LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on hand and reported live from Dana White’s Contender Series 56 event on Tuesday.
Dana White’s Contender Series cards see prospects competing for the opportunity to sign a UFC deal, with UFC President Dana White on hand to make the decisions.
In the tenth and final week of season six, 10 fighters vied for their shot at a UFC contract.
In the feature bout, hailed middleweight contender Bo Nickal returned for his second appearance of the season to take on Donovan Beard. Just like his first performance of the season, Nickal (3-0) once again looked a notch above the competition, beating Beard (7-2) in under a minute.
All five bouts resulted in placements, capping off an exciting season for DWCS.
When all was said and done, White renewed contracts with each winner. Mateus Mendonca, Rafael Ramos Estevam, Jack Jenkins, Sam Patterson and Nickal walk away with UFC contracts.
The UFC Apex hosted the card Tuesday, which streamed live on ESPN+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Full results from DWCS 56 include:
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8pm ET)
Bo defeated Nickal. Donovan Beard via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 0:52 Sam Patterson def. Vinicius Cenci via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) – Round 2, 4:18 Jack Jenkins def. Freddy Emiliano Linares via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 4:30 Rafael Ramos Estevam def. Joao Elias via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:25 Mateus Mendonca def. Ashiek Ajim via KO (Punch) – Round 1, 0:48
Read below for more details on each battle.
Ashiek Ajim vs Mateus Mendonca
After an awkward glove touch, the fighters assessed each other and began unleashing the punches. After trading kicks, Mendonca unloaded a lightning-fast two-punch combination that Ajim folded. Mendonca charged in to follow him and landed a crushing left hand that chilled Ajim. What an achievement.
Result: Mateus Mendonca defeated. Ashiek Ajim via KO (Punch) – Round 1, 0:48
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 56: Best Photos
Records: Ashiek Ajim (6-2), Mateus Mendonca (10-0)
Division: bantamweight
Transmission: ESPN+
Referee: MarkSmith
Joao Elias vs Rafael Ramos Estevam
The action started immediately without touching the gloves and without hyper-aggression from Elias. The fight went down and Elias began throwing wild attempts at submission while Estevam stayed calm and worked his way into an advantageous position. The wild scramble on the mat continued, and Elias searched for knee bars and ankle locks. Estevam found himself on top and started raining down hard ground and pounding shots until the end of the round, almost getting the stoppage.
The action was interrupted after an accidental heads-to-head collision in the first few seconds during a takedown sequence. The fight continued and Estevam once again took the lead position on the ground. Hard punches from top position continued until the referee saw enough for the TKO stop.
Result: Rafael defeated Ramos Estevam. Joao Elias via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:25
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 56: Best Photos
Records: Joao Elias (17-4-1), Rafael Ramos Estevam (11-0)
Division: flyweight
Transmission: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Duke
Jack Jenkins vs Freddy Emiliano Linares
The two featherweights met in the middle of the cage and began exchanging punches and kicks. Jenkins secured a takedown moments later and began working from half guard. After a few minutes, Jenkins found the opening to fully mount, but Linares was able to turn around and get the fight back on its feet. A few punches were traded in the closing seconds.
Hard exchanges of blows and knees kicked off the second round. Linares’ takedown attempt was tamped, but Jenkins shot one himself a few seconds later and started working from above again. A slashing elbow opened a nasty gash on Linares’ forehead. Hard punches from Jenkins from the front continued throughout the round.
Linares felt he needed to change the course of the fight and came out aggressively, but Jenkins was ready and brought the fight back to the mat. Jenkins continued his ground and pound attack while stopping Linares from escaping. Referee Mark Smith warned of an interruption and after further punches from Jenkins he ended this bloody fight.
Result: Jack Jenkins defeated. Freddy Emiliano Linares via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 4:30
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 56: Best Photos
Records: Jack Jenkins (10-2), Freddy Emiliano Linares (10-1)
Division: featherweight
Transmission: ESPN+
Referee: MarkSmith
Vinicius Cenci versus Sam Patterson
Another high action start as both fighters immediately proceed to strikes. Cenci pressured Patterson as he circled on the outside before briefly latching on to the cage. Back in space, Cenci continued his forward push, landing big punches to injure Patterson. However, a clinch ensued, giving Patterson time to recover. They split and continued to trade strikes, with Cenci at the helm. Patterson started to take control of the middle of the cage, catching on Cenci and moving, but a takedown stopped his momentum. The round ended with a triangle attempt by Cenci.
Patterson came out in the second with a good rhythm and landed nice shots as Cenci got a little wild with his attacks. A low kick from Patterson briefly interrupted the action. As the fight resumed, Patterson continued to land sharp punches and jumped on a D’Arce choke as Cenci fired. Cenci escaped but found himself under Patterson in half cover. A deep guillotine was briefly imprisoned, but Cenci escaped that attempt as well. However, Patterson took his back and locked in a rear naked choke. There would be no escape this time, and Cenci was forced to knock as he almost walked out.
Result: Sam Patterson defeated. Vinicius Cenci via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:18
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 56: Best Photos
Records: Vinicius Cenci (7-2), Sam Patterson (10-1-1)
Division: Easy
Transmission: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Duke
Bo Nickal vs. Donovan Beard
The final fight of the season began gloveless. Beard offered a couple of early range attacks but landed nothing. A moment later, Nickal charged into a knee tap takedown with a hard left hand. Nickal jumped on a guollitine but switched to a triangle for a under-minute finish. Wow.
Result: Bo defeated Nickal. Donovan Beard via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 0:52
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 56: Best Photos
Records: Bo Nickal (3-0), Donovan Bart (7-2)
Division: medium weight
Transmission: ESPN+
Referee: MarkSmith