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Round 1
Mark Smith will ref this welterweight bout. Savoie is targeting the
legs with low kicks early. About 25 seconds in, Smith secures a
double-leg, picks Savoie up and slams him to the mat. The Fortis
MMA product jumps on the back as Savoie stands, but Smith can’t get
his hooks in. Smith drags his man back down and lands a couple
elbows, but he’s warned for landing illegal shots to the back of
the head. Savoie is up, and Smith tees off on him near the fence.
Another takedown follows and Smith transitions to the back. He
slides off the back as his opponent stands. Smith executes another
mat return and he’s ragdolling Savoie on the canvas. Smith is
working to move to mount as he floats on top of Savoie. Savoie
stands and gets his guard up just in time to block a head kick.
Smith takes Savoie right back down with ease. Smith is in full
guard near the fence. Smith stands and drops an elbow, splitting
Savoie open. A big right hand is followed by an elbow, and Mark
Smith warns Savoie to fight back. A scramble ensures, but Smith is
still in control. Savoie stands, eats some punches and gets slammed
back down in short order. Smith is in side control, dropping
elbows. The round ends with another series of elbows from Smith.
One way traffic for the Oklahoma State wrestler, and Savoie
struggles to return to his corner after the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Smith
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Smith
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-8 Smith
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Round 2
Savoie steps in with a high kick and then follows with a kick to
the body. Smith answers with a leg kick and a punching combination.
Smith swings so hard that he stumbles to the mat. Savoie can’t
capitalize, however. A body kick lands for Savoie, and Smith
answers with a straight shot. Smith catches a body kick from Savoie
and plants the Canadian on his back. Smith drops more elbows from
half guard. Smith drops another elbow and Savoie is warned to move.
Savoie gets to his knees, but Smith traps a wrist and powers his
man back down. Savoie frees his arm, but he’s eating more elbows
and right hands. Everything Smith lands from top position is
forceful, and Mark Smith continues to warn Savoie to defend
himself.
After one more powerful elbow, the veteran official has seen
enough, and he steps in to save Savoie. Savoie looks
momentarily confused, but the stoppage was the right call. Smith
punctuates his triumph with a backflip off the cage.
The Official Result
Jacobe Smith def. Christien Savoie via TKO (Elbows) R2 2:55
Round 1
Eric McMahon will officiate this middleweight contest. Finney ducks
under a punch and takes Er-Ramy down right away. Er-Ramy gives up
his back, and then Finney gets full mount. Er-Ramy gives up his
back again and Finney works to flatten him out. Er-Ramy rolls to
his back, but there’s no shelter here, as Finney locks in an
arm-triangle choke. Er-Ramy gurgles but he isn’t tapping yet.
Er-Ramy gives McMahon the thumbs up and Finney elects to release
the choke. Finney is in half guard now, and he drops a left hand as
they scoot toward the fence. Finney continues to land periodic
punches before passing to mount. He picks up the intensity of his
ground-and-pound. Er-Ramy seems helpless on his back. It’s just a
matter of if Finney can get the finish. Finney’s main issue is his
lack of length from this position. Finney transitions to the back
and gets his hooks in. He flattens Er-Ramy out and wraps up his
foe’s right wrist.
Finney tees off with a barrage of unanswered left hands, and
Er-Ramy offers no means of defense. Finally, McMahon has seen
enough. Finney becomes the first athlete to go 3-0 on
the Contender Series and fittingly, the finish came right in front
of Dana White.
The Official Result
Torrez Finney def. Abdelah Er-Ramy via TKO (Punches) R1 4:10
Round 1
Mark Smith will be the third man in the cage for this bantamweight
encounter. Martinez lands an impactful leg kick early. It’s a
deliberate opening minute for both fighters, but Martinez lands
another low kick. Franklin is stalking as Martinez moves on the
outside of the cage. Another low kick from Martinez, all have been
solid. Martinez slams a head kick off the forearms of his foe.
Franklin backs up Martinez with a 1-2. Martinez counters a body
kick with a right. Franklin counters a leg kick and Martinez goes
stumbling back momentarily. Franklin shoots from way outside and
Martinez eludes the attempt with ease. Martinez fires a front kick,
but it lands low and time is called. Franklin recovers in short
order and the fight resumes. Martinez connects with his jab.
Martinez follows a counter right with a spinning back kick that
partially lands. Another leg kick lands for Martinez. Martinez
steps in and cracks his foe with a heavy left. Martinez is throwing
heavy offense in the final minute of the round, but he misses the
mark on a wheel kick. Martinez lands another solid low kick and the
final seconds. He slips on a jumping switch kick before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Martinez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Martinez
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Martinez
Round 2
Franklin attempts to target the legs, and Martinez answers in turn.
A striaght left connects for Martinez. Martinez sticks a jab and
catches finger in the eye. They’re back at it after a short
stoppage. Martinez lands another thudding leg kick. Franklin
shoots, but Martinez shucks him off. A straight right from Franklin
wobbles Martinez for a moment, but he recovers quickly. Another
short right gets through for Franklin, who is figuring out his
timing a little bit. Franklin is landing in exchanges, but he’s not
checking calf kicks. Martinez tags Franklin with an overhand right.
Franklin shoots and pushes Martinez into the wire. Martinez defends
well and is able to break free. Another impactful leg kick for
Martinez. A left hand and a pair of rights land for Martinez.
