Sherdog’s coverage of
Dana White’s Contender Series Week 5 begins Tuesday at 8 p.m.
ET/5 p.m. PT.
Round 1
Kerry Hatley will ref the first fight of the evening. Laframboise
backs Caliari into the fence and they trade immediately.
Laframboise punches her way into the clinch and gets tagged on the
way in. Caliari muscles her opponent to the canvas and gets to work
inside full guard. Caliari stands and backs away, and Laframboise
is back up to her feet. The Canadian pressures with punches and
Caliari answers with a flurry of her own. The women are alternating
brawling exchanges with clinching. After a tie-up, Caliari tosses
Laframboise to the canvas. Laframboise is active with her guard,
and she looks to frame an inverted triangle. She uses it to create
a scramble and transitions to an inverted crucifix. The Canadian
lands some short elbows to the side of Caliari’s head as she
controls both arms. Caliari is struggling to free herself from the
predicament, but eventually the Brazilian stands. Laframboise has a
body lock and thwarts a judo throw. Laframboise drags Caliari to
the mat and assumes top position. Caliari transitions to an armbar
and goes belly down with the maneuver.
She briefly appears to lose the grip, but she is able to recover
and adjust the submission to increase the torque. Moments later,
Laframboise is forced to verbally tap with just seconds remaining
in the period.
The Official Result
Nicolle Caliari def. Corinne Laframboise via Verbal Submission
(Armbar) R1 4:45
Round 1
Mark Smith will oversee the bantamweight action. Musasa fires off a
leg kick and Tanzilov answers with a body kick. Musasa throws heavy
leather, and Tanzilov elects to close the distance. He gets his foe
down from the clinch. They stand and Tanzilov slips on a head kick
on the break. Tanzilov goes right back to wrestling and he presses
Musasa into the fence, where he lands a knee to the gut. They get
back to range and Tanzilov attacks with a body kick. Musasa tags
his man with a straight. Tanzilov shoots and Musasa defends with
ease. Musasa pressures and forces a tie-up behind some missed
punches. Musasa lands a right on the break. Tanzilov keeps the
range with a push kick and then he lands a long right. Musasa
pressures and jabs the body. Another right lands for Musasa.
Tanzilov shoots for a single leg, but Musasa keeps his base and
reverses against the fence. Musasa frees himself but eats a stiff
jab. Musasa is swinging wildly and they collide in the clinch. They
trade knees and both men appear to land low. Time is briefly called
but the action resumes in short order. Tanzilov with a hard right
followed by a body kick. Tanzilov ducks under a punch and secures a
body lock. The Georgian presses his foe into the fence. Tanzilov
lands a knee in close. Musasa knees the body and frees himself to
land a combination at the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tanzilov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Tanzilov
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Tanzilov
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Round 2
Musasa is in the second round for just the second time of his young
career. Tanzilov offers a jumping switch kick and then tries a
spinning high kick, which Musasa eludes. Musasa clinches and shoves
his foe into the wire. He lands a short elbow in close quarters.
Tanzilov separates and circles out. Musasa jabs the body. They
clinch in the center of the cage and Tanzilov lands a trip. Musasa
stands and reverses. He punches Tanzilov’s body with short shots.
Tanzilov lands an uppercut and breaks free. Tanzilov with a
two-punch combo, and then he slams a high kick off Musasa’s
forearm. Musasa pressures behind a leg kick and a right hand. They
clinch again, but Tanzilov can’t get the trip. Musasa keeps the
pressure on and he lands a combination against the fence. Musasa
escapes a single leg, but Tanzilov is able to close distance
quickly and drive his man into the fence. Musasa lands elbows while
he defends with his back to the fence. Musasa reverses and frames a
knee to the head. Tanzilov partially lands a knee to the head
before they break from the clinch. They tie up again and Musasa is
in control, landing a couple short shots before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Musasa
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Musasa
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Tanzilov
Round 3
Tanzilov kicks the legs immediately, then has a head kick blocked.
Tanzilov changes levels and briefly gets a single-leg takedown.
Musasa powers his way up right away, and Tanzilov walks him into
the cage. Musasa reverses position and lands a knee to the gut.
They’re back at range, and Tanzilov lands a 1-2. Musasa with a left
to the body but Tanzilov is able to close the distanc ewhen his
opponent gets too wild with his strikes. Tanzilov presses his foe
into the fence. Tanzilov lands a knee on the break, but it’s low
and time is called. Tanzilov with a slapping kick to the body.
Musasa catches a kick and is able to take his opponent’s back. He
hooks one leg and lands some punches before briefly threatening
with a choke, but the angle is wrong. Musasa maintains control
against the fence, and he lands a short elbow. Tanzilov with a hard
knee to the gut as they battle it out in the clinch. Another knee
from Tanzilov before he changes levels. Musasa defends well and
they separate. Tanzilov grabs a single leg on a low kick, but
Musasa keeps his feet. Musasa reverses position but Tanzilov keeps
throwing knees. Musasa lands a knee of his own and then a short
elbow before they get back to range. Musasa counters a head kick
with a 1-2, and then Tanzilov forces the clinch. Musasa turns his
foe into the cage. They trade knees in close quarters. They
continue to jockey position in the clinch until the final horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tanzilov (29-28
Tanzilov)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Tanzilov (29-28 Tanzilov)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Tanzilov (30-27 Tanzilov)
The Official Result
Josias Musasa def. Otari Tanzilov via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29,
29-28) R3 5:00
Round 1
Kerry Hatley will referee this middleweight bout. Belgaroui probes
with a jab. Another jab from Belgaroui. Belgaroui kicks the leg and
then throws a right to the body. Another hard low kick from the
Tunisian. Belgaroui is starting to really find the range on his
jab. Iwasaki closes the distance and eats a knee. They clinch ad
Iwasaki shoves his man into the fence. Belgaroui lands a knee
before they separate. Belgaroui lands a solid straight right.
