LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene reporting live from Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 72 event.
Dana White’s Contender Series cards see prospects fighting for the opportunity to sign a UFC deal, with UFC CEO Dana White on hand to make the decisions.
The sixth week of the eighth season saw 10 fighters compete for their shot at a UFC contract. In the feature bout at bantamweight, undefeated City Kickboxing fighter Aaron Tau clashed with Elijah Smith.
The UFC Apex hosts the card, which streams live on ESPN+.
Who won a UFC contract?
At the conclusion of the event, White handed out UFC contracts to all five winners: Ahmad Hassanzada, Ateba Gautier, Tallison Teixeira and Elijah Smith, who makes history as the second second-generation UFC fighter with his father, UFC veteran Gilbert Smith. They join Randy Couture and Ryan Couture as fighters to accomplish the feat.
DWCS 72 full results
- Elijah Smith def. Aaron Tau via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Tallison Teixeira def. Arthur Lopes via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:57
- Benjamin Bennett def. Joey Hart via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ateba Gautier def. Yura Naito via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:00
- Ahmad Hassanzada def. Dylan Mantello via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 2:14
DWCS 72 round-by-round updates
Ahmad Hassanzada vs. Dylan Mantello
Round 1 – Hassanzada comes out of the gate fighting like an absolute wild man. He throws multiple spinning attacks and is completely reckless early on, but Mantello fends through it and doesn’t take significant damage. Hassanzada lands a big takedown, though, and immediately threatens with a rear-naked choke. Mantello escapes but can’t create much space. Hassanzada keeps on with the grappling pressure to close out a clear round in his favor.
MMA Junkie scores the first round 10-9 for Hassanzada.
Round 2 – Mantello lands a massive straight right hand that folds Hassanzada in the first 20 seconds of the round! Hassanzada somehow pops back to life and goes after the legs and avoids some follow up shots. He presses Mantello against the cage wall and is recovering while he tries for a takedown. Mantello can’t get Hassanzada off his legs but he’s landing some punches and elbows from close range. Mantello finally gets a takedown and in side control while Hassanzada tries to tie up his arms and legs from bottom position. Mantello is trapped but seemingly not in danger of being tapped. Referee Keith Peterson breaks up the fighters as he appears to think Hassanzada is stalling, and the bout returns to the feet. Hassanzada shots for a sloppy takedown and looks absolutely exhausted. Mantello is stalking him and loading up on big shots. Hassanzada slips on a spinning backfist attempt and Mantello asks him to stand up. Mantello lands some late stinging shots to close out a strong and entertaining rebound round.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Mantello.
Round 3 – Mantello lands a nice early spinning backfist attempt as the pair trade shots. Hassanzada fires back with one of his own but it lacks force. Mantello lands another huge right hand that snaps Hassanzada’s head back. Hassanzada presses forward with some shots of his own and is rediscovering striking success. Hassanzada shoots for a pair of disparate low takedowns, but Mantello stays on his feet near the fence. Hassanzada scoops out his legs and takes the back of Mantello with a body triangle. Hassanzada is controlling the position and locks in a tight rear-naked choke! Mantello tries to fend it off but decides to go to sleep instead of tapping. Hassanzada wins after a very tough middle frame.
Ahmad Hassanzada gets the third round submission 👏
Was that enough to earn him a UFC contract? #DWCS pic.twitter.com/p4W30fw0Fg
— UFC (@ufc) September 18, 2024
Result: Ahmad Hassanzada def. Dylan Mantello via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 2:14
Recap: Ahmad Hassanzada taps Dylan Mantello in exhausting, back-and-forth bout
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 72: Best photos
Records: Hassanzada (12-3), Mantello (9-3)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson
Ateba Gautier vs. Yura Naito
Round 1 – Gautier comes out with bad intentions behind his shots as Naito is clearly keen to get the fight to the ground. Naito is met with elbows in his attempt to get the fight to the mat off the cage, and Gautier manages to escape. Gautier loads up on a massive knee that just nearly misses Naito diving for the ankle, and this time he has the takedown. Naito goes to work from top position as Gautier tries to tie him up. Gautier tries to scoot to the fence to get up, but Naito is controlling well and landing some solid punches and elbows from on top to close the round.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Naito.
Round 2 – It’s a similar start to the round with Gautier loading up for a kill shot on the feet and Naito cautiously navigating around that. He gets Gautier’s back to the fence and starts trying to pull out the legs for a takedown, but Gautier manages to spin free. Gautier lands a big overhand then two huge shots moments later that sent Naito hard to the mat. Gautier pounces on top trying to finish but Naito somehow survives for the time being. Gautier is chipping away with ground-and-pound and after a few moments finally postures up and lands a flurry of shots that force the referee to stop in for the TKO stoppage.
That’s all she wrote 👊
Ateba Gautier gets the TKO in round 2! #DWCS pic.twitter.com/mPoA63cWCV
— UFC (@ufc) September 18, 2024
Result: Ateba Gautier def. Yura Naito via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:00
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 72: Best photos
Records: Gautier (6-1), Naito (6-1)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Gary Copeland
Benjamin Bennett vs. Joey Hart
Round 1 – Both men are methodical with their striking approaches to start the opening round. Hart is much taller and longer, but Bennett looks confident in his ability to jump in and out of the pocket to land. Bennett shoots for a takedown roughly 90 seconds in and manages to drag Hart to the ground near the fence. Bennett works to improve his position as Hart tries to stay calm and work his way back up. Hart finally uses the fence to get up more than a minute later but Bennett is still hanging onto him and drags Hart back to the canvas. Hart gives up his back then scrambles back to his feet. He lands a body kick and a jab, followed by another body kick. Hart’s confidence is growing with his hands. Bennett lands a late counter and the round closes.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Bennett, but his lack of damage on the ground makes it close.
