Sherdog’s coverage of
DWCS 2023, Week 6 will begin Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.
Round 1
Mark Smith will referee the evening’s first bout. Tanner jabs the
body and Matsumoto answers with a low kick. Matsumoto continues to
drill his opponent with low kicks early, while Tanner pumps his jab
in his opponent’s face. Tanner pressures behind a couple right
hands and a knee to the midsection before backing off. Matsumoto
moves in with a 1-2 followed by a low kick. Tanner puncutates a
four punch combination with a low kick, but Matsumoto continues to
land snapping low kicks of his own. Tanner lands a right then
angles out, but another low kick follows a Matsumoto combination. A
high kick gets through for Matsumoto, who is mixing up his attacks
now. Matsumoto moves in behind a combination, then backs off when
Tanner returns fire. Tanner ducks under a bunch and forces the
clinch, turning his man into the fence. Tanner looks for a short
elbow, and then the bantamweights trade knees in close. Matsumoto
is able to turn off the fence and then defends an outside trip.
Another low kick thuds into Tanner. Tanner moves forward behind a
right hand and a knee. Another low kick lands for Matsumoto, and
then he lands a combination in close quarters. They clinch again,
this time Matsumoto pushing Tanner into the wire.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Matsumoto
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Matsumoto
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Matsumoto
Round 2
Matsumoto backs Tanner into the cage with a combination early.
Tanner pumps his jab into his foe’s face but eats another leg kick.
Anothe leg kick lands and Tanner limps backward. Tanner digs the
body with about three left hands. Matsumoto tries to clinch, but
then lands another leg kick. Matsumoto rushes forward and lands a
three-punch combination. Matsumoto’s overall speed is evident as he
continues to target the lead leg and land punches in combination.
Matsumoto mixes up punches with low kicks and then stuffs a Tanner
takedown. Tanner pushes him into the fence, but Matsumoto reverses.
They jockey for position against the fence, and Matsumoto lands a
knee before separating. They trade in the pocket but it’s Matsumoto
landing in greater volume. Tanner lands a body kick, and Matsumoto
answers with a combination and a low kick. Another combination
follows for Matsumoto. Matsumoto lands a combination punctuated by
a leg kick. Tanner changes levels and is finally able to ground his
opponent with less than a minute remaining. Tanner drops an elbow,
but Matsumoto creates space with his guard and scrambles up. Tanner
drives him into the fence, but Matsumoto lands a series of knees.
Tanner backs off and lands some nice punches during an exchange
before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Matsumoto
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Matsumoto
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Matsumoto
Round 3
Matsumoto lands a right hand. They trade in the pocket, and it’s
Matsumoto who gets the better of the exchange. Another multi-punch
combo tags Tanner. They trade low kicks and then Tanner digs the
body with a left. Tanner kicks the body. Tanner presses forward but
Matsumoto tees off with another combination. They trade low kicks
and Tanner digs to the body again. They clinch and Matsumoto knees
the midsection before breaking free. Tanner has a takedown stuffed.
Matsumoto goes jab-low kick and then tags Tanner with more straight
punches. Matsumoto lands more punches in bunches and then sprawls
on a Tanner takedown. A right hand stings Tanner, who backs away
and resets. Matsumoto mixes his punches and kicks, ending
combinations with kicks to the body. Tanner continues to march
forward, but he can’t match the volume of Matsumoto. Matsumoto
follows a 1-2 with a knee to the body. Tanner gets a knee-tap
takedown with a little less than 1:30 to go. He sets up in
Matsumoto’s half guard. He moves into full guard and lands a short
elbow. Tanner drops a couple more elbows as Matsumoto remains
active from his back. Tanner passes to side control briefly, but
Matsumoto scrambles up in the waning seconds, and the bantamweights
have one more spirited exchange before the horn. The battle brings
Dana White to his feet, and he enters the Octagon to congratulate
both fighters.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Matsumoto (30-27
Matsumoto)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Tanner (29-28 Matsumoto)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Matsumoto (30-27 Matsumoto)
The Result
Jean Matsumoto def. Kasey Tanner via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00
Round 1
Jacob Montalvo will oversee this strawweight bout. Alujas wings a
big right hand but eats a stiff jab from Polastri. Alujas with a
one-two, and Polastri lands a hard low kick. Alujas wings another
right but it’s blocked. The strawweights are trading. Alujas
counters a low kick withh a right hand. A left hook lands for
Aljuas. Alujas remains active, throwing a 1-2. Polastri fires a low
kic. But Alujas is consistently landing 1-2s as they trade.
