Dana White’s Contender Series 2021 Week 5 Play-by-Play & Results

Rizvan Kuniev (265.5) vs. Edivan Santos (234)

Round 1

Kuniev opens up with an oblique kick to the knee, then an outside leg kick. Kuniev gets clipped with a short right hand and stumbles forward. He recovers and the Brazilian tags him again. Kuniev and Santos both land before tying up. Santos with a hard knee to the midsection of his heavier opponent. Another knee lands for Santos before they separate. The Brazilian whips out an outside leg kick, which is answered by Kuniev. Kuniev forces the clinch against the cage, but Santos lands another hard knee. Kuniev drives his man into the fence, but lands a low blow and the action is paused. The action is reset in the center of the cage due to the foul. Kuniev looks to close the distance, but he walks into an eye poke from Santos, and once again time is called by referee Mark Smith. Kuniev lands a leg kick followed by a push kick. Santos answers with a leg kick of his own. Kuniev backs his man up and shoves him into the cage. Santos is able to spin off the cage and lands a straight left. Kuniev forces a tie-up and eats an uppercut for his efforts. Kuniev attacks with a low kick and they clinch again in the center of the Octagon. Kuniev shoves the Brazilian into the fence again, and he’s urged by Smith to work. Kuniev gets a single leg, then drags Santos down with a body-lock takedown. Kuniev is in half guard, and Santos uses a kimura to forces a scramble. They stand and Santos jams a knee into the gut of the Russian. Kuniev clinches and shoves Santos into the cage again. The round ends this way, with both men landing moderate punches against the cage.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Kuniev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kuniev

Round 2

Kuniev with a trio of kicks to open the round, and Santos answers with a strong inside leg kick. Kuniev connects with another leg kick, then uses a pair of overhand rights to punch his way into the clinch. Kuniev is back in a comfortable position, shoving his foe into the cage. Kuniev with a short uppercut to the gut before they break. Santos swings wildly but can’t connect. Kuniev punches his way into the clinch and shoves Santos back into the fence. Santos circles off and returns to the center of the cage. Kuniev sticks a left jab and left hook before shoving the Brazilian back into the fence. Santos creates a little room and lands an uppercut. Kuniev grabs a single leg, picks Santos up and dumps him on the mat. After a brief scramble, Kuniev is in side control. The Russian drops a short elbow. Santos is looking for a kimura from his back as he did in Round 1. Kuniev responds with a series of elbows to the ribs and Santos lets it go. Kuniev continues to drop punches and elbows from half guard as Santos tries to slide toward the fence. The Brazilian sits up momentarily, but Kuniev forces him down and continues dropping offense. Kuniev holds the neck and pummels Santos with a right to the ribs. Santos stands and is muscled back down. More punches and elbows land for Kuniev as Santos appears helpless to end the round.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Kuniev
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Kuniev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kuniev

Round 3

Kuniev is eager to begin the round, while Santos looks fatigued. Kuniev uses a punching combination to close the distance and drive Santos into the fence. From there, the Russian executes a body lock takedown, slamming Santos down. Kuniev sets up in full guard of his opponent. Kuniev alternates punches and elbows, and Smith is taking a close look at this. The intensity of the assault increases, and Santos rolls over and covers up. Finally, Smith has seen enough and halts the bout.

The Official Result

Rizvan Kuniev def. Edivan Santos via TKO (Elbows and Punches) R3 1:00

Lucas Almeida (155.5) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (156)

Round 1

Almeida takes the center of the cage and leands a leg kick. Zellhuber eludes a punching combination. Almeida stalks his foe and makes Zellhuber buckle with a combination. Zellhuber is looking to throw a lot of kicks, but Almeida is crowding him. Almeida unloads with heavy hooks. Zellhuber halts the momentum of his foe by securing a body lock and driving Almeida into the cage. Zellhuber lands a shoulder strike, and Almeida answers with a knee. Almeida seaprates and lands a hard one two. Almeida is relentless coming forward with heavy punching combinations. Zellhuber is bleeding form the noese, and he gets rocked by an overhand right. Almeida forces the clinch, but Zellhuber turns him into the fence. Almeida creates separation and continues to march forward behind heavy hands. Zellhuber angles out of danger as Almeia continues his assault. Zellhuber with a nice kick to the body. He counters Almeida and circles off the fence. Almeida goes body-head and then is sucked into the clinch, and Zellhuber presses him into the fence. They break and Zellhuber lands a knee to the body. Zellhuber lands another hard body kick, then sticks Almeida with his jab. Another heavy combination for Almeida, but Zellhuber fires back this time. Almeida lands one more combination before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Almeida

Round 2

Both men wing right hands early. They trade, but its Almeida who digs a combination to the body before they clinch. Zellhuber turns Almeida to the cage and then executes a beautiful hip toss to land in side control. He moves to half guard. He controls Almeida’s wrist and lands a series of right hands from above. Almeida recovers full guard. Almeida scrambles uo and Zellhuber shoots again immediately against the fence. Zellhuber relents and they return to the center of the cage. Almeida wings another combination but whiffs on it. Zellhuber lands a straight right followed by a kick to the body. Zellhuber lands a lead hook then angles out. A straight right connects for Almeida. Zellhuber sticks a couple jabs, then lands an inside leg kick. Zellhuber is controlling the cage now, backing Almeida into the fence. Zellhuber dictates the range as the pace has slowed. Almeida just misses a big right hand. Zellhuber lands a combination while moving his head to avoid his foe’s counters. Zellhuber lands a head kick and Almeida shakes it off as he backs up. Almedia closes the distance but Zellhuber turns him into the fence in the clinch. Zellhuber drops low, looking for the takedown, and Almeida lands some elbows to the side of the head. They scramble up and Zellhuber taunts Almeida with his hands at his side before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Zellhuber
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Zellhuber
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Zellhuber

