UFC TUF 27 Finale live results: Brad Tavares vs. Israel Adesanya

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale: Tavares vs. Adesanya, emanating from the Pearl Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The event kicks off the annual UFC International Fight Week held in Las Vegas, the first of back-to-back fight cards on Friday and Saturday, and a weekend full of UFC activities.

The event will be headlined by a five-round bout in the middleweight division as Brad Tavares goes for his fifth straight win as he looks to hand Israel Adesanya his first career loss. Adesanya has come into the UFC with a lot of hype, and he gets his first main event in just his third UFC bout. Tavares will also be in his first UFC main event in his 17th Octagon appearance.

The finals of this season of The Ultimate Fighter, the 27th US version, sees undefeated fighters taking on each other in the two divisions. For the lightweight division finals, Mike Trizano takes on Joe Giannetti, while Jay Cucciniello takes on Brad Katona in the featherweight division finals.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through the main card.

UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS | 7 PM ET/4 PM PT

> Gerald Meerschaert (27-9, 3-1 UFC) vs. Oskar Piechota (11-0-1, 2-0 UFC)
Middleweights

Piechota right away with a body punch and they then trade kicks. Meerschaert with a body kick. They clinch and trade body shots. Piechota gets a trip takedown into full mount but steps into half-guard. Piechota in control on the ground and gets back into mount. Meerschaert trying to scramble out. Piechota has the neck. Piechota gets back in top control. They are stood up by the referee. Meerschaert lands a left hand but Piechota lands a counter right hand followed by a body kick. Piechota scores a knockdown with a right hand and gets into full mount. Meerschaert gives up his back and is eating punches. Piechota grabs the neck and is looking for the choke but Meerschaert escapes. Solid round for Piechota. 10-9 Piechota.

Meerschaert with a high kick. They trade punches. Big right hand from Piechota. Piechota lands a punch that slips up Meerschaert. They trade leg kicks. They trade punches. Meerschaert goes in for a takedown but they scramble and Piechota grabs the neck while Meerschaert is on top in half-guard. They get to their feet and Meerschaert grabs the neck and has a deep choke locked in as they go back to the mat. Piechota able to escape but is on bottom and eating punches from Meerschaert. They get to their feet but Meerschaert continues to land punches and has Piechota in trouble. Meerschaert with a big left hand and starts landing knees. Elbows now from Meerschaert. Piechota may be out on his feet. Meerschaert with more elbows and knees and even more elbows and punches. I don’t know how Piechota is still standing. Meerschaert gets a takedown and is landing punches. Meerschaert locks in a rear-naked choke and he chokes Piechota out cold with just seconds left in the round.

Official Result- Gerald Meerschaert def. Oskar Piechota by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:55 of Round 2

> Matt Bessette (22-8 1 NC, 0-1 UFC) vs. Steven Peterson (16-7, 0-1 UFC)
Featherweights

Peterson immediately tries for a flying knee but misses and they clinch against the fence. Peterson grabs the neck and pulls guard and has a choke locked in. Bessette is fighting it off and escapes out and is on top. They get to their feet. They clinch and battle for underhooks and positioning against the fence. They break and Bessette lands an uppercut. Bessette lands a right hand as he has his leg kicked from under him by Peterson. He gets up and they trade punches. They continue to trade and Peterson lands a big leg kick. Bessette with an uppercut as he presses forward as the round ends. 10-9 Bessette.

They both come out swinging and quickly clinch against the fence. Peterson gets the advantage but they break. Peterson bleeding from his nose. Peterson with a leg kick. They trade punches. Bessette with a big head kick and then he lands another. Peterson shook it off like it was nothing. Peterson with a combo but eats an uppercut from Bessette. They trade leg kicks. Bessette with another head kick. They continue to trade and Bessette landing kicks. Peterson initiates a clinch and is working for a takedown against the fence. He gets it and grabs the back. Peterson on the high back and is working for a choke but landing from the back. Peterson with some more punches and elbows from the back. It might have stolen the round for him. 10-9 Peterson, 19-19.

