Dana White's Contender Series 2023 Week 3 Play-by-Play and Results

145: Robbie Ring (6-0) vs. Luis Pajuelo (7-1)

Round 1

Jacob Montalvo will oversee the first fight of the evening. Ring begins things with an outside leg kick. Ring sticks a jab, and then Pajuelo makes him stumble with a heavy leg kick. Ring catches a low kick and counters with an overhand. Ring backs up his foe with a combination and then follows him into the fence with a knee. Pajuelo waves him on and they trade more punches. Ring is throwing combinations well early. Pajuelo walks forward and trades with Ring. It’s a firefight early, but Pajuelo buckles Ring with a clean straight shot, who shoots out of desperation. Pajuelo punches the ribs of his opponent but then gets his ankle caught, allowing Ring to land the takedown. Pajuelo scoots to the fence and works his way to a knee. The Pervuian punches the ribs as Ring works to get him back down. Pajuelo stands and lands a knee in close. They separate and get back to trading. Pajuelo works the body and head before making Ring stumble again with a calf kick. Ring doesn’t like it and shoots again as he’s knocked off balance. Pajuelo stuffs it and lands some ground-and-pound from top position. From half guard, Pajuelo lands a vicious knee to the body. Ring rolls over in agony and Pajuelo lands a few more punches and hammerfists before Montalvo steps in to wave off the bout.

The Result

Luis Pajuelo def. Robbie Ring via TKO (Knee to the Body and Punches) R1 3:43

115: Isis Verbeek (5-1) vs. Josefine Lindgren Knutsson (5-0)

Round 1

Mark Smith is in charge of this strawweight contest. After no action for 40 seconds, Knutsson lands clean with a lead leg head kick. Verbeek stumbles backward and Knutsson drives her adversary into the fence. Knuttson hooks the leg and plants Verbeek on the mat, but the Dutchwoman quickly hustles to her feet. Knutsson stays busy with knees in close quarters. Verbeek slips to the mat as they separate and Knutsson closes the distance quickly, moving right back into the clinch. Knutsson backs off and whiffs on a punch. Knutsson moves in with a 1-2 and they clinch. Verbeek lands a knee before her opponent shoves her back into the cage. Knutsson separates with a spinning elbow. Knutsson leaps in with a knee and they clinch again. They trade knees in close, jockeying for position. Verbeek gets off the fence and Knutsson just missses an elbow on the break. They collide into the clinch again, and Knutsson overpowers her adversary back into the wire. That’s where the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Verbeek opens with an inside leg kick, then misses on a high kick. Knutsson backs up her foe with a head kick. Verbeek misses a jumping switch kick, and Knutsson answers with a kick to the body. Knutsson follows a kick to the body with a clinch, and she lands a nice left elbow in tight. Knutsson grinds Verbeek into the fence, landing a knee to the body. Knutsson has double underhooks now, but they fire away on the break, with Knutsson landing. Another lead leg high kick connects for Knutsson. A push kick backs up Verbeek. Verbeek is struggling to find openigns for offense at range. Verbeek leaps in and misses a knee but lands a right at the end of a combination. Verbeek blitzes forward with more punches, then moves out of range. Another onward rush leads to an exchange where both women land. Knutsson counters with her lead hand, and then forces the clinch with less than a minute to go. They trade knees in close quarters. Knutsson leands a left hook on the break and then forces the clinch shortly thereafter. Knutsson ends the frame controlling position from the clinch.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Verbeek moves in, lands a knee in the clinch and moves away. Knutsson connects with a lead left hook. Verbeek blitzes forward and lands some hooks in an exchange. Knutsson slips on a spinning kick and pops right back up. Verbeek moves in and lands a left. Another exchange ensues. A counter right by Knutsson backs up Verbeek. Verbeek lands to the body in an exchange. They trade kicks, and Verbeek slips to the canvas. Knutsson lands heavy standing-to-ground strikes before diving into her foe’s full guard. Verbeek works her way to the fence. Knutsson secures half guard against the cage. Verbeek uses her guard to create space and stand. They’re at range with 1:15 to go. Verbeek counters a Knutsson kick with two left hands. This time it’s Verbeek forcing the clinch. Knutsson thinks about a guillotine and then lets it go. Verbeek breaks free and eats a lead leg head kick. Verbeek counters a spinning attack with a straight left.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Knutsson (30-27 Knutsson)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Verbeek (29-28 Knutsson)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Knutsson (30-27 Knutsson)

