Dana White's Contender Series 2023 Week 4 Play-by-Play and Results

Bolaji Oki (156) vs. Dylan Salvador (155)

Round 1

Gary Copeland is in charge for this lightweight contest. Oki takes the center of the Octagon and he snaps Salvador’s head back with a straight right. A head kick gets through for Oki, and Salvador answers with a low kick. Salvador follows a push kick with a high kick that’s partially blocked. Oki is looking to land straight rights to the body. Salvador falls to his back after a body kick and Oki unleashes a combination when his foe stands. Oki lands a right and slips a counter from Salvador. A counter left finds the mark after Oki misses a body shot. Oki with a hard body kick. Salvador is pressuring behind inside leg kicks. A counter right to the head backs up Salvador and then he’s hurt even more by an ensuing body shot. Salvador covers up against the fence as Oki leaps in with a knee and flurries with punches. More than a few strikes land, but it’s a left to the liver that crumbles Salvador to his knees. Oki tees off with three more lefts to the head before Copeland steps in to save Salvador.

The Result

Bolaji Oki def. Dylan Salvador via TKO (Punches) R1 2:46

Thomas Petersen (264) vs. Chandler Cole (264)

Round 1

Jason Herzog gets the assignment for this heavyweight encounter. Cole begins with a leg kick. Cole is swinging early, but mostly missing early on. Another leg kick lands for Cole, and Petersen shoots for a single leg, and he wrangles Cole to the mat. Cole is seated with his back to the fence, as Peterson fires off a short elbow. Peterson wraps up Cole’s legs and pulls him back out before landing a short elbow. Peterson is heavy here, and he lands a right and a left. Cole explodes up and starts swinging big punches, landing to the body and the chin. Peterson responds with a couple big knees to the body before tripping Cole to the canvas, where he lands in half guard. Peterson covers his foe’s mouth and then drops a series of heavy elbows. Petersen briefly thinks about a straight armbar but relents to go back to elbowing Cole in the face. Cole looks overmatched on his back. Petersen alternates punches and elbows while remaining heavy from top position. Cole is bleeding from the nose at the end of the frame.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Petersen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Petersen
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Petersen

Round 2

Petersen fires off a jab. Cole answers with a pair of leg kicks. Petersen backs his man up to the fence with punches and then changes levels for a takedown. Cole grabs a guillotine as he falls to the canvas, but Petersen quickly moves to side control. Another elbow lands for Petersen as he steps into the crucifix position. With one arm trapped, the Legacy Fighting Alliance veteran isolates Cole’s free arm and cranks an a keylock. Petersen twists the limb back at an awkward angle and Cole taps immediately.

The Result

Thomas Petersen def. Chandler Cole via Submission (Keylock) R2 1:08

Timothy Cuamba (145.5) vs. Mateo Alejandro Vogel (144.5)

Round 1

Jason Herzog will be the third man in the cage for this featherweight scrap. Cuamba lands a right hook followed by a quick 1-2. Vogel gets caught spinning around after a low kick and Cuamba tees off with a combination. Cuamba lands a nice body shot, prompting Vogel to shoot for a takedown against the fence. Cuamba defends well and separates, throwing a head kick. He falls but shucks off a Vogel attempt to close distance. Another 1-2 tags Vogel and then he catches a kick and lands another solid shot. Cuamba catches another kick, then lands a head kick of his own on the release. Cuamba sprawls nicely on a shot. A right lands for Vogel in an exchange. Cuamba counters with a body kick. Another combination lands in the pocket for Cuamba. A 1-2 lands for Cuamba. He catches a kick, turns Vogel into the ence and then backs off. More straight shots land for Cuamba but Vogel eats them without issue. Vogel moves forward and attacks with leg kicks. Vogel moves forward behind a solid right hand. They trade in the pocket and Vogel goes back to the leg kick. Cuamba slips after throwing a front kick and Vogel shoves him into the fence, where they’ll remain until the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba

Round 2

Cuamba follows a 1-2 with a high kick. Vogel answers with a body kick. Cuamba digs to the body with a left. Vogel pressures behind punches and changes levels for a takedown. Cuamba defnds an separates. Both men land in an exchange. Vogel is pressuring and Cuamba blocks a high kick. Lots of lateral movement for Cuamba, who moves in briefly with a quick 1-2. Vogel connects on a spinning backfist, but Cuamba isn’t affected. Vogel keeps the pressure on, but he misses a kick and gets tagged by Cuamba. A straight right by Cuamba snaps Vogel’s head back. Cuamba steps in with an elbow and then moves out of danger. Cuamba fires off three jabs followed by a right hand. Vogel is still having rouble tracking his man down. Cuamba catches a kick and fires back with a counter. Vogel moves in with a combination, landing to the body. A body kick lands for Vogel and Cuamba responds with a 1-2. Vogel with a couple more leg kicks and Cuamba seems to be hindered. Vogel lands a leg kick and Cuamba answers with a right before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba

Round 3

Cuamba gets back to his side to side movement, firing off his lead hand. A 1-2 lands for Cuamba, and Vogel targets the leg with inside and outside kicks. Cuamba continues to attack with quick punches. Vogel shoves his foe into the fence and lands a knee before Cuamba escapes. Vogel with another low kick. Cuamba digs the body with a left and lands a leg kick of his own. Cuamba leaps in with a knee and follows up with a quick left before moving away. Vogel moves in with a combination that lands, but he eats a counter combination. Vogel changes levels, works hard for the takedown and finally slams his opponent to the mat with 2:30 to go. Vogel is already on Cuamba’s back with one hook in. Cuamba does a good job controlling the wrists but Vogel has a body triangle secured. Vogel lands some short lefts to the head, briefly loses the body triangle but secures it again in short order. Cuamba isn’t providing iany openings for the choke, but the control time will prove valuable for Vogel, who stays attached to the back until the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vogel (29-28 Cuamba)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Vogel (29-28 Cuamba)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Vogel (29-28 Cuamba)

The Result

Timothy Cuamba def. Mateo Alejandro Vogel via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Yousri Belgaroui (186) vs. Marco Tulio Silva Costa (185.5)

Round 1

Gary Copeland will oversee this middleweight clash. Belgaroui with a hard leg kick and Tulio counters with a right. Tulio pushes his foe into the fence, but Belgaroui defends well initially. Tulio tries to trip Belgaroui, but the taller man maintains his footing. Tulio nearly wrenches Belgaroui to the ground, but then he gets reversed and Belgaroui separates. Tulio with a kick to the lead leg. An overhand right backs up Belgaroui. Tulio lands a front kick to the gut. Belgaroui lands a well timed knee as Tulio steps in. Belgaroui partially lands a head kick. Belgaroui finds the range on a straight right. Tulio closes the distance and shoves his opponent into the fence. Tulio can’t quite execute the body lock takedown, and Belgaroui reverses. Tulio locks in a guillotine following a scramble on the mat, but Belgaroui escapes. Tulio loads up on some heavy shots and lands a couple rights before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Belgaroui
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Belgaroui
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Belgaroui

Round 2

Belgaroui switches stances and has a head kick blocked. A leg kick lands for Tulio, but Belgaroui lands a clean straight right. An inside leg kick lands for Belgaroui, and then another. Tulio swings and misses. A counter right catches Tulio coming in, but the Brazilian is unfazed as he knocks out his foe’s mouthgaurd with punches. They tie up and Belgaroui shoves Tulio into the fence. Belgaroui has a big right blocked. Belgaroui lands a jab and Tulio attacks with a spinning kick to the body. Tulio pressures and digs to the body, which prompts Belgaroui to force the clinch. Tulio reverses the position and they continue to battle for control. Belgaroui lands a shoulder strike. Belgaroui backs off and throws a front kick. Tulio with a leg kick. Tulio lunges in with a left hook that connects. Belgaroui blocks a body kick. Tulio counters a low kick with a right. A superman punch lands for Tulio, who follows with a left and a flying knee in a late flurry of offense before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tulio
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Tulio
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Tulio

Round 3

Tulio misses a leaping punch. A right from Tulio nearly dislodges Belgaroui’s mouthpiece. Tulo gets aggressive with big punches and kicks before clinching with his advesary. Belgaroui is warned not to grab the fence. Tulio tries to pull Belgaroui off the fence for a takedown, but he remains upright. Finally, Tulio powers Belgaroui to the canvas, landing in half guard. Tulio lands several short elbows. Tulio switches to shoulder strikes and then some hammerfists from above as he continues to control Belgaroui. Belgaroui doesn’t seem to have any answers from his back with less than a minute to go in the round. Tulio passes to side control. Tulio briefly secures a crucifix but Belgaroui frees himself. Tulio ends the round with some hard elbows and punches to make a statement to the judges.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tulio (29-28 Tulio)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Tulio (29-28 Tulio)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Tulio (29-28 Tulio)

The Result

Marco Tulio Silva Costa def. Yousri Belgaroui via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Mitch Ramirez (171) vs. Carlos Prates (170)

Round 1

Jason Herzog will officiate the evening’s final bout. Prates owns a seven-inch reach edge in this bout. Ramirez attacks with a couple low kicks early. Prates with a leg kick of his own. A second leg kick makes Ramirez stumbleand he smiles. Ramirez pressures forward but Prates circles out and kicks the body. A body kick lands for Prates but Ramriez counters with a right, closes the distance, forces his foe into the fence and slams him down. Ramirez is in side control. Prates slides to the fence and gets a butterfly guard. Prates will a nice sweep and they stand. Prates follows a high kick with a knee, and Ramirez escapes the clinch. Prates with a short counter left and then he drives the toe into the midsection with a front kick. More heavy punches land for Prates. Ramirez is still firing back. A straight left finds a home for Prates. Anotehr left lands clean for the Brazilian. Prates follows a head kick with a 1-2. A left and a right land for Prates. He dips in with a knee and an uppercut, and he clinches with Ramirez. Prates backs off and fires off another head kick and knee before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Prates
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Prates
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Prates

Round 2

Prates catches Ramirez with another clean counter as he moves in. A straight left connects for Prates. A hard low kick follows for the Brazilian. Ramirez looks to punch his way into range, but he eats a jab. Another jab lands for Prates and he follows a body kick with a combination to the head and another jab. Then, a clean left hand to the chin rocks an already-reeling Ramirez, who topples to the canvas. Prates backs away, believing the job has been done. He’s right, because Ramirez isn’t getting up, so Herzog waves off the fight.

The Result

Carlos Prates def. Mitch Ramirez via TKO (Punch) R2 1:14