Frankie Edgar scored a spectacular first-round knockout of Chad Mendes minutes into the contest at the TUF 22 Finale.
Mendes started off well, landing strikes and scoring some leg kicks, but the footwork and technical prowess of Edgar proved to be too much.
Welcome back to The Crossfire.
MMA Crossfire Expert Cassie Wiseman looks at the main card:
MAIN CARD
JULIAN EROSA VS MARCIN WRZOSEK
WINNER: JULIAN EROSA VIA SPLIT-DECISION (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
WISEMAN PREDICTON: JULIAN EROSA VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Wiseman: These guys put on quite the pace. From beginning to end, even in the clinch, these guys were really going for it. Trying to get a finish either via TKO or via submission. Very entertaining to start off the Main Card. The takedowns and the cardio was really what allowed Juicy J to squeeze out the split decision win.
TATSUYA KAWAJIRI VS JASON KNIGHT
WINNER: TATSUYA KAWAJIRI VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
WISEMAN PREDICTION: TATSUYA KAWAJIRI VIA TKO
Wiseman: As expected, this was all Kawajiri. This was a terrible debut fight. Kawajiri has so much experience and his skill setting wasn’t right for Knight’s first test. Knight just got beat up for 15 minutes and it was painful to watch. He had heart, but so did VanZant, yet I felt bad for her too. Kawajiri used his Sambo skills to dominate this entire fight. It went the distance, but Knight really didn’t have any answers for what Kawajiri was throwing at him.
JOE LAUZON VS EVAN DUNHAM
WINNER: EVAN DUNHAM VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-26, 30-27, 30-26)
WISEMAN PREDICTION: EVAN DUNHAM VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Wiseman: I never saw this fight being all stand-up. Did anyone? Nor did I expect to see such great striking. The combinations of Dunham were so on-point tonight. The best that I’ve ever see him. Throwing three and four-strike combinations, his kicks, takedowns, just everything working for him. Dunham shut down Lauzon, not with BJJ, but purely with striking. A very impressive decision win for Dunham.
ARTEM LOBOV VS RYAN HALL
WINNER: RYAN HALL VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
WISEMAN PREDICTION: ARTEM LOBOV VIA TKO
Wiseman: Lobov threw about 19 strikes in fifteen minutes. Crazy! Hall used his BJJ and spider-like movements to prevent Lobov from doing anything. Was it entertaining? No, but it was interesting to see how he was able to mute the power of Lobov. Lobov will learn from this and be a challenge in the UFC, but long distance, Hall will need to learn more than just BJJ. If Rogers could beat him, 95% of the people in the UFC will beat him.
#6 EDSON BARBOZA VS #7 TONY FERGUSON
WINNER: TONY FERGUSON VIA SUBMISSION R2 2:54
WISEMAN PREDICTION: EDSON BARBOZA VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Wiseman: The power of Barboza is what I knew would give Ferguson trouble, but he had the right game plan, just pressure him. Give him little space to work with and throw all kinds of different strikes, threats, just go all out. That’s exactly what happened. If you didn’t see this fight, look it up now. These guys went for it and left it all inside the octagon. The striking for both was on-point, the power of Barboza was shown, the innovative striking of Ferguson was displayed, and it all came to a bloody end in the second round via submission.
MAIN EVENT
FRANKIE EDGAR VS CHAD MENDES
WINNER: FRANKIE EDGAR VIA TKO R1 2:28
WISEMAN PREDICTION: FRANKIE EDGAR VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Wiseman: Everyone talks about the Tyson of the UFC, Mendes, but when speaking of Edgar it’s about his speed, movement, etc. What happens tonight? Edgar knocks out “Tyson.” Wow! Edgar really is just getting better and always a fighter I’d stay up to watch. Where does Mendes go from here? He’s in the “Faber” zone it appears. Now, everyone should be tweeting and asking Dana for Edgar vs. whoever wins tomorrow night. He deserves the title shot.
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