Dana White’s Contender Series 2021 Week 9 Play-by-Play & Results

Olivier Murad (146) vs. Xie Bin (146)

Round 1

Murad probes with a high kick that misses that mark. Muradpresses the action with left hands and they’re brawling early. Murad is doing most of the damage, getting in Bin’s face landing left hands and knees in close quarters. Murad lands a right but then slips and Bin scrambles into top position. Bin is working from inside his opponent’s full guard, and he doesn’t appear concerned with passing to a better position. Bin drops a couple right hands from top position. Bin stands, throws a punch and backs away, and Murad is up. murad stalks Bin and lands a couple stinging lefts. A left cross by Murad stops Bin in his tracks. They tie up and Murad lands a knee to the head before separating. A jab lands for Bin and Murad rushes forward. Bin changes levels and plants his foe on the canvas. Bin immediately moves to side control. Bin looks for a crucifix but Murad quickly frees his arm. Bin drops a couple punches before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Murad
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Murad
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Murad

Round 2

Murad connects with an inside leg kick, then buckles Bin with a left cross. Bin recovers quickly and they tie up. They separate in short order and Bin touches Murad with a straight right. Murad fires off a pair off hard left hands and Bin’s nose is bleeding. Nonetheless, Bin shoots and takes Murad down. The Chinese featherweight passes to half guard, landing short punches to the ribs. Murad reverses into top position and quickly stands. They are back in the center of the Octagon. Murad wades forward and shrugs off a clinch attempt by Bin. The pace has slowed somewhat and both fighters aare struggling to find the range. Bin shoots behind a superman punch, then pulls Murad off the fence for a takedown. Bin is in side control with 45 seconds to go in the round. Bin goes knee on belly and peppers Murad with right hands. Bin ends the round with a couple heavy elbows before the end of the period.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bin
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Bin
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Bin

Round 3

This time it’s Murad who takes his man down with a body lock, but Bin hustles right back up. Murad appears to land a glancing step-in knee as Bin shoots, but the Chinese fighter is unfazed. Bin remains diligent in his pursuit of the takedown, and he gets Murad down in the center of the cage. Murad is using a closed guard, while Bin periodically creates enough room to land elbows. Mark Smith urges Bin to work from top position. Murad creates some space with his legs, but Bin briefly takes his back before regaining top position in a scramble. Once again, Bin is working from inside the full guard of his opponent. Bin lands a pair of right hands and an elbow as they slide toward the fence. As Murad attempts to scramble, Bin increases the intensity of his punches before threatening with a brabo choke. Murad demonstrates some good athleticisim by exploding to his feet and they’re standing with a little more than a minute to go. Murad touches his foe with a two-punch combo but there’s not much behind it. Bin lands a kick to the body, then blocks a high kick. They’re trading again, and Murad is landing some heavy punches in the bout’s waning moments. Nothing is significant enough to really hurt Bin, and we’re going to the judges.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bin (29-28 Bin)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Bin (29-28 Bin)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Bin (29-28 Bin)

The Official Result

Olivier Murad def. Xie Bin via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Manuel Roberto Torres (155.5) vs. Kolton Englund (155.5)

Round 1

Torres flicks out a jab and then lands a calf kick. A front kick to the face lands for Torres. Torres is blending his straight punches and calf kicks early and he backs up Englund with a front kick. A two-punch combination from Torres backs up Englund. Englund jabs forward, but Torres sticks him with a jab of his own. A left hook lands for the Mexican, and Englund is struggling to handle the reach of his opponent. Englund shoots for a takedown and drives Torres into the cage. Torres turns him around and lands a knee to the midsection. They separate and Englund appears to be struggling after an apparent eye poke from Torres that occurred during the break. Herb Dean won’t give Englund a reprieve, however, and Torres takes advantage. The Mexican rushes forward, backs Englund up with a head kick and drops him with a two-piece combination. An ensuing barrage of elbows and punches from top position forces Dean to step in and wave off the contest. Replays seem to confirm that Torres was aided by an eye poke, and the combatants discuss the foul before the final verdict is announced. Torres' victory will be accompanied by controversy.

