The latest Ultimate Fighter edition wound down this week, and Friday night, the finale took place live in Las Vegas, NV. Two ultimate fighter champions would be crowned at the TUF 28 Finale, airing live on Fox Sports 1. First, however, came preliminary action, featuring a three-fight offering including the veteran Tim Means, plus Roosevelt Roberts taking on Darrell Horcher in the featured fight category.

Means, who would be entering into his 40th pro fight on the night, was tasked with taking on former Bellator fighter Ricky Rainey. A veteran of Bellator MMA best known for losing efforts against Michael Page and Chidi Njokuani, Rainey was hoping to get back in the win column after losing his UFC debut opposite Muslim Salikov.

Like Rainey, Means was coming off a loss, two in fact. 1-3 in his last four, Means had dropped fights to Alex Oliveira, Belal Muhammad, and Sergio Moraes. His lone win in that span came against Alex Garcia.

Bantamweight action kicked off the Fight Pass card, however, as relative unknowns Raoni Barcelos and Chris Gutierrez threw down. Barcelos hoped to build off a win over Kurt Holobaugh in his UFC debut, while Gutierrez, a WSOF, LFA and Bellator alum, was making his promotional debut.

Check back throughout the evening for updated results and a recap of the action!

Raoni Barcelos vs. Chris Gutierrez

Gutierrez was on the outside early against Raoni Barcelos to open the TUF 28 Finale card. Barcelos was demonstrating his power with each punch, while Gutierrez worked to land leg kicks. While his kicks connected, however, Gutierrez was mostly circling, trying to stay off the fence, and couldn’t get his hands going. In a clinch, Barcelos would dump his opponent, work from guard, but eventually he’d back off and Gutierrez would get back to his feet.

In the second, Barcelos would eat a nasty left elbow from the bottom, cutting him open. He’d have his opponent on his back within the first two minutes, and take the back as Gutierrez tried to power back to his feet. Still the biggest damage was the elbow. While he couldn’t make a submission work just then, he did later in the round, taking the back, getting one hook in, and securing a rear-naked choke!

Raoni Barcelos def. Chris Gutierrez by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 4:12

Tim Means vs. Ricky Rainey

Tim Means wasted no time getting back in the win column in Las Vegas on Friday night. After some early stand-up action Means scored a takedown despite Rainey grabbing the fence. He’d take Rainey down a moment later and dropped bombs on his opponent. Rainey wasn’t fight back enough for the ref’s liking as Means landed more ground and pound, and waved it off.

Tim Means def. Ricky Rainey by TKO (punches), Round 1, 1:18

Roosevelt Roberts vs. Darrell Horcher

Horcher worked the body early in the first round, and fired off an overhand right, connecting with Roberts. Roosevelt Roberts stuck to the outside, meanwhile. Horcher was able to back Roberts up to the fence, but maybe that was the wrong game plan. As the two clinched along the fence late in the round, Roberts locked in a standing guillotine. Quite the comback! He earned the tap just ten seconds before the end of the round.

Roberts called out TUF 27 winner Mike Trizano after the fight.

Roosevelt Roberts def. Darrell Horcher by submission (standing guillotine), Round 1, 4:50

TUF 28 Finale UFC Fight Pass Preliminary Results:

Roosevelt Roberts def. Darrell Horcher by submission (standing guillotine), Round 1, 4:50
Tim Means def. Ricky Rainey by TKO (punches), Round 1, 1:18
Raoni Barcelos def. Chris Gutierrez by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 4:12

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Bellator MMA veteran Rick Rainey made his short notice UFC debut at UFC Glendale on Saturday. Appearing on the televised preliminary card on FOX Sports 1, Rainey took on Muslim Salikhov at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, AZ. Could Rainey, without a full camp, solve the puzzle of Salikhov’s flashy, kick-heavy attacks?

Salikhov mixed up leg kicks with his attacks to open his welterweight battle against Ricky Rainey at UFC on FOX 29 in Glendale. However, an early eye poke by Rainey, who had a considerable reach advantage, halted the action as it was barely underway. After a brief inspection by the doctor, the action got going again, and Salikhov went right to the body with a spinning kick. Rainey answered back with a snapping leg kick; Salikhov looked for a takedown off a left hand by Rainey, but couldn’t finish it. As the fight progressed, Rainey used his reach as best he could, but Salikhov’s creative striking allowed him to make his way inside. Towards the end of the round, however, Salikhov seemed to have his opponent’s timing down.

To start the second, Salikhov scored an early takedown, throwing Rainey to the canvas. He allowed his opponent to get back up, however, opting not to engage him on the ground. Rainey had the clear size advantage, and tied his opponent up, but couldn’t seem to score much in the way of significant strikes. Salikhov then fired off a spinning back fist that was blocked. An overhand right followed. Rainey appeared hesitant on his attacks, but finally went high with a kick that at least partially connected. Salikhov returned fire with a leg kick. Salikhov landed a spinning back kick to the mid-section, followed by a side kick to the body. Then a big right hand connected for Salikhov! Rainey, caught behind the ear, went down, and Muslim Salikhov followed up with just a trio of strikes before the ref waved it off.

Muslim Salikhov def. Ricky Rainey by knockout, Round 2, 4:12

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Another Bellator veteran has joined the UFC, following in the footsteps of Eddie Alvarez, Hector Lombard, Will Brooks, and Marcin Held. This time out, it’s Ricky Rainey. UFC officials announced on Saturday that Rainey was stepping up, and stepping in, for Abdul Razak Alhassan at UFC Glendale. There, he’ll face Muslim Salikhov in welterweight action.

While not the biggest name on the Bellator roster, Rainey spent his last seven bouts there, compiling a 5-2 record from 2014 to 2017. Though perhaps best known for a TKO loss to Michel ‘Venom’ Page, Rainey will enter the UFC off the strength of back-to-back wins against Gilbert Smith and Marc Stevens, both via unanimous decision.

Rainey’s willingness to answer the call short notice no doubt helped get his foot in the door as well.

For Muslim Salikhov (13-2), a multi-time Wushu Sanda champion, Rainey will represent a chance to get his UFC career back on track. Salikhov debuted at UFC Shanghai last November, but was submitted by Alex Garcia. The only non-Chinese athlete to win the Wushu Sanda King’s Cup, Salikhov will now look to turn things around in Glendale.

UFC on FOX 29, as UFC Glendale is otherwise known as, takes place April 14 at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, AZ. Justin Gaethje faces Dustin Poirier in the main event.

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