The Ultimate Fighter Season 14 Finale Complete Main Card B/R Staff Predictions

John HeinisDec 1, 2011

In the 14th season of "The Ultimate Fighter," fans get an entertaining middleweight main event in the form of Jason Miller vs. Michael Bisping.

The two head coaches for the most recent installment of TUF legitimately hate one another, so the vast majority of fight fans are looking forward to how this one plays out.

To determine the first bantamweight winner of TUF, Team Alpha Male member TJ Dillashaw takes on the hard-hitting John Dodson.

For the UFC contract in the featherweight division, two gritty wrestlers square off in the form of Dennis Bermudez and Diego Brandao.

Last season's TUF winner, Tony Ferguson, looks to prove he is ready to hang with the big boys at 155-pounds when he takes on season veteran Yves Edwards.

Rounding out the main card, Johnny Bedford takes on Louis Gaudinot, in a fight where two guys who lost early this season have a second chance at glory.

This time around, B/R MMA Featured Columnists Brian Benchimol-Lopez, Dwight Wakabayashi, Jeffrey McKinney, Dale De Souza and myself, John Heinis, tell you who will get their hand raised on Saturday night.

Take a look inside for the in-depth predictions.

Johnny Bedford vs. Louis Gaudinot

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John Heinis: These almost completely unknown bantamweights have an opportunity to solidify a UFC contract with a win here.

Gaudinot, a New York native, competes in the New Jersey based Ring of Combat promotion, where he has compiled a 5-1 record.

On the other hand, Bedford has really put in his time on the independent circuit, with a 17-9 record including a Bellator win last year.

Bedford's aggressive take downs and great submission game should be enough to overcome the fiery Gaudinot.

Johnny Bedford via second round submission (guillotine choke)

Brian Lopez-Benchimol: Gaudinot is a great flyweight, but he just can't cut it in the 135-pound class, especially against a guy like Bedford, who comes from a successful amateur background as a wrestler.

The dude is gritty, gnarly and in your face all the time.

Bedford is just going to do his thing: press Gaudinot for every minute of the fight, grind him with his takedowns and cinch up his signature rear-naked choke in the waning moments of the fight.

Johnny Bedford via third round submission

Dwight Wakabayashi: Even though Johnny Bedford is on The Ultimate Fighter Season 14 not too much is really known about either of these two bantamweight's who are both debuting in the UFC.

A quick glance at both fighters gives a significant advantage in level and experience to Bedford. The American's age is not confirmed but he is a veteran of 26 fights (17-9) with a win in Bellator in 2010 over Jared Lopez.

Bedford is from Ohio and made a name for himself throughout the midwest with brawler style. Guadinot comes from "Ring of Combat," the small promotion out of New Jersey and has a 5-1 record with two wins via TKO.

The 27-year-old hails from Yonkers, New York and they must make them tough in Yonkers. One thing to note is that out of Bedford's nine losses, eight have come by submission and he just got knocked out by John Dodson.

I'm going with the younger fighter in this one.

Louis Gaudinot via KO third Rd

Jeffrey McKinney: In the opening bout on the main card, semi-finalist Johnny Bedford takes on the entertaining Louis Gaudinot.

Gaudinot was one of this season’s most recognizable fighters thanks to his green hair. Don’t let the hair or his small frame fool you though. Gaudinot has a record of 5-1 and despite being small can be very versatile.

He will have a challenge though as he takes on Bedford.

Bedford was one of the more experienced guys on the show as he’s gone 17-9-1.

Bedford had a good showing on the show before getting knocked out by John Dodson.

If Bedford can use his use his size advantage and not get caught like he did against Dodson, he will have this match won.

Johnny Bedford via submission

Dale De Souza: Team Bisping vs Team Mayhem lives on in the Louis Gaudinot-Johnny Bedford fight that opens the main card of action up at this season's Ultimate Fighter finale.

Gaudinot was one of Michael Bisping's picks, and Bisping was pretty disappointed with Gaudinot losing to Dustin Pague because of how nice a guy Gaudinot was, and one might say a little bit of the same for how Mayhem might have felt when Bedford lost to John Dodson.

