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This Weekend in Fights! (June 2nd, 2012) crowned a new Ultimate Fighter champion, as well as a new Welterweight contender and a slew of new fighters to the UFC roster.  The weekend also featured action in Ireland with Cage Warriors 47, Ring of Fire 43 in Colorado, RMMAC in Russia, NAAFS 8 in Cleveland, XKO 15 in Texas, and Barre Beatdown in Vermont.

The UFC kicked off the weekend with a rare Friday night appearance, concluding the 15th season of The Ultimate Fighter. TUF Live Finale emanated from the Pearl at the Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada. This was the first live season of TUF, where the fighters competed and lived in the house throughout the 13 weeks of the broadcast. Last week as both Mike Chiesa and Al Iaquinta fought to become finalists in an all Team Faber affair. In the storyline finish reminiscent of a Hollywood movie, Mike Chiesa who lost his father after winning his entry bout into the house wins the entire 32-man tournament with a submission finish over Iaquinta. Team Faber’s 5th pick overall Chiesa made short work of Team Faber’s #1 pick Iaquinta by toughing through the early onslaught of strikes from Iaquinta and closing the distance. Chiesa took the fight to the mat taking Iaquinta’s back in the processes. Chiesa secured a body triangle, locking in a deep rear-naked choke that choked Iaqunita out cold at the mid mark of the first round.

Mike Chiesa maybe be the winner of TUF 15, but the event was headlined with a Welterweight showdown between knockout artist Jake Ellenberger squaring of against the crafty Danish veteran Martin Kampmann. Ellenberger stormed in on Kampmann early in the first round, almost bringing the bout he end with a left hook that floored Kampmann. Ellenberger failed to finish the fight with his ground and pound, as Kampmann recovered pulling Ellenberger into a guillotine choke for the remainder of the round. In the second round Ellenberber bloodied up Kampmann’s nose, but stumbled with his footing which proved to be a huge mistake. Kampmann capitalized on this stumble and connected with a series of knees from the clinch dropping Ellenberger to the mat to end the bout before the two minute mark of the second round. Kampmann snaps Ellenberger’s 6-fight win streak and positions himself into the Welterweight title picture.

Charles Oliveira is now 2-0 at Featherweightwith second round submission victory over TUF 12 winner Jonathan Brookins. In very competitive first round Oliveira worked kicks, while Brookins connected with barrages of short punches. Brookings was able to score a takedown but it was short lived as Oliveira return to his feet to conect with superior strikes for the remainder of the round. In the second round Brookins connected during their exchanges bloodying up Oliveira’s nose and forehead. Oliveira quickly clinched and brought the action to the mat. From guard, Brookins worked a guillotine which Oliveira escaped and delivered a series of elbow strikes before slapping his own guillotine choke from the seated position. Oliveira wrenched the choke from the mount, transitioning to guard for the finish. This win marks Oliveira’s second win over an Ultimate Fighter winner.

Also impressive on the card was the “American Boy” Justin Lawrence’s UFC debut. Lawrence was the odds on favorite to win the entire tournament, but losing in the semifinals to eventual winner Mike Chiesa, Team Cruz’s #1 pick Lawrence took on Team Faber’s #6 pick John Cofer. Lawrence outclassed Cofer throughout the first two rounds, but the highlight reel finish came at 19-seconds of the third round, as Lawrence connected with a thip fake, jab, cross, roundhouse kick combo landing his foot flush on the cheek of Cofer, dropping him to the mat for the knockout finish. (Full The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale event results below – Full The Ultimate Fighter Live Season results here.)

Also on Friday night, former STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinalist Sergei Kharitonov headlined Russian MMA Championship (RMMAC) against John Delgado at the Yubileyny Sports Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Kharitonov made short work of Delgado with a 34-second Keylock submission. The event also held a one night Heavyweight tournament with Alexei Kudin coming out the victor. Fighting three times in one night, with two TKO’s and a unanimous decision, Kudin defeated Konstantin Gludov in the finals. (Full RMMAC event results below.) 

Cage Warriors started the jam packed Saturday night of fights airing on MMAjunkie.com and Facebook from the The Helix in Dublin, Ireland. The event saw two championship bouts, as Heavweight champion Mike Hayes took on D.J. Linderman for the strap; and the vacant Featherweight title was on the line between England’s Dave Hill and Irishman Conor McGregor.

