185 lbs: Court McGee vs. Kris McCray
Odds: (-200 McGee / +160 McCray )
In the finals of the Ultimate Fighter Season 11, Court McGee and Kris McCray will battle it out for the famed six figure contract and a spot on UFC’s loaded roster. Both guys have good skill sets, obviously, but what makes this final fight so interesting is that neither man actually made it through the show unbeaten. Both men were given second chances and made the most of it, and now they meet with their UFC futures on the line.
Kris McCray, who was part of Team Ortiz (and eventually Team Franklin), actually lost his very first fight in the house against wrestler Josh Bryant. After being given a shot at getting back in the mix, though, McCray took full advantage of his opportunity, submitting Kyacey Uscola and outpointing tough veteran Kyle Noke before avenging his loss to Bryant to secure a spot in the finals. McCray has solid boxing, good wrestling, and good submissions from the top. The only hole in his game on the show was his cardio, which allowed Bryant to push him around in their first fight when he gasses at the end of the first round. If he has been spending his off time working on his conditioning, though, he is going to be a very formidable opponent come fight time.
Like McCray, Court McGee dropped his first preliminary fight, coming out on the wrong end of a controversial decision against Nick Ring. Also like McCray, McGee made the most of his second chance, first submitting James Hammortree with a guillotine choke and then clipping his teammate Brad Tavares with a hard shot to the chin that set up a rear naked choke. McGee brings a great chin, solid boxing, determined takedowns, and solid submissions to the table, and he is going to need all of that if he wants to secure his spot in the UFC.
I think the edge in this one goes to McGee. McCray has good submissions from top position, but McGee is the better wrestler, and probably has more powerful standup as well. I expect him to control the pace and position of this fight with boxing and hard-fought takedowns en route to a unanimous decision win and a spot on the UFC roster.
Prediction: Court McGee via Unanimous Decision.
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