Season four of “Dana White’s Contender Series” is scheduled to wrap up on Tuesday evening with a five-fight card from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Like all of the episodes in the season, the fighters will compete for the chance to get a UFC contract. Follow along throughout the evening for live updates.
Quick Results:
Bout 1: Victoria Leonardo def. Chelsea Hackett via TKO, Strikes (RD 2, 4:41)
Bout 2: Tucker Lutz def. Sherrard Blackledge via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 3: Gloria de Paula def. Pauline Macias via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 4: Nick Maximov def. Oscar Cota via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 5: JP Buys def Jacob Silva via Submission, Guillotine Choke (RD 1, 4:54)
Live Coverage:
Leonardo, Lutz, de Paula and Buys Offered Contracts
UFC President Dana White gave contracts to Victoria Leonardo, Tucker Lutz, Gloria de Paula and JP Buys.
White also gave Maximov a spot on “The Ultimate Fighter,” which is scheduled to air in early 2021. Maximov was not able to respond to the request as he was transported to the hospital.
When asked about running a fifth season of the “Contender Series,” White sounded more concerned about the regional ecosystem of MMA which hasn’t been able to run due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I gotta start signing some more shows to [UFC] Fight Pass,” said White.
Bout 5: JP Buys (8-2) vs. Jacob Silva (6-3) (Flyweight)
Buys Wins With Controversial First-Round Guillotine Choke Against Silva
JP Buys won in the main event of the evening after a controversial guillotine choke win over Jacob SIlva.
The fight saw the referee pull Silva off of Buys late in the round, ending the fight due to the choke. Silva immediately protested the choke, claiming he never went unconscious.
Buys claimed afterwards that Silva was making odd snoring noises before the referee intervened.
Buys secured a takedown early in the round, putting together a good performance over Silva.
Silva fought earlier in the season, dropping a decision to Jeff Molina in August. Prior to the loss he had six-straight wins on the regional scene.
The fight was Buys’ return to the “Contender Series” after losing in the first season of the show. He has since won four fights, all of them coming via stoppage.
Buys versus Silva play-by-play.
Bout 4: Nick Maximov (5-0) vs. Oscar Cota (11-2) (Heavyweight)
Maximov Controls On The Ground To Defeat Cota
Nick Maximov remained undefeated in the fourth fight, defeating Oscar Cota via decision after a slow-paced three-round fight. The majority of the bout saw Maximov control the Cota on the ground.
Maximov was significantly smaller than Cota, as he naturally fights at light heavyweight.
“I took this opportunity because there was nothing else,” said Maximov in his post-fight interview.
Maximov previously competed in September, defeating Johnny James Jr. on an LFA card.
Maximov versus Cota play-by-play.
Bout 3: Pauline Macias (4-0) vs. Gloria de Paula (4-2) (Strawweight)
De Paula Wins Decision Over Macias
Gloria de Paula put on a dominant performance in the third fight, winning via decision to give Pauline Macias her first loss.
De Paula’s work on the feet and on the ground helped her control the fight throughout.
The first round saw de Paula work for a choke on the ground, keeping Macias on the ground for a large portion of the round.
De Paula put together lots of knees to the body of Macias in a clinch in the third round.
De Paula last fought a year ago, defeating Rafaela Rodrigues on an SFT card.
Macias had three-straight wins in LFA prior to her loss on Tuesday.
De Paula versus Macias play-by-play.
Bout 2: Sherrard Blackledge (5-0) vs. Tucker Lutz (10-1) (Lightweight)
Lutz Earns Second Win In The Season, Defeating Blackledge Via Decision
Tucker Lutz won a decision over Sherrard Blackledge on the main card, winning in his second appearance on the “Contender Series.”
The strong performance saw Lutz as the better fighter in all departments, putting together more takedowns and strikes throughout the rounds.
Lutz’s first appearance on the “Contender Series” was in September, defeating Chase Gibson via decision. He has now won 11-straight now.
Blackledge fought earlier in the series as well, defeating Cameron Church in September.
Lutz versus Blackledge play-by-play.
Bout 1: Chelsea Hackett (3-0-1) vs. Victoria Leonardo (7-2) (Flyweight)
Invicta FC Fighter Leonardo Gets Stoppage Win Over Hackett
Former Invicta FC fighter Victoria Leonardo opened the card with a stoppage win, defeating Chelsea Hackett in the second round with ground and pound.
The win saw Leonardo mount somewhat of a comeback in the second round, scoring a takedown for the finish minutes after seemingly getting rocked by punches from Hackett.
Leonardo said in her post-fight interview that she didn’t like being put as an underdog in the Vegas odds, saying “it just pissed me off.”
Leonardo entered the fight after a series of fights in regional promotion Invicta FC. Her last fight was in September, defeating Liz Tracy via decision.
Hackett entered the fight on a three-fight win streak. Her loss on Tuesday was her first as a pro.
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