The Tuesday Night Contender Series wraps up season 2 with the return of a former NFL player Greg Hardy (1-0) lighting the final week. The Tuesday Night Contender Series has been a huge success as they finish up the second season of it. Already through 7 weeks, 20 contracts have been handed out, along with a spot on the Ultimate Fighter, and multiple developmental deals. The Contender Series has become the ultimate breeding ground for incoming UFC fighters, and every card is filled with entertaining fights. This week will be no different, but it brings with it the controversial Greg Hardy. A guy who’s off the field issues, that included domestic violence accusations, found him seeking a new profession. He now enters the Contender Series for the second time after a first-round knockout in week 1 caught the eye of the UFC brass. He will now close out the season, and people will surely be talking about this tomorrow. Outside of that, we have 9 other fighters looking for their shot to impress Dana White and sign on the dotted line.
We start the final card of the summer at Light Heavyweight as Kennedy “African Savage” Nephew (4-0) takes on Dennis “The Beard” Bryant (5-1). After winning on Episode 7 of last season Kennedy Nzechukwu went out and scored a 1st round knockout in his only fight since. He now returns to Las Vegas to try and get his name on a contract before the end of the night. This has been a successful path for many of the fighters from the first season who have returned, and in Kennedy can impress he will find himself on that list. He has 2 career knockouts and will look to add to it Tuesday. A 4-fight win streak precedes Dennis Bryant into the Octagon Tuesday. All 5 of his career wins have been finishes. He has fought at both Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight, and if he can come in and impress he will find himself on the UFC’s roster in either division that both need an infusion of talent. This is going to be a fun first fight to kick off the last cad of the Summer. Prediction: Kennedy Nzechukwu via TKO.
We head next to 145lbs as J.R. “Bam Bam” Coughran (4-0) will take on Alex Gilpin (11-1). J.R. Coughran heads to Vegas on Tuesday with a perfect 4 and 0 professional record. The LFA Alum last fought in April of 2017 where he took home a majority decision win. Coughran has 2 finishes on his record 1 knockout and 1 submission. The trouble for him here may be an experience situation, but if he can calm his nerves and work his wrestling he will have a great shot at picking up the win. Alex Gilpin has rattled off 5 straight wins following his first professional defeat. He has finished 4 of those 5 opponents. Gilpin has scored 3 knockouts, 4 submissions, and 3 decisions in his career. Gilpin has the experience in this matchup for sure having fought around the world. He has been in the bigger spots, and you would think that would translate well as he enters the cage Tuesday. Prediction: Alex Gilpin via Submission.
We go up to Lightweight next as Joseph Lowry (7-0) is set to take on Devonte “King Kage” Smith (7-1). For former Cage Fighting Fury Championships Lightweight Champion Joseph Lowry a shot at the UFC will certainly be up for grabs. 5 of his wins have come via the finish with 4 of those being knockouts. The New Jersey native will be looking to join the list of former CFFC champions who have made the jump to the UFC. If he can get his hands on his opponent early, he could get that impressive finish to get himself a contract. Devonte Smith is riding a 3-fight win streak as he heads into the UFC gym. His only career loss came to current UFC Fighter John “The Machine” Gunther (7-1). In all 7 of his wins, Smith has finished his opponent. He has 6 career knockouts and 1 submission win. He can turn this one into a brawl if he chooses to. This is going to be a fun fight with a ton of fireworks for sure. Prediction: Devonte Smith via TKO.
We drop back down to Featherweight as Bobby “The Wolfman” Moffett (11-3) steps in the cage to take on Jacob “The Killer” Kilburn (3-1). A rebound from an interim title loss for Bobby Moffett should have him riding high as he enters the gym Tuesday. Moffett is a skilled grappler with 6 career submission wins. He has the advantage when it comes to experience in this one for sure. Moffett is going to work to get this fight to the mat and score the win quick and easy. Following his first career loss, 2 straight wins for Jacob Kilburn has him ready to try and make the UFC jump. With only 5 fight son his resume, his experience could certainly be in question. He is going to need to look to defend the takedown and use is striking to take this one home. Hopefully, we get a fantastic fight here in the co-main event. Prediction: Bobby Moffett via Submission.
We head to the main event and final fight of the season featuring controversial former NFL player Greg Hardy (1-0) and Tebaris “Boom” Gordon (3-0). For Greg Hardy, a successful pro debut occurred on the first episode this Summer of The Tuesday Night Contender Series. A 57-second knockout was the result that night, and a contract was awarded to the controversial Hardy. Now people will question his past, and for good reason, but Hardy proved he certainly has knockout power. The UFC has become a much different place in the past few years, and the idea of bringing in controversial fighters seems to be what they are going for. They see it as bringing eyes to the sport, and they aren’t wrong. Hardy is a huge guy with heavy hands who can knock out lots of guys. If he impresses again on Tuesday, we could see him on a Pay Per View card before the end of the year. For Tebaris Gordon, he has a shot at getting his 4th career win and shutting down the Hardy hype train. Gordon has scored 3 TKO victories in his short MMA career. If he can avoid the big shot, he can certainly stay in this fight. That is easier said than done. This one feels like it is going to be over very quickly. Prediction: Greg Hardy via TKO.
The Tuesday Night Contender Series has again been a bright spot in the dog days of Summer for professional sports. Not only have we saw a ton of prospects try and fight their way into the UFC, but we have seen for the most part 5 excellent live fights during the week for the last 2 months. It is a bummer that this is the final week, but when it returns next season on ESPN+ this thing could get even bigger. Honestly, it should be, and it should replace the old The Ultimate Fighter format. This is real fights that count on a guy’s record. They can train with their team and be at their best as they enter. Here is hoping this show continues to grow and expand because it provides nothing but solid entertainment and promising prospects.
