Dana White’s Contender Series 2021 Week 1 Play-by-Play & Results

A.J. Fletcher (171) vs. Leonardo Damiani (171)

Round 1

The welterweights touch gloves and Season 5 of the Contender Series is underway. Damiani lands a counter right during an early exchange. Fletcher attacks the lead leg with a low kick. Fletcher is utilizing back-and-forth movement as he lands another leg kick. Damiani pressures with heavy punches, allowing Fletcher to time a level change and land a takedown. Damiani works his way back up against the cage and eventually gets separation. Damiani lands a low kick of his own and then denies a Fletcher takedown attempt. Fletcher lands a spinning back kick to the body then resets. Moments later, the American launches into his opponent with a flying knee. It lands flush on the jaw of Damiani, who crumples to the canvas near the fence. Fletcher pounces to land a few follow-up blows before referee Chris Tognoni dives in to intervene. This one is over, as the Gladiators Academy product has his sixth career first-round finish.

The Official Result

A.J. Fletcher def. Leonardo Damiani via KO (Flying Knee and Punches) R1 2:24

Victor Altamirano (125.5) vs. Carlos Candelario (126)

Round 1

Altamirano comes out firing a long jab, but it’s Candelario who connects with a high kick. Moments later, Candelario secures a single-leg takedown and frees himself from Altamirano’s guillotine. Candelario postures up and drops some solid ground-and-pound. Altamirano sweeps and scrambles to his feet, where he lands a low kick in the middle of the cage. Candelario closes the distance and lands a knee in close quarters. A solid leg kick connects for Candelario, and he secures anotehr single-leg takedown in the middle of the Octagon. Altamirano is very active from his back, and he’s able to scramble to his feet in short order. Altamirano punctuates a combination with a nice body kick. Candelario lands a punch that forces Altamirano to take a step back. Candelario then lands another takedown. Candelario postures up within guard and lands more ground-and-pound, including some punches to the ribs. Altamirano does his best to attack with punches and elbows from his back. Candelario remains in top position, landing some punches to the body and head. The round ends with Candelario on top.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Candelario
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Candelario
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Candelario

Round 2

Altamirano comes out firing a pair of leg kicks. A straight left finds the range for Candelario, who lands a solid counter left moments later. Candelario with a solid kick to the body, and Altamirano attempts to close the distance. Altamirano sprawls on a Candelario takedown attempt. Candelario is thwarted on another takedown try. Altamirano flicks out a job and follows with a hook to the body. Candelario follows a left hand with a level change as he drives Altamirano into the cage. Candelario works for it and dumps his man on the mat. Candelario is now inside Altamirano’s guard, landing short punches to the ribs. Altamirano is throwing his share of strikes from his back, but nothing is particularly damaging. Candelario briefly stands and drops a left hand before Altamirano hustles to his feet. A little more than a minute remains in the round. Altamirano lands a knee in close and then shoves Candelario into the fence. Altamirano misses a high kick and then executes a nice throw in the waning seconds of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Candelario
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Candelario
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Candelario

Round 3

Altamirano pressures near the fence and lands a high kick. A right hand connects for Altamirano, but there’s not much behind it. Candelario steps in with a striaght left hand. Altamirano answers with a nice combination followed by a low kick. Altamirano hunts for a takedown and Candelario shucks him off. Altamirano lands a nice uppercut to the body. A low kick makes Candelario stumble, then Altamirano follows with a straight right. Candelario is on the defensive this round. Altamirano with a jab, a left hook to the body and a knee against the fence. They separate and Altamirano lands a two-punch combo followed by a high kick. Altamirano nearly takes Candelario’s back, but he is able to return to his feet with 1:00 to go. Altamirano hunts for a single leg and then lands an elbow against the cage. Candelario tosses Altamirano to the floor but doesn’t move forward to capitalize. With about 20 seconds left, Candelario lands a takedown and then drops for a guillotine whne Altamirano stands. Altamirano pops his head free and rains down some punches before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Altamirano (29-28 Candelario)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Altamirano (29-28 Candelario)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Altamirano (29-28 Candelario)

