Maria “Viuva Negra” Silva (8-0 MMA)

Age: 26 years old

Height: 5’3″ / Reach: 65”

Weight Class: Strawweight (115lbs.)

First DW’s Contender Series Fight: 2021, Week 7

Old DW’s Contender Series Opponent: Kathryn Paprocki (3-2 MMA)

Second DW’s Contender Series Fight: 2022, Week 6

New Opponent: Viktoriya Dudakova (5-0 MMA)

First DWCS Fight

Maria Silva put on a very impressive and dominating performance in her first appearance on the Contender Series last October.

Throughout the fight Silva peppered her opponent with extremely effective kicks and really showed off her polished kickboxing.

When the fight went to the ground she was also able to threaten her opponent with multiple solid submission attempts.

Maria looked like a very complete fighter and pressed the pace.

Although it was evident that Maria was looking for the finish for the duration of the bout, she wasn’t able to pull it off, as her opponent never gave up on the fight.

Maria won a unanimous decision with all three judges scoring every round for Maria, 30-27 x3.

First Contender Series Opponent

Maria Silva’s first Contender Series opponent was then 3-2, Kathryn Paprocki. Though Maria dominated the fight she wasn’t able to get a finish and that definitely factored into her not being able to receive a contract.

Kathryn is a one fight veteran of both the Invicta FC and LFA promotions.

Paprocki is an extremely tough fighter with a pro muay thai fight and a pair of pro boxing fights under her belt.

However, entering the Contender Series bout, Paprocki had not yet faced pro high level MMA competition.

Following the Contender Series bout, Kathryn got a spot on The Ultimate Fighter Season 30, as a flyweight.

Unfortunately, Paprocki lost in the opening round (quarterfinals) via majority decision to then, 4-1 fighter, (and actual flyweight) Laura Gallardo.

Although Kathryn Paprocki might not have been the highest level of competition for Maria Silva’s first Contender Series fight, she definitely was/and still is a very tough fight for anyone, so it’s a win that has not aged poorly.

The Road Back

Maria Silva has competed in just one professional MMA fight since her Contender Series appearance in October of 2021.

Silva took on then 6-0 undefeated prospect, Ewelina Wozniak, at Ares FC 4 back in March.

Maria and Wozniak were the co-main event on the card, and Silva was able to get the finish in the third round via rear naked choke.

It was an impressive win for Silva against a very talented up and coming fighter in Wozniak.

Silva also had another bout scheduled for late June against then 8-1, Anastasia Feofanova, but the bout was cancelled.

Gameplan/New Opponent 

This time Maria Silva will be taking on a very skilled and experienced opponent in Viktoriya Dudakova.

Dudakova is a 23 year old, 5-0,  pro MMA fighter that also had a 6-0 ameatur MMA record.

Viktoriya competed in the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) where she narrowly missed competing for the tournament’s 125lb gold medal. (Dudakova missed weight and was forced to withdrawal)

However, Dudakova is still a 2019 European Championship gold winner and ended up finishing with bronze in the IMMAF World Championships for 2019 as well.

Needless to say, this time around, Silva is going to have a very tough fight on her hands especially in the submission grappling department.

Viktoriya has finished every fighter that she has faced in pro MMA competition with four coming via submission and one via doctor stoppage.

It looks like Dudakova’s favorite submission is the rear naked choke as three of her four submission finishes utilized the technique.

This is sure to be a good fight at Maria Silva looks to get Contender Series Redemption fighters back on the right track. Redemption fighters are 4-1 this season and four out of five of them have received a contract. 

The post Redemption: Second Chances on Dana White’s Contender Series — Maria Silva appeared first on Cageside Press.

With The Ultimate Fighter 30 launching in May, featuring coaches Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes at the helm, we’ve got you covered with a breakdown of the cast. If you missed it, be sure to check out our look at the heavyweights.

Chantel Coates, 34-years-old, 2-1

Coates has a boxing background and that’s what she’s been so far in her MMA career: a boxer. At time she will get takedowns but if anything she definitely doesn’t want to be there.

Coates does have a good jab and has some real pop in her hands. Probably some opponents will be able to beat her on volume, but trading in the pocket, Coates is dangerous. Seems like the path to victory is to take her down. As soon as Caitlin Sammons took Coates down she immediately took the back and finished with the RNC. That is concerning if Coates hasn’t worked on her takedown defense.

The post The Ultimate Fighter Season 30 Cast Breakdown: The Flyweights appeared first on Cageside Press.

For England’s Chris Duncan, it was a second chance to step into the cage and compete in front of Dana White. That, after his first opportunity fell through just two weeks ago.

Duncan had been scheduled to take part in week five against Manuel Gaxhja. But Gaxhja missed weight; worse, come the day of the fight, he pulled out entirely. A botched weight cut was reportedly to blame. Regardless, Duncan was left fired up but without an opponent.

Luckily, a quick turnaround was booked, and Tuesday night in week seven, Duncan gets his shot, opposite fellow lightweight Slava Borshchev.

Duncan wasn’t the only fighter getting a second chance on Tuesday. Lorenzo Hood had been expected to compete in Week 1 this season, only to be forced out. He was back, on short notice, against Martin Buday. An even bigger chance at redemption awaited Mitch Raposo, however.

Part of The Ultimate Fighter 29 bantamweight roster, Raposo had been ousted from the show in his first fight. Previously an undefeated bantamweight, he made to move to flyweight to take on Jake Hadley on the Contender Series this Tuesday night. Hadley, it’s worth noting, missed weight by a pound for the fight.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 5, Week 7 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.

Opening the card, Maria Silva went the distance at flyweight with Kathryn Paprocki, but the fight wasn’t close. Silva’s kicks were nasty, she hunted the finish, including sub attempts when things went to the ground. All three judges scored the fight 30-27, and it was all Silva by the end.

Chris Duncan finally got his moment on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, after fighting a gritty, determined fight in the opening round where he showed plenty of heart, Duncan wound up part of someone else’s highlight reel. Slava Borshchev opened the second round of the right with a massive knockout blow, putting Duncan away just 28 seconds into the round.

Despite Jake Hadley missing weight by a pound, he got the submission win against Mitch Raposo. Still undefeated, he’s left a difficult decision in the hands of Dana White.

Martin Buday was able to finish Lorenzo Hood thanks to some heavy knees in the clinch in the night’s heavyweight bout. And in another tough decision for Dana White, Christian Rodriguez, who missed weight for his bout with Reyes Cortez, picked up the unanimous decision win.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 5, Week 7 Results

Catchweight (137.25lbs): Christian Rodriguez* def. Reyes Cortez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Heavyweight: Martin Buday def. Lorenzo Hood by TKO, Round 1, 4:56
Catchweight (127 lbs): Jake Hadley** def. Mitch Raposo by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 3:11
Lightweight: Slava Borshchev def. Chris Duncan by knockout, Round 2, 0:28
Women’s Flyweight: Maria Silva def. Kathryn Paprocki by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Contract winners: Slava Borshchev, Jake Hadley, Martin Buday

* missed bantamweight limit
** missed flyweight limit

The post Dana White’s Contender Series Season 5, Week 7 Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Duncan, a.k.a. “The Problem,” was supposed to compete on Week 5 of the Contender Series this year. But opponent Manuel Gaxhja first missed weight, then pulled out entirely after falling ill due to a botched weight cut. That left Duncan with a problem of his own: he’d made weight and was ready to fight, but had no dance partner.

Luckily, Dana White and co. were able to book the lightweight into a match-up with Slava Borshchev just two weeks later. Meaning Duncan gets his shot tomorrow night.

For more on that match-up and the rest of DWCS 2021 Week 7, which includes familiar names like Lorenzo Hood and Mitch Raposo, read on!

Bantamweight: Junior Cortez Vs. Christian Rodriguez

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Even
Speed: Cortez
Output/Volume: Rodriguez
Knockout Power: Cortez
Chin: Unknown
Kickboxing: Rodriguez
Footwork: Rodriguez
Wrestling: Rodriguez
Grappling: Rodriguez
Submissions: Rodriguez
Cardio: Rodriguez

Prediction

A battle between two talented guys early in their careers.  MMA Lab vs. Roufusport in this one. The footage was limited with both fighters but more so with Cortez. From what I’ve seen from Cortez he’s a serious striker. Hes also the older brother of UFC fighter Tracy Cortez so fighting is in the blood.

Rodriguez is an accomplished high school wrestler that has adapted to a well-rounded fighter. If Rodriguez fights as he did in his last fight he’s going to be a handful in this one. Right now there are too many uncertainties with Cortez. Not enough footage on him. A bet I’d recommend is Rodriguez by decision.

The post DWCS 2021 Week 7 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.

A strawweight bout has been added to the quickly developing LFA card on August 27 as Vanessa Demopoulos is set to take on Kathryn Paprocki.  The event is set to take place at The Factory at the District in St. Louis, Missouri.

Vanessa Demopoulos (6-3) is looking to build on her rousing victory over former King of the Cage champion Cynthia Arceo in March.  “Lil Monster” had a breakout year in 2019, winning LFA’s inaugural strawweight title and getting a short notice opportunity to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series.  The fight with Poprocki will be her first since moving to Arizona to train at Siege MMA.

Kathryn Paprocki (3-1) fights out of Denver and is looking to get her second victory in LFA.  Paprocki’s career has seen her build rapidly from the regional scene, with her second professional bout coming in Invicta and her third being her LFA debut earlier this year.

LFA 114 is set to be headlined by the featherweight championship bout featuring Bruno Souza taking on Javier Garcia.  No other bouts for the event have been announced at this time.  The even will be open to the public.

Full LFA 114 Fight Card

• Bruno Souza vs Javier Garcia
• Vanessa Demopoulos vs Kathryn Paprocki

The post Breaking: Demopoulos vs Paprocki at LFA 114 on August 27 appeared first on Cageside Press.