Martinez shoots but is denied and Franklin follows with an
uppercut. Martinez backs Franklin up with punches across the
Octagon. More leg kicks from Martinez, and Franklin lands a right
late in the round. They trade willingly until the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Franklin
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Martinez
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Franklin
Round 3
Martinez is right back to work with low kicks. Franklin lands a
kick to the body. A leg kick from Martinez brings Franklin off his
feet. Franklin shoots right after but Martinez stuffs it. Martinez
makes Franklin stumble forward with a leg kick. Franklin continues
to stalk, but he’s absorbing lots of leg kicks. Franklin pressures
and lands a knee in close quarters. Martinez lands a jab after
another leg kick. A modified superman punch connects for Martinez.
Franklin can’t find the range on a combination, and Martinez chops
away at his lead leg. A front kick from Martinez is followed by yet
another leg kick. Franklin is struggling to get his offense going,
and Martinez is mixing up his kicks, including a pair of ax kicks.
Martinez lands a low kick and then stumbles when Franklin returns
fire. Franklin tries to follow his man down, but Martinez hustles
to his feet. A stiff counter left backs Franklin up and he circles
away as the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Martinez (29-28
Martinez)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Martinez (30-27 Martinez)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Martinez (29-28 Martinez)
The Official Result
David Martinez def. Xavier Franklin via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00
Round 1
Eric McMahon will officiate this featherweight duel. Calderon gets
to work with a combination and he’s attacking with reckless abandon
before slipping to the floor. He stands and gets back to work
before eating a stiff counter right from Montes. Shortly
thereafter, Calderon lands a takedown. Montes scoots his way to the
fence and eventually stands. Calderson is looking for a takedown
and Montes threatens for an anaconda choke. Calderon escapes in a
scramble. It’s some frenetic grappling early in the fight.
Claderson secures a body lock and slams Montes to the floor.
Calderson has Montes’ left arm trapped momentarily. He lets it go
to keep top position and moves to north-south position. Montes
reverses and winds up in side control. Montes deftly transitions to
a brabo choke. He adjusts the maneuver. Calderon is desperately
defending, scooting around in a circle. He’s able to escape the
predicament and begins swinging away when they stand. Montes is on
the defensive as Calderon attacks. Montes gathers his bearings and
starts firing back. Both men are landing without much through to
defense. After a couple hard rights for Montes land, Calderson
shoots for a takedown. Calderon pulls his man off the fence and
tries to jump on the back, but he can’t secure the position.
Calderon keeps the body lock until Montes frees himself. They trade
at range in the waning seconds, and it appears that Calderon gets
the better of the final exchange.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Calderon
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Calderon
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Calderon
Round 2
Montes lands a push kick and Calderon goes on the attack with
punches. Montes lands a combination. Calderson sticks a jab. A
counter left connects for the American. Montes responds with a
counter right. The featherweights aren’t shy about trading punches.
Calderson in particular, is willing to just wade forward regardless
of the consequences. Montes with a spinning back kick to the body,
and Calderson answers with a series of punches. Montes with a push
kick to the body and a couple solid right hands. Calderon looks for
a takedown but Montes escapes with ease. Montes is starting to land
the clean strikes now, especially his counter right. Calderon
doesn’t like it, so he shoots and Montes stuffs the attempt,
landing a knee that might have been illegal because his opponent’s
hand was on the floor. Calderson goes to the canvas, and
Montes sits back for a Peruvian necktie before transitioning to an
anaconda choke. It’s very tight and Calderon won’t be able to
escape this one. As Montes continues to apply the
squeeze, Calderon taps out.
The Official Result
Alberto Montes def. Carlos Calderon via Submission (Anaconda Choke)
R2 2:38
Round 1
Mark Smith gets the nod for the evening’s featured bout. Szewczyk
has a front kick blocked. Nurgozhay kicks the body. Szewczyk lands
an inside leg kick. The Pole lands a body kick. Nurgozhay catches a
kick and the combatants nearly clash heads in an ensuing exchange.
Nurgozhay steps in a lands a big left. Another inside leg kick for
Szewczyk. Nurgozhay with another solid left. Szewczyk steps in and
Nurgozhay digs to the body. Nurgozhay stays busy with left hands,
but Szewczyk is defending well. Szewczyk is sticking rimarily with
a kick based attack. Nurgozhay finds the mark with a counter
uppercut. Szewczyk lands a right to the body. Nurgozhay just misses
on a high kick. Szewczyk has a kick blocked in return. It’s been a
slow-paced round. The action picks up as Szewczyk kicks the body
and Nurgozhay fires back with a combo. Szewczyk doubles up on a
kick to the body but Nurgozhay blocks the offerings. The round ends
without further incident.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Nurgozhay
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Nurgozhay
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Nurgozhay
Round 2
Szewczyk is back to work with kicks early, while Nurgozhay attempts
to find openings for his left. A solid inside low kick lands for
the Pole. Nurgozhay blocks a body kick. Nurgozhay with a kick to
the body that lands. Nurgozhay counters an inside low kick with a
solid combination. Nurgozhay lands a left that has a visible impact
on his foe. Szewczyk can’t find the range on his punches. A hard
body kick connects for Nurgozhay and Szewczyk answers with an
inside leg kick. It’s quite often one strike at a time for both
sides. Szewczyk shoots for a takedown and Nurgozhay defends against
the fence. Nurgozhay lands a knee as they separate. Szewczyk lands
a right as Nurgozhay attempts to find the mark with an uppercut.
After a relatively uneventful beginning to the round,
Nurgozhay follows a left hand with a perfectly-placed left head
kick that catches Szewczyk dipping directly into the strike. The
Pole goes crashing backward to the canvas. Nurgozhay is able to
land about three standing-to-ground strikes before Smith intervenes
on Szewczyk’s behalf. Nurgozhay keeps his undefeated
record intact in impressive fashion.
The Official Result
Diyar Nurgozhay def. Bartosz Szewczyk via TKO (Head Kick and
Punches) R2 3:32