Dana White’s Contender Series 2021 Week 1 Play-by-Play & Results

Round 1

The welterweights touch gloves and Season 5 of the Contender Series
is underway. Damiani lands a counter right during an early
exchange. Fletcher attacks the lead leg with a low kick. Fletcher
is utilizing back-and-forth movement as he lands another leg kick.
Damiani pressures with heavy punches, allowing Fletcher to time a
level change and land a takedown. Damiani works his way back up
against the cage and eventually gets separation. Damiani lands a
low kick of his own and then denies a Fletcher takedown attempt.
Fletcher lands a spinning back kick to the body then resets.
Moments later, the American launches into his
opponent with a flying knee. It lands flush on the jaw of Damiani,
who crumples to the canvas near the fence. Fletcher pounces to
land a few follow-up blows before referee Chris Tognoni dives in to
intervene. This one is over, as the Gladiators Academy product has
his sixth career first-round finish.

The Official Result

A.J. Fletcher def. Leonardo Damiani via KO (Flying Knee and
Punches) R1 2:24

Round 1

Altamirano comes out firing a long jab, but it’s Candelario who
connects with a high kick. Moments later, Candelario secures a
single-leg takedown and frees himself from Altamirano’s guillotine.
Candelario postures up and drops some solid ground-and-pound.
Altamirano sweeps and scrambles to his feet, where he lands a low
kick in the middle of the cage. Candelario closes the distance and
lands a knee in close quarters. A solid leg kick connects for
Candelario, and he secures anotehr single-leg takedown in the
middle of the Octagon. Altamirano is very active from his back, and
he’s able to scramble to his feet in short order. Altamirano
punctuates a combination with a nice body kick. Candelario lands a
punch that forces Altamirano to take a step back. Candelario then
lands another takedown. Candelario postures up within guard and
lands more ground-and-pound, including some punches to the ribs.
Altamirano does his best to attack with punches and elbows from his
back. Candelario remains in top position, landing some punches to
the body and head. The round ends with Candelario on top.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Candelario
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Candelario
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Candelario

Round 2

Altamirano comes out firing a pair of leg kicks. A straight left
finds the range for Candelario, who lands a solid counter left
moments later. Candelario with a solid kick to the body, and
Altamirano attempts to close the distance. Altamirano sprawls on a
Candelario takedown attempt. Candelario is thwarted on another
takedown try. Altamirano flicks out a job and follows with a hook
to the body. Candelario follows a left hand with a level change as
he drives Altamirano into the cage. Candelario works for it and
dumps his man on the mat. Candelario is now inside Altamirano’s
guard, landing short punches to the ribs. Altamirano is throwing
his share of strikes from his back, but nothing is particularly
damaging. Candelario briefly stands and drops a left hand before
Altamirano hustles to his feet. A little more than a minute remains
in the round. Altamirano lands a knee in close and then shoves
Candelario into the fence. Altamirano misses a high kick and then
executes a nice throw in the waning seconds of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Candelario
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Candelario
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Candelario

Round 3

Altamirano pressures near the fence and lands a high kick. A right
hand connects for Altamirano, but there’s not much behind it.
Candelario steps in with a striaght left hand. Altamirano answers
with a nice combination followed by a low kick. Altamirano hunts
for a takedown and Candelario shucks him off. Altamirano lands a
nice uppercut to the body. A low kick makes Candelario stumble,
then Altamirano follows with a straight right. Candelario is on the
defensive this round. Altamirano with a jab, a left hook to the
body and a knee against the fence. They separate and Altamirano
lands a two-punch combo followed by a high kick. Altamirano nearly
takes Candelario’s back, but he is able to return to his feet with
1:00 to go. Altamirano hunts for a single leg and then lands an
elbow against the cage. Candelario tosses Altamirano to the floor
but doesn’t move forward to capitalize. With about 20 seconds left,
Candelario lands a takedown and then drops for a guillotine whne
Altamirano stands. Altamirano pops his head free and rains down
some punches before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Altamirano (29-28
Candelario)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Altamirano (29-28
Candelario)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Altamirano (29-28
Candelario)