Round 2 – They trade punches and low kicks early in the round. Hart is looking to catch Bennett coming in, but he can’t before Bennett gets to the legs and secures a takedown one minute into the round. Bennett tries to drag Hart away from the cage wall but he can’t do so before Hart gets back to a vertical position. Bennett has Hart clinched against the fence, but he spins free. Hart is back at range but looks concerned about the takedowns. He gives up another one moments later but still has his back to the fence. Bennett grinds more time off the clock but isn’t doing much damage before Hart pops back up. Hart comes forward and lands some solid punches. He’s pressuring Bennett with some strong activity and tags him with a knee up to the middle. Bennett shoots for a takedown that scores, but it’s too late to do anything with it.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Hart, who did more damage despite Bennett’s successful takedowns.
Round 3 – Hart lands a massive knee to the jaw up the middle in the opening seconds, but Bennett shakes it off. Hart looks like the fresher and more dangerous fighter with his strikes and lands a clean uppercut. Bennett answers with an overhand right and some jabs to follow as well as a left. The striking exchanges are more even as the round hits the midway point. Hart is bleeding from near his right eye. Bennett is finding success with the jab but Hart continues to move forward with his own combinations. Bennett scores with a stiff left hook as the razor-thin exchanges continue as the fight hits its final minute. Hart lands a left body kick. Bennett fakes a takedown and lands a pair of punches off the break. Hart lands volume shots late to close out a solid fight that was very close throughout.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Bennett, but it’s a toss-up and could go either way.
Result: Benjamin Bennett def. Joey Hart via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 72: Best photos
Records: Bennett (7-1), Hart (6-2)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson
Arthur Lopes vs. Tallison Teixeira
Round 1 – Big boys up next. It’s an absolute slugfest to start! Teixeira and Lopes throw complete caution to the wind, with Lopes doing his best to get inside the ridiculous range and height of Teixeira. This is a ridiculous brawl and Lopes is fearless with his entries into the striking exchanges. Teixeira catches him coming in with a devastating left hand punch to the chin and Lopes goes down hard and is badly hurt. Teixeira swarms and lands more punches, and that’s all!
ONE SHOT POWER 👊
Tallison Teixeira adds another first round finish to his resume! #DWCS pic.twitter.com/4Ki9tZWxWi
— UFC (@ufc) September 18, 2024
Result: Tallison Teixeira def. Arthur Lopes via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:57
Recap: Hulking 6-foot-7 heavyweight Tallison Teixeira bludgeons Arthur Lopes
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 72: Best photos
Records: Teixeira (7-0), Lopes (6-2)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Gary Copeland
Aaron Tau vs. Elijah Smith
Round 1 – Tau comes out with awkward moves as he presses forward and Smith looks composed as he throws leg kicks and punches down the middle. Tau fires back with some hands of his own but Smith lands the first big shot that gets a smile out of his opponent. Smith lands another crisp combination as Tau circles around the cage on the outside. Smith clinches and goes for a takedown but Tau slips free. Smith lands on the takedown not long after but can’t do much with it. They trade more shots on the feet before Smith gets a takedown in the final 30 seconds to close the round on top.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Smith.
Round 2 – Tau comes out swinging for the fences to start the second frame but he’s struggling to land clean on Smith, who is evading and countering when possible. Smith battles for a takedown 30 seconds in but Tau shucks him off and takes control in the clinch position against the fence. Smith breaks free and the pace of the fight has slowed as they trade in the center of the cage. Smith shoots for a takedown and gets it clean. H tires to make something happen on the mat but Tau gets him caught up in a scramble that leads them to nearly get to the feet. Smith grabs ahold of the neck with an anaconda choke and it’s in deep! Tau somehow spins free and finds himself in a guillotine, but also gets out of that and to his feet! Smith responds with an uppercut and a hard left hook moments later.Tau battles back and clips Smith with a punch of his own as the round winds under a minute remaining. Tau is pressuring forward while bleeding from the nose while Smith stays smart until the buzzer.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Smith.
Round 3 – Smith looks calm to start the round while Tau is more desperate as he lands a nice left hook. Smith’s output has came to a near-halt, and Tau senses something as he works his striking game and finds more success with the left hand, then a right moments later. Tau is taking over in the striking now as Smith’s corner pleads him for a takedown and to stop backing up. He finally lands a combination and starts to let go. He shoots a takedown but Tau overpowers him and is the one on top. He steps back and welcomes Smith to the feet. Smith lands an uppercut but seems to be the more fatigued fighter. Tau lands some hard hooks to the body and to the head that force Smith to reset. There’s 90 seconds left and it’s turning into a slugfest. Tau is determined to find a finish as he continues to throw everything he has. Smith finds some energy to throw again but Tau answers with some bombs. They trade to the final bell to send UFC CEO White to his feet in applause. Both men raise their hands up in victory as they walk around the octagon.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Tau, but it’s 29-28 Smith on our scorecard.
Result: Elijah Smith def. Aaron Tau via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 72: Best photos
Records: Smith (7-1), Tua (8-1)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 72.
