From last pick to first place, Bryan Battle can celebrate now as The Ultimate Fighter season 29 middleweight winner following a submission victory over Gilbert Urbina at UFC Vegas 35.
Originally the last selection for featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski the show, Battle just kept proving everybody wrong with his performances and that continued with his showing on Saturday night. Following a back-and-forth battle early, Battle eventually secured a takedown against the cage, which then led to him wrapping up a rear naked choke submission to tap out Urbina at 2:15 in the second round.
“It’s crazy. It’s not a dream anymore,” Battle said about his win. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. There’s a certain amount that always has to come from within. It’s just the work we’ve been doing when no one’s seeing us.”
Taking the bout on short notice had Urbina on the attack early and often as he came out swinging at Battle as soon as the fight got started. Urbina clipped Battle with a slick punch that had the TUF 29 favorite rattled momentarily as he rushed ahead in an attempt to get a finish.
Battle survived the onslaught and then started delivering some punishment of his own with a strong kickboxing display while pressing Urbina up against the cage.
As the action got started in the second round, Urbina attempted to start strong again as he came out and swarmed Battle with strikes. At least one of the shots slipped through with a nasty cut opened over Battle’s right eye but he was undeterred by the damage done.
After avoiding a spinning elbow attempt, Battle slipped low to grab a takedown and put Urbina on the ground. Once the fight was on the mat, Battle wasted no time advancing his position, taking the back and then looking for the submission.
It didn’t take long for Battle to get his forearm locked around the chin and as his grip tightened, Urbina saw no escape and he was forced to tap out to end the fight.
Battle joins fellow housemate Ricky Turcios as a TUF 29 winner and now both fighters will officially join the UFC roster.
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