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“The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes” Lightweight Final

Colin Fletcher (8-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Norman Parke (16-2, 0-0 UFC)

The Matchup: A pair of Ross Pearson pupils lock horns here, as Team U.K. standouts Fletcher and Parke vie for a UFC contract at 155 pounds.

Nicknamed “Freakshow” for the clown attire he favors for his walk to the cage, Fletcher has established himself as a submission specialist on the regional circuit by finishing seven of his eight career victories via tapout. The Sunderland Fight Pit representative most recently posted two wins fighting for the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts, submitting David Round in December 2011 before earning a unanimous verdict over David Ball in March.

To earn his spot in the final, Fletcher took a decision against Ben Wall and submitted Richie Vaculik during his time on the reality show. The 29-year-old’s crafty submission game was on display against Vaculik, as he executed a nice transition by jumping to his opponent’s back and cinching a fight-ending keylock after being taken down. On the feet, Fletcher prefers to fight at range, landing kicks to the legs and body to control distance.

A native of Bushmills, Antrim, Northern Ireland, Parke made his name on the Irish freestyle wrestling circuit before beginning a career in MMA. Parke’s only two defeats in 18 professional appearances have come against Bellator Fighting Championships veteran Greg Loughran and fellow Irish prospect Joseph Duffy. On “The Ultimate Fighter,” Parke battled to unanimous decision victories over Vaculik -- who fought twice due to a Mike Wilkinson injury -- and Brendan Loughnane. Parke followed a similar blueprint in his victories, utilizing pressure and takedowns to control his opponents. Outside of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Parke has finished 12 of sixteen triumphs via tapout.

Expect Fletcher to rely heavily on leg kicks to keep Parke from moving into takedown range. Despite his lanky 6-foot-2 frame, the Englishman had some difficulty keeping Vaculik from moving in and out of range during their encounter. In addition to strong takedowns, Parke is known for heavy ground-and-pound and quick judo throws, although those skills were not especially evident on the reality show.

The Pick: Fletcher has a solid edge when the fight is vertical, and his active ground work could discourage Parke on his takedown attempts. As long as “Freakshow” limits the time spent on his back, he wins a decision.

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