That said, both guys showed some well-rounded skills on the show and for all we know, both men could have gotten better since the cameras stopped rolling, but Bedford might be the better wrestler and he's definitely the man with the size edge against the green-headed Flyweight.

No, really, Gaudinot's 5-1 as a pro, and he was a part of a group of natural Flyweights on the show...and yes, this does mean I give him the edge on speed.

To cut it short and to the point, Beford is a good fighter and if he can get Gaudinot down, he could be able to use his size well enough to earn a TKO or a submission, but at the end of the day, speed kills.

Louis Gaudinot via second Round TKO

Tony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards

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John Heinis: Last season's TUF winner, Tony Ferguson, looked awesome in his last outing against Aaron Riley.

His crisp, powerful boxing gave Riley a broken jaw by the end of Round 1, so needless to say the veteran was unable to continue after that.

He faces another veteran this time around in Yves Edwards, a fighter with a whopping 59 fights under his belt.

Edwards looked good in his last win over Rafaello Oliveira, a good bounce back after suffering one of the worst knock outs of all time against Sam Stout.

Edwards is a good test for the young Ferguson, in that he has some real skills and always comes ready to fight, but also he is nowhere near the divison's top 15 right now.

In 41 career wins, Yves has only saw it go to the judges score cards nine times, a pretty impressive finish percentage for sure (78 percent).

A decent striker with even better submission skills, Edwards is no push over.

However, the eager to prove himself Ferguson is a much better striker and has great takedown defense.

If it goes to the ground, Edwards has a chance, but I don't see that happening.

Ferguson via first round KO

Brian Lopez-Benchimol: Edwards was considered the uncrowned king of the lightweight division and for good reason.

The guy has a bevy of slick striking skills in his pocket, which Josh Thomson can attest to.

However, as of late, Edwards has been suffering some devastating setbacks against the upper echelon of the division.

Ferguson is still largely unproven, but he's going to start his rise to the top here, when he chops Edwards with his hard low kicks early, measure him with jab and blast him away with those uppercuts.

Tony Ferguson via first round KO

Dwight Wakabayashi: TUF 13 winner Tony Ferguson is proving himself to be quite the power puncher in his young MMA career but he is set to take a large step up in fighting veteran Yves Edwards.

Ferguson is a big guy to handle at 155 pounds and I look for him to try and use more of his wrestling against the smaller Edwards.

Edwards needs to bounce back from a bad knockout loss in his last fight and I believe he has too much skill and experience to get caught by a big shot by Ferguson.

It may be a make or break fight for Edwards and at 35 years old, he needs to turn away this young lion who is looking to vault past him in the organization.

I believe that the size difference is going to pose a tough problem for Edwards, but he will use Ferguson's youth and exuberance against him and somehow pull out a victory.

Yves Edwards via third round submission

Jeffrey McKinney: Last season’s TUF winner Tony Ferguson has looked good since being on the show.

After winning the finale by knockout, Ferguson defeated Aaron Riley by TKO.

Yves Edwards will be a big step up in competition for Ferguson.

Edwards is a veteran of the sport who is just as dangerous on the ground as he is on his feet.

Edwards will be a tough fight for Ferguson, but I believe he pulls out a decision victory.

Tony Ferguson via decision

Dale De Souza: On my birthday, Tony Ferguson earned a KO of The Night bonus for a knockout win over Ramsey Nijem, which earned Ferguson the right to be called the Season 13 Welterweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter.

Almost one-half of a year later, Ferguson gets to be opponent number 60 for Yves Edwardsm who is well-rounded but loves to bang.

That's no problem for Mr. Ferguson, the late-in-the-season pariah of the "Tean Lesnar vs. Team Dos Santos" season, because Ferguson doesn't mind scrapping himself, and if you don't trust that, ask Aaron Riley's jaw if Ferguson knows anything about hurting people.

It's tough to say whether this bout realistically ends quick, as Edwards could wind up being a tougher test for Ferguson than Edwards wound up being for Sam Stout.

However, if Ferguson shows accurate striking and finds a home for his strikes, that's not Ferguson's bad; Edwards knows what was in the contract he signed.