The Official Result

Victor Altamirano def. Carlos Candelario via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) R3 5:00

Diego Lopes (145.5) vs. Joanderson Sa de Brito (145.5)

Round 1

Brito attacks with a flying knee and immediately transitions to a takedown, planting Lopes on his back near the fence. Brito drives a shoulder into Lopes’ chin. Lopes moves away for the fence and briefly appears to hunt for a kimura. Brito drops a pair of elbows and then some hard punches to the ribs from top position. Lopes remains heavy on top, and he finds an opening for some heavy shots. Now, Lopes frames an armbar from his back, forcing Brito into a defensive mode. Lopes works to extend the arm, as Brito presses his knee on his foe’s face. Brito’s arm is nearly extended before he slips his limb free. They stand and exchange heavy punches in the center of the cage. Lopes tags Brito with a few jabs, and Brito answers with a big left hand, then snaps his opponent’s head back with a jab. Brito wades forward with heavy punches and ties up Lopes against the fence. They trade knees and then Brito connects with a partially blocked spinning elbow before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brito
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Brito
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Lopes

Round 2

Brito is warned for extending his fingers early on, and referee Chris Tognoni pauses the action to issues an even more stern reprimand. The fight resumes and Brito lands a jab, but Lopes answers with a body shot. Brito shoots for a takedown and is instantly trapped in a guillotine. It looks tight for a moment, but Brito pops his head free and sets up in his advesary’s full guard. Brito drops some heavy elbows from above, while Lopes attempts to create space with his guard. As Brito dives back in, Lopes threatens with a heel hook, then transitions to an anaconda choke. Lopes lets it go, and Brito powers his fellow Brazilian to the canvas. Brito lands another elbow from above. The action has stalled somewhat before Brito lands another heavy elbow. Lopes tries to threaten with an armlock from his back, but it’s not a good position. Brito has Lopes against the fence now, applying heavy pressure and landing periodic elbows. Brito postures up and lands a powerful right hand. Lopes rolls for a leg lock in the waning seconds of the frame. With time ticking down Lopes hunts for a kneebar. Brito wags a finger, so he’s OK. The round ends in this position.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brito
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Brito
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Brito

Round 3

Lopes flicks out a jab and is poked in the eye by Brito. Lopes falls to the canvas in agony and Tognoni pauses the bout. A doctor comes in to check on Lopes. During the examination, it appears that Lopes is saying that he can’t open his eye and is having trouble with his vision. After some more consultation, Tognoni waves off the bout as Lopes lays on the canvas. Though the bout is over, Tognoni deducts a point from Lopes. It’s an anticlimactic conclusion to the featherweight contest. The fight will be scored where it ended.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Lopes (29-28 Brito)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Lopes (29-28 Brito)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 9-9 (28-28)

The Official Result

Joanderson Sa de Brito def. Diego Lopes via Technical Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 0:10

Azamat Murzakanov (205.5) vs. Matheus Scheffel (205.5)

Round 1

Murzakanov bounces in and out. Schefel throws a body kick; Murzakanov catches it but lets it go quickly. The Russian steps in and connects with a straight left. A hard body kick lands for Scheffel. Murzakanov just misses on an overhand left. Scheffel backs up and lands another body kick. Murzakanov has a high kick partially blocked. Another left from Murzakanov hits the chest of his opponent. Murzakanov backs up Scheffel with a standing side kick. Moments later, Murzakanov finds the range he desires, as he smashes Scheffel with a left to the chin. A short right hook to the jaw follows and floors the Brazilian. Murzakanov drops two heavy standing-to-ground punches before Herb Dean pulls him off of his fallen adversary. The biggest betting favorite on the card delivers as expected.

The Official Result

Azamat Murzakanov def. Matheus Scheffel via TKO (Punches) R1 3:00