Dana White's Contender Series 2023 Week 6 Play-by-Play and Results

Jean Matsumoto (136) vs. Kasey Tanner (135.5)

Round 1

Mark Smith will referee the evening’s first bout. Tanner jabs the body and Matsumoto answers with a low kick. Matsumoto continues to drill his opponent with low kicks early, while Tanner pumps his jab in his opponent’s face. Tanner pressures behind a couple right hands and a knee to the midsection before backing off. Matsumoto moves in with a 1-2 followed by a low kick. Tanner puncutates a four punch combination with a low kick, but Matsumoto continues to land snapping low kicks of his own. Tanner lands a right then angles out, but another low kick follows a Matsumoto combination. A high kick gets through for Matsumoto, who is mixing up his attacks now. Matsumoto moves in behind a combination, then backs off when Tanner returns fire. Tanner ducks under a bunch and forces the clinch, turning his man into the fence. Tanner looks for a short elbow, and then the bantamweights trade knees in close. Matsumoto is able to turn off the fence and then defends an outside trip. Another low kick thuds into Tanner. Tanner moves forward behind a right hand and a knee. Another low kick lands for Matsumoto, and then he lands a combination in close quarters. They clinch again, this time Matsumoto pushing Tanner into the wire.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Matsumoto backs Tanner into the cage with a combination early. Tanner pumps his jab into his foe’s face but eats another leg kick. Anothe leg kick lands and Tanner limps backward. Tanner digs the body with about three left hands. Matsumoto tries to clinch, but then lands another leg kick. Matsumoto rushes forward and lands a three-punch combination. Matsumoto’s overall speed is evident as he continues to target the lead leg and land punches in combination. Matsumoto mixes up punches with low kicks and then stuffs a Tanner takedown. Tanner pushes him into the fence, but Matsumoto reverses. They jockey for position against the fence, and Matsumoto lands a knee before separating. They trade in the pocket but it’s Matsumoto landing in greater volume. Tanner lands a body kick, and Matsumoto answers with a combination and a low kick. Another combination follows for Matsumoto. Matsumoto lands a combination punctuated by a leg kick. Tanner changes levels and is finally able to ground his opponent with less than a minute remaining. Tanner drops an elbow, but Matsumoto creates space with his guard and scrambles up. Tanner drives him into the fence, but Matsumoto lands a series of knees. Tanner backs off and lands some nice punches during an exchange before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Matsumoto lands a right hand. They trade in the pocket, and it’s Matsumoto who gets the better of the exchange. Another multi-punch combo tags Tanner. They trade low kicks and then Tanner digs the body with a left. Tanner kicks the body. Tanner presses forward but Matsumoto tees off with another combination. They trade low kicks and Tanner digs to the body again. They clinch and Matsumoto knees the midsection before breaking free. Tanner has a takedown stuffed. Matsumoto goes jab-low kick and then tags Tanner with more straight punches. Matsumoto lands more punches in bunches and then sprawls on a Tanner takedown. A right hand stings Tanner, who backs away and resets. Matsumoto mixes his punches and kicks, ending combinations with kicks to the body. Tanner continues to march forward, but he can’t match the volume of Matsumoto. Matsumoto follows a 1-2 with a knee to the body. Tanner gets a knee-tap takedown with a little less than 1:30 to go. He sets up in Matsumoto’s half guard. He moves into full guard and lands a short elbow. Tanner drops a couple more elbows as Matsumoto remains active from his back. Tanner passes to side control briefly, but Matsumoto scrambles up in the waning seconds, and the bantamweights have one more spirited exchange before the horn. The battle brings Dana White to his feet, and he enters the Octagon to congratulate both fighters.

Sherdog Scores

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

The Result

Jean Matsumoto def. Kasey Tanner via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Julia Polastri (115.5) vs. Patricia Alujas (115)

