Over 25 seasons The Ultimate Fighter has produced some memorable contributions to the sport of mixed martial arts. A collection of champions, contenders and talented competitors have emerged from the reality-based fighting program, which has served to keep the series an important cog in the UFC's machine.

That said, the most successful promotion in the sport has seen its roster inflate over the past 12 years, and many of the fighters who competed in TUF have been forced off the roster. TUF 25: Redemption brought a collection of those athletes back.

After battling their way through a similar tournament format that initially brought them to the UFC, both Dhiego Lima and Jesse Taylor battled their way back to the season's finale. While Taylor is notorious for his antics on the seventh installment that kept him from making his way to officially competing inside the Octagon, his bout against Lima on Friday night was a second chance in full.

The Brazilian had a strong showing on his initial run through his first tournament before losing to Eddie Gordon in the finals. Since then Lima experienced mixed results under the UFC banner before being cut and forced to compete on smaller stages. Nevertheless, Lima earned his way to the finals against Taylor in Las Vegas, and was determined to make the most of his second chance at a UFC contract.

The stakes were high for both men, but it was Taylor who got the job done on Friday night.

Taylor controlled the action early by dragging Lima down into his world on the canvas. Taylor pummeled Lima from top position for the duration for the opening round as he worked top position and looked for the submission when he switched the back. Lima appeared to be turning the tide when he dropped Taylor with a big shot to open up the second round, but Taylor swept position and closed out the fight with a rear-naked choke moments later.

It was an impressive performance and earned a long overdue UFC contract for the gritty Taylor.