The Dana White Contender Series aired its second episode on Tuesday night live on UFC Fight Pass. The Fight Pass exclusive was looking to hand out another multi fight UFC contract following the 5 fight card. The night was headlined by a Light Heavyweight matchup between former UFC fighter and The Ultimate Fighter Season 19 alum Dan “Dragon” Spohn (15-5) and World Series of Fighting veteran Angel “The Dream” DeAnda (18-5).
Kicking off the night was the Flyweights C. J. “The Autobot” Hamilton (11-5) and Casey Kenney (7-0-1). Hamilton came right out with a really hard inside leg kick to set the tone. Kenney threw a head kick that was blocked and then blocked one coming back at him. Kenney landed two body kicks and then they clinched. They broke then clinched again and Hamilton slipped in an uppercut. Kenney then landed a big head kick that wobbled Hamilton a little, but when he tried to follow it up he slipped and it let Hamilton recover. These guys were really throwing heavy shots with Kenney getting the better of the exchanges. They continued to change and when Kenney was in the clinch he was doing a great job. Kenney then uncorked a few combinations that were finding a home. Hamilton tried for a single leg, but Kenney shrugged it off. Hamilton caught a body kick and connected with a nice overhand right that found a home on Kenney’s chin. Kenney clinched him up against the cage, but the position was reversed. Kenney pushed him off the cage a landed a nice knee right to Hamilton’s face. Kenney ended the round with two hard body kicks. Hamilton was trying to come out early in the second round with kicks and followed up some misses with a big shot that connected. Kenney pressed him up against the cage and was looking for the takedown, that Hamilton did a good job staying up from, but Kenney transitioned to try and take his back but Hamilton fought it off. These two then moved to the center of the cage and both traded big bombs Hamilton first than Kenney. Kenney shot for another double leg takedown but transitioned to taking Hamilton’s back and bringing him to the mat. Kenney was trying to sink in a rear naked choke, but Hamilton was hand fighting him to keep the choke out from under the chin. Kenney was not giving up and just stayed on the choke. Hamilton used the cage to press off and get back to his feet while avoiding a last gasp arm bar. Hamilton landed a huge left hand back on the feet, but Kenney got right back into grappling and scored a takedown and ended the second round on top. Kenney came out pressing forward and applying pressure. Hamilton wasn’t backing down, really needing a finish he did land a big head kick. Kenney went for a single leg takedown, and he threw Hamilton to the mat, but he scrambled right back to his feet. Kenney ripped a big right hand, and Hamilton clinched pressing him up against the cage. Kenney went for another takedown, but it was stuffed. Kenney eventually did shoot again for a double leg and he scored the takedown and was in half guard on top. There was about 45 seconds of no action before Kenney landed a nice elbow. Hamilton went for a kimura from the bottom, but it was never really a threat. It led to Kenney taking Hamilton’s back, but the hand fighting kept any shot at a finish impossible. The judges chose this fight for Casey Kenney all scoring it 30-27. This was an excellent fight to start the show and Kenney and Hamilton both absolutely went for it. Kenney improved to undefeated, and it will be interesting to see if his effort gets him the contract.
The Welterweight Division was up next as Sidney “Da Gun” Outlaw (9-3) took on Michael Cora (4-2). Cora came right out trying to control the cage, but Outlaw started to fight back off the cage. Cora threw one feint and Outlaw shot for a double leg and planted him on his back against the mat. Outlaw continued to move up in the position, but Cora was keeping the damage limited. Outlaw was starting to land some shots to the body and occasional headshots, but nothing that was really damaging. Outlaw eventually transitioned to take Cora’s back and worked. Outlaw had it in deep, but Cora was continuing to fight and escaped just prior to the bell. Round 2 started with Cora throwing a head kick that missed then a push kick that moved Sidney back. After some dancing around Cora threw another front kick, but it was caught and a leg sweep from Outlaw put Cora back on the ground. Outlaw had his legs wrapped up with his legs and landed a nice hammer fist on the ground. Cora was trying his best to get out with shots but was just stuck under Outlaw. Cora gave up his back to try and get up, but Outlaw kept him down and took his back. Cora tried to get out as he could, but every single time he tried to get out Outlaw just repositioned and kept control of his back. Outlaw sunk in a rear naked choke, but Cora somehow was able to fight out and survive to see round 3. Cora came out in round 3 knowing that he needed a finish and moved forward and unloaded a big head kick. Outlaw cycled out and faked for a takedown. Cora was swinging for the fences, and Outlaw sank down for a single leg that Cora was this time able to feed off for a period of time. However, Outlaw was just too much and he landed another takedown. Outlaw had almost no output from the top, and it was Cora trying to land punches from the bottom. Cora was able to get back to the feet and it was his time to try and unload. Outlaw went for a takedown, but it was stuffed and Cora ended up on top, and he was trying to unload. Cora was unloading from the top, but Outlaw was doing well enough to avoid damage and survive. Cora unloaded some more shots as the round and fight came to an end. The judges scored this one 29-27, 29-28, and 29-27 all for Sidney Outlaw. The win was good, but there’s no way it was impressive enough for a contract, just not enough action when he was in control on the mat. He does have some serious grappling ability and that could potentially take him into the UFC down the line.