Iwasaki kicks the body and his foe answers with a low kick.
Balgaroui follows a front kick with a jab. Iwasaki catches a finger
to the eye and time is called. It’s a short break. Iwasaki knocks
Belgaroui off balance wth a jumping front kick to the body and he
quickly closes the distance. Iwasaki lands a short elbow before
moving back to range. Iwasaki gets a thumb in the eye during the
process and time is called again. Hatley gives a more stern warning
and the action resumes. Iwasaki is pressuring forward, and
Belgaroui backs him up with an elbow. Belgaroui follows a jab with
a knee. Belgaroui with a front kick and a laser straight right.
Iwasaki bulls forward and eats more damage before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Belgaroui
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Belgaroui
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Belgaroui
Round 2
Belgaroui steps in and connects with a right hand. Iwasaki blitzes
forward again, and Belgaroui is picking his spots. Belgaroui with a
straight right and a slapping leg kick. Iwasaki closes the distance
and shoves his foe into the fence. Iwasaki nearly gets Belgaroui
down, but the Japanese fighter is reversed into the wire. They
disengage and Iwasaki eats a lead hook as he wades foward. A jab
lands for Belgaroui. They clinch again and Iwasaki lands a short
uppercut in close. Belgaroui reverses and lands a solid elbow.
Belagaroui lands a counter right before Iwasaki forces the clinch.
Back at range, Belgaroui lands a knee. Iwasaki is undeterred and he
moves foward again. Belgaroui continues to punish Iwasaki every
time he moves forward. Iwasaki lands a nice elbow in the clinch
before Belgaroui frees himself. Belgaroui trips and Iwasaki is
right back on him. Belgaroui knees his foe but can’t avoid landing
another eye poke as he backs away. Time is called yet again, and
this time the cageside doctor comes in to take a look. Hatley
deducts a point from Belgaroui as promised for the repeated fouls.
There’s just three seconds remaining in the round when the bout
resumes, so nothing of consequence happens before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 9-9
Brian Knapp scores the round: 9-9
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 9-9
Round 3
Iwasaki is eating more shots from Belgaroui as he tries to wade
forward. A couple nice jabs land for Belgaroui. Iwasaki clinches
and absorbs a knee to the body. Belgaroui moves forward and throws
a glancing head kick before Iwasaki forces the clinch. Iwasaki
lands a knee in close and Belgaroui answers with one of his
ownbefore freeing himself. Iwasaki with a body kick. Balgaroui
backs his man up with a straight right. Iwasaki forces the clinch
again, but Belgaroui punishes him with a knee to the body that
clearly takes a toll on the Japanese middleweight. At range, he
puts Iwasaki on the retreat with a leaping knee that lands clean on
the chin.
He has Iwasaki reeling now, and Belgaroui tags his adversary with a
barrage of punches. Iwasaki is on his last legs and one last
straight right from Belgaroui sends him to his knees.
Hatley has seen enough, and he steps in to wave off the fight.
The Official Result
Yousri Belgaroui def. Taiga Iwasaki TKO (Knees and Punches) R3
2:34
The Official Result
It’s announced on the broadcast that Quemuel Ottoni has withdrawn
from the fight against Kody Steele, resulting in a last-minute
cancellation. Dana White promises Steele that he’ll get another
opportunity to compete on the Contender Series later this
season.
Round 1
Kerry Hatley will be the third man in the cage for the evening’s
featured bout. Stirling is chpping at the lead leg early on.
Stirling goes up high with a kick. Stirling with a combination to
the body and Latu misses a head kick. A jab to the body lands for
Stirling. Latu kicks the legs. A counter right uppercut lands for
Latu, and that gets Stirling’s attention. Stirling lands a jab.
Latu is swinging heavy leather, while Stirling is opting for
straight shots. Another low kick lands for Stirling. Strililng with
a glancing head kick and stumbles, and Latu briefly gets
aggressive. Nothing significant lands during the sequence. Latu
jabs the body and Stirling lands another leg kick. Stirling closes
the distance and they clinch against the fence. Stirling looks for
a single leg, and he lands some knees up high while he continues ot
threaten the takedown. Latu shucks Stirling off of him and they’re
back at range. Stirling jabs the body and then the head, drawing a
nod from Latu. Latu misses a spinning high kick before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Round 2
Stirling goes back to targeting the legs and then he lands a
glancing head kick. Latu steps in and lands a left. Stirling lands
a right to the body. Stirling follows a low kick with a two-punch
combination. Latu leaps in with a left. Stirling digs a left
uppercut to the body. For the most part, Latu is struggling to find
the range. Latu picks up the pressure and lands a combination in
close. They clinch and Stirling follows a knee to the body with an
elbow upstairs. Moments later, both men are attempting to throw
left hooks while trading in the pocket. Stirling
improves to 5-0 with his fourth KO/TKO victory. Latu takes a minute
to sit up and get to a stool.
The Official Result
Navajo Stirling def. Phillip Latu via TKO (Punch) R2 2:22