Dana White’s Contender Series 2020 Week 9 Play-by-Play & Results

Round 1

Moore stalks Sabatello, who lands a kick to the body and then
plants Moore on his back with a takedown less than 30 seconds into
the fight. Sabatello works inside of his foe’s guard, landing short
punches to the body and elbows to the head. Sabatello stands with
Moore attached to him and slams him back down. Moore remains in
closed guard, as Sabatello drops several more elbows from above.
There’s two minutes to go and Sabatello has stayed busy enough with
ground-and-pound to maintain his dominant position. Sabatello
continues to do a nice job of vary his offense from above, mixing
up punches to the head and body as the clock ticks down. The horn
sounds with Moore having spent the majority of the round on his
back.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sabatello
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Sabatello
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sabatello

Round 2

Moore comes out and quickly lands a hard low kick. Moments later,
Moore shoots for a takedown, but Sabatello sprawls and spins around
to Moore’s back. Moore stands only to get shoved back down to his
knees. Sabatello looks to work his way to the back as he peppers
him with short punches to the ribs. Sabatello briefly slides his
arm under the chin until Moore spins to his back. Sabatello lands
in half guard and drops some elbows before Moore recovers full
guard. Now the action is taking on the look of Round 1, as
Sabatello remains active with ground-and-pound from inside full
guard while Moore looks largely helpless from his back. Moore tries
to force a scramble briefly, but Sabatello clears his legs and gets
back into top position. Sabatello stacks his man up and drops a
punch to the head. Less than minute to go and Moore shows no signs
of getting to his feet. Sabatello drops a couple forceful elbows as
he ends the round on top. The two bantamweights exchange trash talk
on their way to their corners.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sabatello
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Sabatello
Brian Knapp scores the round:10-9 Sabatello

Round 3

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Sabatello was far more bark than bite.

They trade kicks early in the round before Moore sprawls on a
Sabatello takedown. Sabatello pushes his man into the fence and
drags him to the mat on his second effort. Moore is in a familiar
position on his back as Sabatello moves him toward the fence. Moore
urges his opponent to “do something” from his back, but he has no
other answers beyond talk, and Sabatello continues to have success
with consistent ground-and-pound. Sabatello passes to half guard at
about the 2:30 mark, where he lands some punches to the side of the
head. Sabatello looks to free his other leg and nearly steps into
mount. Moore shifts his hips and recovers half guard. Referee Mark
Smith calls for Sabatello to work, and the American Top Team
product obliges with more strikes from above. Moore briefly kicks
Sabatello off, but he is immediately grounded again near the fence
with about 60 seconds remaining. Sabatello lands more punches and
elbows from above before letting his foe up with seconds left.
Sabatello lands an uppercut as Moore returns to his feet just
before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sabatello (30-27
Sabatello)
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Sabatello (30-27
Sabatello)
Brian Knapp scores the round:10-9 Sabatello (30-27 Sabatello)

The Official Result

Danny Sabatello def. Taylor Moore via Unanimous Decision (30-24,
30-25, 30-26) R3 5:00

Round 1

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Pinheiro ran right through Frausto.

It’s a tentative beginning as both strawweights look for openings.
Frausto is attacking with low kicks early, and Pinheiro answers
with an inside low kick of her own. After two minutes, neither
fighter has landed much in the way of significant offense. Pinheiro
misses on an overhand and Frausto answers with a low kick. After
approximately 2:30 of tepid activity, Pinheiro suddenly flashes her
power. She pressures forward, and a left hook-right hand combination drops Frausto.
Pinheiro follows up with about five follow-up shots of
ground-and-pound before Jason Herzog pulls her off.That makes
seven finishes among eight professional victories for the
26-year-old Brazilian.