Round 1

Jacob Montalvo will oversee this strawweight bout. Alujas wings a big right hand but eats a stiff jab from Polastri. Alujas with a one-two, and Polastri lands a hard low kick. Alujas wings another right but it’s blocked. The strawweights are trading. Alujas counters a low kick withh a right hand. A left hook lands for Aljuas. Alujas remains active, throwing a 1-2. Polastri fires a low kic. But Alujas is consistently landing 1-2s as they trade. Polastri lands some hard counters in turn. A high kick lands for Polastri and she moves forward, throwing punches in volume. Alujas gets off the fence and the combatants are trading willinglly. Polastri walks Alujas down with a body kick, but she smiles and they keep on throw offense. A front kick lands for Polastri, and she grabs the clinch, driving a couple knees down the middle. Alujas lands multiple punches and then shrugs off her foe’s attempt to clinch. Polastri follows a cominbation with a body kick and Alujas answers with a spinning back fist. Polastri marches foward, and she seems to be landing more clean straight punches down the stretch.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Polastri opens with a jab and front kick. A jab lands for Alujas. Polastri connects with a couple hard right hands, and then she stings Alujas with a knee. Alujas is still throwing offense, but Polastri gets deep on a takedown, lifts her opponent and plants her on the mat. Polastri lands an elbow from above as she works to the back of Alujas. Alujas gets to a knee, but she’s absorbing punches to the head and knees to the thighs. Alujas drags her back down to all fours. Polastri keeps the body lock in place, and Alujas looks like she wants to grab the fence. Montalvo is there to discourage the violation. Polastri continues to do work, repeatedly driving her knees into the thighs and landing lefts to the face with Alujas on all fours. Polastri is overpowering here and she is working her way to the back. Polastri steps over to get a hook in and she tees off with more punches before threatening with a choke. Alujas fights off the hands initially, but Polastri resets and slides her arm under the chin again. Alujas resists for a few moments before she is forced to tap out. It's Polastri's third career submission victory.

The Result

Julia Polastri def. Patricia Alujas via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2 4:05

A.J. Cunningham (145) vs. Steven Nguyen (145)

Round 1

Mark Smith will be the third man in the cage for this featherweight affair. Cunningham is throwing unorthodox kicks early, then he lands a combination. They trade in close, and Cunningham is showing quick hands. However, Nguyen catches a kick and misses an overhand right, but Cunningham slips to the mat. Nguyen sticks a jab, and Cunningham clinches behind a combination. They quickly get back to the center of the cage. Nguyen with another jab. A Cunningham uppercut gets through the guard of his foe. Both men lands straight shots in an exchnage. Cunningham is using the uppercuts well, getting throough the guard. Cunningham rips the body, but Nguyen answers with some punches to the head. Nguyen flicks out a couple more jabs. Cunningham finds the mark with another uppercut. Nguyen lands his jab, but Cunningham lands multiple punches to the body. Nguyen is touching Cunningham with straight punches. A knee from Cunningham lands in close. Nguyen answers with more combinations. Both men are marked up as the round draws to a close. Cunningham lands a low blow with less than 10 seconds left. The action resumes and they trade furiously. . A right hook from Nguyen drops Cunningham and he dives in to finish the fight with ground-and-pound. He lands several heavy shots but Mark Smith jumps in to save Cunningham at the horn. If the round was a few seconds longer, this one might have been done.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Nguyen lands more straight punches an Cunningham answers with a pair of low kicks. A right hand and a jab connect with impact for Nguyen. Nguyen stuffs a takedown attempt. Nguyen tags him with a combo. Cunningham wades foward with body punches. Cunningham still looks wobbly from the end of Round 1. Nguyen escapes a single leg attempt. The pace has slowed somewhat, but Nguyen continues to land his jab, both at the beginning and end of his combinations. Cunningham steps in with a left to the body. Another Nguyen jab lands and Cunningham wades forward, but eats combinations for his efforts. Cunningham is still landing when they trade, but Nguyen is landing the cleaner, harder shots. Nguyen stuffs a takedown and wobbles Cunningham with a right hand. Cunningham maintains his feet but Nguyen is teeing off with punches. A battered Cunningham is stumbling and wobbling as Nguyen takes over, and Mark Smith has seen enough, as he steps in to wave off the contest. Nguyen is now 2-1 on the Contender Series.

