Dana White's Contender Series 2022 Week 10 Play-by-Play and Results

Ashiek Ajim (135.5) vs. Mateus Mendonca (134.5)

Round 1

CES MMA champion Ajim will bring a three-fight winning streak into his matchup with Mendonca, who is undefeated in nine professional outings but hasn’t competed since October 2020. Mark Smith will be your referee for the opening fight of the card. They touch gloves awkardly and we’re underway. Ajim lands a leg kick and a solid jab to begin the action. Mendonca attacks with a front kick and Ajim kicks the lead leg again in response. Another front kick by Mendonca backs up Ajim. A right hand from Mendonca lands behind the ear and puts Ajim on his seat. The Brazilian swarms as his opponent attempts to hustle back to his feet. A subsequent left hook lands on the jaw and puts Ajim out cold on his back. Mendonca follows up with an unneccesary hammerfist before Smith can intervene. At 48 seconds, it’s the 10th quickest knockout in Contender Series history, and it appears the layoff didn’t affect Mendonca much at all.

The Official Result

Mateus Mendonca def. Ashiek Ajim via KO (Punches) R1 0:48

Rafael Ramos Estevam vs. Joao Elias (125)

Round 1

Nova Uniao export Estevam owns a 12-0 mark that includes experience in Legacy Fighting Alliance and Shooto Brazil. Elias, meanwhile, is a Gile Ribeiro Team member and has submitted his last three foes inside of a round. Jason Herzog will be the third man in the cage. Elias opens with an inside leg kick in lieu of a glove touch and they’re wasting no time. It’s a rapid pace to begin and Elias is already framing an armbar following a scramble. Elias pushes off the floor and pops to his feet, only to pull guard and go back to work. Estevam is doing what he can to pass guard, but it’s quite difficult due to his foe’s active guard. Elias posts near the fence, while Estevam keeps his hands connected. Elias rolls and suddenly has a kneebar attempt. Estevam defends, spins around and drops some hammerfists. Elias looks for a heel hook, but Estevam remains calm and drops some more hammerfists. Estevam floats over the top of his opponent’s guard. Elias is still trying to initiate scrambles, but Estevam passes to half guard and lands some solid ground-and-pound from his knees. Estevam is alternating between punches and elbows, and Elias doesn’t seem nearly as threatening from his back as he did earlier. Estevam tries to stand and reset, which allows Elias to recapture full guard. Estevam continues to drop elbows and hammerfists from inside full guard. Elias is rollling and threatening, but Estevam catches him on all fours and unloads with more shots until the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Estevam closes the distance immediately, and they clash heads as he takes Elias to the mat. Herzog sees the accidental foul, which resulted in the top of Estevam’s head ramming the jaw of his opponent, and calls time. Both men are Ok and we’re back at it. Estevam shoots immediately and gets Elias to the canvas. He drops several elbows from half guard. Estevam seems comfortable here, and he lands more punches. Elias isn’t as active from his back this round. He’s just covering up as Estevam lands more short punches and elbows. Estevam mixes up his punches, hammerfists and short elbows, and Herzog is taking a close look. Despite the impassioned pleas from his corner, Elias can’t offer much in the way of intelligent defense. The one-way traffic continues with more punches and hammerfists, and Herzog has seen enough. This one is over, as Elias has finally wilted under the onslaught. Unofficial figures have Estevam landing 142 ground strikes.

The Official Result

Rafael Ramos Estevam def. Joao Elias via TKO (Hammerfists and Punches) R2 2:25

Freddy Emiliano Linares (144.5) vs. Jack Jenkins (145.5)

Round 1

A title holder in the Budo Sento Championship organization, Ecuador’s Linares brings a four-bout winning streak into the Contender Series. Australia’s Jenkins is a champion in Eternal MMA and has won six in a row. Mark Smith will officiate this featherweight contest. They touch gloves and Jenkins fires off a leg kick. Linares backs his man up with a punching combination. Jenkins with a another solid leg kick. Linares charges forward with punches and is taken down near the fence. Jenkins passes to half guard as Linares plays defense from his back, wrapping up his foe’s other leg. Jenkins is heavy on top, but he isn’t creating much room for ground-and-pound thus far. Jenkins works to pass and gets full mount. The Aussie holds the position even as Linares attempts to bridge and buck him off. A short elbow lands for Jenkins. Linares pulls his legs overhead to occupy the arms of Jenkins. That allows Linares to transition and threaten with a leg lock. He nearly has Jenkins in a calf slicer, and that allows him to stand and secure a body lock. He lands some ground-and-pound near the end of the round before the featherweights separate.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jenkins
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Jenkins
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jenkins

