Last Updated on April 13, 2013.
Play-by-Play- By Sherdog.com
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Uriah Hall
Round 1
Referee Herb Dean is the referee for the “TUF 17” final. Gastelum bounces forward, changing levels and scooting Hall backward around the perimeter. Hall stands with his hands down and his back on the fence, allowing Gastelum to punch him and get inside to clinch. Gastelum tries to knee the larger Hall, who shoves Gastelum’s face away but can’t get off the fence. Gastelum backs out 90 seconds into the round, then comes forward on Hall with a leg kick that lands and a high kick which does not. Hall slaps Gastelum’s face with a high kick, then moves backward to matador Gastelum. Hall pops his man with a jab, but Gastelum comes forward to stagger Hall with a left hand on the temple. Hall seems fine as he backs Gastelum off with a push kick, but Gastelum is tenacious and takes Hall down with a double-leg on the cage. Gastelum drops elbows from half-guard with two minutes remaining. There’s a brief kimura attempt which Gastelum lets go of, and Hall regains his full guard. Gastelum roughs Hall up with rugged ground-and-pound in the final minute, but Hall scoots to the fence and stands with 35 seconds to go. Hall sticks a jab and plows Gastelum down with a charging double-leg. Gastelum stands and finishes the round with his back to the fence and Hall in a headlock.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Gastelum
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Gastelum
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Gastelum
Round 2
Gastelum is pulling up short on his punches early in round two, and Hall’s rangy front kicks aren’t helping. Hall slaps Gastelum’s face with another high kick and then dips out of the way of an overhand punch. Gastelum gets Hall on the fence and takes him down with a double-leg, then sits up high in Hall’s half-guard. Hall’s long arms help him wrap up and limit Gastelum’s offense, so Gastelum drops a few punches to Hall’s body. Elbows are landing now for Gastelum, who momentarily presses his forearm across Hall’s throat. Halfway through the round, Hall bumps Gastelum and sweeps, then tags the Arizonan with a hard knee to the jaw as they stand. Gastelum may be hurt — from the knee or the follow-up punches — but it’s hard to tell, because he quickly has Hall pressed against the fence. Hall reverses the momentum by tripping Gastelum and falling down on top, in half-guard on Gastelum’s right side. Gastelum is looking for a stand-up from the ref after 15 seconds of Hall holding him down. He doesn’t get it, but Gastelum gets to his knees while under fire from Hall elbows. Hall keeps a rear waistlock and sends Gastelum head over heels with a suplex. Gastelum gets right back up and puts Hall on the cage to finish the round.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Hall
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Hall
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Hall
Round 3
Hall lands a knee to the body early in the final round, but ref Dean says it strayed low and Gastelum is given time to recover. He takes only a few seconds, and they’re back to work with Hall landing outside leg kicks as Gastelum bounces forward. Stiff jab goes for Hall as he catches Gastelum stepping in. Gastelum takes a moment, then charges at Hall and suplexes him to the ground. Gastelum tries to secure the back, but Hall gets out the back door and catches Gastelum kneeling with a flurry of punches. Gastelum escapes to his feet and slows the pace by holding Hall on the cage. They split with just over half the round remaining and Hall goes back to sniping with long jabs, then dodging Gastelum’s overhand bombs. Gastelum lands a wide left which Hall shakes off. Inside leg kick connects for Gastelum, who steps out of the way of a Hall punch. Gastelum hits a double-leg in the middle of the cage and grabs hold of Hall’s arm, but gives it up to go to Hall’s guard. Now it’s Hall throwing up his legs for an armbar which doesn’t go. Gastelum is slugging away from the top now, though it appears Hall is deflecting most of the shots; Hall is showing some good offense, rocking Gastelum’s head with punches from his back. Hall finishes on top as Gastelum goes for an armbar, and this one is going to the judges.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Gastelum (29-28 Gastelum)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Gastelum (29-28 Gastelum)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Hall (29-28 Hall)
Official result: The judges score the bout 29-28 Gastelum, 29-28 Hall and 29-28 for the winner by split decision, Kelvin Gastelum.
A great fight for the TUF finale. Congrats to both Uriah and Kelvin on a great season and great fight tonight. Both fought their heart out. #warrior