LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene and reported live from Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 58 event.
Dana White’s Contender Series cards see prospects fighting for the opportunity to sign a UFC deal, with UFC president Dana White on hand to make the decisions.
The second episode of Season 7 saw 10 fighters compete for their shot at a UFC contract. A lightweight contest between George Hardwick (12-1) and Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady (14-3) served as the featured bout of the five-bout lineup.
Although there were two decisions, all five winners received UFC contracts from White for the second week in a row.
Full results of Dana White’s Contender Series 58 below:
- Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady def. George Hardwick via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Ibo Aslan def. Paulo Renato Jr. via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:22
- Hyder Amil def. Emrah Sonmez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Eduarda Moura def. Janaina Silva via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:00
- Charalampos Grigoriou def. Cameron Smotherman via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:00
Continue reading below for more details about each fight.
Charalampos Grigoriou vs. Cameron Smotherman
Result: Charalampos Grigoriou def. Cameron Smotherman via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:00
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 58: Best photos
Records: Charalampos Grigoriou (8-3), Cameron Smotherman (8-4)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Round 1 – Grigoriou comes out the aggressor throwing a spinning back kick and a big overhand right in the opening moments. Smotherman responds, though, with a nice three-punch combo. It doesn’t land, but it looked good. But then Grigoriou closes distance with a two-punch combo and connects on a hard right hand that drops Smotherman, and boom it’s over. That’s a contract right there!
What a way to start week 2 🤯
Charalampos Grigoriou gets the finish just a minute into round 1! #DWCS pic.twitter.com/w6o8XSI9D7
— UFC (@ufc) August 15, 2023
Afterward, Grigoriou had this to say to Laura Sanko: “When I say something, I’m doing it, you know? If I say I’m gonna knock you out, I’m gonna knock you out.”
Eduarda Moura vs. Janaina Silva
Result: Eduarda Moura def. Janaina Silva via submission (rear-naked choke) – Rpund 1, 4:00
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 58: Best photos
Records: Eduarda Moura (9-0), Janaina Silva (5-1)
Division: Strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Blake Grice
Round 1 – Moura takes early advantage of aggression by Silva and gets her down to the mat with an easy double-leg. From here, Moura proceeds to control Silva and employ effective ground-and-pound up until she gets a crucifix position. That gets Silva panicking, and Moura then mounts her, raining down punches, which forces Silva to give up her back. Boom, it ends with a rear-naked choke for Moura.
Rear-naked choke for the win!
Eduarda Moura puts an end to this one in the first round 💪 #DWCS pic.twitter.com/HeL1jzQnsL
— UFC (@ufc) August 15, 2023
Afterward, a tearful Moura had this to say to Laura Sanko through an interpreter: “This is me and my team. We train so hard. We’ve been evolving every day. We’ve worked so hard to be in this position. We’re sure that with all this work and faith in God, we’re gonna reach the top.”
Hyder Amil vs. Emrah Sonmez
Result: Hyder Amil def. Emrah Sonmez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 58: Best photos
Records: Hyder Amil (8-0), Emrah Sonmez (14-5)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Round 1 – Furious pace in the opening seconds before they clinch against the fence, but then Amil hits Sonmez with a hard knee to the groin. On the reset, Amil drops Sonmez with a left hand but when he rushes in, he lands too high on Sonmez, which Sonmez uses to his advantage. He’s working hard for a single-leg takedown and finally chains it together and takes Amil’s back. Nice knee to the chin rom Sonmez from the side. A briefly weird moment as Amil’s cup almost falls out, but he keeps it in place. Sonmez gets another takedown, and he’s clearly wearing on Amil. This is now becoming a sloppy and wild fight between two guys who could be slowing down. This round was wild and full of scrambles. Sonmez wins it 10-9.
