LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene reporting live from Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 74 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 eighth week of the eighth season saw 10 fighters compete for their shot at a UFC contract. In the feature bout at light heavyweight, Kazakhstan’s Diyar Nurgozhay knocked out Bartosz Szewczyk.
The UFC Apex hosts the card, which streamed live on ESPN+.
Who won a UFC contract?
At the conclusion of the event, White handed out UFC contracts to all five winners: Diyar Nurgozhay, Alberto Montes, David Martinez, Torrez Finney and Jacobe Smith.
DWCS 74 full results
- Diyar Nurgozhay def. Bartosz Szewczyk via knockout (head kick) – Round 2, 3:32
- Alberto Montes def. Carlos Calderon via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 2, 2:38
- David Martinez def. Xavier Franklin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Torrez Finney def. Abdellah Er-Ramy via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:10
- Jacobe Smith def. Christien Savoie via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:55
DWCS 74 round-by-round updates
Christien Savoie vs. Jacobe Smith
Round 1 – Savoie opens with a trio of leg kicks before Smith answers with one back. Smith shoots in for a single leg and elevates Savoie above his head and slams him to the mat. He tries to establish top position but Savoie gives up his back and uses the fence to stand up. Smith is still hanging from the waist and pulls Savoie back down then lands some big punches and elbows, one of which opens a cut on the back of Savoie’s head. Savoie scrambles up then is taken back down to the mat. Smith steps over to the back and is working for a rear-naked choke but Savoie stands up. Smith won’t get go of him and scores a slick trip. Smith is overwhelming Savoie, who stands up once more before being reintroduced to the canvas. Savoie already looks out of ideas with roughly 90 seconds remaining and Smith cuts his face open with an elbow. The referee warns Savoie to defend himself and he tries to kick free but has his back taken again. Smith lets him up but then ducks in for a scoop takedown – his sixth takedown of the round. He lands some more elbows to close out the frame.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8 for Smith.
Round 2 – Savoie comes out with a pair of wild kicks high and to the body. Smith looks completely unintimidated and steps in with some huge punches that barely miss. Savoie is throwing back on the feet but looks concerned about the takedowns as he moves forward. Smith is more content to strike than he was in the first at this moment until Savoie nearly lands a massive knee that leads into a takedown. Smith slides into side control and starts landing some more shots. Savoie is stuck and the referee warns him to defend. Smith keeps chipping away and finally the referee has seen enough and waves it off. Smith gets the TKO and stays undefeated.
Result: Jacobe Smith def. Christien Savoie via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:55
Recap: Oklahoma State wrestler Jacobe Smith slices Christien Savoie en route to TKO
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 74: Best photos
Records: Smith (9-0), Savoie (10-2-1)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Abdellah Er-Ramy vs. Torrez Finney
Round 1 – Finney gets a takedown with a matter of seconds and takes Er-Ramy’s back within 30 seconds. Er-Ramy flips over and Finney moves into mount. Finney latches on an arm-triangle choke and it’s deep just over one minute into the fight. Er-Ramy is squirming and gasping for air as Finney tries to finish it, but he lets it go and takes half guard position. Finney eventually takes the back again and postures up and unloads with punches to force the TKO stoppage. Finney makes history with his third career win on DWCS, then goes to Dana White and dances to the smile of the UFC CEO. Perhaps her finally gets his contract tonight.
Result: Torrez Finney def. Abdellah Er-Ramy via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:10
Recap: Torrez Finney wins for third time, breaks out dance for Dana White
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 74: Best photos
Records: Finney (10-0), Er-Ramy (7-1)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Eric McMahon
Xavier Franklin vs. David Martinez
Round 1 – Both men are staying just out of range each other in the first couple minutes of the fight. They are trying to connect with hands and feet but are failing to land clean. Franklin is being the early aggressor but Martinez catches him with a hard overhand. Franklin comes back with a stinging jab and straight right. A low blow briefly halts the action, but it goes on and Franklin is back to pressuring. Martinez is landing some good shots from the outside as he circles away from the power of his opponent. He walks into a shot that briefly staggers him but he’s right back to the game plan of sticking and moving. Franklin is landing a few good blows but Martinez shows no fear as he attacks with a flying kick late in the round.
Close opening frame, but MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Martinez.
Round 2 – There’s intensity on the striking exchanges early going. There’s a brief eye poke stoppage as Franklin sticks Martinez, but we’re back to it. Martinez throws a plethora of leg kicks but Franklin counters one and Martinez is staggered. He quickly recovers and comes forward but is tagged again moments later. They keep striking and Franklin shoots for a pair of takedowns with just over two minute remaining. Martinez does well to defend and circles free, but he needs to do something to sway the round back in his favor. Franklin shoots for some more takedowns but Martinez is resisting with powerful leg kicks and multi-strike combinations as he moves forward. There’s some good action late in the round, but no one gets badly rocked.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Franklin, but it was another close one.
