Dana White's Contender Series 2022 Week 5 Play-by-Play and Results

Denise Gomes (115.5) vs. Rayanne dos Santos (115.5)

Round 1

Gomes, a Parana Vale Tudo product, is on a five-bout winning streak and coming off a win over UFC vet Milana Dudieva under the Invicta FC banner. The Marajo Brothers-trained dos Santos has won four straight — all inside the distance. Mike Beltran gets the call for ref duties on the evening’s first bout. They touch gloves and dos Santos opens things with a leg kick. Gomes responds with one of her own. Dos Santos steps in with a two-punch combination. Gomes lands a jab and then another low kick. Dos Santos partially connects with a kick to the body. Gomes has a high kick blocked. They trade in the pocket and dos Santos tags Gomes with a two-punch combo to the head while exhibiting good head movement. Dos Santos moves in and lands a nice body-head combination. A hard right hand backs up Gomes briefly. Gomes lands a glancing spinning kick to the head and goes on the offensive, marching forward with offense. Dos Santos counters a missed wheel kick with a two-piece combination. Gomes throws her third wheel kick and misses the mark. Moments later, dos Santos shoots for a takedown. Gomes returns to her feet and frames a kimura while dos Santos maintains a body lock. Gomes resists the submission and keeps her hold on Gomes. Gomes gives up on the kimura and eventually turns dos Santos into the fence. They separate and dos Santos tags Gomes with a crisp jab. Gomes continues to employ a spin heavy attack, but is largely missing the mark. Dos Santos wraps up Gomes in the clinch and shoves her into the fence. Gomes defends with a kimura until the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 dos Santos
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Gomes
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Gomes

Round 2

Gomes answers a dos Santos right with a hard leg kcik. Gomes shucks off a takedown try and lands a hard right. Gomes moves in and lands a straight right followed by a left jab. Gomes changes levels and dos Santos just misses an elbow. Gomes attacks the leg of her opponent again and dos Santos counters. Gomes bakcs dos Santos up and connects a hard right and then a high kick. Gomes goes leaping in recklessly and dos Santos takes her down. Gomes gets up quickly and shoves dos Santos away. Gomes continues to stalk her opponent, throwing heavy right hands, leg kicks and high kicks. Gomes moves in and lands an inside leg kick. Gomes whiffs on a spinning punch, but she continues to be the one pushing the pace. Dos Santos works behind her jab, and then they trade in the pocket. Another jab for dos Santos. A nice 1-2 lands for dos Santos. Gomes backs her foe up and lands a heavy combination punctuated by an elbow. Gomes continues to wlak dos Santo down, but dos Santos slips and lands a right. It doesn’t matter because Gomes wades in and lands a pair of big rights. Gomes follows a leg kick with a right hand and then a high kick. Dos Santos picks up the aggression and busts Gomes open with an overhand right. They continue to trade heavy shots until right before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

They touch gloves once more and Gomes resumes her forward movement as she lands a leg kick. Dos Santos sticks a jab. Gomes walks forward and lands a hard 1-2. Dos Santos counters a low kick with a right and waves her opponent forward. Another low kick from Gomes and a counter right from dos Santos. Gomes misses the spinning elbow. Gomes has a high kick and it slaps off the forearm of dos Santos. They trade leg kicks. Gomes attacks the inside leg of dos Santos. Gomes rushes in with a left hook and then misses a spinning back kick, which allows dos Santos to counter with a combo. Gomes picks up the intensity and lands a hard right and keeps the pressure on, attacking with kicks, punches and elbows. Dos Santos retreats and then goes back to the jab. They trade in the pocket, and now it’s dos Santos leading the dance. An overhand right counter lands for dos Santos, who is bleeding from the nose. A stiff jab lands for dos Santos and Gomes counters with a low kick. They both trade jabs, and Gomes goes with a high kick. Gomes catches a body kick and lands a hard right on dos Santos. Another right for Gomes and dos Santos nods approval. Gomes pressures forward and lands a pair of hard knees in the clinch, drawing a smile from dos Santos. Dos Santos pushes the pace behind another overhand and eats a knee from Gomes before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gomes (29-28 Gomes)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Gomes (30-27 Gomes)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Gomes (30-27 Gomes)

The Official Result

Denise Gomes def. Rayanne dos Santos via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Josh Wang Kim (135) vs. Cameron Saaiman (136)

