LAS VEGAS – Francis Marshall put on a dominant performance at Dana White’s Contender Series 48, but he was the only winner to not get a finish.
Marshall (6-0) showed off both his striking and grappling in a lopsided decision win over Connor Matthews at the UFC Apex on Tuesday, and it was enough to impress White.
White awarded all five winners UFC contracts. But with Marshall being the lone fighter to go the distance, he was a little worried he’d be left out.
“Yeah, of course I was a little concerned with that,” Marshall told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Tuesday’s DWCS 48 post-fight news conference. “Like, hopefully he doesn’t count me out because it wasn’t a finish. There’s four other finishes on the card. I was the only decision. But I think the performance overall spoke for itself, so I think he saw that and realized what could come in the future.”
Marshall was close to getting a stoppage win on multiple occasions after he stumbled Matthews on the feet. But in going the full 15 minutes, the 23-year-old was able to show off a complete game.
“Obviously, I would have liked a finish better, but I think the three rounds just showed I had a good gas tank – I could push for three full rounds and get the 15 minutes in,” Marshall said. “So I was happy with my performance.”
