgraded from C- to D
Montana de la Rosa vs. Christina Marks
De la Rosa: The talented former high school All-American wrestler made quick of her veteran opponent by securing an armbar from the bottom. She needs to further work on her striking, but her grappling ability will allow her to compete in the UFC right away. Debut grade is C
Marks: She has a pretty nice striking game, but her grappling ability is at a relatively novice level. In this division, one needs to be able to grapple in order to compete. Debut grade is D
Brett Johns vs. Joe Soto
Johns: A great victory for Brett Johns as he was able to secure a submission quickly forcing veteran Joe Soto to tap. He has now compiled a string of wins in the UFC and is nearing the division’s top 15 rankings. Upgraded from C to C+
Soto: It’s hard to take much away from this bout given the quick ending and the unusual submission to which he tapped to. Grade remains C-
Deanna Bennett vs. Melinda Fabian
Bennett: Despite being able to control Fabian for large stretches of the bout against the cage, she struggled to secure takedowns throughout the fight. The lack of takedowns cost her the opportunity to win. A disappointing performance from Bennett who was one of the best fighters in the TUF house. Debut grade is D+
Fabian: Her rangy striking game will cause issues for opponents, but what impressed me the most was her takedown defense. She was steadfast in this regard throughout the fight. Debut grade is D+
Gerald Meerschaert vs. Eric Spicely
Meerschaert: Arguably the most devastating body shot ever delivered in the UFC, Meerschaert landed one of the top knockouts of the year with a tremendous finish by body kick. He has his limitations in the cage, but he’s a crafty fighter that has made a home in the UFC. Grade remains C-
Spicely: He’s a decent grappler with a pretty good submission game, but when forced into a standup exchange he struggles with most UFC middleweights. Grade remains D
Barb Honchak vs. Lauren Murphy
Honchak: She showed off some nice striking skills in this bout, but had some struggles on the ground in the final round that prevented her from getting the result. At 38 years old, it’s unlikely she’ll have a chance at UFC gold. Debut grade is C+
Murphy: She continues to show why she is one of the scrappiest fighters in the sport. She can get beat up on the feet, but she is aggressive and pushes for all 15 minutes of her bouts. She had a big round three which allowed her to win the fight. Debut grade at flyweight is C+
Sean O’Malley vs. Terrion Ware
O’Malley: Not only did he show off his arsenal of striking skills, but he mixed in some wrestling as well. His work rate and variety make him an intriguing prospect moving forward. Upgraded from C- to C
Ware: He fought a solid fight against a very good prospect, but he ran out of gas at the end of the second round and was unable to get a result. Grade remains D+
Roxanne Modafferi vs. Nicco Montano
Modafferi: She was competitive in this bout, but started to wear down midway through the fight and struggled to keep up with the resilience of her opponent in the decision loss. Return grade is C+
Montano: Her pace and output in this bout were impressive. She combined striking with a nice grappling attack to win a decision and the flyweight championship. Debut grade is B-
