Dana White’s Contender Series ‘Season 2, Week 2’ Play-by-Play & Results

Dwight Grant vs. Tyler Hill

Round 1

Grant swings a big overhand right hand early and lands a glancing blow. Hill counters with a right and things calm down. Grant lands an inside low kick and is countered by a straight right from Hill. Grant lands another low kick and follows up with a right hand. Hill marches forward and eats a combination. Grant counters an aggressive Hill with a left hand. Grant slips a punch and connects with a two-punch combination. Hill lands a low kick and ducks under a big punch from Grant. The welterweights trade low kicks near the fence. Grant continues to circle on the outside of the cage, with Hill as the aggressor. Grant catches a low kick, briefly pushes Hill against the fence and lands a few short right hands before separating. Hill connects with a body kick and Grant fires back with a blistering hook to the ribs. A left hook from Grant finds Hills chin. Hill is unfazed, and he shoots for a takedown and presses Grant against the fence. They separate and Grant lands a right hand before the final horn sounds. 10-9 Grant.

Round 2

Grant goes back to the overhand right, but Hill blocks it. Hill pressures his opponent near the fence and lands a body kick as Grant swings wildly. A short right hand lands in close quarters for Hill shortly thereafter. Hill throws a body kick and is briefly sent to the canvas by a counter right form Grant. Hill pops right back up and eats another shot. Moments later, an overhand right from Grant lands clean on his foe’s chin, and this time, he follows up with a massive left hook that sends Hill’s head bouncing off the canvas. Grant dives in with one follow-up blow on the ground before referee Jason Herzog steps in to call off the bout.

The Official Result

Dwight Grant def. Tyler Hill via KO (Punches) R2 2:08

Ryan Spann vs. Emiliano Sordi

Round 1

Spann comes out aggressively, firing off one-two combos. He backs Sordi up and drops him with a short counter right hand. Spann follows him to the ground, and Sordi kicks his foe off with his guard and attempts to roll back and return to his feet. However, in standing, he leaves his neck exposed and Spann secures a guillotine choke. Sordi struggles to escape, briefly grabbing a leg, but Spann only tightens the squeeze and the Argentina native taps quickly. It’s unclear if referee Mark Smith sees the initial tap, but Sordi taps again moments later and the fight is over. Spann has redemption after losing via knockout in 15 seconds in his initial appearance on Contender Series last summer.

The Official Result

Ryan Spann def. Emiliano Sordi via Submission (Guillotine Choke) R1 0:26

Giga Chikadze vs. Austin Springer

Round 1

Chikadze comes out mixing up his kicks, keeping Springer on the outside. Chikadze just misses a head kick, allowing Springer to tie him up in the clinch. Springer pushes Chikadze into the fence, and they battle for position before separating, as Springer is unable to get his foe down. Chikadze rocks Springer with a straight left hand. Springer walks backward and Chikadze launches himself forward with a flying knee. Chikadze stumbles backward and Springer ends up in top position. Springer avoids a triangle submission attempt and sets up inside Chikadze’s full guard. Springer lands a left hand to the body and an elbow upstairs from top position. Chikadze creates some separation with his guard and lands an upkick. Springer is able to dive back into top position and keep the kickboxer on his back. Springer stands and Chikadze hustles to his feet with about 45 seconds to go. Moments later, Springer closes the distance for a single leg. Springer fends off an omaplata as time ticks down. Chikadze scrambles up and lands a few punches before the horn sounds. 10-9 Chikadze.

Round 2

Chikadze fakes a low kick and then launches a lead question mark kick that just misses. He follows up with a hard body kick that lands but is caught by Springer. The lightweights trade hooks in close and Springer catches a kick but can’t get a takedown. Chikadze misses an uppercut, and Springer shoots for a takedown. Chikadze tries to counter with a hip toss but can’t get it. They separate and Springer lands a kick to the body of his own. Chikadze continues to work that body kick as Springer attempts to close distance. After a brief lull, Springer explodes for a takedown and gets his foe down near the cage, despite a fence grab from Chikadze. Springer sets up in half guard at the base of the cage with about 1:00 to go in the round. Chikadze creates space with his guard and is able to stand. Springer lands a left hook as they separate. Chikadze misses a cartwheel kick just before the end of the frame. 10-9 Springer.

Round 3

Chikadze connects with a straight left and then follows up with a body kick. Springer answers with a left hook followed by a right low kick. A big right hand from Chikadze just misses. Chikadze attacks Springer’s inside leg with a low kick. Chikadze catches a kick and then sends Springer to his back with a right hand. Springer is back up and the lightweights tie up. Chikadze fails on a hip toss and they’re back in the center of the cage. An ill-advised kick allows Springer to shoot for a takedown, but Chikadze fends it off thanks to a fence grab. After a warning from referee Jason Herzog, Chikadze lands some elbows to the head before Springer gives up on the takedown. With a little more than 1:30 left, Springer times a level change, nearly eating a knee in the process, and gets Chikadze to the mat. Springer passes from half guard to full mount, where he postures up with elbows and punches. Chikadze is in trouble, and he gives up his back. Springer continues to unload before sliding his right arm under his opponent’s neck. Springer has his hooks in and he squeezes the choke, forcing Chikadze to tap out moments later.

The Official Result

Austin Springer def. Giga Chikadze via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R3 4:10

Anthony Hernandez vs. Jordan Wright

Round 1

Wright leads off with a spinning wheel kick that Hernandez is able to block. Hernandez ups the aggression and tees off with punches against the fence. A right hand gets through and Wright is rocked. Hernandez continues to swarm as Wright covers up. Hernandez blasts his foe with a series of right hooks. Wright still is on the defensive as Hernandez lands another combination, punctuated by a left hook, to send his adversary to the canvas. “Fluffy” follows his man to the floor, blasts him with a couple more big right hands before referee Mark Smith intervenes on Wright’s behalf.

The Official Result

Anthony Hernandez def. Jordan Wright via TKO (Punches) R1 0:40

Matt Sayles vs. Yazan Hajeh

Round 1

A counter right hand lands on the button for Sayles and briefly buckles Hajeh’s legs. Moments later another hard right hand connects for Sayles. Hajeh closes the distance and pushes Sayles into the fence. He can’t get a single leg and they separate. They clinch, Sayles sprawls on a takedown and then dodges a cartwheel kick. Sayles lets his man back up and drops him with another right hand on the chin. Sayles is on Hajeh in a hurry, unloading with a furious ground-and-pound assault. Hajeh does his best to defend himself, but Sayles continues to swarm, eventually moving to full mount. Referee Jason Herzog warns Hajeh to defend himself, but Sayles just overwhelms his opponent with a barrage of punches from top position. Finally, Herzog has seen enough, giving Sayles the stoppage victory.

The Official Result

Matt Sayles def. Yazan Hajeh via TKO (Punches) R1 1:57