Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) is back for another year of action. Week 7 has 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.
Rafael Tobias vs Jair de Oliveira
Round 1 – Both men looking for the kicks early. Tobias with the push kicks for distance and Oliveira looking for the leg kicks to soften him up. Oliveira lunges in looking for a strike and is countered with a right. It wobbles him and he clinches to gain his wits. They start throwing again and he’s tagged after throwing another naked leg kick. Tobias looks to finish, but Oliveira hangs in there and gets a reset. They throw with Oliveira finding some success, but then he gets countered and has quite a bit of trouble with it. Tobias finds the distance and is immediately on a double and goes right to the back. It doesn’t take long and he finds a rear naked choke with little resistance.
Official Result: Rafael Tobias def. Jair de Oliveira by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) – Round 1 (3:46)
Javier Reyes vs Justice Torres
Round 1 – Reyes comes out swinging that right hand and getting Torres to back up. Torres looking to feint his way into the clinch, but Reyes with the right hand again. Torres does get into that clinch and hits a big takedown, but Reyes is right back up with no damage. Reyes clearly gains some confidence following that exchange and again moves forward. He unleashes with some big straights. He lands to the body and hurts Torres. Reyes with knees in the clinch and Torres drops against the cage. Reyes throws a slew of rights until Frank Trigg steps in to call it off.
Official Result: Javier Reyes def. Justice Torres by TKO (Knees and Punches) – Round 1 (2:32)
Sofia Montenegro vs Jeisla Chaves
Round 1 – It’s Chaves who comes out and lands the first couple of strikes, but Montenegro gets busy right after. She lands a straight down the middle that whips Chaves’ head back. She lands a couple more like it that hads Chaves bleeding. Chaves gets a hook in there that opens up Montenegro on the side of their head too. Montenegro gets on her horse and stays right in Chaves’ face – lots of big landing. Chaves recovers and works her way back into the fight with some body shots and a couple up top. They are both gushing blood with 90 seconds left. Chaves seems to get the better of the exchanges late, which prompts a takedown attempt from Montenegro late. She fails and then end the round with a clinch against the cage. Montenegro 10-9
Round 2 – Montenegro comes out with three straight right hands and all of them seem to land. The last of them drops Chaves and Montenegro looks for a finish with hammerfists. She gets about a dozen warnings for hitting the back of the head. Not to be outdone, Chaves lands an illegal upkick that garners a brief warning as well. Montenegro settles into top control and looks to land some elbows. Montenegro moves to mount, but Chaves uses the cage to create a scramble. She eats a knee on the way up, but does make it back to her feet. They stay clinched against the cage for nearly the rest of the round (with a quick head and arm throw attempt from Chaves). They break with a dozen seconds left and Chaves stuns Montenegro with a 1-2 at the bell. Montenegro 10-9
Round 3 – Chaves the much fresher fighter here in the third. She starts putting the same 1-2 that she landed with late in the second together. She gets a step in elbow to land as well. Montenegro landing a few here and there, but they have nowhere near the impact. With half the round remaining, Montenegro has had enough of eating punches and hits an inside trip to guard. Montenegro grabbing a can opener, but not landing much for the guard. She hears the referee call for action and thinks it’s a stand up and backs up. Chaves, on the reset, lands a slew of more big shots. Montenegro looks for another takedown, but can’t find it. Chaves came on late, but I’m not sure it’ll be enough. Chaves 10-9
Official Result: Jeisla Chaves def. Sofia Montenegro by Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Brahyan Zurcher vs Murtazali Magomedov
Round 1 – The two of them feel each other out a little bit, but Magomedov seems to be finding the range a bit better. He lands a stuff jab that drop Zurcher to the surprise of everyone. He lands some subsequent left hands – a right and an uppercut – and it’s all over.
Official Result: Murtazali Magomedov def. Brahyan Zurcher by TKO (Punches) – Round 1 (1:37)
Đani Barbir vs Mantas Kondratavičius
Round 1 – Barbir comes out swinging and lands a right and and a glancing head kick. Kondratavičius runs into the clinch and looks for a takedown. He gets him down, but is immediately reversed with Barbir coming out on top. They clinch for a bit and then reset. Kondratavičius backs Barbir up and lands a clean right hand and it’s all over!
Official Result: Mantas Kondratavičius def. Đani Barbir by TKO (Punch) – Round 1 (1:06)
DWCS Contract Winners:
- Rafael Tobias
- Javier Reyes
- Sofia Montenegro
- Jeisla Chaves
- Murtazali Magomedov
- Mantas Kondratavičius
And for more Dana White’s 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 chance on Tuesday.
