The Ultimate Fighter 30 results: Mohammed Usman vs. Eduardo Perez, heavyweight finals set

Mohammed Usman could soon join his brother on the UFC roster.

In the second semifinal heavyweight bout of The Ultimate Fighter Usman, the younger brother to UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman won a split victory over Team Amanda Nunes. 1 pick Eduardo Perez (4-1) to secure a spot in the finals at the upcoming live finale.

It was touch-and-go for the recent PFL competitor, who had to overcome a significant size disadvantage against the taller Perez. Usman’s game plan was to come forward and throw heavy shots early and often, while Perez was content to score with kicks to the leg and body and accurate counter punches. Perez was able to counter Usman, but Usman still managed to find the range using his power punches.

In Round 2, Perez began to let his hands go, but that only seemed to make Usman work harder to make up for the deficit. He walked through clean counters while continuing to throw heavy leather.

Both heavyweights were competitive up to the final round. The judges deemed the more active, busier fighter to win exchanges. In this instance, two gave Usman (7-2)* the nod.

Usman received a boost earlier in the episode as his brother Kamaru came to visit the house and give Usman a pep talk. Expect the reigning welterweight king to be in Usman’s corner when he faces Team Julianna Pena teammate Zac Pauga in the finals.

Here are the semifinal matches and their results :

Heavyweight

Zac Pauga def. Jordan Heiderman via TKO (strikes) (R2, time not announced)

Mohammed Usman def. Eduardo Perez via split decision

Flyweight

Brogan Walker def. Laura Gallardo via unanimous decision

Juliana Miller vs. Kaytlin Neil

Here are the first-round results:

Zac Pauga def. Nyle Bartling via unanimous decision

Kaytlin Neil def. Helen Peralta via split decision

Mohammed Usman def. Mitchell Sipe via unanimous decision

Laura Gallardo def. Kathryn Paprocki via majority judgment

Eduardo Perez def. Bobby Maximus via TKO (strikes) (R1, 3:58)

Juliana Miller def. Claire Guthrie via unanimous decision

Jordan Heiderman def. Chandler Cole via TKO (strikes) (R1, time not announced)

Brogan Walker def. Hannah Guy via majority judgment

Team Pena’s Juliana Miller will be fighting Team Nunes’ Kaytlin Neal in next week’s episode of the flyweight semifinal.

(*TUF bouts are considered exhibitions and fighters’ pro records are not affected by the results on the show)

Season 30 of The Ultimate Fighter is coached by UFC bantamweight champion Julianna Pena and UFC featherweight champion Amanda Nunes. Pena takes on Nunes to defend her title in a rematch which will be the main event at UFC in Dallas.

The finalists in the TUF heavyweight, and flyweight tournaments will be competing for a UFC contract worth six figures at a final event. A date has yet to be determined.