Edwards is a shoo-in for an upset pick, or a natural choice for the Knockout or Submission of The Night, but against a Deathclutch fighter, Edwards might be biting off a little bit more than he can chew in facing a very difficult opponent with a bright future in this sport.

Tony Ferguson via unanimous decision

Dennis Bermudez vs. Diego Brandao

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John Heinis: Funny enough, Burmudez almost didn't even make it onto this season of TUF when King of the Cage champion Jimmie Rivera gave him all he could handle in the qualifying round.

However, "The Menace" kept his composure and eventually took Rivera's back, finishing him off with some nice ground and pound.

For those who missed this performance, it defines Bermudez to a tee: a great wrestler with solid ground-and-pound and some submission know-how.

The fact that he has a great chin doesn't hurt his cause, either.

Brandao, despite being a lose cannon, he has some pretty solid stand up and is not completely clueless on the ground, either.

He deserves credit for getting finishes in 11 of his 13 career wins, but in his seven losses, he has been finished five times.

Bermudez has never been knocked out, and while his two losses both came via submission, he is without a doubt the superior grappler here so I think he finishes after controlling the pace for a couple rounds.

Dennis Bermudez via third round TKO

Brian Lopez-Benchimol: The Brazilian in Brandao has had arguably the most impressive run on The Ultimate Fighter, devastating all of his opponents on the show with first round knockouts—his first two fights in the house totaling a combined 77 seconds of cage time.

He's got speed, accuracy and crushing knockout power, but Bermudez has the right stuff to stifle Brandao.

We've seen Bermudez come back from beatings at the hands of Akira Corassani and Jimmie Rivera, eventually finishing them off before the final bell.

Brandao will take it to Dennis early, but his chin and will to win will carry him through the early storm, muscling Brandao to the ground over the course of the bout, courtesy of his collegiate wrestling background.

Dennis Bermudez via unanimous decison (29-28 x3)

Dwight Wakabayashi: At 24 years of age, Dennis Bermudez is young but he has experienced a lot for a man his age.

Bermudez has handled pressure and power from both of his opponents on the show thus far and he will use his savy, stregth and wrestling endurance to outlast the gutsy Brandao.

Brandao is explosive and strong but he is inexperienced and I think cardio and pace will be the deciding factor in this one.

Dennis Bermudez via unanimous decision

Jeffrey McKinney: The first ever featherweight winner of TUF will be decided when Dennis Bermudez meets Diego Brandao.

Since coming on the show Brandao has been a beast. Brandao has had some of the most memorable knockouts in TUF history and looks like a young Wanderlie Silva.

Bermudez who comes from a wrestling background has also finished all of his fights on the show.

Although Bermudez may not seem like the smartest fighter on the show, he knows how to pick up a win.

Brandao has just look vicious on the show, but at times can be reckless.

Bermudez has never been knocked out, but if Brandao can fight without the recklessness then he could add another knockout to his resume.

Diego Brandao by KO

Dale De Souza: Personally, Diego "Boom" Brandao was my pick to earn the Featherweight contract at the end of the show.

Professionally, Dennis "The Menace" Bermudez is a man who has the same probability of victory as Brandao does.

Now, whether Bermudez really did say anything about Brandao is up for debate, and it could just be that Brandao's delusional, or it could be that Brandao sees Bermudez's own faith in his abilities and finds it insulting that Bermudez believes that he will take what Brandao has walked through hell in trying to achieve.

Keep in mind that Brandao never got taken down once during the semifinals or the quarterfinals, so Bermudez's submission game may or may not play a role, and of course we all remember how Bermudez earned his place in the house.

Truth of the matter is that if any one fighter on the night of Dec. 3 is going to be difficult to finish, it will be Bermudez, as he has taken shots that would have earned TKO and KO wins for his opponents in other fights, and yet Bermudez has kept coming.

However, none of Bermudez's past challenges swung or landed the way Brandao does, and when Brandao lands, people's lights go out in a flash.

Bermudez deserves to be given a chance in every sense of the word, but he's dealing with an intensely-driven, highly-motivated, hard-hitting Brazilian who some feel has what it might take to become the future of the Featherweight division.