The Official Result

Manuel Roberto Torres def. Kolton Englund via TKO (Punches and Elbows) R1 2:10

Qihui Yan (125) vs. Karine Silva (125)

Round 1

Silva rocks Yan with a front quick and a right cross as they meet in the center of the cage. Yan rushes forward behind a body kick and she fires off a combination before moving away. Silva clips her foe with a right cross. Yan catches a kick from Silva and capitalizes with a takedown. Yan is heavy on top, but Silva is active from her back, utilizing a rubber guard while landing short punches. More elbows and punches from Silva off her back, and the blows appear to have cut the Chinese flyweight. Yan stands and kicks at the legs of her opponent. She appears briefly bothered by the cut before diving back into Silva’s guard. Yan postures up and lands some ground-and-pound. Silva works her legs up high in an attempt to contorl Yan, who postures up and again drops a series of punches. Yan drives a couple short elbows into the mug of her foe. Silva hunts for a gogoplata from her back with 25 seconds left. Yan escapes and drops more punches from above. Yan ends the round throwing punche from above.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Yan
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Silva

Round 2

Replays show that the cut actually occurred due to an accidental clash of heads in Round 1. Silva is throwing kicks liberally at the outset of the period and backs her foe up with a front kick. A left cross rocks Yan, who is looking to close the distance. Silva shoots from far away and Yan sprawls and then attempts to spin out of danger. Silva stays with it and shoves Yan into the fence. Yan breaks free and lands a big left hand. They tie up and Yan shoves her foe backward. Yan lands a left hook as she pressures Silva into the fence. Moments later, Yan executes a big slam takedown but leaves her neck exposed. Yan lands in the full guard of her opponent, completely ensared in Silva’s guillotine choke. It’s extremely tight and Yan has no choice but to tap in a matter of seconds.

The Official Result

Karine Silva def. Qihui Yan via Submission (Guillotine Choke) R2 1:44

Javid Basharat (136) vs. Oron Kahlon (139: Missed Weight)

Round 1

Basharat with a low kick early. Another calf kick lands hard for Basharat. Kahlon moves forward and lands a body kick. Basharat pressures and tags his foe with a jab. Kahlon answers with a solid kick, but Basharat takes him down. Basharat is on top in half guard, working to pass. He drives an elbow to the body, then lands an elbow to the head. The Afghan fighter continues to land ground-and-pound at various levels from half guard. Kahlon recovers full guard, but Basharat is still in control, and he cuts Kahlon below the left eye with an elbow. Basharat is imposing his will her, and he tees off with hammerfists to the head. Basharat is working diligently to pass to mount. Heavy ground-and-pound continues to land for Basharat. Herb Dean is taking a closer look as Kahlon absorbs big punches and elbows. Basharat lands some thudding punches to the body. Kahlon continues to scramble on the ground and he threatens with a leg lock. Basharat escapes and dives back into top position. Kahlon is trying to control the wrist, but Basharat breaks free. Basharat lands more offense from above until the horn in a dominant round.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Basharat
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Basharat
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-8 Basharat

Round 2

Basharat opens with a left jab-right uppercut combination. A straight right finds the mark for Kahlon, but Basharat answers with a heavy body shot. Basharat kicks at the calf again. A step-in knee backs up Kahlon. He pressures forwrad, slips on a jumping knee, then spins Kahlon around and takes his back during a scramble. Kahlon scrambles up and grabs the fence to stop a takedown. Herb Dean issues a hard warning. Basharat dumps Kahlon down anyway moments later. Basharat pulls Kahlon’s legs out and passes to side control. He goes knee on belly before Kahlon nearly reverses into top position. Basharat maintains top position, but he’s in half guard now. Not nearly as much ground-and-pound this frame from Basharat, as Kahlon is holding him close from his back. Basharat drops a couple hard elbows from above. Basharat lands a pair of punches to the body, then moves to side control and pins Kahlon’s left arm down, landing some elbows before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Basharat
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Basharat
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Basharat

Round 3

Basharat begins the final round with a hard calf kick to his foe’s lead leg. A spinning back kick to the gut backs up Kahlon. Basharat is aggressive early, and he punches the body of his opponent. Basharat is talking to Kahlon, and he tags him with a jab. A jab and a pair of low kicks connect for BAsharat. Kahlon attempts to jab the body then comes up short on a combination. Another low kick sends Kahlon to his back, and Basharat is in full guard. Basharat stands, then advances to half guard. Basharat goes to work with elbows to the head and body, and Kahlon can’t do much to stop it. More elbows and punches from Basharat. Just when it appears Basharat is about to end the fight with ground-and-pound, Kahlon scrambles just enough to get out of danger. Basharat goes knee on belly and then wraps up a headlock. Basharat secures a guillotine and then eventually steps into full mount. Basharat applies the squeeze, nods and Kahlon taps out shortly thereafter.

