Brad Katona is home again! He stamped his ticket to the UFC as he defeated Cody Gibson at the TUF Season 31 finale, UFC 292. The season started with vets vs. prospects theme, but it was two vets who survived all the way up to the bantamweight finale that took place on August 19 at the TD Garden in Boston. The clash between two former UFC fighters proved to be a banger of a fight, as the fans witnessed a war in the Octagon.
Notably, Brad Katona came into the fight on the heels of a close contest against T. Valiev in the semis. No stranger to TUF finale pressure, the winner of TUF S27 had bowed out of the UFC with a mixed 2-2 record as he lost his way toward the end of his UFC career. But standing against the Conor McGregor disciple was Cody Gibson. The American fighter defeated Rico DiSciullo in the semis on a dominating outing. He had failed to maintain momentum in his UFC career, as he got cut after collecting a record of 1-3. However, in a clash of veterans, ‘Superman’ came out on top.
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Notably, the Canadian fighter won the closely contested fight as he swept the judges’ scorecard and collected the win via unanimous decision. In addition, he became the first fighter to win TUF twice.
What happened in the TUF finale at UFC 292?
Both fighters understood what was at stake as they tried to land big shots and went out at a fast pace in the fight. But it was Gibson who landed some beautiful kicks and combinations that appeared to make a dent in Katona’s defense. Further, Gibson’s right hand appeared to find a hole every time he pushed forward.
After a closely contested first round, Gibson mixed his weapons early in round two. Moreover, Gibson’s relentless pressure slowly squeezed out Katona’s energy, and the left side of his face shrank. However, Katona found footing towards the end of the round. He had Gibson hurt and thus had the game leveled up, leading up to the final round.
In the final round, it appeared to be a contest between Katona’s jabs and Gibson’s right hook. The two gave fans absolute carnage in the final minute of the round as they exchanged blow after blow, never backing down from the fight. In the end, it was Katona who emerged victorious. And the SBG Ireland gym and Team McGregor won the TUF bantamweight.
How did the fans react to the violent and closely contested fight?
And just like that, Team McGregor and @SBG_Ireland wins the @UltimateFighter! Excellent performance @bradkatona, now the Champ Champ of The Ultimate Fighter! Incredible! Team and gym full of double champions. #thanksforthecheese #sbg #ufc #champchamp
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 20, 2023
Close fight. I had Gibson winning the fight though
— Luis Delgadillo (@Luis_d_21) August 20, 2023
30/27 is such a joke
— 🔴⚪️🔴 (@__IrufcI__) August 20, 2023
I thought 30-27 meant Gibson had got it. Ridiculous
— Owen Mitchell (@OMITCHELL3) August 20, 2023
Lmao 30-27?? Don’t think so
— Courtney Harris (@courtneygharris) August 20, 2023
30-27 😆🥴🥴 ok lads😬 #ufc292 #TUF
— paul kelly (@paulie_lufc) August 20, 2023
“So you wanna be a fighter?”
Katona and Gibson just put on one of the best Ultimate Fighter Finales since Bonnar/Griffin.
— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) August 20, 2023
Give them both contracts that was war
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) August 20, 2023
Contract for both of them. #ufc292
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) August 20, 2023
🇨🇦Brad Katona is the first-ever two-time Ultimate Fighter winner or in his words, "The Multimate Fighter"
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) August 20, 2023
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I gave it to Katona, but 30-27? Someone check that judges checking account…
— Louie (@GeeiForgot) August 20, 2023
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What do you make of this exciting fight at UFC 292? Let us know in the comments below.
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