Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) is back for one more week of action. Week 10 has a rare six-pack of fights to round out the end of the season. 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.
Mario Mingaj vs Wes Schultz
Round 1 – Mingaj brings the pressure early, but is quickly tagged by a left hook from Schultz that wobbles him. Schultz pours it on and looks for the finish. Mingaj pulls him into a clinch and Schultz gets a body lock takedown. Mingaj uses a near sweep to get back to his feet, but Schultz jumps the back. Once there he reaches right for the ankle and looks for suloev stretch. Mingaj is grimacing and it’s over!
Official Result: Wes Schultz def. Mario Mingaj by Submission (Suloev Stretch) – Round 1 (1:51)
Azamat Nuftillaev vs Jovan Leka
Round 1 – They don’t spend any time trying to feel each other out. Nuftillaev immediately lets go with wild shots and uses them to close the distance. He gets in on a takedown. After some solid defense from Leka, Nuftillaev does adjust and work his was to top control. He lands the requisite shots to not get stood up, although he does get warned multiple times. As the clock moves under two minutes, Leka makes it back to his knees and works back to his feet. Nuftillaev hits a mat return with locked hands, but again doesn’t get much from it. Referee Mark Smith warns Nuftillaev again to get the action going. He scores one more takedown with ten seconds left and Leka returns to the feet to close out the round. Nuftillaev 10-9
Round 2 – Nuftillaev looks gassed to start the second. He gets popped by Leka and then shoots a takedown, but it has none of the same gusto. Leka sprawls on it and takes Nuftillaev’s back. He gets a hook in and looks for a short choke, but doesn’t quite have the angle. Leka is making Nuftillaev carry his weight and he is clearly exhausted. Then Leka scores with some punches and a pair of 12-6 elbows. Leka keeps changing between choke attempts and more big shots. The pressure of another choke makes Nuftillaev go to all four and allows Leka to take the back with both hooks. He nearly gets the rear naked and then transitions to mount. It’s all Leka and Nuftillaev can’t even stand up. Leka 10-8
Round 3 – Nuftillaev backing up right away at the beginning of the round. He’s breathing heavily as Leka looks to land big. Leka throws a kick that Nuftillaev catches and turns into a takedown. He has none of the energy to do anything and Leka moves right back up. He tees off with some uppercuts and it forces Nuftillaev to dive for a desperation takedown. Leka sprawls on it and puts Nuftillaev in a crucifix. Leka nearly gets a stoppage and Nuftillaev moves just enough to get a hand free. He then gets a couple more elbows and Nuftillaev rolls to his knees. Leka jumps on the back and lands big elbow. Nuftillaev gets back to his feet and is dumped on his back at the horn. Leka 10-9
Official Result: Jovan Leka def. Azamat Nuftillaev by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27)
Michael Oliveira vs Victor Valenzuela
Round 1 – Oliveira moving forward and pumping out his jab. He throws a couple leg kicks too and has Valenzuela on his back foot. The Chilean fighter looks to throw his way out, but Oliveira is staying safe early. Valenzuela eventually finds a home for the straight right and it stumbles Oliveira a bit. He rebounds and is right back on the pressure. He slips and lands some nice counters, which prompts a takedown attempt from Valenzuela. Valenzuela crashes in with another big right and they clinch. Oliveira lands nicely inside that position, but they break and the rounds comes to a close. It’s a close round, but the volume and impact favor the challenger early. Valenzuela 10-9
Round 2 – The pressure of Oliveira is again the story early. Both have a touch more urgency and are opening up more. Oliveira landing more now and he has Valenzuela bleeding. The Brazilian is building momentum. He ducks out of range and drops his opponent. After some ground and pound, he lets him back up and immediately drops him again. He beckons for him to join him back on the feet. He’s picking him apart with shots all over the place. Valenzuela is fading. He lunges forward with a shot and Oliveira lands another big counter and drops him a third time. This time the ground and pound is enough for a finish.
Official Result: Michael Oliveira def. Victor Valenzuela by TKO (Punches) – Round 2 (3:56)
Marwan Rahiki vs Ananias Mulumba
Round 1 – Mulumba comes out firing with big shots. He’s coming up short with the shots, and Rahiki is countering. One of those big rights scores for Mulumba and he drops him. He looks for the finish on the follow up shots. Mark Smith is calling for movement and warning for a stoppage. Rahiki keeps working enough to get to his knees. Mulumba grabs the back and nearly has a rear naked choke. Then Rahiki finds a home for some shots on the feet. Mulumba is wobbled now! He looks for the finish, but then Mulumba finds the button again! Rahiki back to the floor and Mulumba looks to end things. Rahiki rolls through to his feet and becomes a bit more defensively safe. They end on the feet in an insane round. Mulumba 10-9
Round 2 – Both men looking for bombs early. Mulumba in on a double to try to neutralize some things, but Rahiki grabs a ninja choke. They work to the mat and it looks like it’s in. Mulumba works him up against the cage and gets the hands loose. They get back to the feet and it’s clear that Mulumba is cooked. Rahiki backs him up against the cage and starts uploading with elbows. They are all landing and it’s all over.
Official Result: Marwan Rahiki def. Ananias Mulumba by KO (Elbows and Punch) – Round 2 (2:13)
Juan Díaz vs Won Il Kwon
Round 1 – Diaz clearly looking for the body shots out of the gate. He lands a kick to the midsection and a hook for good measure. A big overhand right is good for Diaz an it spins Kwon around. He lands with a couple more as Kwon finds his wits. Diaz follows up with another big right, but starts to fall in love with head hunting. Kwon, as a result, gets into his rhythm with some jabs. A few more rights kind home for Diaz and a left. He then closes the distance up and gets a clinch against the cage. He leaps to the back and grabs both hooks. Diaz switches to a body triangle, but gets a little overzealous with an armbar attempt. They head back to the feet where the round ends. Diaz 10-9
Round 2 – Kwon on his bike to start this one with a big more urgency. Diaz gets right back to the body lock. They dance along the cage. After a brief separation, Diaz shoots in for a true double leg and gets Kwon down. Back up and both men start getting budy with the hands again. Kwon is landing at a better clip, but Diaz is the far more active fighter. It’s a close round and with the time expiring, Diaz throws a spinning elbow and turns the lights right off.
Official Result: Juan Díaz def. Won Il Kwon by KO (Spinning Back Elbow) – Round 2 (4:58)
Freddy Vidal vs Levi Rodrigues
Round 1 – A battle of kicks is the story of the early fight, with Rodrigues clearly landing with more authority. Vidal looks for a takedown, but the shot is seen a mile away. Rodrigues stuffs it, but they stay in the clinch for a bit while they both look to advance their position. As they separate, Rodrigues lands some big rights that seem to stun Vidal. Vidal keeps trying to get in on a takedown, but in the process eats a knee and it’s done.
Official Result: Levi Rodrigues def. Freddy Vidal by TKO (Knee and Punches) – Round 1 (3:20)
DWCS Contract Winners:
- Wes Schultz
- Michael Oliveira
- Marwan Rahiki
- Juan Diaz
- Levi Rodrigues
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.