The Official Result

Victor Altamirano def. Carlos Candelario via Split Decision (29-28,
28-29, 29-28) R3 5:00

Round 1

Brito attacks with a flying knee and immediately transitions to a
takedown, planting Lopes on his back near the fence. Brito drives a
shoulder into Lopes’ chin. Lopes moves away for the fence and
briefly appears to hunt for a kimura. Brito drops a pair of elbows
and then some hard punches to the ribs from top position. Lopes
remains heavy on top, and he finds an opening for some heavy shots.
Now, Lopes frames an armbar from his back, forcing Brito into a
defensive mode. Lopes works to extend the arm, as Brito presses his
knee on his foe’s face. Brito’s arm is nearly extended before he
slips his limb free. They stand and exchange heavy punches in the
center of the cage. Lopes tags Brito with a few jabs, and Brito
answers with a big left hand, then snaps his opponent’s head back
with a jab. Brito wades forward with heavy punches and ties up
Lopes against the fence. They trade knees and then Brito connects
with a partially blocked spinning elbow before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brito
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Brito
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Lopes

Round 2

Brito is warned for extending his fingers early on, and referee
Chris Tognoni pauses the action to issues an even more stern
reprimand. The fight resumes and Brito lands a jab, but Lopes
answers with a body shot. Brito shoots for a takedown and is
instantly trapped in a guillotine. It looks tight for a moment, but
Brito pops his head free and sets up in his advesary’s full guard.
Brito drops some heavy elbows from above, while Lopes attempts to
create space with his guard. As Brito dives back in, Lopes
threatens with a heel hook, then transitions to an anaconda choke.
Lopes lets it go, and Brito powers his fellow Brazilian to the
canvas. Brito lands another elbow from above. The action has
stalled somewhat before Brito lands another heavy elbow. Lopes
tries to threaten with an armlock from his back, but it’s not a
good position. Brito has Lopes against the fence now, applying
heavy pressure and landing periodic elbows. Brito postures up and
lands a powerful right hand. Lopes rolls for a leg lock in the
waning seconds of the frame. With time ticking down Lopes hunts for
a kneebar. Brito wags a finger, so he’s OK. The round ends in this
position.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brito
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Brito
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Brito

Round 3

Lopes flicks out a jab and is poked in the eye by Brito. Lopes
falls to the canvas in agony and Tognoni pauses the bout. A doctor
comes in to check on Lopes. During the examination, it appears that
Lopes is saying that he can’t open his eye and is having trouble
with his vision. After some more consultation, Tognoni waves off
the bout as Lopes lays on the canvas. Though the bout is over,
Tognoni deducts a point from Lopes. It’s an anticlimactic
conclusion to the featherweight contest. The fight will be scored
where it ended.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Lopes (29-28 Brito)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Lopes (29-28 Brito)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 9-9 (28-28)

The Official Result

Joanderson Sa de Brito def. Diego Lopes via Technical Unanimous
Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 0:10

Round 1

Murzakanov bounces in and out. Schefel throws a body kick;
Murzakanov catches it but lets it go quickly. The Russian steps in
and connects with a straight left. A hard body kick lands for
Scheffel. Murzakanov just misses on an overhand left. Scheffel
backs up and lands another body kick. Murzakanov has a high kick
partially blocked. Another left from Murzakanov hits the chest of
his opponent. Murzakanov backs up Scheffel with a standing side
kick. Moments later, Murzakanov finds the range he desires, as he
smashes Scheffel with a left to the chin. A short right hook to the jaw follows and floors
the Brazilian. Murzakanov drops two heavy standing-to-ground
punches before Herb Dean pulls him off of his fallen adversary.
The biggest betting favorite on the card delivers as expected.

The Official Result

Azamat Murzakanov def. Matheus Scheffel via TKO (Punches) R1
3:00