Brandao has one pair of fists, snuggled up in a pair of four-ounce gloves, that says that Bermudez is going to sleep early come Dec. 3.

Diego Brandao by 1st Round KO

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TJ Dillashaw vs. John Dodson

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John Heinis: Dillashaw has arguably been the most impressive performer from this season, showcasing crisp stand up, alongside great takedowns, ground-and-pound and submission defense.

The former Division I wrestler's base has served him well, but he has clearly developed into a full-fledged mixed marital artist fairly quickly.

Meanwhile, Dodson is a pretty decent wrestler in his own right, with adequate striking and ground and pound.

However, his Team Alpha Male opponent just simply looks like a better version of Dodson. I can't see Dillashaw losing this fight.

TJ Dillashaw via second round TKO

Brian Lopez-Benchimol: Everyone is riding the Dillashaw band wagon and for good reason.

The former NCAA Division I wrestler has applied his trade on the mat to the cage seamlessly, remaining undefeated by using his size, strength and grappling credentials to wilt his opponents.

The Team Alpha Male prospect has heavy hands to boot and while Dodson is a wily fighter with better technique than Dillashaw, he's just too small to deal with the grappling acumen of the touted Dillashaw, who takes this one in an exciting back-and-forth fight.

TJ Dillashaw by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Dwight Wakabayashi: The TUF 14 bantamweight final will pit my two favorite fighters of the season TJ Dillashaw and John Dodson head to head against each other.

These two fireball fighters have everything it takes to be a professional in this game.

Both fighters are incredibly quick, with a slight edge to Dodson, and they transition between all skills with a seamless flash. In the end, as in many fights in this sport, the difference will come down to wrestling.

I think Dodson is an extremely tough fighter to hit despite his little reach, and Dillashaw is a more decorated wrestler and grappler so i believe he will try to bully, smother and take Dodson down to victory in this one and both will move on to have nice career's in the UFC.

TJ Dillashaw via unanimous decision

Jeffrey McKinney: In the first TUF Finale bout of the night, John Dodson will take on T.J. Dillashaw.

Both Dodson and Dillashaw are great wrestlers and have pretty good all around games.

Dillashaw will have the reach, height, and size advantage while Dodson comes in a lot more experienced.

If Dillashaw can use his reach and strength to his advantage he could take this fight.

Dodson has shown that he is a tough fight though. Despite being better equipped for flyweight, Dodson has shown that size is not a problem for him.

I see Dodson taking this fight and becoming the first bantamweight TUF winner.

John Dodson via decision

Dale De Souza: When I think of the type of fighter with excellent top control, I think of a fighter that does what TJ Dillashaw did whenever he got Roland Delorme and Dustin Pague down to the ground.

Dillashaw actually looks like a Bantamweight, for one, and he also is coachable enough to where his coaches and his teammates at Team Alpha Male could show him how to cut the cage off after a takedown.

Within minutes, Dillashaw could be trying to cut the cage off by moving around to where his opponent can't back up against the cage.

If this were any other fight, I'd like Dillashaw's chances of securing a takedown and working a wicked ground offense, but there's one thing keeping me from seeing him as the first Bantamweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter, and that thing is John Dodson.

Dodson, like Louis Gaudinot and Josh Ferguson, joined The Ultimate Fighter's Bantamweight cast because the UFC has no official Flyweight division, but much like current UFC Bantamweights Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson, Dodson and Team "Death Leprachauns" have found a way to manage well at 135.

It also helps that Dodson trains at Jackson's MMA and is surrounded by guys with notable takedown offense, so Dodson definitely has a good idea of how to stuff takedowns and he also knows how to make even a slightly successful takedown attempt become ineffective.

Dillashaw is good and will probably stick around for a while, but against a guy that doesn't let up like the experienced Dodson, Dillashaw is running head-first into a wall of buzz-saws in this fight.

Anticipate multiple combinations and effective short-ranger strikes from Dodson, who will drop Dillashaw and hammer his fists into the face of "The Viper", thus becoming the very first Bantamweight to become "The Ultimate Fighter".

John Dodson via 1st round TKO

Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller

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John Heinis: Bisping is on a three fight win-streak and feels he is ready for UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva with another victory on Saturday ... but that's just outrageous.

