Michael Bisping (left) and Jason "Mayhem" Miller
Bantamweight, featherweight winners will be crowned Saturday
The full card for Saturday’s Season 14 finale of “The Ultimate Fighter” has been finalized.
The main card was officially complete after the conclusion of Wednesday’s final episode. John Dodson knocked out Johnny Bedford to reach the bantamweight finale against TJ Dillashaw, and Diego Brandao knocked out Bryan Caraway to reach the featherweight finale against Dennis Bermudez.
The main event features Season 14 coaches, Michael Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller. TUF 14 marks the first time since Season 5, featuring BJ Penn and Jens Pulver, that the coaches will fight on the live finale alongside their fighters from the season. The fight is scheduled for five rounds – just the third five-round non-title fight since UFC president Dana White made the decision to up the ante for main events even when they’re not championship bouts.
In a lightweight matchup on the main card, Yves Edwards meets Season 13 TUF winner Tony Ferguson. Bedford also earned a spot on the main card thanks to a competitive semifinal bout against Dodson. He’ll meet fellow bantamweight housemate Louis Gaudinot, who was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Featherweight semifinalist Caraway found his way onto the preliminary card. With 20 career fights, including Strikeforce, EliteXC and two in the WEC, that is no surprise. The Team Alpha Male fighter will open up the prelims against Dustin Neace, whose 41 fights made him the most experienced member of the TUF 14 cast.
Filling out the preliminary card are all the members of the TUF 14 house except featherweight semifinalist Akira Corissani. An injury will keep him off the card. Called back after a loss to Neace to get into the house is Josh Clopton, who will face Steven Siler. Clopton, who trains with Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, was considered an early favorite to make it onto the show.
The TUF 14 Finale airs Saturday on Spike TV and will be the last live main card to air on the cable station. The UFC’s deal with Spike expires at the end of the year, though UFC 141 on Dec. 30 will get a pair of preliminary card fights on the channel. The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. Eastern. All six of the preliminary card fights will stream live at the UFC’s Facebook page. As usual, the fight card takes place at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas.
Main Card
Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller
Featherweight Finale: Dennis Bermudez vs. Diego Brandao
Bantamweight Finale: TJ Dillashaw vs. John Dodson
Tony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards
Johnny Bedford vs. Louis Gaudinot
Preliminary Card
Marcus Brimage vs. Stephen Bass
Dustin Pague vs. John Albert
Roland Delorme vs. Josh Ferguson
Steven Siler vs. Josh Clopton
Bryan Caraway vs. Dustin Neace