A rematch three years in the making D.J. Linderman repeated his by getting a unanimous decision victory over Mike Hayes. The difference in this bout, is that it was five rounds and for the Cage Warriors Heavyweight title. Linderman attempted to bring the bout to the ground many times throughout the first two rounds, but displayed superior standup, when Hayes was able to defend those attempts. After attempted many time Linderman was able to score the takedowns in the third round, staying more active than Hayes. Hayes showed some life, and in a sense of urgency landed his own takedown in the fifth, landed some knees to the body and attempted a rear-naked choke. Unfortunately it was too little too late, losing the decision and surrendering his championship in the process.

Irish beats English in the co-main event of the evening as Conor McGregor submitted Dave Hill with a second round rear-naked choke submission. McGregor defended a takedown attempt ending up in top position ignoring Hill’s submission attempts and delivering some ground and pound until the bout was brought back up to their feet. McGregor took this fight again slapping on the submission he would finish the fight with, but not in this round as Hill was saved by the bell. McGregor to the ground early in the second round took Hill’s back and ended it, capturing the vacant Cage Warriors Featherweight title. (Full Cage Warriors 47 event results below.)

MMA Journeyman Phil Baroni headlined Ring of Fire 43 at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, Colorado on Saturday. A 28-fight veteran, Baroni has fought in every recognizable  promotion including the UFC, Pride, Elite XC, STRIKEFORCE, and ICON Sport among others. The fight had all the makings of an exciting finish, as Baroni’s opponent Chris Holland (4-3) has never gone the distance in his seven bouts, winning all of his bouts via KO/TKO. Of Holland’s three losses, one was by submission and two by knockout, one of which came at the hands of Instinct MMA star Brandon Thatch.  This bout was no different from Holland’s other bouts as the finish came via TKO in the second round. Holland picked up is his fifth victory, delivering Baroni his 15th loss.  (Full ROF 43 event results below.)

North American Allied Fight Series (NAAFS) took place at the Nautica Pavilion in Cleveland, Ohio and was available on iPPV on GoFightLive.com. The card featured two Bellator fighters and Cleveland natives in Frank Caraballo and Chris Lozano. Frank Caraballo defended his NAAFS Featherweight championship title versus Antonio Castillo Jr. with a quick first round rear-naked choke submission, bring an end to the Puerto Rico/Mexico trash talk between the two. Bellator Season 6 Welterweight tournament quarter-finalist Chris Lozano was originally slated to take on Kyle Baker for the NAAFS Welterweight title, but due to injury, Lozano was pitted against Wisconsin native James Warfield (22-10). Lozano pikced up the victory by  putting the beat down on Warfield so bad that he was unable to continue into the second round. (Full NAAFS: Fight Night in the Flats 8 event results below.) 

Former UFC Middleweight Jake Rosholt (12-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) headlined Xtreme Knockout 15 (XKO 15) on Saturday at the The Gym in Arlington, Texas. UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture and UFC Welterweight Johny Hendricks were special guests for the event. Now fighting at Light Heavyweight, Rosholt took on Matthew Thompson (16-9). Thompson made short work of Rosholt with a first round kneebar submission, snapping Rosholt’s five fight win streak. (Xtreme Knockout 15 event results below.)

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Friday Night Fights -

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The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale results:

Martin Kampmann def. Jake Ellenberger via knockout (knees) – Round 2, 1:40

Mike Chiesa def. Al Iaquinta via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:37 - to win “TUF: Live” championship

Charles Oliveira def. Jonathan Brookins via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 2:42

Max Holloway def. Pat Schilling via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Justin Lawrence def. John Cofer via knockout (kick) – Round 3, 0:19

FUEL TV prelims:

Daron Cruickshank def. Chris Tickle via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)

Myles Jury def. Chris Saunders via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 4:03

Sam Sicilia def. Cristiano Marcello via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:53

Joe Proctor def. Jeremy Larsen via TKO (knee and punches) – Round 1, 1:59

Facebook prelims:

Erik Perez def. John Albert via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:18

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RMMAC – Russian MMA Championship results:

Sergei Kharitonov def. John Delgado via Submission (Keylock) – 0:34 – Round 1

Alexei Kudin def. Konstantin Gludov via Unanimous Decision

Zabit Samedov def. Vitaly Operin via KO (Spinning Back Kick) – Round 1

Konstantin Gludov def. Anderi Sen via KO (Head Kick) – Round 1

Alexei Kudin def. Tadas Rinkevicius via TKO (Doctor Stoppage)

Ibragim Ibragimov def. Vladimir Kuchenko

Konstantin Gludov def. Timur Shikmagomedov

Alexei Kudin def. Oleg Tinins via TKO – Round 1

Tadas Rinkevicius def. Vyacheslav Vasiliev via TKO

Igor Konstin def. Andrei Sen via KO

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Saturday Night Fights -

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Cage Warriors 47 results:

