“The Ultimate Fighter 26” Finale went down tonight (Friday, December 1, 2017) from the Park Theater in Paradise, Nevada. The show was headlined by the inaugural women’s flyweight title fight between finalist Nicco Montano and late replacement fill-in and semifinalist Roxanne Modafferi. Montano took a back-and-forth, gritty battle by unanimous decision on the strength of her superiority in the scrambles to become the new champion. She beat Lauren Murphy, Montana Stewart, Barb Honchak, and Roxanne Modafferi – arguably the best four other women in the bracket – to get it done.
The co-main event saw veteran boxer Terrion Ware welcome “Dana White‘s Tuesday Night Contender Series” alum Sean O’Malley to the big show. The pair engaged in an entertaining brawl, but O’Malley’s power, output, and diversity carried him through a tough second round to ean a unanimous nod from the judges.
See how Twitter reacted to this historic night below:
Dinner with friends/ teammates. You all make my heart sing. Having everyone, fans, ppl reading this, want to be around me, accept my weird& unique quirks, support me, is the best, most blessed thing in the entire universe! I love you all! ???? みんなが大好きだ！ pic.twitter.com/iWzKXxblsS
— Roxanne Modafferi (@Roxyfighter) December 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/JESnowden/status/936775290012950528
https://twitter.com/julesk_fighter/status/936788472420999169
ROXY IS IMBUED WITH THE POWER OF PARTY VIOLENCE, THE STRENGHT OF OUR LORD AND PROPHET, H ROBERT ZOMBIE
— Leg Kickin Tacos (@LegKickTKO) December 2, 2017
Absolutely nothing against Nicco. I'd just really like for Modafferi to win.
— Suzanne Davis (@SoozieCuzie) December 2, 2017
Shit is about to go down #TUFFinale pic.twitter.com/zBgfUd1D0B
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) December 2, 2017
If you're on the Roxy train, shout it out! #TUF26Finale
— Stephie Haynes (@CrooklynMMA) December 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/jeremybotter/status/936831641980256256
https://twitter.com/SecretMovesMMA/status/936831011832283137
CombatSportsLaw had the privilege of being a sponsor for a few of Roxanne's bouts in Invicta. Could not be happier with her UFC title shot! pic.twitter.com/sphwzfljqj
— Erik Magraken (@erikmagraken) November 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/ZPGIFs/status/936840644076617728
#AndNew UFC women's flyweight champion | @UltimateFighter season 26 winner | The No. 14 seed | @NiccoMontano #TUFFinale pic.twitter.com/BTfZO0Fiej
— UFC (@ufc) December 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/iainkidd/status/936840430141898752
If Roxy had grappled when they were fresh and boxed when they were tired instead of doing the opposite she probably wins that
— smoogy (@smoogymma) December 2, 2017
MODAFFERI GETS THE ARMBAR BUT MONTANO ESCAPES!!
This fight!!! What a fight!! Wow!!
Who goes home the NEW UFC women's flyweight champ? #TUFFinale pic.twitter.com/tLi0Rtb7RP
— UFC (@ufc) December 2, 2017
That was a war of attrition. Wow. https://t.co/AzMtqkFmnK
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) December 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/jeremybotter/status/936840586912346113
The UFC should not book Montano against Shevchenko. That fight is unfair to her and a gross, gross mismatch.
— Jed Meshew II (@JedKMeshew) December 2, 2017
All hail the inaugural UFC women's flyweight champion @NiccoMontano! #TUFFinale pic.twitter.com/hDaY59effI
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) December 2, 2017
Congrats Nicco❗️ https://t.co/kuFeLRwUMT
— Megan Olivi (@MeganOlivi) December 2, 2017
This has been one hell of a fight. I wouldn't have expected anything less from either of these fighters. Yeah, maybe some of the best flyweights aren't fighting in the UFC yet, but these two are two of the best in the world right now.
— Bestrafer7 (@Bestrafer7) December 2, 2017
Special effort from Modafferi and Montaño. Personally, I'm not crazy about that fight determining a UFC champion, but those two women left everything they had fighting for that opportunity. Good fight.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) December 2, 2017
It's only a matter of time now….#TUF26Finale pic.twitter.com/negOfxl7L4
— Wesley Riddle (@AllThatMMA) December 2, 2017
I’ve interviewed @Roxyfighter more than any fighter in my near 15 year MMA run. In that time I’ve learned that you never sing “Roxanne” to her. You also never suggest that her best days are behind her. She continues to get better and I’m sure this experience will only help her.
— TJ De Santis (@TJDeSantis) December 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/JESnowden/status/936840941452668929
Listen say what you will about Nicco Montano but she beat Lauren Murphy, Montana Stewart, Barb Honchak and Roxanne Modafferi to become champion. That's damn impressive #TUF26Finale
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) December 2, 2017
This is the real main event of the evening. O'Malley vs Ware. Pumped about this one.
— Dan (@BestFightPicks) December 2, 2017
Sean O'Malley up next! #TUFFinale pic.twitter.com/eooU9OWhe5
— MMA GiFs (@MMAxGiFS) December 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/SecretMovesMMA/status/936768721250635778
Sean O’Malley walks out to a remix of "Party and Bullshit" by Notorious B.I.G. and "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus. For fuck's sake. #TUFFinale
— Rob Tatum (@RobTatum303) December 2, 2017
Sean O'Malley has a big size advantage here. pic.twitter.com/71uJoYNvno
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) December 2, 2017
O'Malley already wins the aggressive chest tattoo of the night. ???? #TUF26Finale
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) December 2, 2017
O’Malley looks like Michael Cera and Jessie Eisenberg did a fusion dance and went to Conor McGregor’s tattoo artist. #TUF26Finale
— Tommy Toe Hold (@TommyToeHold) December 2, 2017
Heres where you find out whats what. When both men are gassed and its time to bite down.
— Dan (@BestFightPicks) December 2, 2017
Round 2 was the "Welcome to the UFC" round for O'Malley. Always key how prospects respond to this! https://t.co/RB8vDyIy9Q
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) December 2, 2017
THIS THIRD ROUND!!!#TUFFinale pic.twitter.com/TfqEbR18iJ
— UFC (@ufc) December 2, 2017
O'Malley vs Ware #TUFFinale pic.twitter.com/OSY5EV44wz
— MMA GiFs (@MMAxGiFS) December 2, 2017
Did Ware win that fight or am I somehow biased.
— Yves (@thugjitsumaster) December 2, 2017
Man, @SugaSeanMMA is fun to watch. Terrion Ware is no joke. This kid is the real deal. #TUFFINALE pic.twitter.com/7RTjw5m1Xw
— John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) December 2, 2017
Sean O’Malley vs Alex Caceres, Afro spinning shit for everybody!
— Anton Tabuena (@antontabuena) December 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/Patrick_Wyman/status/936826656014024704
