TUF 19 Finale results, photos: Dustin Ortiz outworks Justin Scoggins for split call

LAS VEGAS – Putting in a ton of work both on the feet and on the ground, Dustin Ortiz survived a dicey moment in the first round to hand Justin Scoggins his first loss.

Ortiz (14-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) had to fend off a solid armbar from Scoggins (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in the first, but then outworked him the rest of the way to take a split-decision win with a pair of 29-28 scores.

The flyweight bout opened up the main card of today’s TUF 19 Finale event at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. It aired on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Ortiz looked for a quick takedown, and the two clinched up along the fence. It was Oritz who wound up on top when the fight hit the floor, and he looked to posture up and land punches as Scoggins tried to tie him up with an armbar attempt. It was lengthy, but Ortiz stayed defensive and worked his way out of it as the fight moved back to the feet around two minutes into the round.

They finally got some separation and traded better position before Ortiz tried to take the back. They traded better positions in the grappling game, but it was Ortiz who put a two-punch combination on Scoggins’ chin just before the horn.

Ortiz found himself in trouble again in the second as Scoggins once again tried to attack an arm on the ground. But he worked his way out and to top position in side control. Scoggins got to guard when Ortiz tried to pass to mount, but found himself playing defense from Ortiz’ ground-and-pound efforts. Scoggins tried for the same armbar he got in the first, but Ortiz defended late.

Scoggins came out firing in the third, and he landed some solid punches before thinking about a takedown. He landed an uppercut in tight, then cracked Scoggins with a huge left hand that popped his head back. He went to the body after that, forcing Scoggins to take the fight to the ground, where Ortiz had to try to work back to his feet. Scoggins tried to work for an arm-triangle choke, but that allowed Ortiz to scramble back to his feet, where he continued to work punches to the body.

A fierce scramble along the cage with two minutes left may have had the fight hanging in the balance before Ortiz landed a takedown and was able to hold Scoggins at bay down the stretch.

“That’s one tough kid right there, I’m telling you what,” Ortiz said. “Tapping out is not even in the question. That never even crossed my mind. I just do what I do best: I brought the pressure. I’m improving every fight. He’s got a motor, as well. So my game plan was just come in here and pressure, pressure, and show I’m the next competitor at this weight class.”

Up-to-the-minute TUF 19 Finale results include:

• Dustin Ortiz def. Justin Scoggins via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Kevin Lee def. Jesse Ronson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
• Leandro Issa def. Jumabieke Tuerxun via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 3:49
• Adriano Martins def. Juan Manuel Puig via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:21
• Patrick Walsh def. Dan Spohn via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Sarah Moras def. Alexis Dufresne via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Robert Drysdale def. Keith Berish via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:03

For complete coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

(John Morgan, Matt Erickson and Mike Bohn contributed to this report on-site in Las Vegas.)