The top two seeds from this season of The Ultimate Fighter will battle it out in Las Vegas Friday!
Following Wednesday’s final episode of The Ultimate Fighter Season 26, the UFC has revealed the full card for Friday’s TUF 26 finale. Not surprisingly, in addition to the main event of Sijara Eubanks vs. Nicco Montano, top seeds Roxanne Modafferi and Barb Honchak are also on the card. They’ll face off just prior to the co-main event, in a fight many expected would have been for the UFC’s flyweight title.
Coming into the show, Modafferi (21–13) had won two straight, including a big finish of Sarah D’Alelio at Invicta FC 23. Prior to that, she’d gone up against Jennifer Maia for Invicta’s 125lb title. Maia, who will defend her belt next month, is considered by many to be the top flyweight in the world at present.
Honchak (10–2), meanwhile, is a former Invicta champion away from the sport several years prior to joining TUF 26. She holds notable wins over Nina Ansaroff, Vanessa Porta, Aisling Daly, and Modafferi. The pair first met in 2011, where Honchak submitted ‘The Happy Warrior’ via rear-naked choke.
Both Honchak and Modafferi won their first two bouts on The Ultimate Fighter 26 before being upset in the semi-finals.
Also added to Friday’s card is Hawaiian standout Rachael Ostovich-Berdon (3-3), who went 1-1 on TUF 26. She’ll take on Karine Gevorgyan (3-2), who was billed as Armenia’s only female fighter on the show.
Montana Stewart (7-4), who was married after the show completed filming and now goes by Montana De La Rosa, will take on Christina Marks (8-8) at the finale. DeAnna Bennet (6-3) meets Melinda Fabian (4-3-1), while Ariel Beck (4-4) faces Shana Dobson (2-1).
Opening the TUF 26 Finale card on UFC Fight Pass, Canada’s Gillian Robertson (3-2) meets Emily Whitmore (2-1).
Lauren Murphy Off the Card
A proposed bout featuring Lauren Murphy against Priscila Cachoeira, unfortunately, is off the card. A recent, undefeated UFC signing who did not appear on the show, that fight should have brought fireworks. Per a statement on Instagram by Murphy, Cachoeira had some VISA issues, however. The fight will be rebooked early next year.
The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale takes place at the Park Theater in Paradise, NV (just outside Las Vegas) on Friday, December 1.