They clinch right away and both working for position. Peterson pushes Bessette up against the fence and is working for a takedown. They break. Peterson lands a right hand before changing levels. Peterson gets a trip takedown and takes the back but Bessette is able to shake him off and now grabs the back of Peterson. Bessette falls off and now Peterson grabs the back of Bessette. Peterson landing punches from the back of Bessette. Peterson has the body triangle. He is working for a choke from the back. Peterson rides out the round holding the back of Bessette and he may have gotten the win due to the takedowns in the last two rounds. 10-9 Peterson, 29-28 Peterson.

Official Result- Steven Peterson def. Matt Bessette by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

FOX SPORTS 1 PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

> Tyler Diamond (9-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Bryce Mitchell (9-0, 0-0 UFC)
Featherweights

Mitchell with some side kicks. Mitchell lands a left hand. Diamond with a head kick. They trade knees after Mitchell misses a flying kick. They clinch against the fence but break away. Diamond gets a takedown. Mitchell sweeps and is able to get to his feet. Diamond has the neck but Mitchell is able to get a big takedown. They scramble as Diamond still has the neck but Mitchell escapes to his feet. We have a brief timeout due to a low blow but back to action. They trade punches and Mitchell gets a takedown. They get back to their feet and trade body shots in the clinch. 10-9 Mitchell.

They trade kicks and Mitchell gets a takedown but Diamond grabs the neck and scrambles around. They scramble to their feet. They clinch against the fence. Mitchell looking to level change and get a takedown. He gets it but Diamond scrambles out to his feet. Diamond is on top but Mitchell looking for a triangle choke. He has it locked it and is landing a couple of elbows. Big elbows from Mitchell raining down and Diamond is being warned to protect himself. Diamond is able to get out of it after being in it for a bit and ends up in side control. Diamond working for a choke but Mitchell turns his back to escape. Diamond lands some punches from the back. Diamond with a knee to the body. Diamond with another and we are going to a third round. 10-9 Mitchell, 20-18 Mitchell.

They come out trading and Mitchell gets the body lock and a brief takedown but Diamond right back to his feet. Diamond gets a big takedown and has control on the top. Mitchell turns his back and Diamond now has back control. Diamond takes the back and has time to work but they get to their feet. Diamond gets a big takedown. Diamond in side control but he probably needs a finish so he needs to get to work here. Diamond just moving around and landing few short punches but not really doing much work. Diamond with a knee to the body. Diamond now landing some punches from the back. Diamond with more punches from the back as the fight ends. This is going to be close on the scorecards. 10-9 Diamond, 29-28 Mitchell.

Official Result- Bryce Mitchell def. Tyler Diamond by majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)

> John Gunther (6-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Allan Zuniga (13-0, 0-0 UFC)
Lightweights

Gunther going right for a takedown against the fence. He completes the takedown and is looking to plant Zuniga on his back. They get to their feet but Gunther still has the body lock and gets a brief takedown. They get up but Gunther gets it right back down but they get up again. Gunther gets the fight back down and he has Zuniga fully on his back. They get up but go down again and get up and go back down again. Zuniga has had no offense while Gunther has been on a takedown offensive attack. Gunther with a spinning back elbow as they break and they trade leg kicks. 10-9 Gunther.

Gunther goes right back to the clinch working for the takedown against the fence to start the second. Gunther gets another takedown. Zuniga tried to grab the cage to block but couldn’t and ends up getting a warning. They get to their feet but Gunther has the back. Gunther trying to take it down again but they are broken up. Gunther with a hard right hand. Zuniga lands a body punch and a leg kick. Gunther with a right hand. Gunther gets back into the clinch. Gunther gets another takedown but they get up and they do the same routine as Gunther gets another takedown, but he finishes the round on top. An ugly fight. 10-9 Gunther, 20-18 Gunther.

