Johnny Bedford rolls at TUF 14 Finale, Louis Gaudinot simply too small
LAS VEGAS - Louis Gaudinot may turn out to be an elite fighter at 125 pounds, but he couldn't even compete tonight at 135 at the Season 14 "Ultimate Fighter Finale."
A big bantamweight in Johnny Bedford threw Gaudinot around like a rag doll on his way to a third round finish (submission via strikes) with 3:02 left in the fight.
"Right now I feel fantastic. I've got my first official UFC win. It's been a long long road getting here. It's all paying off now, I'm just ecstatic. I finally get to make this a real career for myself and my family and make some real money for once. I'm just on cloud nine right now," said Bedford.{ysp:more}
Bedford (18-9-1, 1-0 UFC) made it to the semifinals of TUF 14 before losing to John Dodson. Dodson is a tiny guy as well, but Bedford made sure tonight to impose his size on the 5-foot-3 Gaudinot.
He took him down in the first and second rounds. Bedford eventually scored the mount both times and really beat upon Gaudinot. Gaudinot came out of the corner for the third with a cut in the eyebrow over his left eye and lots of swelling.
Gaudinot (5-2) tried to pour it on over the first 45 seconds of the final round, but that was all he had. Bedford closed space and started to unload on the feet. He dropped Gaudinot with what looked like a body shot. On the ground, Gaudinot covered up and Bedford brutalized his body. After 15-plus kicks, punches and knees to the ribs, referee Steve Mazzagatti had seen enough. He stopped it and Gaudinot showed no signs of objecting.
The judges had it one-sided for Bedford as well. Glenn Trowbridge scored it 20-18 through two rounds while Mark Smith had 20-17 and Jeff Collins 20-18.
The 5-10 Bedford looks like he has the potential to grow into a pretty good fighter. He certainly has some good ground control to build from. He still has his eye on Dodson. Dodson went on to win the 135-pound title tonight, but Bedford still believes he was the best bantamweight on the show.
"I've love to get my rematch with Dodson. Maybe it is a little personal but he beat me. I still think I'm the better fighter and I think I should have been in the finale," said Bedford.