Round 3

Zellhuber sticks his jab, and Almeida is swinging and missing in response. A body kick connecgts for Zellhuber. A low kick makes Almeida stumble away briefly. Almeida lands a right followed by an inside leg kick. Zellhuber connects a body kick but it’s caught. They trade against the fence, but it’s Zellhuber teeing off with combinations, while moving his head nicely. Zellhuber with a long sraight right hand. Zellhuber backs up his foe with a front kick and a low kick. Almieda’s output has dropped dramatically, and Zellhuber is yelling at him to come forward. A glancing high kick lands for Zellhuber, but Almeida responds with a body kick. Zellhuber lands a left hook and angles out of the pocket. Zellhuber keeps the pressure on with a straight right and front kick. Almeida does his best to force the issue, but Zellhuber drives him back with a push kick. Almeida rushes forward but Zellhuber utilizes excellent head movement to avoid the assault. Another check hook lands for Zellhuber, who deftly eludes his adversary. Zellhuber sticks a couple more jabs before they tie up. Almeida shoves his man into the fence as time winds down. The fight ends in the clinch.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Zellhuber (29-28 Zellhuber)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Zellhuber (29-28 Zellhuber)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Zellhuber (29-28 Zellhuber)

The Official Result

Daniel Zellhuber def. Lucas Almeida via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Caio Borralho (185.5) vs. Aaron Jeffery (185.5)

Round 1

Borralho flicks out several kicks using a karate southpaw stance. Jeffery slams a right hand into Barralho’s mug. Jeffery looks ot close the distace, and Borralho circles out and lands a body kick. A jab connects for the Brazilian. Jeffrey closes the distance and forces the clinch against the fence. Borralho circles off and spins off. He hits Jeffrey with a clean right hook. Jeffrey presses his man into the cage once again. Jeffrey stays busy with knees from this position. Borralho turns Jeffrey into the fence and eventually separates. Borralho lands a glancing jump knee and then tags Jeffrey with a few punches as his opponent moves forward. Borralho lands an inside low kick. The Brazilian steps in with a head kick and Jeffrey just gets his hand in to block it. Another left high kick partially lands for Borralho. Jeffrey punches his way into the clinch before the end of the frame.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Borralho
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Borralho
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Borralho

Round 2

Borralho explodes for a takedown at the outset of the round. Borralho transitions to a rear-body lock as Jeffrey stands up. Borralho gives Jeffrey space and they’re back to the center. Jeffrey pushes forward and just misses getting hit by a flying knee. They’re back in the clinch, with Jeffrey in control. They separate and Jeffrey lands a short standing elbow. Jeffrey again forces the clinch behind a right hand. They clinch, and both men are landing strikes in this position. Borralho digs for underhooks while landing knees and short punches with his back to the fence. Borralho executes a hip toss and then works to Jeffrey’s back as his foe stands. They separate again and Borralho sticks a counter right before Jeffrey shoves him into the fence. Jeffrey briefly lifts Borralho up but can’t complete the takedown. Jeffrey lands a knee to the body and more knees to the thighs. They’re still tied up and Jeffrey maintains the position, with Borralho against the fence. Borralho turns Jeffrey into the cage just before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Borralho
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Borralho
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Borralho

Round 3

Jeffrey immediately forces the clinch and drives the Brazlian into the cage. Jeffery applies pressure with his head while staying moderately busy with knees and short punches. They separate, and Borralho lands a counter right hand. Jeffrey continues to move forward, and he again shoves Borralho into the fence, where he lands a right to the head. An elbow over the top lands for Jeffrey, and he’s punching the body before Borralho reverses for a takedown. Jeffrey is up, with Borralho shoving his back into the fence. The clinch battle continues as we’re at the halfway point, and Jeffrey reverses position before separating. Jeffrey lands a pair of rights in close quarters before pushing Borralho into the cage. Jeffrey creates space to land more punches, but Borralho turns him back into the cage and connects with a knee. The clinch war continues, and Jeffrey reverses position before they breeak free again. A straight right lands before Jeffrey presures forward. Jeffrey throws three elbows from the clinch, and Borralho answers with an elbow of his own. Jeffrey wades back into the clinch just as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jeffrey (29-28 Borralho)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Jeffrey (29-28 Borralho)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jeffrey (29-28 Borralho)

The Official Result

Caio Borralho def. Aaron Jeffrey via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) R3 5:00

Lukasz Sudolski (205) vs. Ihor Potieria (203.5)

Round 1

Sudolski lands an inside leg kick. Potieria respods i turn. Potieria makes Sudolski stagger with a combination. Sudolski recovers and presses forward and he is tagged with another combination. Potieria shoves his foe into the cage, but Sudolski does his best to stay active with strikes in close. Sudolski turns his foe around and lands a short elbow. A knee from Sudolski lands low and the fight is paused. They restart off the cage and trade blows before tying up. Sudolski with a knee to the body before Potieria backs him into the fence. They battle for position in the clinch, with both men reversing position. Potieria assumes control, then gives it up as both men dig short punches to the body. They separate and Potieria rushes forward and dazes Sudolski with two-punch combination before dropping his opponent with a massive right hand. Potieria stands over his fallen adversary and drops a few more punches from above before referee Jason Herzog intervenes to rescure Sudolski.

The Official Result

Ihor Potieira def. Lukasz Sudolski via TKO (Punches) R1 3:41