5 extra fighters are becoming a member of the UFC after the ultimate episode of Contender Collection this 12 months.
On Tuesday night time, Week 10 of Contender Collection occurred on the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, that includes six fights as a substitute of the standard 5, and the fighters made essentially the most of that additional alternative, with two folks making historical past by scoring unprecedented finishes in Contender Collection, together with a Knockout of the 12 months contender.
Juan Diaz vs. Received Il Kwon
Whereas there was no scarcity of highlights this week, the largest one got here within the co-main occasion of the night, when Juan Diaz grew to become the primary man to win through spinning again elbow in Contender Collection historical past, ending Received Il Kwon within the second spherical.
With an enormous quantity of expertise in ONE Championship, Kwon was the betting favourite coming into this combat and appeared fairly good. Nonetheless, Diaz had loads of success of his personal early, utilizing his pace and mixture boxing. However within the second spherical, Kwon’s expertise began to take over … till it didn’t. Diaz seen Kwon ducking his head and took benefit with a spinning again elbow that instantly ended the combat.
Diaz’s win earned excessive reward from Dana White, and contemplating he did one thing by no means carried out earlier than in Contender Collection historical past, he was a simple selection for a UFC contract.
Levi Rodrigues vs. Freddy Vidal
In the principle occasion of the night, Levi Rodrigues gained his combat and the love and adoration of UFC CEO Dana White by knocking out Freddy Vidal within the first spherical.
This was Vidal’s second combat on Contender Collection this season, as she tepped in on quick discover earlier this 12 months, incomes a win however failing to make weight, and worse, leaving White unimpressed. White determined to present Rodriguez one other shot, who had no bother with the size this time, however struggled mightily with Vidal, who stuffed his takedowns after which jawed Vidal with some enormous haymakers. Vidal tried to energy by means of, however a nasty knee within the clinch put a cease to that, incomes Rodrigues the knockout win, and main Dana White to inform Rodrigues he “saved us” from Vidal “stinking up” the place once more.
After all, with reward like that, White supplied Vidal a UFC contract.
Marwan Rahiki vs. Ananias Mulumba
Within the fourth combat of the night, Marwan Rahiki and Ananias Mulumba placed on one of many craziest fights of the season, ending in a second-round knockout for Rahiki.
Rahiki got here in with comparisons to former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, and he and Mulumba placed on their very own model of Adesanya vs. Kelvin Gastelum, battering one another in a wild, back-and-forth battle. Mulumba repeatedly dropped Rahiki within the first spherical and appeared moments away from the upset win, however the Moroccan fighter by some means battled on and even dazed Mulumba within the spherical. Sadly, Mulumba spent an excessive amount of power pursuing the end within the first, and Rahiki took over within the second, working Mulumba over with elbows earlier than placing him down in brutal vogue with a well-timed uppercut.
On the finish of the present, Dana White was so impressed with the efficiency that he awarded Rahiki a contract, and likewise shouted out Mulumba for the good combat, saying they wish to carry him again subsequent season.
Michael Oliveira vs. Victor Valenzuela
Within the third bout of the night, Michael Oliveira placed on fairly the show of hanging towards Victor Valenzuela, scoring a second-round TKO win.
A veteran of the Brazilian army, Oliveira confirmed loads of self-discipline throughout his Contender Collection combat, hurting Valenzuela a number of occasions however not getting overly aggressive and forcing the end. As an alternative, Oliveira stored thumping Valenzuela up together with his jab and counters, finally breaking the powerful Chilean, and forcing the referee to intervene.
On the finish of the present, Dana White was fast to award Oliveira a contract, saying he appears ahead to seeing him combat within the UFC.
Jovan Leka vs. Azamat Nuftillaev
Within the second bout of the night, Jovan Leka outlasted Azamat Nuftillaev in one of many extra forgettable fights of this season of Contender Collection.
Nuftillaev got here out robust early, utilizing his wrestling abilities to take Leka down and management the primary spherical. Nevertheless, that technique proved to be disastrous as Nuftillaev was utterly gassed after the primary 5 minutes, and Leka took over from there, stuffing takedowns and getting on high of Nuftillaev the place he landed a superb chunk of ground-and-pound, although he was unable to get the end. In the long run, Leka gained a transparent unanimous choice, even incomes a 10-8 spherical on two judges’ scorecards, however didn’t do sufficient to impress Dana White, who instructed Leka he’s younger and to get again to work.
Wes Schultz vs. Mario Mingaj
Within the opening spherical of the night, Wes Schultz made historical past, changing into the primary fighter in Contender Collection historical past to land a Suloev stretch, submitting Mario Mingaj within the first spherical.
Schultz was a contestant on Season 8 of Contender Collection, the place he misplaced to Mansur Abdul-Malik. That loss has aged fairly properly thus far, and Schultz proved he’s proficient in his personal proper on Tuesday, pressuring the beforehand undefeated Mingaj and cracking him with punches on the toes, earlier than scoring the takedown after which grabbing the distinctive submission throughout a transition.
If there’s a method to make sure incomes a UFC contract, it’s doing one thing that’s by no means been carried out earlier than, and Schultz was supplied excessive reward from Dana White and a spot within the UFC.
Try the complete outcomes under.
Levi Rodrigues def. Freddy Vidal through TKO (punches) — 3:20, Spherical 1.
Juan Diaz def. Received Il Kwon through KO (spinning again elbow) — 4:58, Spherical 2.
Marwan Rahiki def. Ananias Mulumba through KO (elbows and punches) — 2:13, Spherical 2.
Michael Oliveira def. Victor Valenzuela through TKO (punches) — 3:56, Spherical 2.
Jovan Leka def. Azamat Nuftillaev through unanimous choice (29-28, 29-27, 29-27)
Wes Schultz def. Mario Mingaj through submission (Suloev stretch) — 1:51, Spherical 1.