Round 1

Kim, a San Diego native with experience in Legacy Fighting Alliance and Cage Warriors, locks horns with the undefeated Saaiman, a bantamweight champion under the EFC Global banner. Jason Herzog will be the third man in the cage. Saaiman lands a leg kick right away, as Kim employs an unorthodox stance on the outside. Kim leaps in with a quick high kick. Saaiman with another low kick, and Kim responds with a body kick. A straight left from Saaiman stops Kim’s forward movement momentarily. Kim is switching stancing constantly. Saaiman blocks and spinning back kick, then fires back with a standing side kick. Kim steps in and lands a straight left. A leg kick lands for Saaiman. Kim pressures and follows a left hand with a fornt kick to the midsection. Leg kicks land for Saaiman, and Kim goes upstairs with a high kick that his opponent blocks. They trade leg kicks and Saaiman misses a spinning kick. Kim moves in and lands a slapping kick to the body. Kim forrces the clinch and pushes Saaiman into the fence. Kim knees the thigh and then the body. Kim with another knee to the thigh of his opponent. Kim gives up on the takedown and they’re back at range. Another body kick lands for Kim and Saaiman answers with a leg kick. Saaiman connects with a counter left and Kim lands one of his own. Saaiman swings heavy leather but Kim avoids it, and moments later he works the body of Saaiman with another kick. A leg kick connects for Kim before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Kim opens with a leg kick. Kim closes the distance and lands a knee in the clinch before tripping Saaiman to the canvas. Kim sets up in side control. Saaiman scoots to the fence and lands some open hand slaps to Kim’s back. The slaps continue, and Saaiman is up to one knee. They stand and Saaiman has a tight guillotine in place. Kim frees his head before Saaiman can move into mount. Kim scrambles up and eats some strikes from Saaiman. Saaiman kicks the leg of Kim. Kim lands another body kick. Saaiman lands a straight right followed by a left hook. A front kick lands for Saaiman and he follows that up with a combination. Saaiman is forcing the issue, moving forward and throwing combinations. Saaiman with a pair of kicks to Kim’s lead leg. Now Saaiman goes upstairs with a pair of high kicks and the former EFC champ pressures witha combination. Kim seems to be slowing as Saaiman’s offense increases. A body kick lands for Saaiman, and he lands a combination moments later. Kim has slowed considerably this round, and Saaiman is controlling the pace. Kim lands a nice counter right, but Saaiman answers with a spinning back kick that makes Kim bounce off the fence. Saaiman shoots for a takedown late and secures it with a few seconds left. He lets Kim up and lands a body kick as his foe stands before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Saaiman keeps his momentum going early, but he eats a solid counter right from Kim as he applies pressure. Kim throws a front kick but it’s blocked. Kim with a body kick and then another. Saaiman with a leg kick and Kim answers with yet another body kick. Saaiman continues to attack the lead leg of his adversary. Kim backs up Saaiman with a straight left, but then his opponent goes back to attacking his legs. Saaiman backs Kim up with punches and then unleashes a spinning back kick to the midsection. Kim answers with another hard body kick. Kim with another body kick and Saaiman answers with a leg kick. Saaiman pressures Kim and backs him into the fence with more punches. Saaiman backs up to reset, then pressures forward again. This time, Saaiman lands a right hook, then drops Kim with a left hook on the chin just as his opponent was attempting to throw a left of his own. No follow-up is needed as Kim face plants on the canvas.

The Official Result

Cameron Saaiman def. Josh Wang Kim via KO (Punch) R3 2:52

Erisson Ferreira da Silva (125.5) vs. Jesus Santos Aguilar (125.5)