The Official Result

Javid Basharat def. Oron Kahlon via Submission (Guillotine Choke) R3 4:12

Cristian Quinonez (135.5) vs. Long Xiao (136)

Round 1

Quinonez kicks the inside legof his opponent. A jab finds the range for the Mexican and he follows up with a pair of leg kicks. Xiao lands a hard leg kick of his own, but Quinonez answers with a right cross. Quinonez lands a combination and Xiao urges him on. Xiao isn’t landing mmuch outside of leg kicks. Quinonez lands several jabs followed by a right corss. Quinonez catches a kick and takes his man down. Quinonez goes to side control, then gets a headlock, but Xiao scrambles up. Xiao moves forward and lands a two-punch combination. A spinning wheel kick misses the mark for Quinonez. Quinonez angles out and lands a right hand. Xiao tries to close the distance for a takedown and absorbs some knees in the clinch for his efforts. Quinonez lands a left hook followed by a straight right to back Xiao up. Xiao punches his way into the clinch, then lands a right that wobbles Quinonez on the break. Xiao is still trying to force the issue, and the bantamweight trade punches in close quarters before the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez

Round 2

Quinonez lands a glancing head kick early. Xiao pressures forward and ends a combination with a hard leg kick. Another low kick for Xiao. Xiao works behind his jab. An inside leg kick lands for the Chinese fighter. Xiao is clearly the aggressor so far in this round. Xiao keeps the pressure on, but Quinonez shucks off a level change. Quinonez moves forward and lands a straight right. A left jab snaps Xiao’s head back. A counter right hand by Xiao wobbles Quinonez for a moment. He seems to have recovered, but Xiao is still dictating the tempo. Xiao with a pair of low kicks. Quinonez lands a jab and then clips Xiao as he attempts a takedown. A jab by Quinonez stings Xiao. Xiao walks right into an uppercut form Quinonez and his mouthpiece flies out. A right hand by the Mexican sits him down and Xiao shoots out of desperation. Xiao is bleeding from his mouth as he eats a jab. They clinch late in the round, then separate before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez

Round 3

Quinonez opens with a jab. Xiao attacks with a body kick and then eludes a head kick from his adversary. Quinonenz counters with a right hand, but Xiao answers with a left. A right uppercut to the chin backs up Xiao and Quinonez follows up with a series of jabs. Xiao blocks a body kick and answers with a leg kick. Quinonez lands a long right hand. Another straight right lands clean for Quinonez. Quinonez with an inside low kick as he circles out of danger. Xiao is wearing the damage as he chases Quinonez around the cage. Quinonez is mixing up his offense while avoiding most of Xiao’s advances. Quinonez misses a hook but immediately transitions into a thudding spinning back kick to the midsection. Xiao shakes it off. Quinonez lands a right, then dodges a Xiao high kick. Quinonez avoids his opponent’s last rush as time expires.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Quinonez (30-27 Quinonez)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Xiao (29-28 Quinonez)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Xiao (29-28 Quinonez)

The Official Result

Cristian Quinonez def. Long Xiao via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Jansey Silva (185.5) vs. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev (186)

Round 1

Silva lands a heavy inside leg kick. Omargadzhiev feints a spinning attack. They trade in close quarters and Omargadzhiev executes a perfectly timed level change for a takedown. The Russian is in half guard, landing short punches to the side of the head. Silva is attempting to use butterfly hooks, and Omargadzhiev drops more ground-and-pound. Silva tries to hold Omargadzhiev to force a standup. Omargadzhiev is doing enough to maintain the position, however, creating space for periodic punches and elbows. Omargadzhiev stands and just misses eating a devastating upkick before setting back up in full guard. Silva with a few slashing elbows from his back. Omargadzhiev suddenly decides to sit back for a leg lock, and Silva attempts to capitalize by punishing his foe with punches. The Brazilian isn’t out of the woods yet, and Omargadzhiev is able to isolate and extend his Silva’s leg the opposite direction from where it’s supposed to go for a kneebar. Silva grimaces in pain and quickly asks out of the fight. The good news is Silva is on his feet, albeit limping, for the announcement of the official result.

The Official Result

Gadzhi Omargadzhiev def. Jansey Silva via Submission (Kneebar) R1 4:19