In a historic first, last week’s Contender Series outing saw a losing fighter (Carlos Candelario) granted a contract. While UFC President Dana White had hinted in the past that such a thing could happen, it still came as something of a surprise. In total, five contracts were handed out on an episode that only had four fights to begin with.

Would there be any similar surprises this week? Among the notables were Bellator MMA veteran Chidi Njokuani, a dangerous striker in a middleweight showdown with Mario Sousa, and ONE Championship veteran Muin Gafurov. For those keeping track, Gafurov’s only loss since 2016 had come against UFC ex-pat John Lineker.

Dana White’s Contender Series 2021 Week 2 kicks off at 8PM ET on ESPN+ in the U.S., and UFC Fight Pass internationally. Full results from DWCS Season 5 Week 2 can be found below.

Kicking off Saturday’s card, Gafurov went the distance with Chad Anheliger. Muin’s wrestling was on point, but he would eat a nasty knee and found himself in danger. Come the third it was still anyone’s fight, and they’d swing right to the bell. In the end, Canada’s Anheliger would pick up the split decision win, as the biggest underdog on the card no less.

CJ Vergara wasted no time whatsoever sealing the deal for a UFC contract in the second fight of the night. A right hand rocked Bruno Korea, knees in the clinch softened him up, and a final knee to the body sent him down. Less than a minute, and the UFC’s flyweight division has its latest addition.

The second bantamweight fight of the evening also went the distance — and also ended in a split decision. That saw Saimon Oliveira get his hand raised.

Chidi Njokuani had the edge on the feet and on the ground in his fight with Mario Sousa. The first round seemed to drag on forever due to multiple low blows by Sousa. It was probably even longer for Chidi. In the end, he put it away in the third round.

Josh Quinlan, in the final fight of the evening, seemed to find a home for every strike he threw. Short-notice opponent Logan Urban lasted less than a minute.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 5, Week 2 Results

Welterweight: Josh Quinlan def. Logan Urban by knockout, Round 1, 0:47
Middleweight: Chidi Njokuani def. Mario Sousa by TKO, Round 3, 1:35
Bantamweight: Saimon Oliveira def. José Alday by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Flyweight: Carlos Vergara def. Bruno Korea by TKO, Round 1, 0:41
Bantamweight: Chad Anheliger def. Muin Gafurov by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Contracts: Chad Anheliger, CJ Vergara, Saimon Oliveira, Chidi Njokuani, Josh Quinlan

The post Dana White’s Contender Series Season 5, Week 2 Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Welterweight: Logan Urban vs. Josh Quinlan

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Quinlan
Speed: Urban
Output/Volume: Quinlan
Knockout Power: Quinlan
Chin: Quinlan
Kickboxing: Even
Footwork: Urban
Wrestling: Urban
Grappling: Urban
Submissions: Urban
Cardio: Even

Prediction

This card took a hit when Darian Weeks had to pull out of this fight, but Urban is a wonderful replacement.

With Quinlan, it’s all violence for him as he’s always throwing and looking to finish. Urban is just as dangerous but more methodical in his approach. He can be a bit too patient at times but is such a dangerous counter striker. If you come in blind he will catch you. If you throw single strikes he will catch you. I would love to see Urban throw more combinations because when he does, he’s much more of a threat. Instead, he will throw power straights in just one strike. That opens the door for him to get countered and Quinlan is not someone to sleep on.

Urban does have a clearer path to victory in using his wrestling and grappling. I’m not sure it’s good enough to take Quinlan down however. Quinlan has decent takedown defense but is no slouch like the guys Urban has been fighting. I’m predicting this fight to stay on the feet and it’s going to be a matter of who catches who first. I’m siding with the more active and dangerous fighter in Quinlan. I won’t be surprised if Urban wins but he has to put it together and not wait on Quinlan to engage. If he waits to much he’s going to pay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgpnEz31eQY

The post DWCS 2021 Week 2 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.

In this three-part feature, we’ll list prospects the UFC should bring in for season five. This will exclude prospects that have already been on the show, although there are a few that could very well be brought back. The goal here is to be realistic with the selections, so don’t expect too many left-field picks.

From last year’s list, Tafon Nchukwi, Dustin Stoltzfus, Brandon Royval, Collin Anglin, TJ Laramie, Adrian Yanez, Al Matavao, Nikolas Motta, Cody Brundage, Sherrard Blackledge and more all made it to the show. Others, like Anthony Ivy, Kay Hansen, Max Rohskopf, Timur Valiev, and Irwin Rivera, were signed directly to the UFC, to varying degrees of success.

Let’s get started!

Saidyokub Kakharamonov

Bantamweight | 25 | Chicago, Illonise, US | 8-2 | Win Streak: 2 | 3 KO/TKOs, 3 Submissions

Kakharamonov should 100% be one of the first fighters the UFC contacts for the Contender Series this year. Kakharamonov just recently won the CFFC bantamweight title with an impressive knockout win. He’s only lost to Pipe Vargas and Umar Nurmagomedov, the latter of whom is a current UFC fighter. He’s fought for the likes of CFFC and PFL so he’s been on the bigger stages. Kakharamonov has exciting style and the personality that the show needs.

Askar Askar

Bantamweight | 26 | Chicago, Illonise, US | 11-1 | Win Streak: 1 | 4 KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions

Askar’s sole loss was to the name above in Saidyokub Kakharamonov. It did happen in only 0:39 seconds, so there wasn’t really a chance to see how that fight would have played out. Askar was signed to the UFC this past February to fight Cody Stamann on short notice. The fight was called off because Askar failed his medicals, and his contract was pulled. It’s only fair to give Askar another chance by having him go through the Contender Series first, to see if he’s ready (and if he’s healthy). Askar is a really talented fighter and the extra experience will only help him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY_3iHl38sA

The post Scouting Prospects for the Contender Series Season 5: Part 1 appeared first on Cageside Press.