Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) is back for another year of action. Week 4 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.
Tommy McMillan vs David Mgoyan
Round 1 – After a leg kick, Mgoyan shoots a takedown and immediately is rolled through on by McMillan. They return to the feet and we see it repeated, but this time McMillan stuffs and grabs a front head lock. He works for some chokes, but they move back to the feet again. This time on the feet, Mgoyan lands a right hand that seems to stun McMillan. They get frantic and Mgoyan lands a spinning back elbow too. He pours it on looking for a finish. McMillan looks to counter with some wrestling and winds up in a mounted guillotine that looks like it’ll end the fight. McMillan contorts himself and works his way out and survives the round. Mgoyan 10-8
Round 2 – McMillan looks to have recovered inbetween rounds and comes out the first aggressive. After landing a bit, he gets Mgoyan to shoot and stuffs to the front head lock again. He works a few choke attempts, but nothing much doing. After returning to the feet, McMillan starts to find a home for his right. He stuffs another takedown and lands a knee for good measure. Mgoyan lands a bit, but seems tentative late and it’s a McMillan round for sure. McMillan 10-9
Round 3 – They both come out throwing, knowing they need the round. Both land in the pocket and Mgoyan catches a kick. He tries to turn that into a takedown, but winds up with his back against the cage eating a knee. Mgoyan lands a few times to the body. McMillan starts to come on with his own combinations and the jab is landing. Mgoyan is bloodied up and shoots a takedown. He’s stuffed again and gets a couple knees for his trouble. The long straight is working for McMillan late. He has Mgoyan hurt, but doesn’t have the time to finish it. These cards are going to be close. McMillan 10-9
Official Result: Tommy McMillan def. David Mgoyan by Majority Decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Eduardo Henrique vs An Tuan Ho
Round 1 – The kicks are the name of the game early for Ho. He throws one up top and then one to the body that gets a reaction out of Henrique. His movement and kicks have Henrique passsive early. Ho uses that to hit a spinning back elbow and that gets Henrique aggressive. Ho still landing the better of the shots and gets Henrique to overswing. Ho gets a body lock and grabs a takedown to top half. He lands a couple shots before they scramble to the feet. In a frantic scramble Henrique lands an illegal knee to a downed Ho, it appears to have seriously damaged Ho, but referee Gary Copeland misses it entirely. Ho works to survive the round, but the damage is obviously done and the judges may score it as a legal shot. Henrique 10-9 (but only due to the illegal shot)
Round 2 – Copeland starts the second round by warning Henrique to not do it again. Seems like that may have been a few minutes late. Ho is the better of the two strikers again to start the round. Henrique turns up the aggression, prompting a shot by Ho, who winds up in top half again. They work up and scramble and Henrique winds up in top half this time. Ho rolls back to his knees and works back up. Henrique wins the last scramble and ends the round on top. Henrique 10-9
Round 3 – Ho looks to be the aggressor yet again on the feet, but Henrique hits an outside trip and heads right to his guard. He lands a bit from guard, but control seems to be his primary concern. Henrique moves to side, but gets rolled over immediately. On the feet, Ho lands a right elbow and then gets him own trip. He lands from top, but Henrique is up quick. They scramble and Ho gets the final top position. He should win the final round, but I don’t think it’ll be enough. Ho 10-9
Official Result: Eduardo Henrique def. An Tuan Ho by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Mandel Nallo vs Samuel Silva
Round 1 – The kicks from Nallo lead the game early. Leg kicks and a front kick up the chimney score for him. Silva getting frustrated with the striking and starts to throw a bit more wild. The jab of Nallo is making it hard for Silva to get close. When he does close the distance a little, we see the power that he possesses. He closes the distance again and gets clipped by a Mandel Nallo right hand. It drops Silva and it’s all over.
Official Result: Mandel Nallo def. Samuel Silva by KO (Punches) – Round 1 (3:29)
Theo Haig vs Cezary Oleksiejczuk
Round 1 – Left jab lands early for Oleksiejczuk and then a right hand. Haig shoots and misses completely. Oleksiejczuk hurts him with another right and Haig grabs a leg. Oleksiekczuk lands a dozen hammerfists to the side of the head and, for some reason, Gary Copeland calls time out. After conferring with the replay with no fouls, he calls the fight as a KO.
Official Result: Cezary Oleksiejczuk def. Theo Haig by KO (Hammerfists) – Round 1 (0:36)
Jack Congdon vs Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani
Round 1 – The two fighters feel each other out. Lebosnoyani has a bit of a hard time getting inside of the much bigger Congdon. They trade shots inside once and then Lebosnoyani hits a head kick that puts Condon on wobbly legs. He followed up with a huge right to put Congdon to sleep.
Official Result: Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani def. Jack Congdon by KO (Kick and Punch) – Round 1 (1:08)
DWCS Contract Winners:
- Tommy McMillan
- Mandel Nallo
- Cezary Oleksiejczuk
- Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani
And for more DWCS 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 on Tuesday.
