Dana White’s Contender Series ‘Season 2, Week 5’ Play-by-Play & Results

Antonio Jones vs. Edmen Shahbazyan

Round 1

Shahbazyan and Jones trade punches in the center of the cage at the outset. They’re both landing punches in close quarters before clinching, and Shahbazyan then lands a series of knees to the body. Shahbazyan follows up with an overhand right and Jones is reeling now. Shahbazyan keeps the pressure on and puts Jones down with a series of uppercuts and right hands. Jones hits the canvas and Shahbazyan follows him down and tees off with more punches. Jones turtles up and Shahbazyan continues the attack. Herb Dean has seen enough and waves off the fight, giving Shahbazyan his seventh consecutive first-round stoppage.

The Official Result

Edmen Shahbazyan def. Antonio Jones via TKO (Punches) R1 0:40

Angelo Trevino vs. Austin Vanderford

Round 1

Trevino takes the center of the cage and pumps his jab. Vanderford answers with a low kick. Vanderford lands a hard straight right. Trevino slips a punch and connects with a big right hand. Vanderford slips a punch and counters with a left hook. A right hand lands on the end of a three-punch combo for Trevino. Trevino attempts a takedown but Vanderford scrambles to his foe’s back. However, in a matter of moments, the Team Alpha Male product is able to transition to Vanderford’s back. Trevino flattens his opponent to the canvas briefly. Vanderford muscles up and powers his way out the backdoor, and he secures a body lock on Trevino against the fence. Vanderford continues to grind away against the fence, and he drops for a takedown. Vanderford drops again, but Trevino denies him and they separate. Trevino attempts a flying knee and Vanderford slides away. A big right hand to the temple drops Vanderford. Trevino pounces and unloads with ground-and-pound. Vanderford attempts to scramble up and shoot for a takedown, but Trevino ends up in full mount, dropping more punches. Vanderford escapes and the welterweights trade punches in a spirited exchange before the horn sounds. 10-9 Trevino.

Round 2

Trevino is the aggressor early, throwing a big left hand at Vanderford. Vanderford lands a solid left hook and follows up with a kick to the body moments later. Trevino throws a kick upstairs but it’s blocked. A left hand lands for Trevino, but he is countered and rocked by a pair of heavy shots from Vanderford. Trevino shoots for a takedown out of desperation and is easily stuffed by Vanderford. Trevino curls up on the mat in hopes of regaining his bearings, as Vanderford attempts to get his hooks in from back control. Vanderford slides his arm underneath the chin of Trevino but can’t quite get the choke, so he releases the hold after cranking for a few seconds. Vanderford resets and slides his right arm under his opponent’s chin. He falls back and squeezes, and this time it’s deep. Trevino has no choice but to tap out.

The Official Result

Austin Vanderford def. Angelo Trevino via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2 2:42

Anthony Adams vs. Chibwikem Onyenegech

Round 1

Adams lands a leg kick and circles on the outside. Onyenegecha lands a combination after the middleweights trade leg kicks. Onyenegecha lands an outside leg kick and then stops an Adams takedown attempt. Onyenegecha counters Adams with a right hand to the body. Onyenegecha lands another hard outside leg kick. Onyenegecha lands a leg kick and holds his palms outstretched, urging Adams forward. Adams lands a right hand over the top as part of a combination. Adams throws a head kick but it’s blocked. A combination lands for Adams, and Onyenegecha returns fire with a body kick. Onyenegecha remains patient, landing the occasional leg kick. Onyenegecha clinches with Adams after his opponent briefly turns his back. Adams gets off a spinning elbow before the horn sounds, but Onyenegecha is no worse for wear. 10-9 Onyenegecha.

Round 2

Adams counters a body kick with a right hand. Onyenegecha goes back to work with leg kicks. Onyenegecha stalks his foe and whiffs on an overhand right. Adams lands a glancing left hook. The combatants trade leg kicks again. An inside low kick lands for Adams, and Onyenegecha answers with a leg kick of his own. Adams circles away and Onyenegecha can’t trap his opponent. Onyenegecha misses an ax kick, and Adams goes for another spinning elbow but doesn’t connect as cleanly as he did in round one. A body kick lands for Adams, and Onyenegecha fires back with a low kick. Adams lands a body kick and checks a low kick. Adams goes back to the body with another kick. Adams is able to connect with another body kick before missing on a cartwheel kick before the horn. 10-9 Adams.

Round 3

Onyenegecha lands a right hand and seems to be more aggressive with his punching combinations in the early going of the frame. A short right hand lands for Adams. The middleweights go back to trading leg kicks, and then Onyenegecha misses a one-two. Adams lands a hard leg kick, then punctuates a one-two combo with another low kick. Adams shoots for a takedown but Onyenegecha sprawls easily. Neither fighter is really finding the range on anything but leg kicks at the moment. With 1:39 to go, the lights go out in “The Ultimate Fighter” gym, and Herb Dean calls time. After a few minutes, the lights are restored and the fight resumes. A big left from Adams snaps Onyenegecha’s head back after he throws a naked low kick. Adams digs with an uppercut to the body and follows up with a leg kick. Onyenegecha pressures and lands a combination against the fence. Adams shoots for a takedown and is stopped, but he pushes Onyenegecha against the fence. Onyenegecha is able to separate with 15 seconds left. Onyenegecha chases Adams down and swings wildly as time winds down. The middleweights briefly tie up and Adams lands a right elbow followed by a spinning elbow on the break. 10-9 Adams (29-28 Adams).