Zuniga with a couple of leg kicks. Zuniga lands a couple of punches. Zuniga with a combo as Gunther is searching for a takedown opening. Gunther gets a trip takedown. They get to their feet and Gunther back to working for a takedown. He doesn’t get it and they are separated. Gunther goes back to working for the takedown. They break and they exchange punches. Zuniga with a body kick. Zuniga lands some punches as Gunther moves in and looks for a takedown. Zuniga with some left hands. Zuniga with some big punches at the end and he lands a head kick. Good final round for Zuniga but it might not be enough. 10-9 Zuniga, 29-28 Gunther.

Official Result- John Gunther def. Allan Zuniga by majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)

> Luis Pena (4-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Richie Smullen (3-0-1, 0-0 UFC)
Lightweights

Smullen with a body kick but Ross lands a big knee. Smullen turns it into a takedown but they get up and Smullen takes him right back down. Smullen in side control. Smullen gets into the full guard of Pena and lands some punches. Pena escapes and gets his own takedown. Smullen grabs the neck but has a bad position. Pena escapes to his feet and Smullen follows. Pena with a big combo and then he drops Smullen with a punch. Smullen grabs a leg of Pena as he’s on the mat and Pena is forced to go to the mat. Pena grabs the neck and is working for a guillotine and has a mounted guillotine. Ross has it in and Smullen taps out! Pena gets the first-round submission win and he has some solid star potential.

Official Result- Luis Pena def. Richie Smullen by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:32 of Round 1

> Montana De La Rosa (8-4, 1-0 UFC) vs. Rachael Ostovich(4-3, 1-0 UFC)
Women’s Flyweights

Both looking to establish the jab. They trade leg kicks. Ostovich lands a right hand. Ostovich with a body punch but De La Rosa counters with a right hand. They trade punches. De La Rosa rocks her with a right hand. De La Rosa with a big left hand. De La Rosa with a combo. Ostovich unable to unload any offense. Ostovich then lands a couple of right hands. De La Rosa with a stiff jab. De La Rosa with a leg kick as Ostovich lands a right hand. 10-9 De La Rosa.

De La Rosa with a front kick as both looking to find their range in this round. They scramble to the mat for a moment but De La Rosa has the body lock. De La Rosa unable to get the takedown and lets go of Ostovich. They trade big right hands and Ostovich gets the better of it. Ostovich with a body kick. They tie up again and Ostovich blocks the takedown attempt. De La Rosa looking for the jab but Ostovich is landing combinations this round. De La Rosa lands a left hand but eats a right hand. Ostovich just misses a big right hand but with a body kick. Close round. 10-9 Ostovich, 19-19.

Ostovich goes for the right hand but De La Rosa grabs the body and goes for a takedown but it is defended. Ostovich lands a right hand. Ostovich lands a combo and then with a body kick and De La Rosa gets the body lock against the fence. De La Rosa bleeding from her nose. Ostovich scrambles out of the body lock and gets the back. They go to the ground and Ostovich is working for an arm. Ostovich almost had the armbar but De La Rosa escapes and lands a hammerfist as she goes into the guard. De La Rosa gets the back and is landing elbows and punches from the back. Ostovich in a lot of trouble. De La Rosa grabs the neck and is working for a choke. De La Rosa has the choke locked in and Ostovich taps. Big win for De La Rosa.

Official Result- Montana De La Rosa def. Rachael Ostovich by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:21 of Round 3

FOX SPORTS 1 MAIN CARD | 10 PM ET/7 PM PT

> Alessio Di Chirico (11-2, 2-2 UFC) vs. Julian Marquez (7-1, 1-0 UFC)
Middleweights* (Marquez missed weight by 4 pounds)

Di Chirico lands a left hand and then lands another followed by a body kick. Marquez lands a big right hand as he stalks Di Chirico around the Octagon. Di Chirico with a big body kick. They trade punches and they wobble each other. Marquez with a high kick followed by a combo. Di Chirico with a body kick. They trade punches and Marquez still coming forward and he lands a big left hand. Di Chirico with a body kick. Marquez with a leg kick. Di Chirico with a leg kick but Marquez counters with some punches. Di Chirico gets a takedown but Marquez grabs the neck looking for a guillotine. Di Chirico escapes and they scramble to their feet. Marquez with a body kick. Fun round. 10-9 Marquez.

