LAS VEGAS – This is "The Ultimate Fighter" Finale live blog for Rick Story vs. Johny Hendricks, part of the Spike-televised main card of tonight's event at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas. Story (11-3, 4-1 UFC) is riding a four-fight winning streak after losing his UFC debut to John Hathaway at UFC 99. Most recently, he beat Dustin Hazelett by TKO at UFC 117 in August. Hendricks (9-0, 4-0 UFC, 2-0 WEC) is unbeaten and also was last victorious at UFC 117, when he beat Charlie Brenneman by TKO.
The live blog is below.
More: TUF 12 Finale Results
Round 1: Quick combos from both fighters, but nothing solid. Hendricks sticks one and moves in, but it's nothing significant. Story lands a few body shots and looks for a takedown. Hendricks throws an uppercut on the way back out. Story again looks for a takedown, and then works a few shots to the head as Hendricks covers up. Story throws a leg kick, then works some to the body in a clinch. A few of the fine folks in the crowd are asking for a little more action. Hendricks ducks out nicely from a few strikes. Story then lands a couple and swings a little more wildly. Hendricks answers back with a clean left. Inside leg kick from Story is answered by a Hendricks kick that Story catches, to no avail. They tie up for a second, and then Hendirkcs lands his first takedown of the fight. He doesn't do too terribly much with it, and it's not quite enough to give him the round on our card. MMA Fighting sees a close first for Story 10-9.
Round 2: Short combos from Hendricks, but Story answers back with a wild barrage of strikes. Hendricks brings the fight to the ground and nearly has a choke, but Story rolls out. Story, though, gets a good position on Hendricks' back and looks for a kimura. Hendricks' corner yells to him one of the most interesting instructions I've ever heard: "Put him on his back, Johny! The dry desert air is effecting his breathing!" And Phil Baroni answers back from the good seats, telling him to shut up. We're not making this up. Meanwhile, in the actual fight, Hendricks continues to work on Story until they finally get back to standing. Hendricks sticks with some jabs, but Story looks fresh and shoots and puts Hendricks on his back. Hendricks gets back to his feet with 55 seconds left, still tied up. Story takes him down again for a moment. The round ends with a short barrage without much landing. MMA Fighting gives the second to Story 10-9.
Round 3: Hendricks shoots early, but Story mostly stuffs it. Still, Hendricks winds up in better position on the ground. Then Story reverses it and briefly has a guillotine in, but Hendricks squirms out. Story holding on down on the ground. Very little action, and the crowd is booing for a standup from Steve Mazzagatti. Finally with a minute left, Hendricks gets back to the feet. He's holding on and nothing is happening. He tries a takedown, but it's not really there. Very uneventful third round that MMA Fighting gives to Story. And the decision should go his way, as well – 30-27 on our unofficial card.
Result: Ricky Story def. Johny Hendricks via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).fanhouseButton {margin:2em 0;} .fanhouseButton a:link, .fanhouseButton a:visited, .fanhouseButton a:hover, .fanhouseButton a:active {background-color:#dd2829;color:#FFFFFF;font-size:18px;padding:0.3em 0.6em;text-decoration:none;} .fanhouseButton a:hover {background-color:#000000;}
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