The quality of the fights, and the performances, clearly impressed UFC boss White, who handed out five UFC contracts, including a rare opportunity for one of the fighters who lost on the night.
That fighter was England’s Shanelle Dyer, who got off the canvas on multiple occasions to take hard-hitting Brazilian prospect Carol Foro all the way to the scorecards in a highly entertaining strawweight battle.
It was a battle between Foro’s power and Dyer’s slick kickboxing, and while Foro prevailed on the scorecards, White was left hugely impressed with both women as he offered both strawweights UFC contracts.
At lightweight, Cage Warriors veteran Chasen Blair returned for his second shot at the Contender Series, but was finished in devastating fashion by Brazilian striker Samuel Sanches, who knocked the American out cold in 121 seconds to leave the UFC bosses open-mouthed in amazement.
Blair started fast and quickly took Sanches’s back. But the Brazilian stayed composed, made sure he didn’t give his opponent an opening to lock up a rear-naked choke, and eventually gained separation.
With the fight back in the striking realm, Sanches went to work and hurt Blair to the body before sealing his UFC contract by unleashing a vicious combination that left his opponent slumped, unconsious, on the mat.
The lone winner not to earn a UFC deal was Team Serra-Longo prospect Freddy Vidal, who moved to 4-0 as a pro with a dramatic come-from-behind submission win over Brazil’s Felipe Franco.
Franco looked to be on top through the first two rounds, but after a stirring pep talk in the corner by coach Ray Longo, Vidal came out and, despite clearly being exhausted, he found a way to win as he locked up a rear-naked choke with just 12 seconds left.
It was a dramatic win for Vidal, who had taken the fight on one week’s notice and had to undergo a huge weight cut. Vidal missed weight by four pounds at the official weigh-in, and said that he fought compromised as a result of that hard, short-notice weight cut. UFC boss White gave him the benefit of the doubt and offered him another Contender Series chance in the final episode of the season later this year.
At featherweight, Brazil’s Lerryan Douglas needed just 36 seconds to spectacularly finish Cam Teague and punch his ticket to the UFC. One punch was all he needed to send Teague to the deck as he gave White the easiest contract decision of the night.
And in the featured bout of the evening, heavyweight Steven Asplund got the job done even quicker, as he blasted through CFFC heavyweight champion Anthony Guarascio in just 16 seconds to make a huge statement and earn a shot in the UFC.
Dana White’s Contender Series: Official results
- Steven Asplund def. Anthony Guarascio via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:16
- Lerryan Douglas def. Cam Teague via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 0:36
- Freddy Vidal def. Felipe Franco via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:48
- Samuel Sanches def. Chasen Blair via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:01
- Carol Foro def. Shanelle Dyer via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfmUvbFCa-8