They trade kicks. Marquez with a high kick and then a leg kick. Marquez with a spin kick. Di Chirico has a high kick blocked. Marquez with a short uppercut. They trade body kicks and Marquez with a combo but misses a spinning attempt. Di Chirico grabs the body. Marquez grabs the neck and has a deep guillotine locked in. Di Chiricio defending well and pops out. They break the clinch. Marquez with a head kick. They tie up for a moment but break and Marquez lands a couple of right hands. Di Chirico then scores a takedown. Marquez had a kimura locked in on the bottom but used it to scramble to the top. Fun fight we have going on here. 10-9 Marquez, 20-18 Marquez.

Marquez with a leg kick. Di Chiricio with a body kick. He has been attacking the body with regularity. They trade punches. Di Chiricio with a side elbow. Di Chirico lands a leg kick and then goes high with one. Di Chirico with a body kick. Marquez lands a short right hand. The pace has slowed a bit here in the third. Marquez with a spinning attempt. Di Chirico lands a left hand. Marquez with a head kick that Di Chirico eats. Marquez with a right hand and Di Chirico counters with a takedown. They get to their feet and Marquez lands a couple of knees to the head of Di Chirico. Di Chirico gets a takedown for a second but they scramble and break. Marquez lands a right hand. Di Chirico with a body kick. They trade low kicks and Di Chirico with a spin kick. Fun fight. 10-9 Di Chirico, 29-28 Marquez.

Official Result- Alessio Di Chirico def. Julian Marquez by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

> Roxanne Modafferi (#8, 21-14, 0-2 UFC) vs. Barb Honchak (#7, 10-3, 0-1 UFC)
Women’s Flyweights

They trade punches early. Honchak lands a right hand. They trade again. Honchak landing more of her combos early on as it has been all punching. They clinch for a brief moment. Honchak lands a left hand. They trade combos that both land. Modafferi gets a takedown into the half-guard. Modafferi working to pass guard. Honchak able to keep the half-guard. Modafferi doing a great job of keeping Honchak on the ground as the round comes to a close. 10-9 Modafferi.

They come out trading to start the second. They continue to trade and Honchak grabs the body lock and gets a trip takedown. Modafferi is able to counter as they hit the mat and she gets into the mount position and begins to reign down with punches and elbows from the mount position. Modafferi continues to land punches to the head and body of Honchak. Modafferi gets back into the mount position and she continues to land big punches and elbows. Modafferi with big elbows from the top and she’s looking for a finish. Honchak is covering up and Marc Goddard stops the fight. Huge win by Modafferi in an impressive showing.

Official Result- Roxanne Modafferi def. Barb Honchak by TKO (elbows) at 3:32 of Round 2

> Alex Caceres (13-11 1 NC, 8-9 1 NC UFC) vs. Martin Bravo (11-1, 1-1 UFC)
Featherweights

Caceres coming forward. Caceres lands a big kick but slips. He gets to his feet but Bravo pushes him against the fence. They break. Caceres with a side kick. Caceres lands a solid combo. Bravo with a body kick. They clinch and Bravo grabs the back and is looking for a takedown. Caceres warned to not grab the fence. Caceres reverses and escapes to the center. Caceres lands a left hand and then a body kick. Bravo grabs the leg and gets a single-leg takedown but Caceres has the neck. He lets go and Bravo scrambles to side and into the guard of Caceres. Bravo lands some punches from the top and gets to his feet. Caceres with a side kick to the body from the ground as he gets to his feet. Bravo lands a right hand. They trade punches. Bravo lands a right hand. Caceres with a head kick and then lands a left hand to the body. 10-9 Caceres.

Bravo grabs the leg of Caceres but Caceres gets free after tagging him with some punches. Caceres with the body punch. Caceres hurts Bravo badly with an elbow and Caceres jumps to his back trying for a choke but Bravo escapes. They go to the mat with Caceres having the top. Bravo able to scramble to his feet. Bravo coming forward and grabs the body. They break and Caceres lands a left hand. Caceres rocks Bravo with another left hand. Bravo is bleeding from his nose. Bravo with a high kick. Caceres with a high kick. Caceres with more punches but Bravo is surviving. Caceres with a big body kick. Big round for Caceres. 10-9 Caceres, 20-18 Caceres.