Wins over Dan Miller, Yoshirhiro Akiyama and Jorge Rivera are completely irrelevant at middleweight, especially when the win over "The Conquistador" was wrapped in controversy.

I think I've been thinking "The Count" is overrated since before Matt Hamill was absolutely robbed of a "W" a few years, now I think "Mayhem" finally exposes that.

Miller hasn't exactly been fighting world beaters either, decisively beating Tim Stout and an ancient Kazushi Sakuraba in his most recent bouts, but he is still a tough opponent for Bisping.

Mayhem always comes forward with constant aggression in his fights. Bisping's typical stick and move antics are going to be nullified here, especially when you consider that Miller also has a great chin.

Bisping's questionable chin and mediocre wrestling will not be enough to hold off Mayhem's vicious pace.

The count has the jiu-jitsu acumen to survive on the ground, but I think all he does is defend once the fight gets there.

Jason Miller via unanimous decision (48-47)

Brian Lopez-Benchimol: It's pretty clear who everyone is pulling for here, but I just can't put any money on "Mayhem" at this point of his career.

What he does well is take down his opponents off this fence and in the clinch.

Bisping will keep Miller at bay with his jabs and occasional low kick, which will force Mayhem to shoot from the center of the cage which has never been his strong suit.

Expect to see the Brit rinse and repeat this strategy over the course of the fight taking home a dud of a decision.

Michael Bisping via unanimous decision (50-45 x3)

Dwight Wakabayashi: I have been looking forward to Jason Miller's return to the cage for over a year as he has not fought since September of 2010.

In a very intriguing and exciting matchup, I believe it will be that time off that will be the end of Miller in this one.

Many people are saying that Miller's takedowns will be the difference and he will be able to submit Bisping, but i see this fight playing out in an entirely different way.

Due to the layoff, It is going to take Miller two or three rounds to find his rhythm for anything in this one and I fear by that time Bisping will have built up points.

Miller will then start to find his rhythm and make a fight of it, but he won't finish Bisping and Bisping will win a close decision based on activity and points.

Michael Bisping via split decision

Jeffrey McKinney: Michael Bisping will welcome Jason Miller back into the Octagon in a bout that could win fight of the night.

Bisping is currently on a three-fight winning streak and is looking to make a serious push for a title shot.

If Bisping wants to be taken seriously as a contender he has to win against big name fighters.

Although he is not a top contender in the division, Miller is a big name.

From his reality TV show, to his memorable ring entrances, Miller is one of the most recognizable people in MMA today.

Although he has looked immature in the past, Miller was the more respectable coach on the show.

The big questions heading into this fight are can Miller hand with Bisping in the stand up game and can Bisping hand with Miller on the ground?

Bisping has never been tapped and Miller has only lost by TKO once.

Although many fans want to see Bisping get knocked out again, I believe Miller may not be the guy to do it.

Michael Bisping via split decision

Dale De Souza: Michael Bisping ... you either like the guy or you want to see him get punched in the face.

By asking for a pick from me for this fight, you fans of the MMA World are also talking to a person who is off and on about Bisping because some days, I like him, but other days, I want to see someone punch him at least one time in the mouth.

Jason "Mayhem" Miller does have the chance to hurt Bisping and take him to the ground, once you get past his (meaning Mayhem's) loss to Georges St-Pierre.

Bisping should have the punching power and maybe a slight edge in size, but Mayhem's not exactly undersized at Middleweight himself.

Plus, all bias aside, Mayhem really is a bit more of the diverse striker in the fight, utilizing his striking to help set up his trips to the ground, and when Mayhem is on the ground, it's like being asked by the Heath Ledger version of The Joker to watch a wooden pencil.

In other words, it's a madhouse of horrors--a truly dangerous place to be with the madman who leads the outrageously-maniacal (yet flamboyantly entertaining) Mayhem Monkey Cult.

Bisping feels that he's better than Mayhem everywhere, but against a guy that hates his guts worse than anyone he's faced in a long time, Bisping could find himself in legitimate trouble against arguably the most mindless Middleweight in the division right now.

Jason Miller via 3rd round submission (Rear Naked Choke)