The Result

Steven Nguyen def. A.J. Cunningham via TKO (Punches) R2 4:06

Eduardo Jose Neves (263.5) vs. Jhonata Diniz (254)

Round 1

Jacob Montalvo will officiate this heavyweight scrap. Neves kicks the outside leg, then goes high with a kick and a jab. Neves slips on a wheel kick attempt. They clinch briefly, but return to range in short order. Diniz stalks his man and lands an inside low kick. Neves is forcing his foe to miss early, and he counters well with a two punch combination. An inside low kick lands for Neves, who is getting the better of exchnages early. Diniz rushes forward with punches. Neves catches a kick but can’t trip his man to the ground Diniz lands a right, but Neves follows with a jab and a lead hook. Diniz hurts Neves with a knee to the chin and a right hook and backs him into the fence. A right hand drops Neves to his knees but he pops back up. Diniz is picking his spots now, looking for openings. Neves pushes forward but an ensuing 1-2 from Diniz lands clean, and his opponent topples backward. No follow-up strikes are needed for the Brazilian kickboxer, as Montalvo waves this one off.

The Result

Jhonata Diniz def. Eduardo Jose Neves via TKO (Punches) R1 3:15

James Llontop (156) vs. Malik Lewis (156)

Round 1

Mark Smith is in charge for the evening’s featured lightweight fight. Both men throw punches and Lewis ducks under to clinch. Llontop quickly reverses and shoves his foe into the cage. Llontop lands a slashing elbow on the exit. Lewis closes the distance after a couple whipping kicks, and he is able to secure a single leg takedown. Lewis threatens with a guillotine as Llontop stands, and the Peru native frees himself from the choke. Llontop controls the action in the clinch and lands a combo on the break. Lewis attacks aggressively but can’t land anything significant. Lewis slips, but he scrambles up when Llontop tries to assume top position. Lewis briefly lands a takedown but Llontop hustles to his feet and gets to work in the clinch. He lands some punches on the break before Lewis shoots for a takedown against the fence. Llontop defends and lands some short punches before reversing position. Llontop with an elbow in close quarters. Llontop digs to the body and Lewis lands in turn as they separate. Lewis swings big and misses. They trade quicks and then Lewis lands a knee in the clinch. A hard kick lands for Lewis at range. Llontop lands a big right hand that makes Lewis stumble before the end of the round, and he finishes the frame with an inside low kick.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Llontop kicks the body, then lands an inside low kick. Lewis wings a pair of hooks to the body. Lewis with a leg kick of his own. A hard body shot connects for Llontop. Lewis continues to swing wildly, but Llontop is generally cleaner with his punches. Lewis gets in on a single leg and Llontop elbows to the side of the head with his back to the fence. Llontop reverses position and presses Lewis into the fence. They break and Llontop wobbles Lewis with a combination. A body kick makes Lewis double over. Lewis is fighting back, protecting the body, but Llontop is on the hunt. He steps in landing an elbow, followed by a knee before he powers his foe to the canvas. Llontop postures up and drops ground-and-pound to the head. Llontop switches to elbows and then hovers over his opponent before passing to side control. More elbows land for Lewis and he goes to his knees. Llontop knees the body and punche the head. Lewis attempts to stand, but Llontop ragdolls him right back down. Llontop remains on the offensive, pounding away with punches and elbows form side control. Lewis kicks off the fence but Llontop spins and takes his back. With Lewis on his knees, Llontop drives a knee to the ribs. Lewis clings to his opponent, and he’ll get to his feet, still swinging at the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Llontop catches a front kick and punches the body. An inside leg kick lands for Llontop. Llontop lands a body kick and dodges Lewis’ punches. Lewis lands to the body in an exchange. Llontop stuffs a takedown and he drops Lewis to his knees with a pair of short elbows. Lewis is on his back, staying active with his guard. Lewis tries to power his way up, but Llontop tees off with several lefts to the head before his opponent is able to stand. Lewis swings wildly after they separate. Llontop goes back on the offensive, firing kicks to the legs and body. Llontop pressures and lands another body punch and then sends Lewis to his seat with another elbow. With Lewis seated against the fence, Llontop lands punches. Lewis scrambles but Llontop is able to flow from one dominant position to another. Lewis is on all fours and Llontop stays busy with left hands, punching under the armpit. Lewis rolls and looks to set up a triangle from his back. Llontop escapes and transitions to side control, then spins to Lewis’ back, hunting for a rear-naked choke. Llontop maintains a body lock as Lewis stands. Llontop lands more punishing blows to the head before Lewis breaks free and wings another wild salvo before the fight ends.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Llontop (30-26 Llontop)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Llontop (30-27 Llontop)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Llontop (30-27 Llontop)

The Result

James Llontop def. Malik Lewis via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26) R3 5:00