Caceres trying to tag Bravo early but Bravo grabs Caceres and gets the takedown. Bravo unable to do much on top as they get to their feet. They are trading on the feet and Bravo is landing some solid combos of punches. They are trading and Bravo is landing more this round but he likely still needs to score a finish. Bravo with some knees in the clinch. Neither man able to score a takedown as they are both tired. High kick from Caceres but Bravo counters with a body kick. Bravo with some elbows in close range. Caceres with a spin kick. Caceres lands a right hand. Caceres lands a solid combination. They trade late in the round. Close final round. 10-9 Bravo, 29-28 Caceres.

Official Result- Alex Caceres def. Martin Bravo by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

> Jay Cucciniello (8-0 1 NC, 0-0 UFC) vs. Brad Katona (6-0, 0-0 UFC)
TUF 27 Featherweight Finals

Katona with a body kick. He follows with a leg kick. Katona with another body kick. Katona with another inside leg kick. They trade punches. Katona with a body kick. Cucciniello is the one pressing forward. Cucciniello with a body kick and Katona fires back with a leg kick. Katona fakes a takedown to change levels. Cucciniello with a solid combo. Katona with a straight right hand. Katona with a body kick. Katona with some punches. Cucciniello with not a lot of output so far. Katona drops Cucciniello with a left hand but he gets right back up. They trade punches. Cucciniello with a head kick. 10-9 Katona.

They trade kicks and Katona drops Cucciniello again with a left hand. Cucciniello pops right back up. Katona starts back on the attack and gets a big takedown a minute into the round. Katona working from the top and landing punches to the head and body but not really doing much to improve his position. Katona doing enough to keep the fight on the mat and away from being stood up. Cucciniello unable to do anything from the bottom. Katona with an elbow. Katona with a hammerfist from the top as he tries to scramble to a better position. Katona rides the round out on top. 10-9 Katona, 20-18 Katona.

Katona with a left hand. They trade punches. Katona shoots for the takedown and has Cucciniello pinned against the fence. Cucciniello is defending and Katona is not doing much to continue the work for the takedown. He is warned by Herb Dean and then gets a takedown and is in the half-guard. Katona with some elbows and punches from the top. Cucciniello needs to get up from the bottom if he has any chance to win but he just can’t. Katona stands up and Cucciniello tries to scramble but Katona immediately grabs the back and keeps the fight on the mat. Katona dropping punches from the back and Cucciniello is in a lot of trouble. Katona finishes the fight on the top and should cruise to the win. 10-9 Katona, 30-27 Katona.

Official Result- Brad Katona def. Jay Cucciniello by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)

> Mike Trizano (6-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Joe Giannetti (6-0, 0-0 UFC)
TUF 27 Lightweight Finals

Giannetti with a head kick to start. They trade leg kicks. Giannetti takes the back of Trizano and has him pressed against the fence. They go to the mat for a brief second but back to their feet and Giannetti still has the back. Trizano drops to his knees to block the hooks being locked in. They get to their feet and Giannetti with some knees to the head. They go to the mat and Giannetti has an inverted heel hook but lets go. Trizano with an elbow from the top. Trizano now goes for the heel hook but Giannetti pops out and gets into the full guard. Giannetti stands up and lands some punches but goes into the guard and falls into a triangle choke from Trizano but time runs out. 10-9 Giannetti.

They trade and Trizano scores a takedown. Trizano in the half-guard of Giannetti. Both men landing short punches to the body of one another. Trizano moves into side control. Trizano looking to set up a submission by grabbing an arm. Giannetti gets away and grabs a leg of Trizano and looking for a toe hold. Trizano with some elbows to the lower area of Giannetti as they’re in a weird position. They are both elbowing each other on the butt and that is how the round ends. No good. 10-9 Trizano, 19-19.