Round 3 – Martinez lands the first nice punch of the round less than 15 seconds in then fires home another leg kick to Franklin’s lead left leg. He lands another smashing one that takes the balance of Franklin, who shoots in for a desperation takedown that’s easily rejected. Martinez looks to be the more confident side at this point as he lands a jab and another kick to Franklin’s front leg. Martinez sneaks in an uppercut, followed by two leg kicks. Franklin is still moving forward but it starting to fade and show signs of damage he steps in with a knee to the body. Martinez is bleeding from the right eye but he’s still using solid movement. Martinez lands a superman punch and has the looks as if he’s got this fight won with less than two minutes left. Franklin is trying to make something big happen and swings a head kick, but his energy is running low. Martinez lands another leg kick and another jab. Martinez lands another leg kick to bring his total for the fight to above 30, then starts going high with a head kick and a wheel kick attempt. Martinez is just showing out at this point but he stumbles off a kick and Franklin tries to take him down. No luck, though, and Martinez closes out the fight switching stances and throwing.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Martinez, and he should win a decision here as Dana White comes into the octagon and praises both fighters.
Result: David Martinez def. Xavier Franklin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 74: Best photos
Records: Martinez (11-1), Franklin (5-1)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Carlos Calderon vs. Alberto Montes
Round 1 – It’s an immediate collision in the center of the octagon with both men tagging the chin of the other and slipping all over the place. Calderon slows the pace down with a takedown but he can’t keep Montes down long as he scoots to the fence and works his way upright. Calderon has Montes pressed against the fence but Montes tries to snatch the neck for an anaconda choke. Calderon squirms free and ends up on top. They scramble and now Calderon is looking for a guillotine from the front headlock position. He lets is go and we get some wild scrambles in the following minute with both men getting top position. It’s now Montes in control and he sets up the D’Arce choke. It’s in deep but Calderon is shifting his body and giving his neck space. He eventually frees himself and gets back to the feet. Calderon is throwing heavy with less than 90 seconds left. Montes is obliging in exchanges and it forces Calderon to shoot for takedown that leads to another scramble. They trade to close the round.
MMA Junkie scores a wild round 10-9 for Montes, but it was real close.
Round 2 – Thing pick up right where they left off as they throw punches and kicks from right in front of each other and are landing. There seems to be comfort in what’s being thrown both ways, but Montes is doing some good work from behind his jab. Calderon is moving forward without fear and throwing but he is getting countered with the right hook over and over. Montes is taking over and he reacts to a takedown attempt with a Peruvian necktie attempt! He switches to an anaconda choke and gets the tap! Incredible grappling to close an incredible fight.
Result: Alberto Montes def. Carlos Calderon via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 2, 2:38
Recap: Alberto Montes locks anaconda choke to end entertaining battle vs. Carlos Calderon
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 74: Best photos
Records: Montes (10-1), Calderon (7-2)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Eric McMahon
Diyar Nurgozhay vs. Bartosz Szewczyk
Round 1 – To the surprise of no one the strikes are coming hard and fast from both sides to start the fight. Szewczyk is working the kicks more while Nurgozhay is focusing on using his hands. Nurgozhay catches a kick from Szewczyk and lands an uppercut in the process of releasing. Szewczyk continues to use leg kicks and now Nurgozhay is timing them with step-in counters. Nurgozhay seems to be waiting for something big and he lands a pair of clean lefts in the process. Szewczyk is starting to do more with his hands but Nurgozhay looks completely composed as the round winds under 60 seconds. There’s a big exchange as we hit 30 seconds but they both come out in the clear. Szewczyk works more kicks late, but nothing is overly impactful.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Nurgozhay, but Szewczyk landed some good kicks.
Round 2 – Nurgozhay hits a second round for just the third time in his career and he looks fine. Szewczyk goes right back to the kicking game while Nurgozhay is sticking true to his boxing. The leg kicks from Szewczyk look like they are starting to take some effect. He tries to go high but it’s blocked by Nurgozhay, who answers with some boxing combinations. Both men are struggling to do anything to change the momentum of the fight, but A is fine with it as his boxing is doing well and he seems to have a hold on the kicking range. Szewczyk finally shoots for the first takedown of the fight with two minutes left, but he’s easily denied and Nurgozhay feed him a knee to the body on the break from the clinch. Szewczyk just misses with an uppercut. A loads up a huge left head kick that lands clean to the face of Szewczyk! He goes flying back and Nurgozhay jumps in with a follow-up punch to close the show. It’s over. Explosive finish by Nurgozhay to stay undefeated.
Result: Diyar Nurgozhay def. Bartosz Szewczyk via knockout (head kick) – Round 2, 3:32
Recap: Diyar Nurgozhay blasts Bartosz Szewczyk with violent head kick
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 74: Best photos
Records: Nurgozhay (10-0), Szewczyk (8-3-1)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 74.