Round 2 – Sonmez wastes no time backing up only to shoot for a single leg, and here we are scrambling again. Amil breaks free and then reverses position. He’s got the back, but he allows Sonmez to turn into him and reverse the position. Amil gives up his back to try and get up, and it works. They stand up, but again Sonmez shoots in immediately. It’s an exhausting pace they’re going at. A spinning back fist from Sonmez lands, but not with much power. Both of these guys are tired. This has become a pretty sloppy grappling match with about 90 seconds left. Both of these guys are EXHAUSTED, but Sonmez struggles to get up after the horn. Amil wins this round 10-9.
Round 3 – They came out throwing hands, and Sonmez a head kick, but that only lasts 15 seconds before Sonmez shoots for a takedown, which he doesn’t get. This fight has become a complete mess between two extremely fatigued guys. Ultimately, Sonmez got takedowns but never did much with them, while Amil actually landed some strikes, albeit weak ones. 10-9 Amil this round. We’ve got him winning 29-28.
What a back and forth battle!
Hyder Amil leaves tonight with the UD victory 😤 #DWCS pic.twitter.com/1zwyTCFl3C
— UFC (@ufc) August 16, 2023
Ibo Aslan vs. Paulo Renato Jr.
Result: Ibo Aslan def. Paulo Renato Jr. via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:22
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 58: Best photos
Records: Ibo Aslan (12-1), Paulo Renato Jr. (12-3)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Blake Grice
Round 1 – Both guys are hesitant in the first minute before Renato throws a nice left hook. Then they briefly exchange, with Aslan landing a right hand. That slows things down a bit, and Aslan is busy with leg kicks. All right, it ends the next instance they stand and trade as Aslan gets the better of Renato and drops him. Then he rushes in with more punches for the finish.
Keep the finishes coming 👊
Ibo Aslan gets the first round TKO to put this one to an end #DWCS pic.twitter.com/VaueToStAF
— UFC (@ufc) August 16, 2023
Afterward, Aslan had this to say to Laura Sanko: “Like I said before, I am not coming to Vegas for the decision. I am coming for kill, and I do it in first round.”
George Hardwick vs. Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady
Result: Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady def. George Hardwick via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 58: Best photos
Records: George Hardwick (12-2), Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady (15-3)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Round 1 – Al-Selwady lands a nice overhand right to set the tone. He follows up with another right hand about 45 seconds later. Good start for him. Al-Selwady’s footwork is working nicely for him, in and out, bouncing around, as he mixes in punches. Hardwick seems to be struggling with the movement. Hardwick finally lands his first significant strike, a left hook, with about 90 seconds left. Hardwick gets a little more comfortable toward the end, but this was Al Selwady’s round 10-9.
Round 2 – Hardwick comes out throwing more, finding his jab and following with body shots, even as Al-Selwady keeps bouncing around. Al-Selwady tries for a takedown that goes nowhere, and he’s on the outside. Nice right hand by Hardwick snaps Al-Selwady’s head back. Al Selwady hasn’t slowed down his pace, but Hardwick is doing a better job connecting. Al-Selwady still appears to have an advantage, though. Now the fight goes to the mat after Hardwick slips throwing a kick. Nice body shot by Hardwich is answered with a left hook by Al-Selwady, who follows up with more power shots. His cardio is outstanding. He takes this round 10-9. Closer than the first, but it’s Al-Selwady’s still.
Round 3 – Al-Selwady still has Hardwick second-guessing himself with his feints. Neither guy is showing signs of fatigue. Al-Selwady has a few punches blocked, but then connects on a big right hand that snaps Hardwick’s head back, best punch of the round so far with about 2 minutes remaining. Big takedown for Al-Selwady with 55 seconds left. That could seal the fight for him. Al-Selwady is tenacious on top. Hardwick gets back to his feet with 10 seconds remaining, but nope. That was another Al-Selwady round. This should go 30-27 for him.
Dominant performance by Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady tonight!
He takes home the UD victory 👏 #DWCS pic.twitter.com/pZjO478Ck7
— UFC (@ufc) August 16, 2023