Polastri lands some hard counters in turn. A high kick lands for
Polastri and she moves forward, throwing punches in volume. Alujas
gets off the fence and the combatants are trading willinglly.
Polastri walks Alujas down with a body kick, but she smiles and
they keep on throw offense. A front kick lands for Polastri, and
she grabs the clinch, driving a couple knees down the middle.
Alujas lands multiple punches and then shrugs off her foe’s attempt
to clinch. Polastri follows a cominbation with a body kick and
Alujas answers with a spinning back fist. Polastri marches foward,
and she seems to be landing more clean straight punches down the
stretch.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Polastri
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Polastri
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Polastri
Round 2
Polastri opens with a jab and front kick. A jab lands for Alujas.
Polastri connects with a couple hard right hands, and then she
stings Alujas with a knee. Alujas is still throwing offense, but
Polastri gets deep on a takedown, lifts her opponent and plants her
on the mat. Polastri lands an elbow from above as she works to the
back of Alujas. Alujas gets to a knee, but she’s absorbing punches
to the head and knees to the thighs. Alujas drags her back down to
all fours. Polastri keeps the body lock in place, and Alujas looks
like she wants to grab the fence. Montalvo is there to discourage
the violation. Polastri continues to do work, repeatedly driving
her knees into the thighs and landing lefts to the face with Alujas
on all fours. Polastri is overpowering here and she is working her
way to the back. Polastri steps over to get a hook in and she tees
off with more punches before threatening with a choke. Alujas
fights off the hands initially, but
Polastri resets and slides her arm under the chin again. Alujas
resists for a few moments before she is forced to tap
out. It’s Polastri’s third career submission victory.
The Result
Julia Polastri def. Patricia Alujas via Submission (Rear-Naked
Choke) R2 4:05
Round 1
Mark Smith will be the third man in the cage for this featherweight
affair. Cunningham is throwing unorthodox kicks early, then he
lands a combination. They trade in close, and Cunningham is showing
quick hands. However, Nguyen catches a kick and misses an overhand
right, but Cunningham slips to the mat. Nguyen sticks a jab, and
Cunningham clinches behind a combination. They quickly get back to
the center of the cage. Nguyen with another jab. A Cunningham
uppercut gets through the guard of his foe. Both men lands straight
shots in an exchnage. Cunningham is using the uppercuts well,
getting throough the guard. Cunningham rips the body, but Nguyen
answers with some punches to the head. Nguyen flicks out a couple
more jabs. Cunningham finds the mark with another uppercut. Nguyen
lands his jab, but Cunningham lands multiple punches to the body.
Nguyen is touching Cunningham with straight punches. A knee from
Cunningham lands in close. Nguyen answers with more combinations.
Both men are marked up as the round draws to a close. Cunningham
lands a low blow with less than 10 seconds left. The action resumes
and they trade furiously. . A right hook from Nguyen drops
Cunningham and he dives in to finish the fight with
ground-and-pound. He lands several heavy shots but Mark Smith jumps
in to save Cunningham at the horn. If the round was a few seconds
longer, this one might have been done.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Nguyen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Nguyen
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Nguyen
Round 2
Nguyen lands more straight punches an Cunningham answers with a
pair of low kicks. A right hand and a jab connect with impact for
Nguyen. Nguyen stuffs a takedown attempt. Nguyen tags him with a
combo. Cunningham wades foward with body punches. Cunningham still
looks wobbly from the end of Round 1. Nguyen escapes a single leg
attempt. The pace has slowed somewhat, but Nguyen continues to land
his jab, both at the beginning and end of his combinations.
Cunningham steps in with a left to the body. Another Nguyen jab
lands and Cunningham wades forward, but eats combinations for his
efforts. Cunningham is still landing when they trade, but Nguyen is
landing the cleaner, harder shots. Nguyen stuffs a takedown and
wobbles Cunningham with a right hand.
Cunningham maintains his feet but Nguyen is teeing off with
punches. A battered Cunningham is stumbling and wobbling as Nguyen
takes over, and Mark Smith has seen enough, as he steps in to wave
off the contest. Nguyen is now 2-1 on the Contender
Series.
The Result
Steven Nguyen def. A.J. Cunningham via TKO (Punches) R2 4:06
Round 1
Jacob Montalvo will officiate this heavyweight scrap. Neves kicks
the outside leg, then goes high with a kick and a jab. Neves slips
on a wheel kick attempt. They clinch briefly, but return to range
in short order. Diniz stalks his man and lands an inside low kick.