The Result

Josefine Lindgren Knutsson def. Isis Verbeek via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

170: Kaik Brito (16-4) vs. Oban Elliott (8-2)

Round 1

Jacob Montalvo gets the assignment for this welterweight scrap. Bito is aggressive early missing a couple rights but connecting on two leg kicks. Elliott kicks the body, and Brito lands a thudding body kick of his own. Elliott gets a takedown on a Brito kick, but the Brazilian scrambles up. Elliott secures a body lock, lifts his foe and slams him down to the mat. Eliottlands some ground-and-pound before Brito creates space with his guard and they stand. Brito pressures with punches and Elliottt answers with a left hook. Another left hook lands for Elliott. Brito makes his man stumble with a low kick, but the Welshman stuns the Brazlian with punches. Elliott slams a body kick off Brito’s forearms. Elliott has a high kick blocked but the body kick is true. Bruito answers by just missing a high kick. Brito wings heavy punches but can’t connect. A big right finds the mark for Brito, but Elliott seems to be OK. Elliott probes with his jab. Another right gets through for Brito, but Elliott gets a slingle leg moments leater. Brito is up quickly and he clinches with Elliott, landing a knee. They break before the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Brito with an inside leg kick and Elliott doubles up on his jab. Brito wings heavy hooks as he pressures forward. Elliott has nice timing on a takedown, but he can only push Brito into the fence. The Brazilian circles off the cage. Elliott sticks a jab, then lands a low kick. Brito misses the mark on a capoeira kick, and moments later Elliott secures a takedown. Brito stands and then jumps guard for a guillotine. Elliott is able to pass off to the side and escape. Brito explodes to his feet and then catches Elliott with a big right hand. Elliott is hurt and he’s telegraphing takedowns as Brito stalks him. Brito tags him against the fence as Elliott drops low for a halfhearted shot. Brito is looking for the kill, and a straight right lands against the cage. Thhe Brzilian follows it with a knee and more heavy hooks. Elliott wobbles drunkenly backward, but Brito misses the mark. Elliott keeps stumbling around, but he’s also fighting back, winging punches. Brito gets Elliott’s back in a scramble, and he lands some hammerfists. Brito secures an armbar in the final few seconds. It’s tight, but Elliott is saved by the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brito
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Brito
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Brito

Round 3

Elliott goes upstairs with a kick. Brito answers with a spinning backfist. Elliott moves in and lands a jab. They trade body kicks at range. Another body kick lands for Elliott. Elliott stays busy with his jab. Another heavy body kick lands for Elliiott. That one might have hurt, and Elliott lands his right hand and a 1-2. Elliott jabs again, then easily evades a head kick. Another hard body kicks lands for Elliott, and Brito slips after a spinning back fist. Elliott follows him to the floor and unloads some ground-and-pound. Brito traps Elliott’s right arm with his guard, but it’s only temporary. Elliott frees his arms and drops elbows. Elliott remains heavy on top with 1:00 to go. More elbows land for the Welshman. Elliott stands and unleashes a few standing-to-ground punches before diving back into full guard. There, he lands more elbows. Elliott stands agan, hovering over Brito and landing heavy shots. Montalvo takes a close look, but Brito survives to the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Elliott (29-28 Brito)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Elliott (28-27 Brito)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Elliott (29-28 Brito)

The Result

Oban Elliott def. Kaik Brito via Majority Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28) R3 5:00

185: Eli Aronov (6-0) vs. Zachary Reese (5-0)

Round 1

Mark Smith will be the third man in the cage for the evening’s final bout. Reese kicks the body and then slips on a head kick. Aronov lands a couple hard low kicks. Reese slips again on a flying knee attempt. Reese lands a right hook followed by a push kick. Aronov blitezes forward with heavy punches. Aronov catches a front kick, dumps Reese on his back and dives in with heavy ground-and-pound. Aronov gets careless, however, and Reese frames an armbar from his back. Aronov appears to be on the way to extracting himself, but by posturing up to land a punch, he finds himself trapped in the maneuver once again. This time Aronov has no choice but to tap to the armbar.

The Result

Zachary Reese def. Eli Aronov via Submission (Armbar) R1 1:14