We now have an immediate low blow and a timeout to start the third round. We are back to action and they both land kicks. Giannetti with a body kick. Trizano with a leg kick in return. They trade punches and kicks. Giannetti with a high kick. Neither fighter seems like they wanna do something to win this fight. Trizano with a leg kick. They trade punches. Trizano with a leg kick followed by a left hand. Trizano coming forward. Giannetti gave this fight away. Not a good fight. 10-9 Trizano, 29-28 Trizano.

Official Result- Mike Trizano def. Joe Giannetti by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

> Brad Tavares (#8, 17-4, 12-4 UFC) vs. Israel Adesanya (13-0, 2-0 UFC)
Middleweights

Adesanya with a leg kick. Tavares lands a couple of right hands and they clinch against the fence. They quickly break the clinch. Adesanya with a leg kick. Adesanya with another leg kick. Tavares lands a right hand and they trade kicks. Adesanya with a couple of kicks, one to the leg and one to the body. Adesanya lands a left hand. Tavares with a right hand. Tavares with a leg kick. They trade strikes. Tavares shoots for a takedown but Adesanya gets away. Adesanya with a high kick. He lands a left hand but Tavares fires back with a right hand. Adesanya rolls for a leg lock but almost got himself in trouble as Tavares landed from the top. 10-9 Adesanya.

Tavares with a right hand. Adesanya with a leg kick. Adesanya with a straight knee high. Adesanya lands the jab followed by a leg kick. Adesanya with a head kick and Tavares wobbles ever so slightly. Tavares shoots for a takedown but it is defended. Adesanya switches positions in the clinch. Tavares lands a left hand. Tavares with a leg kick. Adesanya with a leg kick. They trade punches. Adesanya gets a stern warning from Herb Dean about fingers in the face. Adesanya hurts Tavares with a big body kick. Adesanya with the jab. They trade punches at the end. 10-9 Adesanya, 20-18 Adesanya.

They trade punches and kicks. Adesanya with a high knee and it almost his the chin of Tavares. They trade stiff jabs. Adesanya with a high kick. Adesanya lands a big knee in close range and it connected. Adesanya with a low kick. They clinch and Adesanya trips and tosses Tavares down. Tavares gets up and eats a knee and huge body kick from Adesanya. Tavares goes for a takedown but it is defended perfectly by Adesanya. They clinch and Adesanya scrambles away. Adesanya lands a spinning elbow. Adesanya lands a big right hand followed by a huge knee and Tavares is stunned. Adesanya with a combo and then a head kick. Impressive end of the round by Adesanya. 10-9 Adesanya, 30-27 Adesanya.

Tavares pushes Adesanya up against the fence as he looks to wear him down and avoid being hit on the feet. Tavares gets a takedown and is in the guard of Adesanya. Tavares gets the back of Adesanya and looks to land. Kimura attempt from Tavares but Adesanya gets out and takes the back for a moment before they get to their feet. Adesanya with an inside elbow. The doctors check the cut on Tavares but let him continue on. Adesanya with a knee to the body. They trade punches. Tavares attempts a takedown but it is defended. Adesanya lands a combo. They continue to trade. Adesanya with a couple of knees to the body and then one up high. Tavares’ eye is a mess. 10-9 Adesanya, 40-36 Adesanya.

Tavares looks for a takedown but they just clinch and Adesanya tosses him away. Adesanya with a front kick on Tavares. Adesanya just lighting Tavares up on the feet. Tavares shoots for a takedown but it is defended. Adesanya lands a big knee to the body as they get back to their feet. Adesanya defends another takedown and lands a kick as they get up. Tavares unable to land his punches. Adesanya has been making this look easy, which has been extremely impressive since Tavares is a top-ten fighter and Adesanya is in his third UFC fight. Adesanya stuffs another takedown. Great showing from Adesanya. 10-9 Adesanya, 50-45 Adesanya.

Official Result- Israel Adesanya def. Brad Tavares by unanimous decision (40-46, 50-45, 50-45)