Dana White's Contender Series 2023 Week 5 Play-by-Play and Results

Rainn Guerrero (125.5) vs. Dione Silva Barbosa de Lima (125.5)

Round 1

Mark Smith gets the first officiating assignment of the card. De Lima charges forward and lands a right hand. Guerrero answers with a right hand of her own. De Lima connects on a body kick but loses her balance, and Guerrero takes advantage, executing a takedown near the fence. Guerrero passes to half guard, but de Lima reverses into top position. The Brazilian transitions to the back, but she positions herself off to the side, looking for a belly-down armbar. Guerrero keeps her composure and frees her limb. They scramble to their feet but de Lima closes the distance in short order and attaches herself to Guerrero. De Lima controls the clinch and then tosses Guerrero to the canvas, landing in a side headlock while trapping Guerrero’s arm with her legs. Guerrero grimaces at the torque on her arm, but she’s able to free herself and reverse into top position. Guerrero is now working from inside de Lima’s full guard, looking for ground-and-pound openings. De Lima is active from her back, as she deftly frames an armbar. It’s deep, and it quickly elicits a verbal submission from Guerrero.

The Result

Dione Silva Barbosa de Lima def. Rainn Guerrero via Submission (Armbar) R1 4:35

Jean Silva (145.5) vs. Kevin Vallejos (145)

Round 1

Kevin MacDonald will oversee this featherweight contest. Vallegjos opens things up with an inside leg kick. Silva has a high kick blocked. A hard body kick lands for Silva and Vallejos misses the follow up counter right hand. Vallejos stalks Silva near the fence, and the Brazilian circles out. A short right lands for Silva, and Vallejos answers with a low kick and a body shot. Vallejos continues to stalk his man, and Silva fires off a front kick. Both men land in an exchnage, and Vallejos keeps his momentum going with a 1-2. Silva leaps in wildly with a leaping knee and Vallejos catches him with a right hand as a result. Silva flicks out a jab that lands. Silva lands a right hook as Vallejos moves forward, and the Argentina native acknowledges it. A straight left gets through for Silva. Vallejos leaps in with a right hand followed by a body kick and Silva extends his palms outward as if it didn't affect him. Vallejos pressures with a nice body-head punching combination. Another leaping attack comes up short for Silva, but he fires off an overhand right. Silva is showboating a little bit, and he changes levels late, Vallejos defends and backs his man into the fence, dodging a chopping elbow before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Silva lands a right but Vallejos knocks him backward with a counter. Silva gets aggressive with a step-in elbow at close range. Silva slips on a leaping knee and Vallejos lands a combination with his foe backed up to the cage. Silva lands another elbow with his lead hand, and Vallejos appears to have a cut on the bridge of his nose. Vallejos with an uppercut and kick to the body. They trade willingly in the pocket, and both men land. An outside leg kick lands for Vallejos and Silva fires off a nice combination. Silva goes body-head with a combination, and the body shot echoes in the venue. Silva goes back to the elbow, and Vallejos lands a right. Silva pumps his jab in the face of his foe. Silva feints and draws big reactions from Vallejos. Silva tees off with a multi-punch volley and he goes to work near the fence. A big knee lands and buckles Vallejos. Silva keeps the pressure on his bloodied foe, and he attacks with elbows and winging punches. A head kick by Silva is just blocked, but Siva pours it on, landing more power shots as he backs Vallejos into the fence. Vallejos blocks another head kick in the waning seconds and fires off a combination before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Vallejos lands a left to the body followed by a right kick also to the body of Silva. Silva’s body language exudes confidence, and he mixes up his attacks with punches and kicks. They clinch and Silva lands a knee but Vallejos responds with punches. Silva follows a jab with a clubbing standing hammerfist. Vallejos closes the distance and looks for a takedown near the fence, but Silva shucks him off, firing another kick upstairs. Vallejos works a combination as Silva maintains a high guard. Vallejos eats a big righ hand from Silva. Vallejos digs to the body in close quarters and Silva responds in turn. Silva is landing with the more significant power, and he backs up Vallejos with an uppercut and body kick. Vallejos lands a solid counter. Silva steps in with the elbow, and Vallejos tags the Brazilian with a combo. Silva wings overhand rights and then shoots near the fence. Vallejos shoves him back. Silva goes low, grabs a single leg and dumps Vallejos to the mat. It’s short-lived, as they cramble back up. Vallejos lands a counter right, but Silva leaps in with a knee that finds the mark. They swing wildly right until the final horn, but Silva is the one landing the meaningful offense.

