Week 5 of this season of Dana White’s Contender Series was the most peculiar of season 8, with an athlete deciding not to compete just minutes before he should have made the walk.
It was announced, during the broadcast, that the fight card would consist of four bouts as Kody Steele vs Quemuel Ottoni was pulled from the card. When it was confirmed that the bout had been removed, there was some confusion as to exactly why. It appeared Ottoni decided to withdraw from the contest, then changed his mind and wanted to compete, then changed his mind once more. Later in the evening Steele’s coach, John Wood, took to social media and confirmed that was, in fact, how the night had played out. He said:
“Welp, I really don’t even know what to say about this. Kodys opponent not only quit once but twice in one night! We were wrapped and ready to go and 45min before the fight, the Commision comes in to tell us the opponent doesn’t want to fight! So They took off the gloves and cut off the wraps and said it’s done.
“15 minutes later they come back in and said he has decided to fight! So we did a speed wrap on the hands, put the glove back on, and started warming up. five minutes before we get ready to make the walk to the cage, Sean Shelby comes back in and says the dude is pulling out and refuses not to fight…again.
“Fight is officially off.
“In all my years I’ve never seen anything like this especially on this level! I’m heartbroken for Kody but I know there will be a silver lining somewhere.
“But now we know why this guy hasn’t fought in 2 years. This sport ain’t for everyone.
“Kody made this man quit in the back…. in my book that’s a win! @danawhite @seanshelby @mickmaynard2 give this man a contract!”
White confirmed that Steele will be rebooked later in the Season against a different opponent.
Nicolle Caliari continued her impressive run of finishes with a first round armbar against Corinne Laframboise. In what White coined ‘a night of nerves’, the bout got off to a tentative start with Laframboise having the upper hand in the early stages of the contest. After taking the bout to the mat, Caliari ended up eating elbows whilst stuck in a crucifix but the Brazilian managed to isolate Laframboise’s arm and secure a slick submission win. White was happy enough with the performance to hand out the first contract of the night to Caliari.
The second bout was a close affair between Josias Musasa and Otari Tanzilovi. Both men were unbeaten entering the contest and the pair put on an impressive striking display. After starting the fight as the stronger of the two, Tanzilovi seemed to fade as the bout wore on, with Musasa working his way into the contest. For the only time during week 5, the judges were called upon and two of the three went in favour of Musasa, who claimed the split decision win. Post fight, White admitted he felt Tanzilovi had done enough to get the nod but was extremely compelled by Musasa’s story and handed the 25-year-old a contract.
Although finding himself on the right side of the result in his return to the Contender Series, Yousri Belgaroui's win over Taiga Iwasaki was not enough to land a spot on the UFC roster. As a stable mate of Alex Pereira and a seasoned Glory Kickboxer, big things were expected from Belgaroui but the Dutchman did not impress the UFC bosses enough to earn a contract.
City Kickboxing prospect, Navajo Stirling, joined team mates Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker and Kai Kara-France in the UFC, with a second knock out against Phillip Latu in the main event. The bout got off to a tentative start, with it taking until the second stanza for things to really get going. Midway through the second round, both men through looping hooks but it was Stirling that connected first and hardest and sent Latu crashing to the mat, forcing the referee to step in.
You can watch White review Week 5, and here from the contract winners, below:
