What should have been a five-fight card, however, was truncated thanks to one fighter missing weight by a wide margin Monday morning. Brazilian Willian Souza, set to face Farid Basharat, essentially weighed in for the wrong weight class, hitting the scales at 146 pounds for a bantamweight fight.

Basharat, whose brother Javid won his way into the UFC on Dana White’s Contender Series last year, successfully made weight at 136 pounds. That led the Nevada Athletic Commission to wave off the fight, as such seismic weight discrepancies are not allowed under the commission’s rules.

As a result, four fights moved forward for Tuesday night’s show.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6, Week 1 kicks off at 8PM ET, airing live on ESPN+ in the United States, and on UFC Fight Pass elsewhere. Full results from the card, at the UFC Apex, can be found below.

Kicking off the night, a couple of fouls slowed the opening round of Alessandro Costa vs. Andres Luna Martinetti at flyweight, with both an eye poke and low blow halting the action. Luna opened the second with a high kick, and utilized kicks high and low throughout the round. Costa was loading up on his punches, and would add his own head kick attempt with two minutes left in the frame. Towards the end of the second, Luna feigned being hurt, trying to lure Costa in in comical fashion. Moments later, he was hurt for real, dropped care of a heavy right hand, but managed to reverse while on the ground. Luna, who found success with his jab in the second, was tagged again early in the third, but not dropped. Still, that right hand from Costa felt laser-guided, and he’d come away with the split decision win.

In the second fight of the night, Dennis Buzukja and Kaleio Romero squared off. Both fighters exchanged heavy kicks in the opening 30 seconds. Buzukja showed off his renowned striking while Romero relied on his superior wrestling. Romero used the entire first round to try and take Buzukja down but could not do it. The calf kick was a weapon for Romero in round two, and then he got back to clinching Buzukja against the cage. Buzukja eventually got off the fence and hurt Romero, causing him to panic-wrestle. Buzukja landed a takedown in round three; Romero looked very tired. Romero looked like he was trying for a twister but Buzukja defended. Buzukja pulled off the unanimous decision.

Fight three saw light heavyweights Anton Turkalj and Acácio dos Santos get right after it. Dos Santos cracked Turkalj and fired back with a high kick, then started grappling with his opponent. Most of the first round was Turkalj trying to sneak in a rear-naked choke and controlling Dos Santos. The second round saw both fighters landed heavy combos, after which Turkalj landed a slam takedown on Dos Santos. When they got back to their feet, Dos Santos started landing the better punches, and Turkalj attempted a flying knee. The third round started fast like the first two but it eventually ended up with Turkalj just grappling Dos Santos en route to a decision win.

A big takedown from Pyfer opened up the featured fight on Tuesday. He threatened with an arm-triangle choke that looked tight, but Diaz turned away, rolled, and survived — with Ozzy later reversing the position. They’d end the first back on the feet, Diaz pressing.

In round two, Joseph Pyfer earning himself a UFC contract. A huge shot dropped Diaz, a counter-left to the chin. A bit of follow-up, and that was it. “Thank you for the f*cking opportunity,” Pyfer told Dana White from the cage.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6, Week 1 Results

Middleweight: Joseph Pyfer def. Ozzy Diaz by knockout, Round 2, 1:39
Light Heavyweight: Anton Turkalj def. Acácio dos Santos by unaimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Featherweight: Dennis Buzukja def. Kaleio Romero by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Flyweight: Alessandro Costa def. Andres Luna Martinetti by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)

Contract Winners: Joseph Pyfer

The post Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6, Week 1 Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

The first episode of Contender Series season six includes some familiar names, including Ozzy Diaz, who has turned up in fights for Bellator MMA and LFA over the years, and Farid Basharat, whose brother took home a UFC contract on the Contender Series last season. Who will lock up deals in week one of DWCS Season 6? Read on for our picks and predictions.

Middleweight: Ozzy Diaz (7-1) Vs. Joseph Pyfer (8-2)

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Diaz
Speed: Diaz
Output/Volume: Diaz
Kickboxing: Diaz
Striking defense: Even
Footwork/movement: Diaz
Wrestling: Pyfer
Grappling: Pyfer
More likely to finish on the mat: Pyfer
Gas tank: Diaz

Prediction: This is, to put it simply, a fun fight between two dangerous strikers.

Pyfer has more ways to win by being a better wrestler and grappler. Saying that, I don’t rate those areas highly for Pyfer. I believe this fight stays standing for the most part and there I favor Diaz.

While Pyfer is very capable of catching Diaz, I like Diaz due to the better fundamentals. Pyfer likes to throw some wide bombs and the best way to beat that is to snipe down the middle with the jab. Diaz has that ability to jab and counter the wider striking of Pyfer. If Pyfer does have success with wrestling, he won’t be able to sustain his gas tank if he doesn’t finish early. I like Diaz in this fight and I predict him to catch Pyfer slipping coming in.

The post DWCS 2022 Week 1 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.

It’s a good time for 125lb’ers, but the promotion still needs to fill out the ranks. We’ve got 10 names that could be a good fit.

Here’s a look at last year’s list, featuring current UFC roster members Denis Bondar and Jake Hadley.

Arman Ashimov
Asu Almabaev
Azamat Kerefov
Daniel Barez
Denis Bondar
Gian Souza
Jake Hadley
Jean Matsumoto
Juan Puerta
Tony Laramie

Before we get started, don’t miss the other instalments in this series:

10 Heavyweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022
10 Light Heavyweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022
10 Middleweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022
10 Welterweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022
10 Lightweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022
10 Featherweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022
10 Bantamweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022

The post 10 Flyweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2022 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Bantamweight, Gamzat Magomedov (6-1)

This was a huge win for Russia’s Magomedov, handing Mochamed Machaev his first career loss. In an exchange, Magomedov caught Machaev with a right hand flooring him. Machaev rolled and as he got back to the feet he was still throwing, which is when Magomedov caught him with a left hand. That dropped him and the follow-up shots put him out cold. All that happened in under a minute and moved the win streak to four for Magomedov.
Grade: A-

Welterweight, Benoit Saint-Denis (8-0)

Saint-Denis blazed through his opponent with an easy first-round stoppage. He got a quick double leg takedown to start the fight. It was not long before Saint-Denis got into the mount to land some good ground and pound. The second time he got into mount he locked in an arm-triangle and his opponent tapped. One-way traffic.
Grade: A

Featherweight, Inglesson de Lara (4-0)

This was a frantic fight between Lara and his opponent Alex Sombra. Lara asserted himself right away landing a good combination. He was taken down but it wasn’t long before he got back up. Lara dropped Sombra briefly with a left hand as he got back up. When they separated Lara started to let loose. He landed a nice left hook to the body, a good right hand-knee combination, and a right-left that dropped Sombra. The follow-up shots put Sombra out.
Grade: C

Middleweight, Brunno Ferreira (4-0)

Ferreira took his opponent down with an outside trip. When he got the takedown, Ferreira landed right into side control. He transitioned into the mount, took the back, and sunk in the RNC for the submission win. Ferreira remains undefeated and still holds his 100% finish rate.
Grade: B-

Featherweight, Damon Wilson (2-0)

In round one Wilson showed a diverse attack landing a lot of combinations from a lot of angels. He took a lot of good shots but landed a lot of volume. In round two in only 18 seconds Wilson blitzed forward and a power right landed. It dropped his opponent and the follow-up punches sent the ref in. I was impressed with the striking and output of Wilson.
Grade: C+

Lightweight, Zac Pauga (4-0)

Despite being dropped and mounted in round one Pauga looked good. He got the takedown in each round but it was his striking that set him apart. Pauga landed a lot with his lead left hook and right hand. He landed that right hand many times with the hook, overhand, and the uppercut. He was landing everything from his right hand to a knee and in the clinch landed a few good elbows. Pauga looked good.
Grade: B+

Featherweight, Busurmankul Abdibait Uulu (14-3-1)

Uulu fought a tough opponent in Ruslan Yamanbaev, who fought behind in this fight for the most part. Yamanbaev was cruising on the outside throwing a lot of kicks going to the body and legs. He started to take over in round one before Uulu slipped a punch and countered with a right-left. That put Yamanbaev on skates and Uulu landed a lot of shots to the jaw. In round two it was still a competitive fight as both were throwing heat. A right hand from Uulu and a flurry sat Yamanbaev down. It was a weird ending but Uulu showed good composure and picked his shots.
Grade: C+

Flyweight, Mansur Malachiev (10-0)

Russia’s Malachiev fought another good prospect in Rashid Vagabov who won his last five fights prior to this one. Malachiev threw an overhand to grab a leg to chain to a double leg to get a takedown. He had his arm trapped in a modified omoplata but was able to spin out. In a scramble, he locked in a ninja choke for the dub.
Grade: A-

Featherweight, Abdurakhman Gitinovasov (8-1)

Opponent Viktor Mitkov fought pretty carelessly in this fight, shooting in blindly against a much better wrestler in Gitinovasov. Round one and two were easy for Gitinovasov as he just defended a takedown and dominated with top control. In round three Mitkov threw a sloppy spinning back fist and Gitinovasov took the fight down. Mitkov was able to get back to his feet but Gitinovasov used a trip to a double leg for a beautiful takedown. A dominant showing from Gitinovasov.
Grade: B-

Welterweight, Imam-Shapi Mukhtarov (10-0)

Mukhtarov let his hands go in this fight throwing with volume while going to the body and head. He kept up the forward pressure lunging forward with two punches at a time. He landed at the same rate with both his hands while mixing in some kicks as well. His opponent changed levels for a takedown in round three. He left his neck exposed and Mukhtarov sunk in a ninja choke. It was in there good and it put the guy out cold face first. Just a nasty finish to the fight.
Grade: B

Welterweight, Shakhban Alkhasov (5-0)

This fight was nothing but domination for Alkhasov. With his long reach, he pawed with straight punches, head kicks, and even a wheel kick before he closed the distance. He used a strong body lock to get the takedown. When he landed in half-guard that’s where he finished it posturing up and putting his opponent out cold with the von flue choke.
Grade: A-

Bantamweight, Jean Matsumoto (9-0)

Matsumoto who is the SFT flyweight champion, moved up to bantamweight and won that title as well in August. His opponent Wanderley Junior was the champ and this fight was a back and forth scrap. Both men had a knockdown in round one. Matsumoto was dropped with a punch and he dropped Junior with a head kick. Both landed tons of volume with leg kicks, bodywork, and head strikes. Both scored takedowns and had submission attempts. Matsumoto just had more moments.
Grade: B+

Bantamweight, Francesco Patron Manzo (8-0)

Manzo looked outstanding here to keep his undefeated record. He marched his opponent down chopping the legs and throwing punches in bunches. He let go with his offense and was landing a lot of volume. At one point Manzo almost secured a kneebar finish. Manzo landed a left hook to the body to a right leg kick putting his opponent down. He jumped on the back and from there locked in an armbar for the tap. Excellent and beautiful transition to a submission.
Grade: A

Strawweight, Tania Torres (5-0)

LUX held an eight-women strawweight tournament and in the end, it was down to Torres and Saray Orozco. This fight was a war that came down to determination and heart. Torres was dropped with a head kick in round two but survived and bit down on her mouth guard and fought back. Torres, when she let her hands go, was ripping combinations to the body and head. She found the target frequently with her hands and threw a lot of knees as well. On the other side she took a lot of damage but just had more bright moments herself.
Grade: C+

Bantamweight, Ryan Kuse (4-0)

Kuse showed a good skillset overall in a second-round stoppage. On the feet he maintained distance very well landing at will with kicks and long punches. He got a takedown in round one and dominated in top position. He got a takedown in round two and that’s where he found the finish. Kuse went between the mount and the back multiple times before the ground and pound sent the ref in.
Grade: B

Featherweight, Tom Pagliarulo (2-0)

The 6’0″ Pagliarulo is a real problem and he showed that in this fight. He had good movement and was snipping on the outside with his punches and landed two glancing head kicks. Pagliarulo was landing at will and picking his shots. His opponent threw a blind leg kick and Pagliarulo caught it and countered with a straight right. The initial shot put the guy out cold and the ref stepped in. Brutal finish and perfectly set up.
Grade: A

Lightweight, Eddy George (4-0)

His opponent came out with some type of jumping wheel kick which missed by a mile. George responded with a combination to an easy takedown. He quickly got into mount and unloaded with ground and pound. George unloaded with elbows and even though his opponent was covering up he wasn’t moving. The ref eventually stepped in.
Grade: C+

Welterweight, Andreeas Binder (3-0)

Binder breezed past his opponent with a first-round stoppage. He opened up with a few hard outside leg kicks and looping hooks. He used a body lock to get the takedown into side control. Binder got into mount and went off with smashing ground and pound. Some punishing short elbows sent the ref in. Dominant showing and showed a bit of everything.
Grade: C

Flyweight, Andres Luna Martinetti (11-0)

In under 30-seconds Martinetti took the fight down. From there he put his opponent through a lot. While staying busy with ground and pound at a point he was in the mount. When he got on the back he even attempted a suloev stretch. When that didn’t work in a scramble he landed a ground shot that had his opponent cover up. Martinetti went after the finish and landed big punches until the ref came in.
Grade: B

Lightweight, Elvin Espinoza (6-0)

Espinoza made his PFL debut and fought his toughest test to date in Hopeton Stewart. Espinoza didn’t treat it as his toughest test as he had a spotless performance. He quickly took Stewart down. He got right into mount and had the back but Stewart escaped. Espinoza used a throw to get the fight down again and an adjustment got him in top position. Right back into mount and on the back, he sunk in an RNC and put Stewart to sleep.
Grade: A

Welterweight, Michael Lombardo (12-2)

Lombardo is someone that’s pretty conservative in his fights but he went after it in this one. He fought another Contender Series veteran in Kyron Bowen. It was a competitive fight but Lombardo was landing more impactful shots. He was doubling up on the jab and coming through with the right hand. Lombardo was landing a few leg kicks that were visibly bothering Bowen. He sat Bowen down with a hard leg kick and again a second time. As Bowen threw another kick to the leg as Bowen was down he grabbed his leg in agony and the ref stepped in.
Grade: B+

The post MMA Prospect Watch: The Most Impressive Fighters from August appeared first on Cageside Press.