The Ultimate Fighter 34 finalists have been determined ahead of UFC Fight Night 289 on Sept. 26 at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. In the women's strawweight final, undefeated Melissa Amaya meets Valesca Machado, while the men's bantamweight final pits Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu against Mehemmedeli Osmanli. Amaya advanced via rear-naked choke and unanimous decision, while Osmanli — who holds 10 finishes in 12 pro wins — submitted his way to the final with a rear-naked choke and a buggy choke.
The finalists for The Ultimate Fighter 34 are set, with two championship bouts scheduled for UFC Fight Night 289 on September 26 at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
In the women's strawweight final, undefeated Melissa Amaya will face Valesca Machado. Amaya punched her ticket to the finale by winning via rear-naked choke and unanimous decision across her two bouts in the house. Machado, nicknamed "Tina Black," enters with an 8-3-0 professional record and brings experience and toughness to the matchup. The 30-year-old Brazilian trains out of War Machine and stands five-foot-four with a 63-inch reach. She fights from an orthodox stance and averages 2.4 significant strikes landed per minute.
The men's bantamweight final features Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu against Mehemmedeli Osmanli. Osmanli has been the most dangerous finisher in the tournament, advancing to the final by way of a rear-naked choke and a buggy choke. That finishing ability fits a broader career pattern — he holds 10 finishes in 12 professional victories. Uulu reached the finale through his own performances inside the house and will need to be wary of Osmanli's submission game on the ground.
Why it matters
- Amaya enters undefeated, adding a title-fight dynamic to the strawweight bout against the more experienced Machado.
- Osmanli's 10 finishes in 12 wins make him one of the most prolific finishers to come through a TUF finale in recent memory.
- Both bouts award TUF 34 contracts and serve as a showcase for the next wave of UFC talent at bantamweight and strawweight.
- The card takes place at the UFC APEX, a setting known for producing high-stakes, intimate fight-night atmospheres.
