Photo by Nick Laham/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
The world’s “toughest job interview” continues this evening as 10 eight fighters “vie to fulfill their dreams of earning a UFC contract.”
Less than one year since the end of Season 3, Dana White’s “Tuesday Night Contender Series” returns to ESPN+ tonight (Tues., Aug. 4, 2020) with another 10 eight would-be Octagon stars in tow. This week’s star attraction is Dustin Jacoby (11-5), who left UFC in 2012 and ultimately made his name as a kickboxer. He takes on Ty Flores (7-2), who’s scored four finishes in his current five-fight win streak. Also of note are former LFA title challenger Jerome Rivera (9-2) and “Contender Series” alumnus Luke Flores (9-1).
Unfortunately, the co-feature between Kenny Cross and Damonte Robinson fell through after weigh-ins due to an eye issue on Robinson’s part.
Contender Series’ Quick Results:
Ty Flores vs. Dustin Jacoby — Jacoby def. Flores by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27 x2)
Kenny Cross vs. Damonte Robinson
Uros Medic vs. Mikey Gonzalez — Medic def. Gonzalez by TKO (punches) at 2:12 of Round One
Luis Rodriguez vs. Jerome Rivera — Rivera def. Rodriguez by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)
Luke Flores vs. Jordan Leavitt — Leavitt def. Flores by submission (arm triangle choke) at 4:15 of Round One
‘Contender Series’ Play-By-Play Results:
205 lbs.: Ty Flores vs. Dustin Jacoby
Round one: Low kick from Jacoby to start, then a counter 1-2. Flores catches a low kick, can’t keep him down, eats a flying knee and 2-3. Jacoby body kick met by a Flores head kick attempt. Jacoby tries another flying knee a minute in. Check hook stings Flores. Flores comes back with a heavy body kick. Jacoby goes low-high with his kicks. Right cross connects on the fence. Flores with a pair of low kicks, eats a low kick and jab in response. Hard combinations on the fence by Jacoby. Flores changes levels and Jacoby threatens with an anaconda choke before tearing into Flores on the way up. Flores goes low-high, powering through a counter right. Two minutes to go.
Low kick from Jacoby. Body kick and right hand, denies the takedown and goes back to chewing up Flores against the fence. Nasty elbows, spinning back fist. Brutal right hands. Flores tries some knees with a minute to go. Low kick from Jacoby, checks the one coming back. Low kick to jab. Head kick attempt. Flores comes back with a leg kick, scared off by a knee. 10-9 Jacoby.
Round two: More kicks from Jacoby, switching stance. He checks a leg kick. Flores tries a combination shoots, eats elbows. Jacoby once again opens up on the fence, including a clean right hand. Jacoby battering him with knees, punches, and elbows. Flores changes levels a minute in. Browne elbows from Jacoby as he defends. He uses a kimura to break Flores’ grip and separates. Flores lands a knee two minutes in. 1-1-2-3 from Jacoby, tries to take the back, separates. Another knee and 1-2. Grinding against the fence, separates. 1-2 finally makes Flores stagger and Jacoby follows him down with punches. Less than two minutes to go.
Flores manages to survive and stand. Knee from Jacoby on the break. One minute to go. Jacoby lands a knee to the body and changes levels. They punch each other to the body inside and Flores lands a clean knee to the head. Good left on the break. 10-8 Jacoby.
Round three: Ty looking for combinations in the early going. Jacoby lands a jab, denies a takedown, eats a glancing knee. Flores blitzes. One minute in. 1-2 from Jacoby, who stuffs another takedown. Jacoby punching the body a minute in. Flores looking for knees, eats a couple in return and unsuccessfully shoots. Elbow by Jacoby and he shoves Flores to the mat two minutes in. Back to the feet. Jacoby ties up on the fence. Flores reverses, fires a knee and elbows. Two minutes to go.
Short punches by Jacoby. Flores separates, changes levels, drags Jacoby to his knees and looks for the back. One minute to go. Jacoby puts him on the fence. Elbow from Flores. Ref separates them. Jacoby tries a 1-2. 10-9 Jacoby.
