Season 6 Week 4 Results | Dana White's Contender Series
The Latest Round Of UFC Hopefuls Go For The Glory Tuesday Night In Las Vegas.
Through the first three weeks of Season 6, 10 competitors have been invited to join the UFC ranks, while middleweight super-prospect Bo Nickal was handed a developmental deal and an invite to compete inside the UFC APEX for a second time later this season.
Contract Winners And Interviews | Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6 Week 4
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Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!
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Contract Winners And Interviews | Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6 Week 4
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This week, five more sets of hopefuls hit the cage hoping to add their names to the collection of athletes matriculating to the biggest stage in the sport. After another night of explosive action, it was another “Everybody Gets a Contract” evening, as UFC President Dana White invited all five victors to compete in the UFC.
Lightweight headliner Esteban Ribovics and Brazilian middleweight Claudio Ribeiro launched themselves onto the UFC roster with quick and vicious first-round finishes, while Jose Johnson’s underdog win and underdog story moved the UFC boss. White also spoke about an ineffable quality in Hailey Cowan, and praised the effort of Serra-Longo Fight Team representative Nazim Sadykhov.
Here’s a look at how things played out.
Dana White's Contender Series Season 6 Week 4 Results
Esteban Ribovics defeats Thomas Paull by KO (punches) at 1:30 of Round 1
Claudio Ribeiro defeats Ivan Rodriguez by KO (left hook) at 0:25 of Round 1
Jose Johnson (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) defeats Jack Cartwright by Unanimous Decision
Nazim Sadykhov defeats Ahmad Hassanzada by KO (right hand) at 1:59 of Round 3
Dana White's Contender Series Season 6 Week 4 Fight Card
Esteban Ribovics defeats Thomas Paull by KO (punches) at 1:30 of Round 1
Esteban Ribovics maintained his perfect finishing rate and unbeaten record, stopping Thomas Paull just 90 seconds into a frenetic final bout on Tuesday night.
(R-L) Esteban Ribovics of Argentina punches Thomas Paull of England in a lightweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season six, week four at UFC APEX on August 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Both men came out slinging hands to start the fight and never really left off the gas. As Paull marched forward, looking to pin Ribovics against the fence, the Argentine unloaded a short right hook inside that landed flush and brought the bout to an instant halt.
Just a tremendous finishing blow and impressive way to close out an action-packed night of fights inside the UFC APEX.
Claudio Ribeiro defeats Ivan Rodriguez by KO (left hook) at 0:25 of Round 1
Claudio Ribeiro put Ivan Valenzuela down with one shot, sending him crashing to the canvas with a thunderous left hook just seconds into the fight.
(R-L) Claudio Ribeiro of Brazil knocks out Ivan Valenzuela of Mexico in a middleweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season six, week four at UFC APEX on August 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Ribeiro spun Valenzuela around with a low kick, and when “Bam Bam” tried to land a spinning backfist as he rotated through, BAM!
Left hook. Chin. Canvas. Goodnight.
The fourth fastest finish in the history of Dana White’s Contender Series pushes Ribeiro’s record to 10-2, and will likely earn the Brazilian a call to the UFC.
Jose Johnson (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) defeats Jack Cartwright by Unanimous Decision
Cage Warriors bantamweight champion Jack Cartwright and DWCS veteran Jose Johnson battled tooth-and-nail in a tremendously entertaining back-and-forth battle in the middle of Tuesday’s card, with Johnson ultimately emerging victorious.
(R-L) Jose Johnson elbows Jack Cartwright of England in a bantamweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season six, week four at UFC APEX on August 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Cartwright won the pure grappling exchanges, doing a good job of getting inside and putting Johnson on the deck, but got a little too aggressive in his pursuit of submissions at times, leading to his losing position. Conversely, Johnson did well to do damage whenever he could, attacking with body shots and elbows in fits and starts, finishing the first and third rounds in mount.
Each man showed grit and tenacity battling through some tough moments and tricky spots, but in the end, it was Johnson’s overall activity and the impact of his blows that earned him the nod.
There was more blood spilled in the second fight, as well, as Hailey Cowan cut Claudia Leite with a short, sharp elbow when the duo was pressed up against the fence early in the opening round. The Brazilian hung tough, dealing with the blood and Cowan’s control for the remainder of the round before coming out aggressively to start the second.
(L-R) Hailey Cowan punches Claudia Leite of Brazil in a bantamweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season six, week four at UFC APEX on August 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Early in the round, Leite showed her grappling prowess, winning a scramble to put Cowan on her back before controlling the frame, threatening with an arm triangle choke and staying one step ahead of her American counterpart on the canvas.
Clinched up early in the third, Cowan tossed Leite to the canvas, bashing away with short punches and elbows for the first three minutes of the frame before getting a little too aggressive and getting reversed. Cowan was largely able to neutralize Leite from the bottom, with the Brazilian spending too much time working to control position rather than attacking and doing damage.
When the scores were totalled, Cowan came out on the happy side of the split decision verdict, earning her second straight victory and moving to 7-2 overall, while Leite falls to 7-3 with the loss.
Nazim Sadykhov defeats Ahmad Hassanzada by KO (right hand) at 1:59 of Round 3
Nazim Sadykhov wasted no time getting this week’s action under way, hurting Ahmad Hassanzada with the first kick he threw and landed just three seconds into the bout. From there, he put Hassanzada on the deck, cutting him with elbows before controlling things for the remainder of the round.
Nazim Sadykhov of Russia reacts after knocking out Ahmad Hassanzada of Afghanistan in a lightweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season six, week four at UFC APEX on August 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Hassanzada showed grit in surviving through to the end of the round, and tried to work his way back into the fight in the second, turning to his wrestling, only to be stuffed and stung with short elbows and punches to the side of the head by Sadykhov. Late in the frame, the Team Serra-Longo representative hurt Hassanzada with another body shot, and he came out in the third looking to chase down a finish.
Two minutes into the round, Sadykhov dug in with a right hand to the body, following it with an overhand right that landed flush and sent Hassanzada to the canvas.
Just a huge finish and strong overall showing from the 28-year-old, who moves to 7-1 with the victory.
