Dana White's Contender Series 2022 Week 7 Play-by-Play and Results

Tereza Bleda (125.5) vs. Nayara Arnault Maia Correia (126)

Round 1

It’s a matchup of unbeaten flyweights to kick off the evening, as Czech Republic native Bleda squares off against Brazil’s Maia, a title holder in the Bendo Sento Championship organization. Mark Smith will oversee the opening bout. Maia comes out aggressive, punctuating a combination with a high kick. Moments later, Bleda executes a nice level change and plants the Brazilian on her back. Maia transitions to a leg lock and then Bleda hunts for one of her own. In the scramble, Maia takes top position in half guard. Bleda bucks her opponent off and dives into Maia’s full guard. Maia holds the Czech fighter close to limit ground-and-pound opportunities. Bleda lands a few left hands to the ribs from top position. Bleda passes to half guard, and Maia hooks her foot in her foe’s arm momentarily, but the Czech competitor frees herself quickly. Bleda lands some ground-and-pound, and Maia recovers full guard, working her legs up high. Bleda passes to half guard and lands several rights to the face of her adveresary. Maia hunts for a kimura but gives up on it and quickly transitions to a triangle choke. Bleda postures up and slams her way out of it. After briefly having her leg in trouble, Bleda is able to make it to the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Time is called at the beginning of the round, and a doctor comes in to examine Maia. It’s unclear what the issue is, but the Brazilian still wants to fight and we get back to it. Bleda lands a stiff straight right and Maia whiffs on an uppercut. Maia swings wildly and Bleda avoids the attack without issue while sticking a jab. Maia wastes little time shooting for a takedown, and she gets Bleda down with relative ease. Maia stacks her foe and then stands. She kicks at Bleda’s legs a few times before her foe stands. Belda with a one-two combination and then more straight punches. Bleda sticks a jab and then catches a kick from Maia, who rolls for a leg lock. Bleda defends and lands some decent ground-and-pound before taking over top position. Bleda uses her leg to pin down Maia’s left arm as she lands some punches from above. Maia frees her arm but Bleda is still controlling position. Bleda drops some short elbows before going back to punches. Maia eats more punches as she attempts to control the wrist of her opponent. Maia thinks about an up kick with Bleda on her knees and is warned by Smith. Bleda dives back into full guard and drives her elbow across Maia’s face. Bleda covers Maia’s mouth and then lands a hammerfist. Maia is content to work from her guard rather than work to stand, and it could come back to haunt her. Bleda ends the frame dropping more elbows from above.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Bleda throws a one-two and Maia answers with a body kick. They trade and then clinch, and a knee to the body lands for Bleda. Maia shoots for a takedown and Bleda sprawls well near the fence. Bleda spins around to the back, but Maia is able to move to her back. Bleda slams an elbow into the ribs and passes to half guard. It’s a familiar position for this fight, with Bleda working from top position and Maia happy to play jiu-jitsu from her back. Bleda does a good job to avoid the submission danger and lands some right hands to the head. Bleda hammers away with punches from half guard and Maia threatens with a leg lock. Bleda’s submission defense is sound, however. Bleda maintains control, dropping elbows and punches from above on an overmatched Maia. Maia scrambles up and lands a knee. An ensuing knee from Bleda buckles Maia to the canvas, and Smith is taking a close look. Maia is allowed to continue and Bleda goes back to work with ground-and-pound. Maia recovers full guard but doesn’t have anything else to offer as time winds down. Bleda with more elbows and punches to the body, and Maia kicks her foe off as the horn sounds. Dominant round for Bleda.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Bleda (30-26 Bleda)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Bleda (29-28 Bleda)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Bleda (30-26 Bleda)

The Official Result

Tereza Bleda def. Nayara Arnault Maia Correia via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26) R3 5:00

Ismael Bonfim (156) vs. Nariman Abbasov (156)

ODDS: Silva (-280); Dudakova (+235)

Round 1

The first of two Bonfim brothers is up, as the 26-year-old “Marreta” enters the Contender Series on an 11-fight winning streak. He’ll lock horns with ex-Fight Nights Global champ and Azerbaijan native Abbasov, who has won 12 in a row. Herb Dean will be the third man in the cage for the lightweight tilt. Abbasov lands an inside leg kick, but Bonfim responds with a forceful one of his own. Abbasov pressures behind his jab and a big right hand. Another hard leg kick for Bonfim. Bonfim flicks out a jab and fires a combination as Abbasov moves in. A nice body shot lands for Bonfim during an exchange and Abbasov backs up for a little bit. Another body shot lands in an exchange for Bonfim. Abbasov answers a left to the body with a body kick. Abbasov moves forward behind his jab, but Bonfim digs to the body with his left. A right hook from Bonfim puts Abbasov on shaky legs, and the Brazilian sits him down with a big left near the fence. Bonfim tees off with lefts to the head from a rear-waistlock position as Abbasov stands. Abbasov recovers and turns Bonfim into the fence. He trips Bonfim to the mat, but the Brazilian explodes back up and lands a knee. Bonfim backs Abbasov up, but Abbasov throws a big right. A jab lands for Bonfim and he follows up with a crisp 1-2. More jabs land for Bonfim, and he presses forward and lands another left to the body. They clinch and a knee to the body has Abbasov on reatreat. Abbasov’s body language is not good. Bonfim with a hard step-in knee. Abbasov is still swinging as time ticks down, and he’ll make it to the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Bonfim
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-8 Bonfim
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Bonfim