Two Featherweights entered next with Thanh Le (7-1) going head to head with Lazar Stojadinovic (12-6). Le came out after 45 seconds and landed a body kick that put Lazar down and pounding from the top came, but the grappling of Lazar kept him in the matchup and got him back to the feet. Le continued to pepper the body with kicks and they were loud and powerful. Le picked his spot and landed another huge head kick that was partially blocked. Stojadinovic just had nothing for the body kicks. Stojadinovic decided enough was enough and he clinched up and pressed Le up against the cage. Le was feinting up a storm while Stojadinovic was trying to move inside the reach of Le. The counter punching and the big kicks of Le were huge, and at the last few seconds Le missed with a spinning Wheel kick and Stojadinovic landed a few big shots and threw at least one punch after the bell that Big John McCarthy was able to step in front of luckily. Stojadinovic was coming straightforward in this round and was unloading shots early in round 2. Stojadinovic was moving forward and walked right into a huge right head kick that put him down and a few hammer fists after that ended the fight in the 2nd round. The power of Le was most certainly on display and honestly, that could be the type of finish that gets him the contract. Even if tonight is not his night that type of power will most certainly be on display in the UFC’s Featherweight division in the future.
Undefeated prospect “Sugar” Sean O’Malley (8-0) went up against Alfred “The Fearless” Khashakyan (8-4). Khashakyan was busy moving forward, and O’Malley landed a stiff knee to the body in response. O’Malley threw spinning back fist the grazed Khashakyan, but he was clinched up and taken down and there was a lot of ground and pound. O’Malley tried to lock in a triangle, but he was unable to lock it in. O’Malley got back to his feet and these two were letting it all hangout. O’Malley landed two big shots and opened up a big cut. Khashakyan was just unloading despite the cut and really putting the pressure on O’Malley including opening a cut up on him. O’Malley dropped him with a right hand that dropped him briefly and then a head kick that grazed Khashakyan right as he stood up. Somehow Khashakyan was able to survive even more punishment O’Malley did a spinning back fist that missed and then landed a big straight right. Khashakyan’s chin has to be rewarded for the punishment. He was even able to respond with a right hand. O’Malley, however, continued to unload and a big right hand turned the lights out completely for Khashakyan. O’Malley continued his undefeated ways and that type of knockout is huge on this show. The unorthodox style and power of O’Malley could prove to be a serious threat at Bantamweight if he gets the contract. With that type of knockout in an absolute slugfest has to make him the favorite before the main event of the evening.
The main event of the evening was up next with former UFC Fighter and Ultimate Fighter Alum Dan “Dragon” Spohn (16-5) locking horns with World Series of Fighting veteran Angel “The Dream” DeAnda (18-6). Spohn came in looking for an inside low kick, ate a right hand, and landed his kick on the cup of DeAnda, which stopped the action briefly. Spohn tried to kick again, but DeAnda was responding with heavy shots that were landing. Spohn landed a spinning body kick as the two were feeling each other out. DeAnda landed a nice left hand moving in but ate a big right hand in return from DeAnda. Spohn grabbed for the clinch and ripped some knees off, but DeAnda was able to get away. DeAnda charged forward and ripped some serious shots that hurt Spohn against the cage. DeAnda landed a nice uppercut that hurt Spohn, but as the fight went to the ground and Big John McCarthy stopped the fight due to shots to the back of the head illegally and he gave Spohn time to recover and brought the doctor in to look at him. The doctor came in and cleared him to return. Big John then proceeded to take a point from DeAnda and that really hurts him for a shot at the contract. Spohn wasted no time coming right out landing a huge combination that hurt DeAnda against the cage. He followed him to the ground and pounded him with shots. Big John let it go and DeAnda survived until he gave up his back and Spohn took a head and arm choke that forced a tap. For Spohn this was unbelievable he went from being basically knocked out and saved via illegal shots to win via submission. This will be an interesting choice here for Dana White as to who will get the contracts.
After a post fight interview with Spohn and his description of the illegal shots, it was time for Dana to decide. The cool part of this is the winners all being together in the on medical room waiting together it’s another part of this show that builds the intrigue as it goes. Dana then approached the interview room and he granted the contract to Sean O’Malley out of the winners. Honestly, O’Malley was unbelievably impressive and fully deserving of the contract. You have to feel for Spohn and Le who were both impressive as well, but they will find themselves just 1 or 2 wins away from the UFC or as a late notice replacement in the future.
This was another great episode of the Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series and you really can’t argue that. 4 out of 5 fights were honestly enthralling. The first fight kicked us off with a 3 round action packed decision and then the final 3 fights all ending with finishes creates a compelling show for the fans of the UFC. If this show continues to deliver like this it is a not miss for MMA fans during what is typically a dead time in sports before the NFL season gets under way. The only hope is that this can break through to the non-Fight Pass subscribers because this should be a show on FS1 if it can continue to deliver like this.
