After an unbelievable three appearances, and three wins, on Dana White’s Contender Series, middleweight Torrez Finney finally arrived in the UFC on Saturday, paired up with TUF 32 finalist Robert Valentin.
Valentin told Cageside Press ahead of the fight that he saw the bout as a bigger opportunity than most, given the following he and Finney had grown through TUF and the Contender Series.
The first round began with Finney immediately applying pressure on Valentin. He shot in on the legs, lifted Valentin, and walked him across the cage before slamming him down in his corner. Although Valentin quickly returned to his feet, Finney stayed locked on and took him down again. Valentin managed to work back to his knees and stand, but Finney remained relentless, scoring two more takedowns against the cage. To his credit, Valentin repeatedly got back up, but he couldn’t shake Finney’s grip. While the damage was minimal, Finney effectively neutralized Valentin’s offense with constant takedown pressure and control.
Round two opened with Finney landing a big scoop slam just seconds in. Valentin looked to threaten with a kimura, but Finney’s strength easily nullified the attempt. Valentin then transitioned to an armbar, but Finney powered out by slamming him on his head. Valentin eventually worked up to a knee, trying to stand, but Finney attempted to take the back—slipping off in the process. Still, he managed to latch onto a leg and maintain control. The round closed with little action, but Valentin was once again pressed against the cage as the buzzer sounded.
Knowing he needed a finish, Valentin came out aggressive in round three, letting his hands go. Finney wanted no part of the striking exchange and quickly pressed Valentin against the cage, securing another takedown. While Finney continued to dominate in the wrestling department, he struggled to control Valentin on the ground, allowing him to return to his feet over and over. The referee separated them, but Finney immediately closed the distance and drove Valentin back to the cage. Another brief break from the ref followed, only for Finney to shoot again—this time lifting and planting Valentin with authority. Valentin once more managed to stand, prompting yet another separation from the referee, who appeared visibly frustrated. Still undeterred, Finney clinched again and ended the fight with Valentin pinned against the cage.
The result of the fight after 15 minutes felt like a forgone conclusion. Judge Tony Weeks, who has a boxing background, apparently saw something no one else did however. He awarded all three rounds to Valentin, while the remaining two judges scored the fight a more reasonable 29-28 for Torrez Finney.
Official Result: Torrez Finney def. Robert Valentin by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