D.J. Linderman def. Mike Hayes via unanimous decision (49-47, 49-46, 48-47) – to become new heavyweight champion

Conor McGregor def. Dave Hill via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:10 – to win vacant featherweight title

Rosi Sexton def. Aisling Daly via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – women’s tournament semifinal bout

Cathal Pendred def. David Bielkheden via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-28)

Neil Seery def. Mark Platts via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:36

Facebook prelims:

Jack Mason def. Tommy Quinn via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28

Paul Redmond def. Yuri Malko via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:05

Brett Sizeland def. Victor Peixoto via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:32

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Ring of Fire 43 results:

Chris Holland def. Phil Baroni via TKO (Punches) – 2:50 – Round 2

Cameron Dollar def. Tyler Toner via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) – 2:00 – Round 2

Justin Gaethje def. Marcus Edwards via Unanimous Decision

Tommy Thompson def. Prentice Ingraham via Split Decision

Vinnie Lopez def. Mark Korzenowski via TKO (Punches) – 3:41 – Round 3

Leandro Veal def. Chad Wicks via KO (Punches & Elbows) – 2:54 – Round 1

Mark Taylor def. Aaron Romero via Majority Decision

Henry Solis def. Justin Willis via TKO (Elbows) – 4:32 – Round 2

Zach Riley def. Toby Lopez via Submission (Arm Bar) 1:34 – Round 1

Bryce Thorstad def. Zach McChesney via KO (Punches) – 0:23 – Round 2

Aaron Trujillo def. Tyson Grippen via Submission (Guillotine Choke) – 2:12 – Round 1

Jared Deaguero def. Nathan Torrez via TKO (Punches) – 1:40 – Round 1

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NAAFS – Fight Night in the Flats 8 results:

Frank Caraballo def. Antonio Castillo Jr. via Submssion (Rear-Naked Choke) -3:46 – Round 1

Chris Lozano def. James Warfield via TKO (Retirement) – 5:00 – Round 1

George Comer def. Khama Worthy via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) – 3:58 – Round 2 9-1 (Griffon Rawl)

Joe Heiland def. Andrew Osborne via Split Decision

*Amateur*
Sarah McLeod def. Amber Ignotowski via Unanimous Decision

Tyler Saltsman def. Jerrell Hodge via Unanimous Decision

Josh Krizan def. Josh Lasich via Split Decision

Emmanuel Kangah def. Gabe Garcia via TKO (Punches) – 1:42 – Round 2

Jeff Hughes def. James Rankin via Unanimous Decision

Shane Valko def. Ryan Arce via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) – 1:05 – Round 1

Dominic Mazzotta def. Mike Velasquez via Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke) – 1:05 – Round 1

John Antanitis def. Steve Burton via Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke) – 1:09 – Round 2

Jarrell Miller def. Cameron Duncan via TKO (Punches) – 2:56 – Round 1

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XKO 15 results:

Matt Thompson def. Jake Rosholt via Submission (Kneebar) – 4:16 – Round 1

Hayward Charles def. Roy Spoon via Submission (Guillotine Choke) – 1:52 – Round 1

Chas Skelly def. Jeremy Myers via Submission (Brabo Choke) – 2:59 – Round 1

Klayton Mai def. Sidney Cawdrey via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) – 0:28 – Round 2

Josh Foster def. Mathew Jones via Split Decision

Joseph Salas def. Casey Hudson via Unanimous Decision

Chris Feist def. Joshua Strahan via Submission (Guillotine Choke) – 0:28 – Round 1

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Barre Beatdown results:

Pro:

Mike Berby def. Tim De Iturriaga via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) – 1:22 – Round 3

Amateur:

Mark Glover def. Steve McKinstry via KO (Punch) – 0:19 – Round 1

Brad Bateman def. Chris Lynde via Submission(Guillotine) – 0:43 – Round 1

Rourke Devlin def. Bruce Richards via Unanimous Decision

Dennis Sherman def. Ander Belcarris via Submission (Guillotine) – 1:36 - 10min Grappling Match

Gary Goddermote def. Josh Howe

Adam Sawyer def. Bruno McKee via TKO (Punches) – 1:11 – Round 3 - Heavyweight Exhibition Match

Paul McLean def. John Dean via Submission (Guillotine) – 1:03 – Round 1

Darryl Martinez def. Craig Bridge via TKO (Referee Stoppage) – 2:06 – Round 2