Dana White's Contender Series 2023 Week 2 Play-by-Play and Results

Cameron Smotherman (136) vs. Charalampos Grigoriou (136)

Round 1

Herb Dean gets the evening’s first assignment. smotherman fires off a jab. Grigoriou answers with a glancing spinning back kick to the gut. Smotherman with a nice body-head combination. Another multi-punch combination lands for Smotherman, who looks comfortable at the outset. Grigoriou moves forward and follows a left hook that clears his opponent’s guard with a straight right that lands on the button, dropping Smotherman. The Serra-Longo fighter follows his man to the mat and dives forward with a hammerfist as Smotherman attempts to scoot toward the fence. Girgoriou then unloads with approximately 10 unanswered punches on the canvas before Dean steps in to wave off the bout. Smotherman protests the stoppage, but it doesn’t matter. This one is over.

The Result

Charalampos Grigoriou def. Cameron Smotherman via TKO (Punches) R1 1:00

Eduarda Moura (115.5) vs. Janaina Silva (114.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS:

Round 1

Blake Grice will oversee this strawweight pairing. Moura lands a couple punches before changing levels for a relatively easy takedown. Moura hovers over her foe before moving into Silva’s full guard. Silva looks to prevent damage holding her opponent close, but Moura connects with a short elbow. Moura slides Silva to the fence, slamming her several times on the journey. Moura passes to half guard and then stands as Silva looks to stay active with her guard. Moura works from half guard, with Silva’s right hip turned over. Silva gets her guard back but Moura steps over on the other side, and she looks to stay busy with ground-and-pound. A few shots are getting through now, and Moura steps over to side control, nearly securing a crucifix. Moura goes to mount, postures up and rains down punches before Silva gives up her back. Moura capitalizes immediately, locking in a rear-naked choke. A few seconds later, Silva taps out.

The Result

Eduarda Moura def. Janaina Silva via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R1 4:00

Hyder Amil (146) vs. Emrah Sonmez (147)

Round 1

Herb Dean is in charge of the featherweights. Sonmez flicks out a jab and then tags Amil with a right. Amil answers with a combination before they clinch. Amil with an elbow and a knee in close quarters. Sonmez looks to execute a throw but Amil defends. Amil then knees the groin of his opponent and time is called. Sonmez recovers in short order and the bout resumes. Sonmez with a kick to the body. Amil sits Sonmez down with a 1-2 and then looks to take the back in a scramble. Sonmez recovers, hustles to his feet and drops for a takedown against the fence. As Sonmez clings to a leg, Amil attempts to grab the neck. Sonmez is dogged in his pursuit of the takedown as Amil defends. Sonmez continues to chain together takedown attempts, and he finally gets Amil down. Amil scrambles up and Sonmez touches the chin with a knee. Sonmez continues to press his man into the fence, but Amil lands a knee and separates. Sonmez times a takedown perfectly and lands a couple nice elbows. AMil scrambles toward the fence and stands, but it’s another mat return for Sonmez. Amil stands and Sonmez lunges in with a knee before dropping for a takedown. Amil gets some space and they trade before Sonmez shoots. Amil lands on top with less than a minute to go. Amil hunts for a rear-naked choke as Sonmez attempts to stand. Sonmez reverses position before the horn and lands some impactful elbows before the end of the period.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Amil moves forward and lands a body kick before Sonmez shoots for a takedown. Amil defends the try but Sonmez remains relentless. Sonmez gives up on a takedown and goes to his back, firing off upkicks as Emil takes top position. Sonmez is on his knees , carrying Amil’s weight. Sonmez grabs a leg and looks for an unorthodox takedown. This allows him to reverse position against the fence. He locks his hands and now Amil is on the defensive. Amil scrambles and escapes a Sonmez single leg. Sonmez goes right back to wrestling, but Amil turns him into the cage. They separate and Sonmez lands a spinning back elbow before shooting again. Amil scrambles to the back, then moves to distance. Sonmez is slow to stand, and then whiffs on a spinning attack. Amil is able to get the suddenly fatigued Sonmez down near the fence. Amil gets full mount, so Sonmez turns over to give up his back. With Sonmez on a knee, Amil wraps up the neck, but Sonmez scrambles away and reverses. Amil escapes, resets and defends another Sonmez takedown. With Sonmez clinging to a leg, Amil ends the round landing short punches to the ribs.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Amil moves forward and lands a combination to the body. Sonmez lands some shots of his own before changing levels. He pushes Amil into the fence, and Amil hunts for the neck. Sonmez drops to his knees and Amil squeezes on a choke. He loosens the grip and lands a knee. They go back to range briefly before Sonmez drives Amil into the fence. More exhausting scrambling, and they separate from the clinch before Sonmez shoots again. Amil stuffs it and spins to the back. Sonmez escapes a choke and then somehow executes another takedown. Amil gets back up and Sonmez goes low for a takedown, and he dumps Amil near the fence. Amil stands and escapes. Both men are exhausted. Amil defends an initial takedown, but Sonmez scrambles to a front headlock position. Amil frees himself from a takedown and eludes a slow motion rolling thunder kick. Sonmez is back to grabbing a leg. They stand briefly before Amil sprawls on a takedown. Amil lands some short hammerfists before Sonmez counters with another unorthodox takedown. Amil connects on a short uppercut with Sonmez still on his knees. They stand and Sonmez misses a spinning kick. A little bit more grappling and scrambling and this exhausting bout draws to a close.

