This article is the play-by-play to accompany the live coverage being done for “Dana White’s Contender Series.” Click here to view the live coverage article.
Quick Results:
Bout 1: Jordan Leavitt def. Jose Flores via Submission, Arm Triangle Choke (RD 1, 4:15)
Bout 2: Jerome Rivera def. Luis Rodriguez via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 3: Uros Medic def. Mike Gonzalez via TKO, Strikes (RD 1, 2:12)
Bout 4: Dustin Jacoby def. Ty Flores via Decision, Unanimous
Play-by-Play:
Bout 1: Jose Flores (9-1) vs. Jordan Leavitt (6-0) (Lightweight)
Leavitt got a single leg takedown early, putting Flores on his back. They got to their feet, where Leavitt slammed Flores back down, maintaining the full guard position. Leavitt moved into side control in the third minute, getting on the back of Flores shortly after. They went to their feet, where Flores pulled guard and took the fight back to the ground. Leavitt stayed in control on the ground. In the final minute, Leavitt moved into half guard, putting in a arm triangle choke which made Flores tap out. He celebrated after the fight by doing “the splits” and “the worm.”
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Flores | ||||
| Leavitt |
Bout 2: Luis Rodriguez (11-1) vs. Jerome Rivera (9-2) (Flyweight)
Rodriguez slipped after throwing a leg kick in the first minute. Due to the slip, Rivera was able to get on the back of Rodriguez and go to the ground. Rodriguez landed a few punches to the head from the position. Rodriguez was able to take full mount on top. Avoiding an early attempt at a triangle chrome, Rodriguez left the position and went into a clinch on the feet. They separated a few moments after. Rivera was hit with a jab, although he shot for a takedown right after. Rivera couldn’t get the takedown, moving to a clinch after. They went back to stand-up with a minute-and-a-half left in the round. A leg kick swept Rivera in the last minute. They went to the feet, although Rodriguez got a takedown from a clinch. Rodriguez stood up, throwing hammerfist punches and kicks before the round ended. Rodriguez motioned for a shot after the bell, although he stopped himself. Rivera challenged Rodriguez after the round ended due to this, although Rodriguez seemingly looked for a glove tap.
Rodriguez landed some hard punches early in the second round. Rivera tried for a takedown in the second minute. Rodriguez tried for a takedown of his own through a judo throw, although he was not able to get it. Rodriguez got a takedown from the clinch in the third minute, taking the back of Riera shortly after. Rivera scored with a few punches to tube head from the bottom. Rodriguez tried for an armbar for a moment from the back. Rodrgiuez had his legs wrapped around the head of Rivera, landing elbows to the head from the position as well. They stood up in a clinch with 30 seconds left in the fight. They separated and went back to striking before the round ended.
Rivera connected with a front kick to the head to start the final round. Rodriguez clinched with Rivera, with Rodriguez getting a takedown shortly after. Rivera landed some elbows to the head on the ground. Rodriguez moved into side control, getting on the back of Rivera after. They got back up halfway through the round in a clinch, separating seconds after. Rivera shot for a takedown, with Rodriguez being able to get his own takedown from the attempt. They got up in a clinch again after Rodriguez failed to stay on the back of Rivera. Rodriguez got another takedown in the final minute, staying in control on the ground until the round ended. Going to the judges scorecards, Rivera was given the win (29-28, 30-27 & 30-27).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Rodriguez | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
| Rivera | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 |
Bout 3: Uros Medic (5-0) vs. Mike Gonzalez (7-1) (Lightweight)
Gonzalez was throwing lots of kicks early, including many spinning kicks at Medic. Medic landed a hard left hook in the first minute. A body kick dropped Gonzalez a minute into the fight. After being hit with a few punches, Gonzalez got ahold of a leg to stop Medic’s momentum. They went back to the feet shortly after. Medic landed a punch and a leg kick that dropped Gonzalez in the third minute. Medic landed some punches to a grounded Gonzalez before the referee ended the fight.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Medic | ||||
| Gonzalez |
Bout 4: Ty Flores (7-2) vs. Dustin Jacoby (11-5) (Light Heavyweight)
Flores caught a leg kick early, dumping Jacoby to the ground. Jacoby got up shortly after, connecting with a flying knee. Jacoby connected with punches on the feet that was hurting Flores. Flores covered up in the third minute while Jacoby poured on strikes. They went to their knees for a moment, returning to striking with half of the round to go. Jacoby stopped a takedown in the fourth minute, putting Flores against the cage after and boring on striking. Damage had become visible on Flores’ face due to strikes near the end of the round. The fight stayed on the feet until the round ended.
Flores shot for a takedown in the first minute of the second round, although Jacoby was able to stop it. Jacoby cornered Flores after, landing a series of punches that Flores at. He scored with another combination later in the round that included punches and knees to the head. Flores shot for a takedown in the second minute, getting hit with elbows to the head while holding onto the legs of Jacoby. They separated and returned to striking with just over three minutes to go in the fight. Jacoby put Flores against the cage in a clinch, exchanging punches in the position with Flores. Flores was bleeding quite a bit at this point. A right hand hurt Flores in the fourth minute, with following punches dropping Flores to the ground. Jacoby continued with punches on the back of Flores. Flores worked his way back up to a clinch on the feet. The fight slowed down significantly in the final minute as both were clearly tired. Flores landed some knees to the head in a clinch before the round ended.
Flores had a strong start to the final round, coming forward with punches. They clinched in the second round, Jacoby got a takedown in the second minute. They got back up halfway through the round in a clinch. Flores got a takedown in the fourth minute, although Jacoby got to his feet shortly after. They stood together in a clinch in the final minute, with referee Herb Dean separating them for the final 10 seconds of the fight. Going to the scorecards, Jacoby won via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27 & 29-27).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Flores | 8 | 8 | 9 | 25 |
| Jacoby | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
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