While there’s no Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event this coming Saturday, Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) brings the mixed martial arts (MMA) action we crave tonight (Tues., Aug. 23, 2022) at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Last week’s Episode 4 produced a full house of contract winners. Nazy Sadykhov’s vicious one-punch finish of Ahmad Suhail Hassanzada, Hailey Cowan’s razor-thin decision over Claudia Leita, Jose Johnson’s redemption win over Jack Cartwright, Claudio Ribeiro’s monster left hook against Ivan Valenzuela, and Esteban Ribovics’ brutal 90-second knockout of Thomas Paull all impressed the brass enough to earn a call-up to the Octagon proper.
We’ve got a Heavyweight main event this time pitting Eduardo Neves (5-0) against Michael Parkin (5-0) in a clash of young unbeatens with 100% knockout rates. At 170, GFC titlist Amiran Gogoladze (14-2) attempts to become UFC’s latest Georgian standout at Darrius Flowers’ (11-5-1) expense. Flyweight DWCS veteran Erisson Ferreira (11-1) returns to the program opposite Jesus Santos Aguilar (7-1), Josh Wang-Kim (5-1) takes on EFC Bantamweight champ Cameron Saaiman (5-0), and Denise Gomes (5-1) fights Rayanne Amanda (11-5) in the all-Brazilian Strawweight opener.
‘Contender Series’ Quick Results:
Eduardo Neves vs. Michael Parkin — Parkin def. Neves by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:57 of Round One
Amiran Gogoladze vs. Darrius Flowers — Flowers def. Gogoladze by TKO (shoulder injury via slam) at 1:13 of Round One
Erisson Ferreira vs. Jesus Santos Aguilar — Aguilar def. Ferreira by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:56 of Round Three
Josh Wang-Kim vs. Cameron Saaiman — Saaiman def. Wang-Kim by KO (punch) at 2:52 of Round Three
Denise Gomes vs. Rayanne Amanda — Gomes def. Amanda by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
‘Contender Series’ Play-By-Play Results:
265 lbs.: Eduardo Neves vs. Michael Parkin
Round one: Low kick from Neves to start, then a hard right hand into the clinch. Parkin reverses, then they separate. Hard counter two-piece by Parkin wobbles Neves, but he weathers it and hurts Parkin with a four-piece before taking him down. Back up, back down, back up. Elbow to spinning elbow by Neves, but Parkin grabs a rear waist lock a minute in and takes him down into turtle. Neves works his way up, but gives up a double-leg. Parkin wraps up an RNC as Neves tries to rise and there’s the tap.
Final result: Parkin def. Neves by submission (rear naked choke)
170 lbs.: Amiran Gogoladze vs. Darrius Flowers
Round one: Body kicks from Gogoladze, who fires a big right before clinching up. Flowers reverses against the fence. Outside trip attempt, ends up on the bottom, tries an inverted triangle. Flowers slams his way out, and the impact is enough to separate Gogoladze’s shoulder.
Final result: Flowers def. Gogoladze by TKO (shoulder injury via slam)
125 lbs.: Erisson Ferreira vs. Jesus Santos Aguilar
Round one: Aguilar shoots early, denied. Ferreira low kick. Aguilar overhand falls short. Nasty 1-2 from Ferreira that somehow has no effect. Good low kick met by big swings from Aguilar. Ferreira tries a flying knee a minute in. Lovely double-leg by Aguilar, who lands in a guillotine. Ferreira trying to get his legs free, does so, and wraps up his guard. Aguilar slams his way free, but Ferreira kicks him away and stands two minutes in. Ferreira low kick. Aguilar tries an inside reap and ends up on the bottom in guard. Elbow from Ferreira, and he wraps up a guillotine as Aguilar stands. Again Aguilar slips free and wraps up a body lock. Hard knees to the body. Two minutes to go.
Ferreira frames Aguilar, and Aguilar’s attempted responds ends with the latter getting mounted. Ferreira takes the back with a minute to go. He’s too high, manages to adjust. Aguilar slips out the back door and ends the round blasting from guard. 10-9 Ferreira.
Round two: Both land heavy shots to start the round. Aguilar retreats, tries a single-leg, re-shoots after losing it. Ferreira gets double underhooks and muscles him to the mat. One minute in. Aguilar considers an armbar, then sits up for a single-leg. Looking to take the back two minutes in. Side control. Now the back, both hooks in. Trying to flatten Ferreira out. Two minutes to go.
Short punches from Aguilar. Things slow down as Ferreira tries to dislodge the hooks. One minute to go. Ferreira spins into guard with 15 seconds to go. 10-9 Aguilar.
Round three: Aguilar lands some huge, wound-up hooks before double-legging Ferreira to the mat. One minute in. Ferreira spins to his knees and Aguilar falls back for an airtight guillotine to force the tap.