Round 2

Abbasov asks for time at the outset of the round. Herb Dean takes a look at Abbasov’s glove and says he’s fine. They trade jabs early. Abbasov misses the mark on an overhand right. Bonfim stalks his man, and sticks another jab. A big right lands for Bonfim, and he avoids some winging counters from Abbasov. A left hook for Bonfim draws a nod from Abbasov. A left hook to the body lands clean for Abbasov, a strike he has landed multiple times in the fight. Bonfim goes back to the jab and lands a couple. Abbasov answers with a leg kick, but he absorbs another hard body shot. Bonfim flick out his jab three times in a row and Abbasov answers with a couple of punches. Bonfim steps in with a knee to the midsection. Bonfim goes back to the well with a left to the body and Abbasov misses the mark with power punches. Bonfim lands another jab, and then a left hook as Abbasov kicks the leg. Bonfim sticks his jab. Abbasov closes the distance for a takedown, but Bonfim frees himself from a single-leg and fires off a kick to the body as Abbasov returns to his feet. Abbasov moves in with punches, then backs away. Abbasov fires off a few jabs, but none land. Bonfim digs the body with another left hook. A right hand over the top finds the mark for Abbasov before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

They combatants hug as the round begins. Bonfim jabs and Abbasov kicks the legs. A glancing right connects for Abbasov. Abbasov lands a jab and then a right hand. A jab connects for Bonfim and Abbasov kicks the body of his foe. Bonfim steps in with a nice left hook and Abbasov nods in acknowledgement. Bonfim lands a left jab as he pressures his foe. Bonfim avoids some winging offerings from Abbasov. More power punches for Abbasov miss the mark. Bonfim flicks his jab out again. Another jab lands for the Brazilian. Abbasov isn’t as overwhelmed as he was in Round 1, but Bonfim is still dictating the action, and he digs to the body once again with the left hook. Bonfim doubles up on his jab, then avoids more heavy counter offerings from Abbasov. A nice left hook lands for Bonfim, and then he rushes in with a flying knee. Abbasov eats it and pressures with power punches, but he again is struggling to find the mark. Bonfim lands another jab. Abbasov is still throwing punches, and he briefly backs Bonfim up into the cage, but the Brazilian circles away. Abbasov blocks a high kick and keeps stalking Bonfim. Bonfim sticks another hard left. Bonfim gets a takedown and suplexs Abbasov to the canvas just as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bonfim (30-26 Bonfim)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Bonfim (30-26 Bonfim)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Bonfim (30-26 Bonfim)

The Official Result

Ismael Bonfim def. Nariman Abbasov via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) R3 5:00

Jimmy Lawson (263) vs. Karl Williams (233)

Round 1

Heavyweights are on tap, as Legacy Fighting Alliance and Ring of Combat veteran Jimmy Lawson meets former PFL Challenger Series competitor Karl Williams. Mark Smith will officiate the battle of the big men. Lawson landds a pair of inside leg kicks and Williams answers with a stiff jab. Williams with a leg kick of his own. Lawson with a big swing and miss, allowing Williams to change levels and secure a takedown. Lawson is working hard to return to his feet, but Williams maintains top position, working from half guard. They slide to the fence and Lawson threatens with a heel hook. Williams stands and unloads with a couple big right hands before diving back into guard. Lawson pushes the head away, and then gets to his feet. Williams stays low for a takedown, picks Lawson up and dumps him on the mat. Williams looks to create some space for elbows from half guard. Williams isn’t landing damaging ground-and-pound, but he’s staying heavy on top, wearing Lawson down. Lawson is now content to hold Williams close with less than 30 seconds to go. Williams lands a few short lefts to the body before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Williams opens with a front kick to the midsection. Williams throws an oblique kick at the knee of his opponent in what is a measured beginning to the round. Williams lands an outside leg kick. Williams shoots for a takedown behind a 1-2 that lands and he plants Lawson on his back. Williams grinds his forearm into Lawson’s face and drops an elbow. Williams, who weighed 30 pounds less than Lawson on Monday, continues to impose his will from above. Lawson looks to create space with his guard, but Williams goes from north-south to side control. Williams lands a few punches, nearly trapping the arm in a crucifix, and Lawson gives up his back. Williams looks to get his hooks in, but instead, Lawson reverses into top position. Lawson is in full guard with about 1:30 to go. Williams scrambles to his feet, and Lawson falls to the mat, clinging to a leg lock. Williams is warned to let go of the fence. Williams frees his right hand and drops some solid hammerfists as Lawson loses the leg lock. From there, Williams slides into side control and then stands. Lawson lays on his back and Smith orders a standup in the waning seconds. Neither man elects to throw a strike before the horn in the final 10 seconds.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Williams with a push kick down the middle, but it appears to land below the belt, and Smith calls time so Lawson can recover. After about 30 seconds the bout resumes. Williams lands a hard outside low kick. Williams lands a straight right. Lawson misses the mark on a jab. Williams tags Lawson with a pair of left hooks. Lawson tries to move forward, but he’s off balance and that allows Williams to get him to the canvas once again. Williams is back on top, landing left hands to the head from top position. Lawson holds on to Williams’ wrist to limit the damage. Lawson grabs a head lock from his back, but it isn’t helping him. Williams alternates lefts to the head and body. They’re not powerful, but he’s keeping busy. Lawson works his way to a seated position, but he’s just hanging on to Williams. Williams lands a few rights to the body and shoves Lawson back to the mat. Williams slides to the mount with 25 seconds to go. Williams looks to set up an arm-triangle choke, but he can’t pass to the proper side because the fence is in the way. That’s how the fight will end.

