Ryan Loder exited UFC on ESPN 62 as “The Ultimate Fighter” when he upset Robert Valentin by TKO.
The bout was the Season 32 middleweight final of “The Ultimate Fighter” and part of the main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Loder (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) picked up the stoppage when he trapped Valentin (10-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in a crucifix position and drilled him with elbows until referee Mark Smith stepped in at 1:49 of Round 2.
RYAN LODER PINS ROBERT VALENTIN TO WIN THE #TUF32 MIDDLEWEIGHT FINAL 💪 #UFCVegas96 pic.twitter.com/MBChhwN5nd
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 25, 2024
Loder, 33, was a member of Team Shevchenko on the series and defeated Tom Theocharis and Omran Chaaban en route to the final. Loder is one of the wrestling coaches for Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, Calif.
Switzerland’s Valentin, 29, has a three-fight winning streak snapped. He competed on “TUF 32” as a member of Team Grasso and finished Giannis Bachar and Paddy McCrory to establish himself in Saturday’s final.
The up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 62 results include:
- Ryan Loder def. Robert Valentin via TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 2, 1:49
- Mairon Santos def. Kaan Ofli via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 1:30
- Michael Morales def. Neil Magny via TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 1, 4:39
- Gerald Meerschaert def. Edmen Shahbazyan via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 4:12
- Francis Marshall def. Dennis Buzukja via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
- Zach Reese def. Jose Medina via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Viacheslav Borshchev def. James Llontop via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
- Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Josiane Nunes via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 27-30)
- Wang Cong def. Victoria Leonardo via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 1:02
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.