Round 1

Da Silva is back for a second go round on the Contender Series after his unanimous decision win over Lun Qiu last November didn’t net a UFC contract. Mexico’s Aguilar owns a seven-bout winning streak that includes a pair of wins in the Combate Global promotion. Mike Beltran will oversee the flyweight bout. Aguilar kicks the inside of da Silva’s legs, but the Brazilian makes Aguilar stumble with a low kick of his own. Da Silva kicks the body and then moves in with a quick 1-2, slipping on the way in. Da Silva lands an outside leg kick and Aguilar moves in, swinging heavy leather. Aguilar times a double-leg takedown nicely and grounds da Silva in the center of the cage. Da Silva grabs on to a guillotine. For a moment he gets full guard and keeps Aguilar in the choke, but the Mexican frees himself and they scramble up, quickly trading heavy punches on the feet. Aguilar misses a trip attempt, allowing da Silva to power him down and take top position. Da Silva latches on to a guillotine and stands. He squeezes briefly but Aguilar escapes and turns da Silva into the fence. Aguilar has double underhooks against the fence. Aguilar pulls da Silva into mount, and the Brazilian lands some ground-and-pound before Aguilar gives up his back. Da Silva has his hooks in but might be a little too high to flatten Aguilar out. Aguilar tries to tripod out, and on his second try, he shakes da Silva off of him and dives into full guard. Aguilar drops a furious series of punches and elbows until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Aguilar lands a couple heavy punches early, and they’re going at it right away. Aguilar grabs a single leg. Da Silva frees his leg but Aguilar closes distance in a hurry and shoves his man into the fence. Once again, Aguilar makes a mistake and pulls da Silva into top position. Da Silva is inside his foe’s full guard, but Aguilar is doing a good job neutralizing his offense. Aguilar works his guard up, creates space and stands. Aguilar gets a takedown in short order and begins to work to take da Silva’s back. Da Silva tries to buck Aguilar off him, but it’s to no avail. Aguilar gets the back after a reset and has both hooks in. Aguilar lands a few right hands from the position before rolling da Silva over. Da Silva is doing well to control Aguilar’s hands. Aguilar frees his right and punches the head of the Brazilian a few times. Aguilar is able to maintain back control, and we’re under a minute to go. Aguilar loses a hook, then regains it. With 15 seconds left, da Silva reverses into top position. Da Silva stands as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Aguilar stumbles forward behind a massive overhand. Aguilar keeps coming forward and tags the Brazilian with several heavy punches before changing levels. He lifts da Silva and plants his man on the mat. Aguilar is in the full guard of his opponent, staying heavy on top. A scramble ensues and Aguilar grabs a front headlock as da Silva clings to a leg. Aguilar jumps back on a guillotine and the choke is tight. Da Silva begins tapping on the opposite side of the referee and at first Beltran doesn’t see it until the Brazilian taps with his other hand. Aguilar has his eighth straight victory.

The Official Result

Jesus Santos Aguilar def. Erisson Ferreira da Silva via Submission (Guillotine Choke) R3 1:56

Amiran Gogoladze (170.5) vs. Darrius Flowers (171)

Round 1

Georgian Fighting Championship title holder Gogoladze has won his last three fights inside of a round, while Iowa native Flowers is coming of back-to-back KO/TKO wins in Legacy Fighting Alliance. Jason Herzog will be the referee for this welterweight scrap. Gogoladze takes the center of the cage and counters a low kick with a body kick. Gogoladze quickly forces the clinch and pushes Flowers into the fence. Flowers reverses position. They go to the canvas and following a scramble, Gogoladze looks to frame an inverted triangle from his back. Flowers powers his way to his feet, picks Gogoladze up and slams him down on the mat hard, spiking the Georgian on his shoulder. They land in north-south position. There’s a brief delay as Gogoladze talks to his corner while on his back. Seconds later, “The Sniper” taps out as a result of an apparent shoulder injury.

The Official Result

Darrius Flowers def. Amiran Gogoladze via TKO (Submission to Slam) R1 1:13

Eduardo Jose Neves (265) vs. Michael Parkin (259)

Round 1

It’s a pairing of 5-0 heavyweights with 10 KO/TKO victories between them in the evening’s featured bout. Mike Beltran is the ref for the featured bout. Neves lands a big outside leg kick to begin, then wades forward with a heavy combination. They clinch briefly, but separate in short order. The heavyweights continue to trade power punches in the pocket, and Neves lands a combination that forces Parkin to clinch. Parkin pulls Neves on top of him in a failed takedown try. Parkin gets to his feet, but Nevin lands several punches to the head followed by an ill-advised spinning elbow. Parkin gets a rear body lock and powers Neves to the mat. Neves returns to his feet, but Parkin changes levels for a double-leg takedown. An exhausted looking Neves rolls over and covers up as Parkin unloads with punches. Neves leaves his neck wide open as a result of the barrage and Parkin slides his right arm under the chin with ease. Neves taps out in a matter of moments.

The Official Result

Michael Parkin def. Eduardo Jose Neves via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R1 1:57