Sherdog Scores

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

The Official Result

Karl Williams def. Jimmy Lawson via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Gabriel Souza de Bonfim (170) vs. Trey Waters (170.5)

Round 1

The younger Bonfim brother will look to follow in his sibling’s footsteps with a victory, as the LFA champion brings a 12-0 mark to the evening’s penultimate bout. He’ll lock horns with Waters, who is 6-0 with five wins inside the distance. Herb Dean will officiate the welterweight contest. Bonfim flicks out a few hard jabs and Waters answers. Waters throws a long push kick to control range. Both men are throwing hands an landing early. Bonfim wades into the pocket and fires hard straight punches. Waters is countering effectivley. Bonfim lands a leg kick and throws a jab. Waters jabs in return. Bonfim finds the mark with his left hook and Waters responds with a solid jab. Waters is staying calm, landing some decent counters as Bonfim brings pressure. Waters sticks his jab, then counters with another. Bonfim lands a nice two-punch combination. Bonfim blocks a body kick by Waters. Waters with a left hook as Bonfim moves in. A left hook from Bonfim lands on the chin and Waters shrugs it off. Bonfim lands his jab and avoids a combination by Waters. Bonfim looks to close the distance, and he backs Waters up with a combination. Bonfim changes levels for a takedown and Waters traps him him in a guillotine. Bonfim smartly passes to the side. The guillotine is not a threat from this position, and Bonfim digs his shoulder in. Bonfim gets his left arm around Waters’ neck and continues to apply pressure. Waters, who hasn’t given up on the choke, is forced to tap out to a Von Flue choke in a surprising turn of events. It’s the 10th career submission victory for the Brazilian and the first finish on the card. It’s also the first Von Flue choke in Dana White’s Contender Series history.

The Official Result

Gabriel de Souza Bonfim def. Trey Waters via Submission (Von Flue Choke) R1 4:13

Rodolfo Bellato (205) vs. Vitor Petrino Salvo (203.5)

Round 1

It’s feature bout time at the Contender Series, as Bellato looks to avenge 2019 knockout loss — in 25 seconds, no loss — to Salvo in a light heavyweight clash. Mark Smith gets the final assignment of the night.Salvo is working his jab, and he steps in with an upperuct. Bellato jabs the body. Salvo with a two punch combination upstairs and then a body shot. Salvo walks his man down and tees off with a series of heavy punches. Salvo gets a takedown, and he’s in Bellato’s half guard. Bellato looks ot frame a triangle from his back. It’s getting close, but Salvo picks Bellator up and slams his way out of trouble. Salvo elects to stay on the canvas. He postures up and lands some forceful punches in guard. Bellator is staying active with his guard and eats a left for his trouble. They stand, and Salvo tags Bellato with a combination. Salvo tags Bellator with a couple left jabs. Bellato is already wearing damage uner his left eye. Bellator steps in and sits Salvo down. Salvo stands, but Bellator suplexes him to the mat. Salvo stands again, with Bellato jumping on his back. Bellato might be a little too high on the back, and Salvo looks to slide him off the top. It doesn’t work, and they go to the mat. Salvo is able to spin out of Bellato’s body triangle, and he drops some heavy punches from above. Bellator gets to a seated position and Salvo lands some more lefts before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

A counter left hook lands for Salvo, and he tees off with a combination followed by a head kick. Bellato answers and Salvo smiles at him. Bellato closes the distance and shoves Salvo into the fence. Salvo digs for an underhook and Bellato drops for a takedown. Salvo is defending against the fence and Bellato gets a rear bodylock. Salvo looks to break the grip of his opponent. He uses a kimura grip to break free. Bellato lands a counter left hook. Salvo answers with a two-punch combination followed by a clean uppercut. Bellato shows some good head movement as Salvo continues to unload with punches. Salvo lands a head kick near the fence, but Belllato eats it without issue. Bellato just misses a step-in elbow. Bellato lands a right to the body. Bellato wants to force the issue, and that leads to him throwing an ill-advised spinning backfist during an exchange. Salvo responds and drops his opponent with a left hook to the side of the head, and he seals his victory by diving in with a missile of a right hand. It’s his second KO win over Bellato in approximately three years.

The Official Result

Vitor Petrino Salvo def. Rodolfo Bellato via KO (Punches) R2 3:36