Round 2

Jenkins lands a snapping body kick early. Linares changes levels and Jenkins stuffs it, landing a knee to the body. They clinch, and Jenkins lands more knees to the body in the middle of the cage. Linares lands a knee of his own on the break, but Jenkins follows up with a pretty easy takedown. He lands a short elbow while inside Linares’ full guard. Linares shows off his flexibility again by moving his guard up high. Jenkins is doing better with ground-and-pound, landing periodic elbows this round. The elbows continue and Linares is split open pretty bad above the right eye. Linares is absolutely gushing blood now, and Jenkins slides him toward the fence. Jenkins drops another forceful elbow. Jenkins grinds his head into his opponent’s face and chest. Jenkins postures up and picks up the intensity of his assault, which forces Linares to roll to his knees. Linares stands, but Jenkins maintains a body lock and lands a knee to the middle before grounding his opponent again. Jenkins will end the round with a few more elbows from half guard.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jenkins
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-8 Jenkins
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jenkins

Round 3

The cageside doctor takes a look at the cut and Linares will be able to continue. Linares rushes forward with punches, and Jenkins forces a tie-up. They separate in short order and Smith calls time to allow Jenkins to make an equipment adjustment to his cup. Jenkins takes care of his business and , Linares quickly attacks with a combination when the fight resumes. Jenkins lands a low kick and they tie up. Linares lands an elbow in close before Jenkins trips the Ecuador native to the mat. Jenkins assumes half guard and goes back to the elbows. The cut is starting to bleed again, and it’s clear Jenkins is targeting the wound. More elbows land for Jenkins, and Linares rolls, looking for a single leg. That allows him to stand, but his whizzer kick is denied by Jenkins, who ends up in full mount. He tries to gift wrap Linares arm over his head, as he lands more punches from above. Jenkins lets go of Linares’ arm and lands another heavy elbow. Linares face is a bloody mess again, and Jenkins is staying busy with ground-and-pound. Linares gives up his back and Jenkins flattens him out. Big right hands follow from Jenkins and Smith is taking a close look. Linares tries to improve his position, but he remains essentially turtled, and after a few more heavy right hands from Jenkins connect, the bout is waved off.

The Official Result

Jack Jenkins def. Freddy Emiliano Linares via TKO (Punches) R3 4:30

Sam Patterson (155) vs. Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci (155)

Round 1

England’s Patterson has won five straight under the Brave Combat Federation banner, while Brazil’s Cenci is in the midst of a seven-bout finishing streak. Jason Herzog will oversee the lightweight tilt. Patterson refuses the glove touch and we’re underway. Patterson lands a glancing body kick. A striaght right lands for Patterson and Cenci answers with some big shots of his own. They clinch an dCenci turns his man into the cage. Cenci lands several knees to the body. Patterson reverses position and then they separate. A solid straight left from Cenci lands and he goes on the attack, backing Patterson against the fence with strikes. Patterson appeared to be hurt during the exchange, but the Brazilian forces the clinch. They break free and Patterrson lands a leg kick at range. Another heavy left from Cenci and they tie up again. Patterson with a couple shoulder strikes . Cenci turns his man around and comes over the top with an elbow. They clinch and separate again and Patterson works behind a long jab and front kicks. Patterson switches stances and lands a right hook. A jab connects for Patterson and Cenci wades forward and ties uphis foe. Cenci muscles Patterson to the mat and is working hard to take the back. Cenci can’t get his far hook in, and Patterson assumes top position late. Cenci frames a triangle from his back but Patterson isn’t in serious danger.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cenci
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Cenci
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cenci

Round 2

Patterson attacks behind long straight punches and he snaps his foe’s head back with a jab. Cenci tries to close the distance, and Patterson lands a knee. Patterson goes up high with a kick and then an ensuing front kick lands low, and Cenci is given time to recover. The action resumes and Cenci attacks with heavy punches. Patterson lands a couple solid uppercuts before they clinch. Patterson shoves his man into the fence and they separate. Cenci shoots and Patterson counters with a solid uppercut. He sprawls on the takedown and locks up a brabo choke. Cenci fights out of it, but Patterson is on top in half guard. Patterson is still trying to set up a choke, but he gives up on a guillotine. Patterson is staying heavy on top, and Cenci clings to him to limit offense from above. Patterson transitions to a power guillotine, but Cenci escapes. Patterson is able to take the back in a scramble with about a minute to go in the round. Patterson gets his second hook in and slides his right arm under the chin. Patterson applies the squeeze and Cenci has no choice but to tap out.

The Official Result

Sam Patterson def. Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2 4:18

Bo Nickal (185.5) vs. Donovan Beard (184) (184)

Round 1

Nickal made it look easy in his Contender Series debut but wasn’t awarded a UFC contract. The three-time NCAA national champion will attempt to impress Dana White with a victory over Beard, a Cage Fury Fighting Championship title holder at middleweight. Beard, of course, is a massive underdog. Mark Smith will referee the evening’s featured bout. Nickal doesn’t care for a glove touch and we’re underway. Nickal takes a moment to size up his foe and leaps in behind a massive overhand left, powering Beard to the canvas. He looks to land some ground-and-pound before grabbing his opponent’s neck and assuming full mount. He gives up on the guillotine and Beard reverses into top position but is immediately in trouble, as Nickal has a triangle choke locked in from his back. Beard can’t hold out for too long before asking out of the fight. Nickal has lived up to the hype yet again.

The Official Result