Despite dishing out contracts to all five winners last week at the UFC Apex, Dana White’s generous mood continued into Week 5 of the Contender Series, as the UFC president handed out five more deals, with all of the night’s winners earning contracts.
An all-action women’s strawweight bout kicked off the night, before two third-round finishes, then a pair of first-round stoppages, rounded out another hugely entertaining night at the UFC’s fight hub in Las Vegas.
Check out the best of the action below as White welcomed five more fighters to the UFC roster.
Mick Parkin def. Eduardo Neves via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:57
Undefeated heavyweights went toe-to-toe in the main event, as English heavyweight Mick Parkin produced his first career submission to finish Brazil’s Eduardo Neves in the first round and earn himself a UFC deal.
The bout started as many expected, with both men looking to connect with heavy punches. But, after a little showboating from Neves, Parkin switched things up and surprised his opponent with a takedown.
With the bout on the canvas, the 26-year-old worked well to take Neves’ back before locking up a rear-naked choke for the victory as he extended his perfect professional record to 6-0.
Darrius Flowers def. Amiran Gogoladze via TKO (shoulder injury) – Round 1, 1:13
What do you do if there’s a UFC contract on the line and your opponent is looking to lock up an armbar submission? If you’re Darrius Flowers, you channel your inner pro wrestler and you piledrive your opponent shoulders-first into the canvas.
Flowers found himself in a tricky predicament when his opponent, Georgian Amiran Gogoladze, attempted to catch him in an armbar. But the American stayed calm, stacked himself on top to prevent any extension of the hold, and assessed his options.
Then he picked up his man and slammed him powerfully, and painfully, into the mat, landing in north-south position. But, before Flowers could continue his attack on the mat, Gogoladze, in clear agony, realised he had injured his right shoulder during the impact of the slam and tapped out a submission.
It gave Flowers his fourth straight win, his third straight finish and a shiny new contract from UFC president White.
Jesus Santos Aguilar def. Erisson Ferreira da Silva via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 3, 1:56
Jesus Santos Aguilar earned his spot on the Contender Series by building a reputation as a submission finisher with a lethal guillotine choke, and the Brazilian showed exactly why when he used that same technique to defeat Contender Series returnee Erisson Ferreira da Silva.
Aguilr and Ferreira did battle using their full arsenal of techniques as they both enjoyed success on the feet and on the mat. But, after two fast-paced rounds, it was Aguilar who found the path to victory in the third as he snatched Ferreira’s neck and put on the squeeze to force the tap, earn the win and claim a UFC contract.
Cameron Saaiman def. Josh Wang-Kim via knockout (punch) – Round 3, 2:52
Twenty-one-year-old Cameron Saaiman has already captured significant championship gold for South African promotion EFC, and the South African bantamweight will look to make an impact in the UFC’s 135-pound division after a stunning third-round knockout of Josh Wang-Kim.
Saaiman’s knockout, a beautiful two-punch combo, left little doubt that he would land a UFC deal, and White confirmed his contract offer later in the evening to make undefeated Saaiman the second-youngest fighter on the UFC roster.
Denise Gomes def. Rayanne Amanda via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
The first win, and the first contract, of the night went to Denise Gomes, who outpointed Rayanne Amanda over three fun rounds as the pair went back and forth in an entertaining 15-minute clash.
Gomes’ forward pressure, constant aggression and superior striking proved to be the keys to victory as she earned shutout scores of 30-27 on all three scorecards to claim an emotional win that was later converted into a UFC deal by White at the night’s end.
Dana White gives his post-event verdict
Dana White’s Contender Series: Week 5 Results
- Mick Parkin def. Eduardo Neves via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:57
- Darrius Flowers def. Amiran Gogoladze via TKO (shoulder injury) – Round 1, 1:13
- Jesus Santos Aguilar def. Erisson Ferreira da Silva via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 3, 1:56
- Cameron Saaiman def. Josh Wang-Kim via knockout (punch) – Round 3, 2:52
- Denise Gomes def. Rayanne Amanda via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
