The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale Preview

Rich Attonito vs. Jamie Yager

In the grand tradition of “TUF” miscreants such as Junie Allen Browning and Chris Leben, Yager emerged as this past season’s preeminent heel. “Earning” that status almost always comes with a main card invitation. True to form, Yager is slotted against American Top Team product Attonito.

The fight comes down largely to whether or not Attonito can survive Yager’s opening bell stampede of power punches and kicks. The reason Yager’s one-note approach proved effective on the show was the generally low level of competition unaccustomed to dealing with physically imposing strikers. As soon as he ran into a capable fighter in Josh Bryant, Yager folded once it was obvious he couldn’t run him over.

Attonito proved in his bout with Kyacey Uscola on the show that he isn’t easily intimidated by power-strikers and actually had the Idaho bomber in deep trouble before eating an illegal knee. Much like Uscola, Yager comes right at his opponents and Attonito has the movement and counterpunching to defuse that tactic. Regardless, Attonito isn’t going to play Yager’s game and will look for the takedown once the pocket collapses.

Even if he can’t get Yager down with a conventional takedown, Attonito is unafraid of pulling guard and stringing together submission attempts. It’s anyone’s guess as to what Yager’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu game is like, but I have no qualms about assuming Attonito is his better on the mat. Considering Yager’s habit of lunging into the fray, his legs will be an easy takedown target and that’s likely all Attonito needs to drag him out of his element.

Trying to play Megatron in the cage is a double-edged sword since not everyone is going to go fetal at the sight of a nice Superman punch and some kicks. As long as Attonito approaches him the same way he approached Uscola, there will be no Yager bombs to be had. Instead, a wild start will turn into a tame tapout win for Attonito and another “TUF” black hat’s 15 minutes of infamy will turn into 15 seconds.