The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale Date: September 11, 2015 Arena: The Chelsea City: Las Vegas, NV The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 22 Finale will be live from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan on Friday, December 11, 2015. If interested in wagering on this parlay, or any bouts on this fight card, all betting lines will be made available at Several Bookmakerss. Here is my parlay: Lightweight bout: Evan Dunham (-210) vs Joe Lauzon (+175) Gabe’s Thoughts: Lauzon is coming off a first round TKO win over Joe Lauzon at UFC on FOX 16 and hopes to make it two in a row against fellow 155-pound veteran Dunham. “J-Lau” trains out of his own gym, Lauzon MMA, which he runs with his brother, former UFC fighter Dan Lauzon. His striking is not very good, but he has been making improvements in the department. The Massachusetts native’s ground game is exceptional; he is both brilliant in offensive and defensive submission grappling. He is very capable of submitting opponents from any position, and loves going for submissions from any angle, often giving up position to do so. Lauzon had been known for his poor conditioning but has made improvement in the department. That said, I think he will likely be at a cardio disadvantage against Dunham, who is hot off a unanimous decision victory over Ross Pearson. Lauzon and Dunham are both black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, though I think Lauzon has the better submission game. I think Dunham is the superior striker of the two and I see him keeping this fight on the feet and outpointing Lauzon. I would not be at all surprised to see him earn a T/KO stoppage over the TUF 5 veteran in this contest, but I think a win on the judges’ scorecards is more likely, considering Lauzon’s aforementioned improved stamina. To conclude, I think Dunham has the better striking and the better chin. I see this fight playing out on the feet and I think “3D” gets his hand raised for the third straight time inside the Octagon. Gabe’s Call: Dunham by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Featherweight bout: Jason Knight (+195) vs Tatsuya Kawajiri (-235) Gabe’s Thoughts: Knight is a short notice replacement for undefeated 145-pound American Top Team prospect Mirsad Bektic, who was forced to withdraw from the bout due to injur. I was strongly favoring Bektic in that contest, though in this fight, I like the Japanese veteran Kawajiri to pick up the win and make it two straight for himself inside the Octagon. I think Knight has potential and could have a future in the UFC, however I think he is outmatched in this contest against Kawajiri. I see “Crusher” scoring an early takedown, working his ground and pound, and avoiding Knight’s submission attempts while pound while searching for a rear naked choke finish of his own. Rinse and repeat for three rounds for a unanimous decision victory for the 37-year old. Gabe’s Call: Kawajiri by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Gabe’s Recommended Parlay: Dunham (-210) and Kawajiri (-235) at +110 for 2.95u to win 3.25u