Sherdog Scores

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

The Result

Jean Silva def. Kevin Vallejos via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Chad Hanekom (184.5) vs. Dylan Budka (186)

Round 1

Mark Smith will officiate this middleweight clash. Hanekom pressures early and then budka lunges in with a hook to the body. A leg kick lands for Hanekom. Hanekom follows an overhand right with another low kick. Budka answers a calf kick with a counter right. Budka finds the range on a straight right. Budka easily denies a shot by Hanekom. Hanekom wings a right hand that partially connects, then misses the mark on another. Budka closes the distance behind punches, and Hanekom stays upright with the aid of a fence grab. Hanekom gets an underhook and reverses position. A knee lands for Hanekom as Budka drops for a single leg. Hanekom takes the opportunity to grab a guillotine. Budka defends but Hanekom turns his man in to the fence and drops for a takedown. Hanekom doeggedly pursues the takedown but Budka remains upright. Hanekom leaves his neck exposed and Budka snaps him down to the canvas. He lets Hanekom up but elevates Hanekom and slams him down, landing in side control in the waning seconds. That’s how the frame will end.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Budka changes levels behind a right hand at the outset of the round. Budka drives a knee into Hanekom’s midsection. Budka adjusts his grip and dumps Hanekom on his back. Budka moves from side control to mount, but Hanekom defends. Budka lands an elbow to the head before Hanekom returns to his feet and presses his adversary into the fence. Budka defends as Hanekom grinds away for the single leg. Budka lands a knee to the midsection followed by some short punches and elbows as his back remains on the fence. Hanekom hasn’t relented on his grip, but he’s not getting anywhere in this grueling battle. Budka drives another elbow to the side of the head as he continues to defend the takedown. Budka reverses position and he has Hanekoms neck wrapped up in a guillotine. Hanekom goes to the floor and it doesn’t look good initially. Hanekom escapes but Budka is in side control, where he drops a series of short eblows. Hanekom gets to a knee, then keeps body hands on the floor. Budka pulls him up and lands about three knees to the midsection. Budka throws a knee in the waning seconds, but it lands low and Smith calls time with two seconds left in the frame. Hanekom takes almost three and a half minutes to recover and then the round ends as soon as the combatants touch gloves.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Budka closes the distance but eats an uppercut on the way in. that doesn’t prevent him from dragging Hanekom down. The South African powers his way back up, but Budka is attached to him. Budka grinds away against the fence, looking for openings to land knees to the body and thighs. Budka changes to a single leg and Hanekom hops, maintaining his balance. Hanekom threatens with a guillotine as Budka continues to look for a takedown. He briefly elevates Hanekom but has to but him down and the clinch battle continues. Budka lands a couple knees before Hanekom reverses position. Now it’s Hanekom looking for a single leg. He gives up on it and pushes Budka into the cage. Mark Smith has finally seen enough and orders them to separate with 1:32 left. Hanekom ducks under a punch and shoves Budka right back into the cage. Budka defends with his back against the fence, as he looks to land some short, mostly ineffective punches. Hanekom drops lower, going to his knees, but Budka still defends. That’s how the fight will end, with Budka defending a Hanekom takedown against the wire.

Sherdog Scores

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

The Result

Dylan Bukda def. Chad Hanekom via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Ramon Taveras (136) vs. Serhiy Sidey (135.5)

Round 1

Kevin MacDonald will referee this bantamweight scrap. Taveras is in Sidey’s face right away. Sidey is using a lot of kicks early. A quick 1-2 lands for Taveras, but Sidey ansers with a knee. Another two-punch combo finds the mark for Taaveras. A body kick lands for Sidey and Taveras steps in with a left. Taveras connects on a jab, then a left. Sidey attacks with a pair of body kicks. Taveras continues to find the range on his left hand. Sidey looks to close the distance, but Taveras gets back to range and tags his foe with another straight left. They trade in the pocket and suddenly, Sidey drops Taveras with a right hand. Sidey follows his man to the canvas and looks to land ground-and-pound. Taveras seems to be aware and defending the onslaught with his guard, but MacDonald sees something different, as he quickly steps in to wave off the fight. Taveras, along with Dana White and the UFC matchmakers, appear confused by the stoppage. Nonetheless, it will go down as a somewhat controversial triumph for Sidey.

The Result

Serhiy Sidey def. Ramon Taveras via TKO (Punches) R1 2:26

Bruno Lopes (204) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (205.5)

Round 1

Mark Smith is in charge for the evening’s featured bout at light heavyweight. Lopes begins with a pair of low kicks. He lands a third and then dodges a Ribeiro combination. Lopes rushes in behind punches and Ribeiro fires back. Nothing major lands. Ribeiro gets through with a left jab. Ribeiro fires off a glancing head kick and Lopes tries to close the range. Lopes catches a kick and counters with a big right. Both men land jabs, and they trade in the pocket. Bot light heavyweights find the mark on left hooks. A stiff jab lands for Ribeiro and Lopes charges in and eats a counter for his efforts. Lopes pressures forward behind punches and lands a left hook at the end. Lopes wings more punches and secures a body lock against the fence. Ribeiro frees himself and circleses out, pumping his jab. Lopes wings more heavy hooks and ends it with a body kick. They trade willingly again, and a Lopes right hook briefly wobbles Ribeiro. Ribeiro backs off, and then snaps Lopes’ head back with a right hand. Another exchange ensues and Lopes backs his foe up, whiffing on a big left. Ribeiro keeps his cool under fire and drops Lopes with a laser right hand. He follows Lopes to the mat and drops a series of nail-in-the-coffin hammerfists that eventually render Lopes unconscious. Lopes suffers his first defeat in 12 professional outings, while Ribeiro has finished all 15 of his triumphs inside the distance.

The Result

Brendson Ribeiro def. Bruno Lopes via KO (Punches) R1 3:47