Week four of Dana White’s Contender Series 2020 sees a two-time veteran getting a third shot on the show. Jamie Pickett, who appeared on DWCS in both 2017 and 2019, losing both outings, gets a chance to prove that the third time is the charm this Tuesday night at the UFC Apex.
You’d have to imagine that after losses to Charles Byrd and Punahele Soriano, this is Pickett’s last shot on the show. While that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll never make it to the UFC (bodies, especially on short-notice, are constantly being sought after these days), the fight certainly does have a do or die feel to it.
Later on the card, Canada’s Anthony Romero will look to follow in TJ Laramie’s footsteps and become the next Canadian to win their way into the UFC. Laramie did it two weeks ago, and it would be a huge boost for Team Canada to get another fighter in the door Tuesday night.
In the opening fight of this week’s Contender Series card, meanwhile, Collin Huckbody, owner of a four-fight win streak, faced Kyron Bowen at middleweight. Bowen’s own streak featured seven wins, and all nine of his pro fights had come via finish.
The card opener did not last long. Huckbody had an early opportunity to finish with a mounted guillotine. When that didn’t work out, an arm-triangle choke, from mount, sealed that deal, in under 90 seconds.
Romero vs. Breeden, meanwhile, was one of the best fights of the season. Both men landed knees, had their moments on the feet, and went all out. Romero hurt his opponent with leg kicks, clearly injuring him. But Breeden refused to go away, forcing the fight to a decision. Hopefully that won’t hurt his chances of getting a contract, because Romero put on one hell of a show and definitely looked UFC-ready (as did Breeden for that matter).
The third fight of the evening went the distance as well, but not for lack of effort. Flyweights Jeff Molina and Jacob Silva went all-out, with knees, head kicks, superman punches, crisp combos and more flying. After Molina had a small lead early, Silva turned up the heat in the third round. But Molina ate a number of heavy blows, including head kicks and knees, and kept right on going. In the end, he won the decision.
In the penultimate fight of the evening, Rafael Alves did a number of flips upon entering the cage, stumbled on the landing — then redid the whole sequence. Luckily without injuring himself, as he would go on to submit Alejandro Flores by guillotine in the second round.
In the featured fight, after a back-and-forth first round where Jhonoven Pati had a couple of submission attempts, Jamie Pickett came out guns blazing in round two. He swarmed Pati, putting him away early in the round, though Pati would briefly protest the stoppage.
Check back come fight time, 8PM ET, for full results from the latest installment of DWCS.
Dana White’s Contender Series Season 4, Week 4 Results
Jamie Pickett def. Jhonoven Pati by TKO, Round 2, 0:33
Rafael Alves def. Alejandro Flores by submission (guillotine choke), Round 2, 2:55
Jeff Molina def. Jacob Silva by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Anthony Romero def. Mike Breeden by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-28)
Collin Huckbody def. Kyron Bowen by submission (arm-triangle choke), Round 1, 1:21
Contract Winners: Collin Huckbody, Molina, Alves, Pickett
