UFC: Dana White’s Contender Series September 12, 2023 Results
UFC Dana White’s Contender Series week six is here. Last week, all five contracts were awarded to the five winners. Now with the streak back alive, can five more fighters get a contract tonight?
It was another great night of fights that saw some dominating wins and some surprising contract results by Dana White, which saw two winners not awarded a contract this week.
Dana White’s Contender Series Results
Jean Matsumoto def. Kasey Tanner via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Matsumoto came out in the first round and was really targeting the lead leg of Tanner. Immediately his leg started to swell up and his power was tampered. Tanner tried to wrestle, but he couldn’t get it to the ground. We went into round two, and Matsumoto went right back on the leg attacks. Tanner landed some nice body shots, but the speed of Matsumoto was visibly quicker than Tanner’s by miles. Finally, Tanner did get a takedown at the end of the round, but Matsumoto did get up as the round came to an end and they exchanged some strikes.
The third and final round was much of the same, Despite Tanner’s corner telling him that it was an even fight, it wasn’t. Jean Matsumoto outclassed Kasey Tanner on the feet, but, Tanner did get another takedown at the end of the round, but it just wasn’t enough to get a win, they traded shots until the final bell. Dana White himself jumped in the octagon to shake both men’s hands after a wild war. 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 all for the winner, Jean Matsumoto who moves to 14-0. Jean Matsumoto was awarded a contract, congratulations!
Julia Polastri def. Patricia Alujas via Submission (Round 2, Rear Naked Choke)
They started the first round as a bit of a feeling-out process but as the round started to come to an end, they were both throwing bombs back and forth with a nonstop output. From spinning kicks to spinning back fists, both ladies had Dana White on his feet clapping at the end of the round. Polastri got a big takedown at the start of the second and took the back right away. She landed some great strikes from the back and had Alujas struggling to get up. But, that panic left the neck wide open and allowed Polastri to sink in the rear naked choke and get the submission win. Julia Polastri was awarded a contract, congratulations!
Steven Nguyen def. A.J. Cunningham via TKO (Round 2, Punches)
Another fight where both fighters were just throwing hands and going to war from the opening bell. Neither man stopped striking or walking forward the entire first round, in total, they both threw over 100 significant strikes in only round one. Nguyen knocked Cunningham down right at the end of the bell, and it seemed all but over, but the bell sounded. One more second and we may not have seen a second round. But, we do. They both came out in the second round just like they did the first, both coming forward and throwing strikes back and forth. Nguyen was landing his jab to perfection and Cunningham seemingly couldn’t get out of the way of it. Nguyen wobbled Cunningham on the feet and the ref had to step in, he was taking way too much damage. Steven Nguyen was awarded a contract, congratulations!
Jhonata Diniz def. Eduardo Neves via Knockout (Round One, Punches)
Heavyweights finally stepped into the cage, and this was the exact opposite of the heavyweight bout we saw weeks ago. These boys were letting the fists fly out of the gate. Neves was dropped but popped right back up, and kept throwing, but it was clear he wasn’t stable. Diniz threw a straight right hand and dropped Neves, and the one shot was all he needed, it was all over in round one. Jhonata Diniz was awarded a contract, Congratulations!
James Llontop def. Malik Lewis via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Lewis clearly had a game plan to grapple, and he did get two takedowns in the round. Llontop was ahead with the strikes, even if they were little pop shots that didn’t do much damage. Malik Lewis did land a beautiful clean shot, and it slowed Llontop down for the rest of the round, that was until he landed a bomb that wobbled Lewis with five seconds left. But, he makes it into the next round. In round two, Lewis went for the takedown right away, but couldn’t get it. Llontop landed a body kick that hurt Lewis, and he was cradling up and trying to stay away but got taken down.
Llontop was brutalizing Lewis with ground and pound and even landing knees to the body from the ground. But, Lewis survived the round. In the third and final, Lewis came out knowing he needed a finish. He was swinging heavy, but got caught with a beautiful elbow by Llantop, which cut him open. Llantop was all over him against the cage but Lewis started throwing haymakers to back Llantop up. Another elbow dropped Lewis and Llantop rode him with some sporadic ground and pound until the round ended. James Llantop gets the unanimous decision victory. James Llantop was awarded a contract, congratulations!
All five winners were awarded a contract tonight for the second week in a row, in what was surely the best week of fights yet. Everyone showed out and put on a wonderful plethora of fights. You can check out Dana White’s Contender Series every single Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
From: Brady Alexander
Also, Read https://nosmokesport.com/boxing/buatsi-vs-azeez-undercard-confirmed/