The Official Result

Luana Pinheiro def. Stephanie Frausto via KO (Punches) R1
2:48

Round 1

Both lightweights connect in close quarters during an initial
exchange. Lowry presses the action and lands a combination before
backing up. Motta sticks a jab as Lowry moves in. Lowry answers
with a left to the body followd by a low kick. A heavy left hook
connects for Motta during another exchange, and that backs Lowry
up. Lowry follows an errant flying knee with another nice
combination near the fence. They trade wildly in the pocket and
while they both land, again it’s a counter left from Motta that
gives Lowry pause. A big counter right knocks Lowry off balance
momentarily, as it’s becoming apparent that Motta possesses the
superior power. Motta kicks the body and then the legs. Another
spirited exchange ends the round, and Motta again proves to be more
powerful and accurate.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Motta
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Motta
Brian Knapp scores the round:10-9 Motta

Round 2

Motta sticks a jab early, and Lowry accidentally pokes his foe in
the eye. After a brief pause the fight resumes. Motta ends a
combination with a heavy left hand that snaps Lowry’s head back. A
counter right hand finds the home for Motta. Lowry jabs the body
twice. They trade again, and Motta tees off with heavy shots near
the fence. Lowry is a sitting duck, and Motta bloodies Lowry’s nose
before the American finally circles off the cage. Lowry’s nose
appears to be broken as a result of the attack. Lowry lands a nice
right hand in another exchange that has Motta circling away for a
moment. Lowry’s face is covered with blood now, as Motta counters
with a crisp combination. A right hand followed by a left high kick
lands for Motta and he stuns Lowry with a left. Motta goes on the
attack, but Lowry sticks a straight right. Lowry continues to go to
the jab to the body. Motta lands one more heavy combination before
defending a takedown at the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Motta
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Motta
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Motta

Round 3

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Motta consistently beat Lowry to the punch.

Motta lands a stiff jab to open the frame, and follows up with
another heavy combination during an ensuing exchange. A left to the
body lands for Lowry and Motta circles away. Lowry eats a pair of
hooks from Motta. Lowry forces the action and lands a right. A left
hook from Motta backs up Lowry. Lowry lands a combination and he
walks down the Brazilian. A nice straight right connects for Motta,
and Lowry answers with a one-two. Motta blocks a high kick, and
fires off a multi-punch combination. A left hook lands for Motta,
and Mark Smith tells Lowry to fight back. Lowry is still in the
fight, however, and he rushes forward with a combination. Motta
makes lowry pause with a high kick and then tags him with a left
jab moments later. They clinch, and Lowry turns Motta into the
fence and changes levels for a takedown. Lowry lands some short
knees as Motta defends against the fence. Lowry drops for the
takedown again, but Motta is able to remain upright until the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Motta (30-27 Motta)
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Motta (30-27 Motta)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Motta (30-27 Motta)

The Official Result

Nikolas Motta def. Joseph Lowry via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Round 1

Santana counters a low kick with a right hand. Santana pressures
early and connects with a left on the chin. Levy shakes it off as
the fighters tie up. Levy lands some hard knees to the head before
Santana is able to separate. Santana locks up Levy again and drives
him into the cage. Levy reverses the position and eventually dumps
his foe on the mat. Levy lands in side control and looks to lock up
a kimura. He lets it go and Santana attempts to push off the cage.
After a scramble, Santana lands some hammerfists from his back.
Santana is active with his guard, framing a reverse triangle. Levy
defends it well and moves back into side control. Levy nearly
passes to mount but settles for knee on belly before going back to
side control. Levy lands a couple shots from above. Levy lands a
couple short punches from side control before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Levy
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Levy
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Levy

Round 2

Levy opens with a high kick, a body kick and a spinning wheel kick,
although none land clean. Moments later, Levy backs up Santana with
a big left hand. He rocks Santa with a kick and gets Santana down.
Santana is resilient, as he reverses to Levy’s back and maintains a
body triangle as Levy stands. Levy wants to shuck his foe off the
top, and Santana transitions to an armbar as he falls off the side.
Levy pulls the arm out without issue and sets up in Santana’s
guard. Levy stays heavy from side control and unloads with several
right hands to the body. He switches his focus to the head with
more purposeful ground-and-pound. Levy is still controlling the
position. He stands and drops some standing-to-ground punches
before taking top position again before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Levy
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Levy
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Levy

Round 3

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Levy stayed unblemished at 6-0.