Neves is forcing his foe to miss early, and he counters well with a
two punch combination. An inside low kick lands for Neves, who is
getting the better of exchnages early. Diniz rushes forward with
punches. Neves catches a kick but can’t trip his man to the ground
Diniz lands a right, but Neves follows with a jab and a lead hook.
Diniz hurts Neves with a knee to the chin and a right hook and
backs him into the fence. A right hand drops Neves to his knees but
he pops back up. Diniz is picking his spots now, looking for
openings.
Neves pushes forward but an ensuing 1-2 from Diniz lands clean, and
his opponent topples backward. No follow-up strikes
are needed for the Brazilian kickboxer, as Montalvo waves this one
off.
The Result
Jhonata Diniz def. Eduardo Jose Neves via TKO (Punches) R1
3:15
Round 1
Mark Smith is in charge for the evening’s featured lightweight
fight. Both men throw punches and Lewis ducks under to clinch.
Llontop quickly reverses and shoves his foe into the cage. Llontop
lands a slashing elbow on the exit. Lewis closes the distance after
a couple whipping kicks, and he is able to secure a single leg
takedown. Lewis threatens with a guillotine as Llontop stands, and
the Peru native frees himself from the choke. Llontop controls the
action in the clinch and lands a combo on the break. Lewis attacks
aggressively but can’t land anything significant. Lewis slips, but
he scrambles up when Llontop tries to assume top position. Lewis
briefly lands a takedown but Llontop hustles to his feet and gets
to work in the clinch. He lands some punches on the break before
Lewis shoots for a takedown against the fence. Llontop defends and
lands some short punches before reversing position. Llontop with an
elbow in close quarters. Llontop digs to the body and Lewis lands
in turn as they separate. Lewis swings big and misses. They trade
quicks and then Lewis lands a knee in the clinch. A hard kick lands
for Lewis at range. Llontop lands a big right hand that makes Lewis
stumble before the end of the round, and he finishes the frame with
an inside low kick.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Llontop
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Llontop
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Llontop
Round 2
Llontop kicks the body, then lands an inside low kick. Lewis wings
a pair of hooks to the body. Lewis with a leg kick of his own. A
hard body shot connects for Llontop. Lewis continues to swing
wildly, but Llontop is generally cleaner with his punches. Lewis
gets in on a single leg and Llontop elbows to the side of the head
with his back to the fence. Llontop reverses position and presses
Lewis into the fence. They break and Llontop wobbles Lewis with a
combination. A body kick makes Lewis double over. Lewis is fighting
back, protecting the body, but Llontop is on the hunt. He steps in
landing an elbow, followed by a knee before he powers his foe to
the canvas. Llontop postures up and drops ground-and-pound to the
head. Llontop switches to elbows and then hovers over his opponent
before passing to side control. More elbows land for Lewis and he
goes to his knees. Llontop knees the body and punche the head.
Lewis attempts to stand, but Llontop ragdolls him right back down.
Llontop remains on the offensive, pounding away with punches and
elbows form side control. Lewis kicks off the fence but Llontop
spins and takes his back. With Lewis on his knees, Llontop drives a
knee to the ribs. Lewis clings to his opponent, and he’ll get to
his feet, still swinging at the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Llontop
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Llontop
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Llontop
Round 3
Llontop catches a front kick and punches the body. An inside leg
kick lands for Llontop. Llontop lands a body kick and dodges Lewis’
punches. Lewis lands to the body in an exchange. Llontop stuffs a
takedown and he drops Lewis to his knees with a pair of short
elbows. Lewis is on his back, staying active with his guard. Lewis
tries to power his way up, but Llontop tees off with several lefts
to the head before his opponent is able to stand. Lewis swings
wildly after they separate. Llontop goes back on the offensive,
firing kicks to the legs and body. Llontop pressures and lands
another body punch and then sends Lewis to his seat with another
elbow. With Lewis seated against the fence, Llontop lands punches.
Lewis scrambles but Llontop is able to flow from one dominant
position to another. Lewis is on all fours and Llontop stays busy
with left hands, punching under the armpit. Lewis rolls and looks
to set up a triangle from his back. Llontop escapes and transitions
to side control, then spins to Lewis’ back, hunting for a
rear-naked choke. Llontop maintains a body lock as Lewis stands.
Llontop lands more punishing blows to the head before Lewis breaks
free and wings another wild salvo before the fight ends.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Llontop (30-26
Llontop)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Llontop (30-27 Llontop)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Llontop (30-27 Llontop)
The Result
James Llontop def. Malik Lewis via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-26, 30-26) R3 5:00