Dana White’s Contender Series is back for another year of action. Week 1 had the customary five-pack of fights we’ve come to know and love. All of the action is available on ESPN+, but you keep your eyes peeled right here for all of the Contender Series results as they happen.
Christopher Ewert vs Yuri Panferov
Round 1 – Fighters kick off the round finding the range with some low leg kicks. Ewert seemed to be getting the best of that action until Panferov turned up the pressure. With that pressure came some success with the right up top and left to the body. Ewert answered himself with some clinch knees. One of those landed to the head and Panferov didn’t seem to like it much. That prompted the takedown. Panferov would surf out the rest of the round on top doing damage. They’d get about 10 seconds of standing at the end and Panferov stunned him with a right as the bell rung. Panferov 10-9.
Round 2 – Having likely dropped the first round, Ewert came out firing. He threw big until Panferov found a could jabs and a big right to back him up. From there he was on the forward pressure again. Ewert found a big counter again that prompted a Panferov shot, this time he’d stall out against the cage before resetting. Panferov got busy with more combinations with Ewert being more one and done. Another of those big ones though would prompt another Panferov takedown. Shortly after lacing the legs, he climbed to mount. Plenty of damage and a few submission attempts brought us again to the 10 second mark. Panferov slipped off at that point and had to spend some time avoiding wild hammer fists. Panferov 10-9.
Round 3 – The final bell would start with some slugging. Panferov found a home for some strikes, prompting Ewert to point to the ground and invite a war. Ewert seemed to get the better of the exchanges there, which led to a clinch a restart for Panferov. Another trip from Panferov led to some ground control against the cage, but this would be much shorter lived. Back on the feet, Ewert was still looking for the big one, with Panferov able to avoid the worst of it. He’d land another takedown with two mintues left and this one led to more control, including a fruitful back mount. With 30 seconds left, Ewert made it back to his feet. He looked to pour it all on, but Panferov clinched up to seal the round. Panferov 10-9.
Official Result: Yuri Panferov def. Christopher Ewert by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Radley Da Silva vs George Mangos
Round 1 – Da Silva comes out the gate looking to spin. Mongos stays out of the way of it all and then catches a kick. From there he lands one and then turns it into a trip. Da Silva countered and wound up with the position. With a butterfly hook keeping him off balance, Da Silva landed next to nothing on top. Mangos worked for a triangle and created a scramble that saw him wind up in bottom turtle. Da Silva lands a bit from there, but then winds up in more of the butterfly while just holding position. A brief scramble saw Mangos take the back, but it was short lived and he ended where the majority of the round took place. Da Silva 10-9.
Round 2 – They started trading early again, but Da Silva shot in quick for a trip. More control was the name of the game for Da Silva – doing no damage yet again. Mangos kept creating scrambles until one of them bore fruit. He got the sweep and came up in a back mount. From there, he’d land some big shots and threaten with a rear naked choke. He’d fall off, giving way to more control from Da Silva. Da Silva didn’t manage to do much in the way of damage or threaten much more, which means the one burst from Mangos may have been enough. Da Silva did have the bulk of control time though. Still, I”ll go Mangos 10-9.
Round 3 – The final round started with more of the same. Mangos landed a big knee, but the cost was yet another Da Silva takedown. However, a pair of Mangos scrambles would see him get top control and land elbows. He dominated the round from there with ground and pound and some dangerous back control. There was a brief scramble to close it out with Da Silva grabbing the dominant position with just seconds left. It’ll all come down to the second round as this was a clear Mangos 10-9.
Official Result: Radley Da Silva def. George Mangos by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Murtaza Talha vs Baysangur Susurkaev
Round 1 – Susurkaev opened up early with some hands and a big kick to the head. Talha partially caught it leading to the clinch against the cgae. Susurkaev landed a couple big elbows anytime Talha would drop down for a double. Other than that, we only saw some small strikes. Eventually, they’d separate and Susurkaev would find the hands and kicks again. He stabbed the body with a teep and it landed. He liked it so much, he did it again and Talha crumbles. No follow up shots needed.
Official Result: Baysangur Susurkaev def. Murtaza Talha by TKO (Body Kick) – Round 1 (3:04)
Jimmy Drago vs Ty Miller
Round 1 – Both strikers kicked off the rounds feeling each other out. Drago looked to close that distance with low leg kicks and quick footwork. He’d land the first blow to open things up – a big right hand. He later tagged Miller again and he appeared to be hurt. However, Miller responded with a big shot of his own and it was all him from there. Miller landed the jab at will to close and wobbled Drago multiple times. Miller 10-9
Round 2 – More of the same to start the second. Drago whipped a few leg kicks in there, but then Miller would find the range with the combinations. Drago had his moments, but it was Miller landing the shots of consequence. Drago had a brief bright spot that included a takedown and then a few big shots. However, Miller worked up quickly and wobbled him again. A trip got Miller down for a split second again, but the crispy boxing was just too much for Drago again. Miller 10-9.
Round 3 – Drago came out with a sense of urgency, clearly feeling the pressure of being down. Although the pressure had Miller on his heels a bit more than before, the volume from Drago created more misses to counter. Drago dug deep late in the round landing some big overhands, a spinngin back elbow, and narrowly missing on a flying knee. But everytime he landed, Miller was right back with another three-punch combination. Drago tried to goad him into counters late with his hands down, but Miller was just too sharp. Miller 10-9.
Official Result: Ty Miller def. Jimmy Drago by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Ilian Bouafia vs Neemias Santana
Round 1 – Bouafia leads off with a leag kick that gets caught and turned into a knee to the body for Santana. A lot of feints and feeling out followed after both felt the power. Santana found a shot to the body that appeared to slow down Bouafia. Bouafia looked to get it back with a kick that gets caught again – this time Santana winds up on top. One of the first strikes he lands is a blatant head butt. Chris Herzog stops the action and takes a point. When the action restarts Bouafia lands a kick to the body that rings out in the arena. Santana looks for a body lock takedown, but Bouafia scrambles to the top. He goes wild with hammer fists and elbows, until Santana works back to his knees and then his feet. With less than a minute, Bouafia hits another head kick and ends the round with cage control. Bouafia 10-8 (with deduction).
Round 2 – More feeling out to kick off the second round. Santana looked for the bombs, while Bouafia tried to play matador. As a result, not a lot landing in this round other than the odd jab and leg kick. Santana lands one shot, but they mostly just dance. Santana lets out a few screams, but those don’t score. Hard round to score with the inactivity, but Bouafia likely takes it by being a bit more active. Bouafia 10-9.
Round 3 – The third round had arguably less action at the start. Bouafa clearly feeling comfortable up on the cards wasn’t taking any risks. Santana landed a couple of kicks and glancing blows. Bouafia returned with a couple quick jabs. Santana gestured for action, but Bouafia was unwilling to oblige. With just over 30 seconds left, Santana scored a takedown, which should be enough for the round, but probably not the fight. Santana 10-9.
Official Result: Ilian Bouafia def. Neemias Santana by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-27)
Contract Winners:
- Baysangur Susurkaev
- Ty Miller
And for more Contender Series coverage, check out all of the work here on Cageside Press. We have interviews with the fighters as well as analysis of those getting a second chance.
