Osmanli Submits Strong, Sets Up TUF 34 Finale Grudge Match

Mehemmedeli Osmanli locked up a second-round buggy choke to submit Christian Strong in The Ultimate Fighter 34 semifinals, punching his ticket to the bantamweight tournament final against Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu on Sept. 26 at UFC Vegas 121.

The finish capped a fight that started on the feet, where Strong showed real pop before Osmanli dragged the action to the mat in the second round and locked in the choke he had been threatening all season. Fellow TUF 34 cast member Xavier Franklin, who has been blogging the season for MMA Fighting, said Osmanli had already caught Strong with the same submission twice during tryouts, tapping him both times. Franklin also said Strong nearly wriggled free before Osmanli reset his grip and finished the choke, a sequence Franklin called "crazy" to watch live from the house.

Why Osmanli and Akylbek Uulu Are Fighting for the Title

The Team Michael Bisping training partners are meeting in the finale after a legitimate blowup inside the gym earlier in the season, not just a scripted rivalry. During a sparring session, Akylbek Uulu caught Osmanli with what Osmanli believed was an illegal elbow. Franklin described the moment as more of an elbow frame Akylbek Uulu was using to fight off a buggy choke attempt, but said Osmanli reacted as if he had been fouled, demanding his MMA gloves so he could keep going, with coaches allowing the sparring to continue rather than shutting it down.

Franklin said the incident happened before the fight bracket was even set, which left him questioning how the matchups came together. He suggested the pairing of two training partners who clearly did not get along was a decision made by producers rather than a natural result of performance inside the house, and he was critical of the coaching staff for continuing to pair the two together once the tension was obvious.

What It Means for the TUF 34 Finale

Osmanli now heads into the bantamweight final carrying real momentum and a submission arsenal that has already given Akylbek Uulu trouble in training, for whatever that is worth once the cameras and locker room politics are stripped away. Franklin, who has grown close with Akylbek Uulu this season, stopped short of picking a winner, saying both fighters have a real shot when they meet on Sept. 26. That fight will share the UFC Vegas 121 card with the strawweight tournament final between Team Daniel Cormier's Tina Black and Melissa Amaya, giving the show two title fights built on teammate-versus-teammate storylines.

For bettors, a finale built on genuine locker room tension is worth watching closely once lines open. Fighters who already have friction with an opponent sometimes bring extra urgency, but that same emotion can also lead to sloppy, high-variance performances rather than clean technical wins. With Osmanli holding a finishing method he has already used successfully against people in this cast, the submission prop market is one area worth keeping an eye on as fight week approaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Ultimate Fighter 34 bantamweight semifinal between Osmanli and Strong?

Mehemmedeli Osmanli defeated Christian Strong via second-round submission using a buggy choke on The Ultimate Fighter 34.

Who is fighting in the TUF 34 bantamweight final?

Mehemmedeli Osmanli faces his own Team Michael Bisping training partner Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu in the bantamweight tournament final on Sept. 26 at UFC Vegas 121.

What happened between Osmanli and Akylbek Uulu before the TUF 34 finale?

The two training partners got into a heated confrontation during a sparring session after Osmanli believed Akylbek Uulu hit him with an illegal elbow, and coaches let the session continue rather than stepping in immediately.