Final result: Aguilar def. Ferreira by submission (guillotine choke)
135 lbs.: Josh Wang-Kim vs. Cameron Saaiman
Round one: Saaiman low kick, Wang-Kim side kicks. Wang-Kim tries a head kick. Saaiman focusing on low kicks. Nice counter left a minute in. Body kick met by a side kick to the knee from Wang-Kim. Wang-Kim standing extremely bladed, splits the guard with a straight left. Two minutes in. Front kick lands for him. Low kick from Saaiman in return. Wang-Kim counters a low kick with a straight left. Low kick exchange. Saaiman tries to spin. Body kick from Wang-Kim. Two minutes to go.
Wang-Kim tries a jumping knee, puts Saaiman on the fence. They separate with a a minute to go. Saaiman tries a spinning back kick, eats a body kick. Counter left by Saaiman, jab by Wang-Kim in return. Saaiman falls short with an elbow. 10-9 Saaiman?
Round two: Shifting left to knee form Wang-Kim, who counters a takedown to land on top in half guard. Right to side control. Saaiman scoots to the fence, slaps Wang-Kim for a bit as he tries to work his way up. Now he snags a guillotine on the way up and forces WAng-Kim to his back before losing it. Wang-Kim gets to his feet and separates in short order. Two minutes in. Combination from Saaiman. Wang-Kim looks to land his own as he’s backed near the fence. Counter elbow. Saaiman lead hook and counter left. 1-2, then another 2 shortly thereafter. Two minutes to go.
Saaiman tries a pair of head kicks. 1-2 falls short. Uppercut-cross connects. Body kick exchange. Wang-Kim’s output has dropped quite a bit. One minute to go. Saaiman consistently backing Wang-Kim near the fence. Counter two-piece by Wang-Kim. Saaiman continuing to advance and work. Low kick to single to double to land on top against the fence. Body kick on the way up. 10-9 Saaiman.
Round three: Counter 1-2 from Wang-Kim. Saaiman still on the lead leg. Brazilian kick attempt met by body kicks from Wang-Kim. Hard low kicks by Saaiman a minute in. Low kick to wheel kick attempt. Wang-Kim answers a spinning back kick attempt with a body kick. Saaiman tries a combination on the fence. Wang-Kim tries a head kick. Not a lot of super clean connections after two minutes in. Wang-Kim body kick. Saaiman teep. Still pressuring, keeping Wang-Kim near the fence. They trade as Wang-Kim’s back hits the side of the cage and a monster left hand from Saaiman immediately turns Wang-Kim’s lights out.
Final result: Saaiman def. Wang-Kim by KO (punch)
115 lbs.: Denise Gomes vs. Rayanne Amanda
Round one: Low kick from Amanda to start. Very light on her feet. Gomes low kick. Both missing with their right hands. Body kick by Amanda. One minute in. Gomes looking for counter rights. There’s a heavy combo by Amanda. Head kick from Gomes, aborts a spin, absorbs a flurry. Low kick two minutes in. Glancing wheel kick lands for her and she’s on the attack. Elbow and short cross. Subsequent wheel kicks miss. Amanda times a Gomes low kick for a takedown, stays attached on the way up. Two minutes to go.
Gomes grabs a standing kimura as they jockey for position. No dice, lends an elbow. They separate with a minute to go. Lead hook by Gomes, counter hook by Amanda. Another failed wheel kick by Gomes. 1-2 to the body. Sharp jab by Amanda. She ties up in the waning seconds, gets caught in another standing kimura. 10-9 Gomes.
Round two: Gomes advancing, tossing out kicks. Amanda shoots, denied. Gomes whiffs another wheel kick, fires a 1-2-1 behind it. Gomes low kick. They trade on the fence a minute in, neither lands. Hard counter right by Amanda to answer a low kick. Hard overhand right from Gomes. Amanda times Gomes’ flying knee to take her down and look for the back. Gomes avoids the hooks, stands, and separates. Jab exchange two minutes in. Gomes low kick and head kick. More low kicks. Spinning elbow attempt. Jabs by Amanda as she circles. Two minutes to go.
Trading near the fence, Amanda gets the better of it. 1-2 around the guard. Heavy combo by Gomes on the fence, sneaky elbow to cap it off. Low kick to head kick. Amanda trying to fire back as she retreats. Nice 1-2. Heavy shots by Gomes in return with a minute to go. Another wheel kick attempt, more combination work. Amanda still firing back, cracks her with a looping overhand. She slings elbows in the final seconds. 10-9 Gomes.
Round three: Amanda retreating behind the jab. Gomes looking to land against the fence. Trading heat. Low kick and body shot by Gomes, spinning elbow just misses a minute in. Spinning back kick to the body. Still firing low kicks, lands a jab as they trade. Amanda counters a spin with a combination two minutes in. Heavy flurry by Gomes, chasing along the fence. Lead right to elbow to knee. Amanda beating a retreat but still looking to throw back. Hard right hand as they exchange with two minutes to go.
Gomes tries a left hook to knee. Another left hook met by an Amanda jab. Gomes low kick and jabs. One minute to go. Continuing to trade jabs. Amanda 1-2 falls short. Hard counter right from Gomes, avoiding an elbow in the process. Both landing heavy blows. Nice knees by Gomes inside. Low kick exchange. One last knee. 10-9 Gomes.
Final result: Gomes def. Amanda by unanimous decision
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