The world’s “toughest job interview” continues this evening as 10 fighters “vie to fulfill their dreams of earning a UFC contract.”
Three weeks and four Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contracts into its debut season, Dana White’s “Tuesday Night Contender Series” continues tonight (Tues., Aug. 1, 2017) with another five mixed martial arts (MMA) match ups.
The featured attraction sees The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 23 hopeful Phil Hawes look to rebound from his first professional defeat at the expense of knockout artist Julian Marquez, while Bantamweight submission artist James Gray takes on undefeated Kyler Phillips in Fight Pass’ co-main event.
The second-biggest name on the card, TUF 24 alum Ronaldo Candido, faces unbeaten Carlos Candelario in the middle slot. Austin Arnett vs. Brandon Davis (Featherweight) and John Castaneda vs. Cheyden Leialoha (Bantamweight) round out the card.
DANA WHITE’S ‘CONTENDER SERIES’ 4 QUICK RESULTS:
Phil Hawes vs. Julian Marquez
James Gray v. Kyler Phillips
Ronaldo Candido vs. Carlos Candelario
Austin Arnett vs. Brandon Davis
John Castañeda vs. Cheyden Leialoha
DANA WHITE’S ‘CONTENDER SERIES 4’ PLAY-BY-PLAY UPDATES:
Phil Hawes vs. Julian Marquez
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final result:
James Gray vs. Kyler Phillips
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final result:
Ronaldo Candido vs. Carlos Candelario
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final result:
Austin Arnett vs. Brandon Davis
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final result:
John Castañeda vs. Cheyden Leialoha
Round one: Leialoha opens with head kicks and a clinch attempt on the fence. 2-1 from Castañeda. Leialoha catches a low kick and takes him down into guard. One minute in. Leialoha passes to half guard, Castañeda regains full but eats an elbow as he does. Castañeda tries to lean into him, forcefully flattened back down. Castañeda sporting a cut. Leialoha tries to dive in with a big right hand and gives Castañeda room to stand in the process two minutes in. Castañeda blocking head kicks. Two minutes to go.
1-2 from Leialoha, body kick, takedown attempt. Knee from Castañeda as they separate. Low kick lands, Leialoha lands one in return. Right hand from Leialoha. One minute to go. Castañeda falls short with a wheel kick, lands a leg kick. Castañeda looks for a single-leg, stuffed, just avoids a knee. Left hand lands. Leialoha body kick, Castañeda head kick. 10-9 Leialoha.
Round two: Leialoha opens with a body kick, eats a hard leg kick. Checks the next one, eats a knee up top that has him shooting. Castañeda stuffs it and they separate. One minute in. Hard right lands for Castañeda, who denies a level change and goes low-high. He catches a body kick, can’t use it. Leialoha body kick again two minutes in. Hard leg kicks from Castañeda. Castañeda ducks a right hand and hits a takedown into guard. Two minutes to go.
Leialoha maintaining guard, not offering much. Decent shots from Castañeda. Leialoha works his way up on the fence and separates. Left hook dings Castañeda, who shoots for a high-crotch. Can’t get it. One minute to go. Leg kick lands. Castañeda digs a knee to the body in the clinch. Separation. 10-9 Castañeda.
Round three:
Final result: