Five more fighters just got UFC contracts after a historic night at Contender Series.
On Tuesday night, Week 5 of Contender Series took place at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, highlighted by two of the fastest knockouts in Contender Series history, and one fighter getting a contract despite a loss.
Steven Asplund vs. Anthony Guarascio
In the main event, Steven Asplund nearly set a record, finishing Anthony Guarascio just 16 seconds into their heavyweight bout.
A man who at one point weighed over 500 pounds, Asplund came into his fight with Guarascio ready for a war, saying it was “trailer park vs. trailer trash.” But instead of a war, “Concrete” delivered a massacre, exchanging punches with Guarascio immediately, dropping him with a shovel hook just a few seconds in. Asplund followed up with some nasty ground and pound to get the stoppage just 16 seconds in, the third fastest knockout in Contender Series history. With personality to spare and a near-record-breaking knockout, UFC CEO Dana White practically had no choice but to give Asplund a contract.
Lerryan Douglas vs. Cam Teague
In the co-main event of the evening, Lerryan Douglas bolted Cam Teague just 36 seconds into their featherweight bout.
Already 30 years old, Douglas has a lot of experience and was able to quickly get a read on Teague, flooring him with a combination of hooks almost immediately at the start of the bout. Teague tried to scramble and survive, but then ate a monster left hook that put him out cold, the seventh-fastest knockout in Contender Series history. At the time, Douglas’s knockout was a big deal, only for him to be upstaged just a few minutes later by Asplund, but of course, Dana White still awarded Douglas a UFC contract.
Freddy Vidal vs. Felipe Franco
In the featured bout of the evening, Freddy Vidal pulled off a massive upset, submitting Felipe Franco in the third round of their light heavyweight bout.
Franco had some hype behind him and showed why early, scoring takedowns and controlling position early, but after Vidal reversed him, the momentum shifted entirely. Franco battled back, but in the third round, he had nothing left to give, and Franco pulled off the buzzer-beater rear-naked choke submission.
Unfortunately, Vidal accepted the fight on short notice and missed weight for the contest, so Dana White declined to offer him a contract. Still, given the circumstances, White offered Vidal a fight on the final episode of this season of Contender Series to make up for it and earn his spot in the UFC.
Samuel Sanches vs. Chasen Blair
In the second bout of the evening, Samuel Sanches annihilated Chasen Blair with a nasty knockout in the first round of their lightweight bout.
Sanches, a training partner of heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida, didn’t show the same grappling game as Almeida, coming out a bit wild against the former Division 1 wrestler and giving up his back. But after Sanches was able to break free from Blair, he pinned him against the fence and thumped him with a nasty combination, slumping Blair against the fence, and punching his ticket into the UFC.
Carol Foro vs. Shanelle Dyer
In the opening fight of the evening, Carol Foro took a unanimous decision win over Shanelle Dyer in one of the best fights of the season thus far.
Foro set the tone early, marching Dyer down and hammering her with hooks to the body and head. Dyer tried to keep Foro at bay but couldn’t stop the Foro pressure and was repeatedly dropped by power shots in the first and second rounds. Dyer hung tough and finally started landing her own shots, but it was too little, too late. In the end, Dana White praised both women for their heart and toughness and awarded both women contracts for their spectacular fight.
Steven Asplund def. Anthony Guarascio via TKO (punches and elbows) — Round 1, 0:16
Lerryan Douglas def. Cam Teague via KO (punches) — Round 1, 0:36.
Freddy Vidal def. Felipe Franco via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 3, 4:48.
Samuel Sanches def. Chasen Blair via KO (punches) — Round 1, 2:01
Carol Foro def. Shanelle Dyer via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Source link