The Official Result

Chibwikem Onyenegecha def. Anthony Adams via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) R3 5:00

Vincent Morales vs. Dom Pilarte

Round 1

The lanky Pilarte starts off throwing kicks form his southpaw stance. Morales rolls under a punch and counters with a right hand. Morales dips his head and lands a couple quick body shots. Pilarte walks his man down and lands a straight left. Morales clinches then disengages. Pilarte lands a body kick and a low kick. Pilarte lands a low kick and follows up with a short left and an uppercut. Morales goes upstairs with a kick and Pilarte shakes it off. A straight left lands for Pilarte. Pilarte counters Morales with a right. He backs Morales up with a high kick and tags Morales with a series of left hands. Morales is wobbled briefly as he attempts to circle out of danger. Another big left lands for Pilarte, but he leaves himself exposed and Morales drops him with a counter right. Morales briefly looks for a choke but lets it go and they’re back up. Morales hurts Pilarte with a right to the chin. PIlarte covers up and Morales goes on the attack against the fence. Morales ends the round teeing off with right hands, but a bloodied Pilarte is able to survive until the horn. 10-9 Morales.

Round 2

Pilarte shoots for a takedown immediately, but Morales defends it nicely. Pilarte has a nasty cut near his left eye from the assault near the end of round one. Pilarte catches a high kick and trips Morales to the canvas. Pilarte moves to Morales’ back as he looks to get both hooks in. Pilarte attempts to secure a rear-naked choke, and very quickly, his arm is under Morales’ chin and deep. Morales fights it off valiantly, rolling over and over in an attempt to escape. Morales tries to fight the hands of his opponent, but it’s to no avail. Pilarte maintains the squeeze with a palm-to-palm grip and eventually Morales goes unconscious. Pilarte rallies for a thrilling victory after absorbing a beating at the end of the opening stanza.

The Official Result

Dom Pilarte def. Vincent Morales via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2 1:52

Maycee Barber vs. Jamie Colleen

Round 1

Barber, the largest betting favorite on the card, punches her way into the clinch and pushes Colleen against the fence. Barber lands a couple short elbows in close quarters. Barber continues to apply pressure, landing knees to the body. Barber maintains control, with an underhook and head pressure. Barber lands a series of knees to the thigh. Colleen lands some short punches with her back to the fence. Another elbow lands for Barber. They break with a little more than 2:00 to go. Barber lands a kick to the body, then an inside leg kick. Barber completes the trifecta with a high kick to the head. Colleen misses a wicked uppercut but connects with a straight right moments later. Barber pressures forward and lands a leg kick. Barber closes the distance and clinches with Collleen against the fence again. The strawweights trade knees before separating just before the round ends. 10-9 Barber.

Round 2

Barber opens up with a kick to the body as she takes the center of the cage. Barber lands an inside leg kick, then follows up with another body kick. Barber moves forward and lands a head kick. Colleen finds the range on an overhand right. Barber is doing a good job keeping Colleen off balance with a variety of kicks. Barber stays busy with kicks, but Colleen lands a counter right. Colleen isn’t matching the volume of her opponent, however. Colleen is able to slip a punch and counter to the body. Colleen counters a Barber kick with a right hand. Barber keeps coming, lands a punch and then takes Colleen down with about 1:30 to go in the round. Barber creates some space and begins dropping elbows on Colleen before passing to side control. Barber lands a knee to the body, but Colleen is able to recover full guard. Barber lands more elbows from inside guard. Colleen finally kicks Barber off of her, but it’s just as the horn sounds. 10-9 Barber.

Round 3

Barber goes right back to work, attacking with kicks to the legs and body. Colleen catches a kick and pushes Barber into the fence. Colleen lands a punch to the body in the clinch before Barber reverses position and pushes Colleen’s back into the cage. Barber can’t quite get Colleen to the canvas, but she lands a hard knee to the body as her foe battles back up. Barber keeps grinding away, landing knees to the thighs. Barber creates space and lands a pair of elbows to the head. It’s not a thrilling approach, but Barber is in control with her work from the clinch. Colleen fends off a takedown attempt, but Barber keeps her back against the fence. Colleen briefly reverses the position, and then the strawweights separate. Barber lands a high kick, and shortly thereafter finds the range on a straight right hand. Barber closes the distance, takes Colleen down near the fence and drops some more elbows. Barber works to land more elbows and now Colleen is opened up and bleeding. Barber continues to drop elbows and Herb Dean has seen enough. The veteran official steps in and waves off the bout.

The Official Result

Maycee Barber def. Jamie Colleen via TKO (Elbows) R3 4:15