After an absence of nearly two months, TV show “Dana White’s Contender Series” resumed its fourth season on Wednesday night. Like the episodes before, the show aimed to find the next UFC talent with a series of fights.
Follow along for the live coverage of bouts, which are scheduled to happen at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Quick Results:
Main Card (8:00PM EST / 5:00PM PST) (ESPN+)
Bout 1: Jared Vanderaa def. Harry Hunsucker via TKO, Strikes (RD 1, 3:34)
Bout 2: Luis Saldana def. Vince Murdock via TKO, Strikes (RD 3, 0:44)
Bout 3: Ignacio Bahamondes def. Edson Gomez via TKO, Strikes (RD 2, 2:31)
Bout 4: Carlos Ulberg def. Bruno Oliveira via TKO, Strikes (RD 1, 2:02)
Live Coverage:
All Four Winners Given UFC Contracts
After the evening of fights, UFC President Dana White offered contracts to all four winners. All getting finish victories, Jared Vanderaa, Luis Saldana, Ignacio Bahamondes and Carlos Ulberg were given contracts.
Vanderaa called out Serghei Spivac after being offered his contract, although he also stressed “I ain’t picky.”
Saldana, who won his fight at featherweight, said he is considering moving down to bantamweight in the UFC.
Bout 4: Carlos Ulberg (2-0) vs. Bruno Oliveira (8-1) (Light Heavyweight)
City Kickboxing’s Ulberg Stops Oliveira Within One Round
Carlos Ulberg earned his third win as a pro to finish the card, stopping Bruno Oliveira with a series of punches in the first round.
Ulberg landed a left hand that rocked Oliveira, dropping him with two more punches to end the fight.
Ulberg trains out of New Zealand MMA gym, which includes UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya and other UFC fighters Kai Kara-France, Dan Hooker and Brad Riddell.
Adesanya and Riddell were in the corner of Ulberg on Wednesday.
Ulberg versus Oliveira play-by-play.
Bout 3: Ignacio Bahamondes (10-3) vs. Edson Gomez (6-1) (Welterweight)
Front Kick Earns Bahamondes Victory In Second Round
Ignacio Bahamondes had a walk-off victory in the third fight, dropping Edson Gomez with a front kick to the head. The fight came after one-and-a-half rounds that showed Bahamondes’ striking skill.
“I feel awesome,” said Bahamondes, who was happy about his performance in his post-fight interview.
Bahamondes last competed in September, winning a split decision over Chris Brown at LFA 90.
Gomez missed weight for the fight, coming in three pounds over the non-championship welterweight limit. He came into the fight with a three-fight series of wins from King of the Cage.
Bahamondes versus Gomez play-by-play.
Bout 2: Vince Murdock (12-3) vs. Luis Saldana (13-6) (Featherweight)
Saldana Stops Murdock In Third Following Strong Striking Performance
Luis Saldana finished off his controlling performance with a finish in the third round, stopping Vince Murdock with strikes on the ground.
Saldana got Murdock to the ground with a four-strike combination, dropping him after a teep kick to the head. Moving into full mount on the ground, Saldana threw punches before the referee stopped the fight.
Saldana won the two rounds before, connecting with a wide variety of strikes to Murdock.
The fight was Saldana’s fourth-straight win in MMA.
The fight was Murdock’s first in nearly two years, with his most recent previous fight being over Justin King in December of 2018.
Murdock was supposed to make his UFC debut in 2019, although he was pulled from his fight after failing his medicals.
Saldana versus Murdock play-by-play.
Bout 1: Jared Vanderaa (10-4) vs. Harry Hunsucker (6-2) (Heavyweight)
Vanderaa Defeats Hunsucker With Ground and Pound Moments After Takedown
Jared Vanderaa kicked off the card with a win, stopped Harry Hunsucker within a round with ground and pound strikes. The finish came shortly after Vanderaa scored a takedown in the fourth minute of the round.
Hunsucker was able to connect with punches earlier in the round.
“I started late,” admitted Vanderaa after the win.
Vanderaa’s last fight was in December, defeating Tony Lopez on a regional card.
Vanderaa was originally scheduled to face Oscar Ivan Cota on Wednesday.
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