Santana begins with a front kick and secures a body lock behind a
punch. Levy reverses position and trips his opponent to the mat.
Levy is back on top in full guard, and he’s framing an arm-triangle
choke. Levy applies heavy shoulder pressure and eventually
passes to full mount. Moments later, Santana goes out and this one
is over.

The Official Result

Natan Levy def. Shaheen Santana via Technical Submission
(Arm-Triangle Choke) R3 0:55

Round 1

They touch gloves and the featured bout of the night is underway.
Sousa goes high with a kick, but Ksiazkiewicz is able to block it.
The Brazilian lands a hard front kick to the midsection and the
middleweights trade punches briefly. Sousa continues to attack with
kicks before Ksiazkiewicz punches his way into the clinch against
the cage. Ksiazkiewicz has double underhooks and he eventually
pulls Sousa off the fence and plants him on his back. Ksiazkiewicz
lands right in side control, where he lands some right hands to the
side of the head. More short shots land for Ksiazkiewicz, but Sousa
is able to assume top position after a scramble. Sousa postures up
and drops a heavy elbow. Sousa creates some space and lands more
hard shots. Ksiazkiewicz tries to frame a triangle. Moments later,
he briefly frames an armbar but Sousa frees himself. They scramble
up and Sousa locks up a guillotine. Ksiazkiewicz is able ot pass
guard and is out of danger now. Sousa recovers full guard and
attacks with elbows from his back. Sousa lands a couple more elbows
in the waning moments, including one that might’ve been late.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sousa
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Sousa
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sousa

Round 2

Sousa sticks a straight right at the outset and then stuns
Ksiazkiewicz with a two-punch combination. Ksiazkiewicz covers up
near the fence as the Brazilian tees off. Sousa lands an uppercut
and a knee as Ksiazkiewicz grabs a single-leg and pushes his foe
into the cage. Ksiazkiewicz locks his hands and takes Sousa down,
setting up in half guard. Sousa looks to land elbows from his back
before Ksiazkiewicz avoids a triangle and scrambles into side
control. Ksiazkiewicz with some knees to the ribs. Ksiazkiewicz
can’t lock in a brabo choke, but he is able to maintain top
position in an ensuing scramble. Sousa recovers full guard and
lands a hammerfist from his back. Sousa frames a triangle, but
gives it up. Another hammerfist lands from Sousa, as Ksiazkiewicz
passes to side control. Ksiazkiewicz lands some moderate
ground-and-pound until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ksiazkiewicz
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Ksiazkiewicz
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ksiazkiewicz

Round 3

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Sousa did enough to capture the decision.

They touch gloves again before the final round.
They trade powerful shots, and Sousa lands a straight right and a
knee to the gut before Ksiazkiewicz changes levels. He drives Sousa
into the fence, lifts him and plants him on the canvas. Sousa fires
off about five hammerfists from his back. Ksiazkiewicz is looking
for a way to pass guard but instead settles back into guard.
Ksiazkiewicz isn’t too active from above, and referee Mark Smith
orders them back up. Ksiazkiewicz wades through some shots and
presses Sousa into the fence. Ksiazkiewicz drops down, locks his
hands and puts Sousa on his back again. Ksiazkiewicz is content to
hold position, but he eats some hammerfists and an upkick.
Ksiazkiewicz defends a triangle and falls back into full guard.
Ksiazkiewicz absorbs more hammerfists before falling back for a
heel hook. Sousa seems to have it under control. Ksiazkiewicz lets
go of the hold and Sousa scrambles on top, dropping hammerfists and
punches in the waning seconds. Ksiazkiewicz has just enough energy
to reverse and land one more takedown before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sousa (29-28 Sousa)
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Sousa (29-28 Sousa)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sousa (29-28 Sousa)

The Official Result

Mario Filipe de Sousa def. Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz via Unanimous
Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00