roid test has created a domino effect in the UFC's middleweight division, and the biggest beneficiary is Vitor Belfort, who will be the next challenger to Anderson Silva's middleweight title.
Charles Oliveira continued his comet-like trajectory with a third-round submission of "The Ultimate Fighter" winner Efrain Escudero at Ultimate Fight Night 22.
In the first round, Oliveira seemed frustrated by Escudero's defense. Escudero held off a takedown and held Oliveira in the clinch. When the two finally went to the ground, Escudero ended up on top. Near the end of the round, Escudero finally threw some big elbows from the top.
Oliveira continued to work for the takedown in the second round, but again, Escudero took Oliveira's back when the two hit the canvas. When they returned to their feet, Oliveira had the better stand-up. He was able to land leg kick after leg kick, without receiving many counters from Escudero.
Both fighters were the recipients of groin shots early in the third round. Escudero walked his off, but it took Oliveira a while to recover. When the fight was restarted, Oliveira drove Escudero into the fence and then threw him down. Escudero reached for Oliveira's leg, which opened the door. Oliveira jumped on his back and sunk in a tight, standing rear-naked choke, forcing a tap from Escudero at 2:25 into the third round.
Oliveira, a 20-year-old from Brazil, first turned heads at UFC Live on Versus 2, where he armbarred Darrin Elkins in just 0:41 seconds.
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After his less-than-thrilling loss to Charles Oliveira, "The Ultimate Fighter" winner Efrain Escudero has been cut from the UFC. He Tweeted the news, and said that he was talking to Strikeforce and Bellator.
When Escudero won Season 8 of "The Ultimate Fighter," he looked like a fighter with unlimited potential. But between that win over Phillippe Nover for the TUF title and the loss to Oliveira, Escudero lost something. He looked tentative in the Oliveira match before getting submitted. The fighter who had TKO'ed Cole Miller missed weight and mugged for the crowd instead of working to win the fight.
Escudero is just the second TUF winner to be cut by the organization. Travis Lutter, who blew weight before his scheduled title bout with Anderson Silva, is the other.