Sherdog Scores

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

The Result

Hyder Amil def. Emrah Sonmez via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Ibo Aslan (205.5) vs. Paulo Renato Jr. (205)

Round 1

Blake Grice will officiate this light heavyweight duel. Aslan throws the first low kick of the fight. Renato Jr. connects with a left hook during a measured opening minute. Aslan lands a jab and Reanto Jr. counters a low kick. They trade heavy leather briefly in close before moving back to range . A right gets through for Aslan and then he follows with a body kick, but Renato Jr. counters nicely. They get back to trading furiously in the pocket and Aslan puts Renato Jr. on wobbly legs with a right hook around the guard. The Turkish fighter stays on the attack, and he continues to land heavy alternating punches to the head as a reeling Renato Jr. crumbles to the floor. A few more standing-to-ground shots seal the victory for Aslan, who has his 12th career KO/TKO victory.

The Result

Ibo Aslan def. Paulo Renato Jr. via TKO (Punches) R1 2:22

Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady (155.5) vs. George Hardwick (155)

Round 1

Herb Dean will be the third man in the cage for the evening’s featured bout. Hardwick takes the center of the cage early. A right hand gets through for Al-Selwady, and Hardwick is stunned momentarily. Al-Selwady with an inside leg kick. Another right gets through for Al-Selwady, who lands another inside low kick. The side of Hardwick’s face is already red. Al-Selwady is more active early, throwing punches and mixing in kicks to the legs and body. Hardiwck with a left hook, but Al-Selwady answers with a combination. Hardwick with a body kick. Both men land straight punches. A jab lands for Al-Selwady. Hardwick sticks a jab. Hardwick blocks a high kick and counters with a left hook. Hardwick digs to the body. Al-Selwady connects with a right. Al-Selwady counters a bodt shot with a multi punch combination. Hardwick moves foward and they trade in close, but it’s Hardwick who finishes with a high kick. Al-Selwady ducks under a high kick but Hardwick ends the round with a leg kick.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Hardwick lands a right during an early exchange. Al-Selwady with a two-punch combo. Hardwick lands a stiff jab. They trade in close and Hardwick lands a counter left to the body. Al-Selwady shoots for a takedown. Hardwick defends but Al-Selwady lands a right after they break. Al-Selwady continues to move well and fire his right hand. Hardwick times a right hand. Al-Selwady is countered by a Hardwick right following a low kick. Al-Selwady with a solid leg kick. A couple of rights land for Al-Selwady, who then throws a body kick. A 1-2 lands for Al-Selwady. Hardwick slips on a front kick and Al-Selwady hustles into top position. Al-Selwady gets past the butterfly guard and into Hardwick’s full guard. Hardwick scrambles up with about 1:10 to go. A left to the body lands for Hardwick, but Al-Selwady counters with a jab. Hardwick with a hard body kick as Al-Selwady circles away. Al-Selwady is still throwing with power and he lands a front kick to the midsection. Al-Selwady lands a right during an exchange, and he also finds the range with a hard body kick. Al-Selwady dodges a couple head kicks before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Al-Selwady lands a hard inside low kick, and he continues with his movement on the outside. They clinch and Al-Selwady lands some short uppercuts. Al-Selwady with a big body kick and Hardwick answers with a leg kick. Al-Selwady fakes a shot and lands a right. Al-Selwady rifles a jab through Hardwick’s guard. A right lands for Hardwick, but Al-Selwady answers immediately. Al-Selwady is still landing in greater volume while doing a nice job a feinting shots to keep Hardwick off balance. Hardwick is landing as well, but his volume doesn’t match Al-Selwady’s. Al-Selwady snaps Hardwick’s head back with a right. Hardwick covers up and moves backward a little bit, so Al-Selwady shoves him into the fence. Al-Selwady turns off the fence and lands a knee in the clinch before the fighters separate. Al-Selwady gets back to landing combinations. Hardwick misses a leaping knee. Hardwick wades forward with hooks and Al-Selwady responds with a takedown with less than a minute to go. Hardwick can’t scramble up so he throws an elbow from his back. Hardwick clears space with his guard, but Al-Selwady is right back on him as soon as he stands. The fight ends with Hardwick defending with his back to the cage.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Al-Selwady (30-27 Al-Selwady)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Al-Selwady (30-27 Al-Selwady)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Al-Selwady (30-27 Al-Selwady)

The Result

Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady def. George Hardwick via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00