Final result: Jacoby def. Flores by unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Uros Medic vs. Mikey Gonzalez
Round one: Yet another southpaw v. southpaw matchup. Medic lands a low kick, blocks some hook kicks and comes back with a front kick upstairs. 1-2 from Gonzalez, who’s sending out hook kicks and wheel kicks while Medic fires more traditional kicks. Hard 1-2 by Medic a mintue in, then a heavy body kick that crumples Gonzalez. Gonzalez manages to turn into a leglock attempt, but Medic limp-legs out and separates. Brutal straight left and down goes Gonzalez again. Medic drills him with punches to the head and body for the finish.
Final result: Medic def. Gonzalez by TKO (punches)
125 lbs.: Luis Rodriguez vs. Jerome Rivera
Round one: Rivera circling, sending out kicks. Low kick catches Rodriguez throwing and knocks him over, giving Rivera the opportunity to jump on his back. One minute in. Full body triangle. He lands some left hands, but Rodriguez turns into his guard. Two minutes in. Rivera looks for a triangle, can’t get it, turns it into a takedown attempt. Rodriguez stands, pressed against the fence. They separate. Rivera gets caught with a jab as he changes levels, but manages to lock his hands and look for a takedown. Two minutes to go.
Knees by Rivera. Rodriguez reverses, tries a spinning elbow on the break. Front kicks from Rivera and a jab behind one. One minute to go. Rodriguez having issues with the distance, but manages to kick Rivera’s leg out from under him and take him down in the ensuing scramble. Rodriguez postures up for some wound-up ground-and-pounds in the waning seconds. They jaw after the bell. 10-9 Rivera.
Round two: Rivera gets right back to the kicks. Counter overhand by Rodriguez. 1-2-2-level change by Rivera. Rodriguez manages to frame and separate. More kicks from Rivera a minute in and he avoids a wound-up body shot. Rodriguez with a 1-2 on the back foot. Overhand left. Rivera catches a body kick, can’t take him down, denies a throw with a whizzer and gets pressed against the fence. They jockey for position. Nice slam into side control by Rodriguez. He takes the back as Rivera spins to his knees. Rivera drops some punches as he tries to slip out the back door. Two minutes to go.
Rodriguez in an odd inverted triangle position, threatens with an armbar. Now some elbows. Looking to turn off the cage to get extension on the arm with a minute to go. Rivera gets free and looks for a takedown, only for Rodriguez to get the body lock. They separate. Rivera tries a spinning kick and gets clipped by a left. 10-9 Rodriguez.
Round three: Front kick from Rivera that Rodriguez laughs off. More kicks piling up. Rodriguez answers a low kick with a body shot and ties up. Rivera hits the switch to avoid the first takedown attempt a minute in. And again, plus some Browne elbows. Looking for a triangle as he ends up in guard. Rodriguez aiming to pass, makes it to side control. Rivera gets to his knees to minutes in. Rodriguez tries to jump on his back, moves to the front headlock. Rivera gets back to his feet, lands an elbow. Thai knee on the break. Head kick attempt. Two minutes to go.
Rodriguez counters a kick with an overhand left, then sprawls on a shot and ends up on top in guard. Rodriguez looking for punches, jumps on the back, slips out the back door. Rivera with some knees on the way up, gives up the body lock. Rodriguez changes levels, eats some elbows, ends up on top. Rivera gets to his knees and goes for a last-ditch kimura. 10-9 Rodriguez.
Final result: Rivera def. Rodriguez by unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Luke Flores vs. Jordan Leavitt
Round one: Flores lands a nice 1-2 and Leavitt shoots in response. Flores hunting for a kimura, gets slammed for his trouble but continues to hunt for submissions off or his back. He loses it a minute in and Leavitt sets up in guard. Short punches by Leavitt. Elbow connects. Two minutes in. Leavitt passes to side control, looks for the back as Flores gets to his knees. Flores appears to jump guard with an overhook against the fence and Leavitt responds with some elbows. Two minutes to go.
One hook in, landing short punches. Leavitt switches to an arm triangle as he forces Flores onto his back, which draws the tap from half guard.
Final result: Leavitt def. Flores by submission (arm triangle choke)
For more “Contender Series” news and notes, be sure to hit up our comprehensive archive right here.