Dana White’s Contender Series ‘Season 3, Week 8’ Play-by-Play & Results

Light Heavyweight Bout:
Julius Anglickas vs. Karl Reed

Round 1

Reed is throwing kicks liberally to begin. He has a high kick blocked by Anglickas and then shoots for a takedown against the fence. Reed adjusts to a high-crotch but his opponent defends well. They remain in the clinch, but Anglickas is able to reverse the position and turn Reed into the fence. Anglickas with a few knees to the body as they remain in the clinch. Anglickas drops low for a takedown, but he can’t connect his hands and Reed remains upright. Reed lands some elbows to the side of the head, but that allows Anglickas to get a takedown. He’s on Reed’s back, but the South Carolina native hustles to his feet. They separate and Reed just misses an elbow on the break. Reed shoots behind a kick and this time he picks his foe up and slams him to the mat. Anglickas is seated against the fence. He posts his hand as Reed tries to pull his legs out from under him. Anglickas is able to scramble up with 25 seconds left. Anglickas lands a leg kick and Reed answers with a right. Anglickas attacks with a combination before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Reed
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Reed
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Reed

Round 2

Anglickas is walking Reed down, landing low kicks early on. Reed throws a left but Anglickas is able to sidestep the blow and secure a rear waist lock. Anglickas drives Reed into the cage and gets a a takedown. He lands a few right hands upstairs as Reed stands. Anglickas is throwing knees in the clinch, and Reed grimaces as one lands low. Referee Jason Herzog pauses the action to allow for Reed to recover. Reed just misses a high kick, and Anglickas responds by driving his foe across the cage with a takedown. Reed quickly explodes to his feet however. Again, more clinch work against the cage, but little action. Herzog urges them to work before ordering a break. Reed has a high kick block and then he shoots for a takedown. He slams his man down and lands in side control near the fence with a little more than 1:00 to go. Anglickas powers back to his feet and lands a right on the break. Anglickas stuffs a takedown and then lands an elbow, a right hand and a knee, one of his best sequences of the fight.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Anglickas
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Anglickas
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Reed

Round 3

An uppercut connects for Reed. Anglickas lands a jab and then has a takedown stopped. Anglickas presses forward and lands some hard knees and an elbow in close quarters. He then clinches and looks for a body lock takedown. Anglickas works his way to Reed’s back, and Reed gets a warning for a cage grab. Anglickas with a nice knee to the body and then lands a double leg. Reed is on his knees, and Anglickas lands some punches to the head. Reeds stands, but Anglickas maintains the body lock as we approach the 2:00 mark. Anglickas gets another takedown and Reed gives up his back. Anglickas can’t really capitalize as Reed crawls toward the fence. With Reed crouched against the fence, Anglickas gets his foe’s back and locks in a rear-naked choke. He doesn’t have his hooks in, but the squeeze is enough to force a tapout from Reed.

The Official Result

Julius Anglickas def. Karl Reed via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R3 3:25

Bantamweight Bout:
Tony Gravely vs. Ray Rodriguez

Round 1

Gravely lands a low kick and then a kick to the body. Rodriguez connects with a nice combination upstairs as both men are setting a high pace early. A left jab from Gravely stuns Rodriguez coming in, and he backs up. Gravely shoots for a takedown against the fence. Rodriguez defends and lands an elbow on the break. Gravely eats a knee and keeps moving forward, tagging his man with a combination. They trade in the pocket. Rodriguez lands a three-punch combo and Gravely times a takedown perfectly, getting his opponent down in the center of the Octagon. Gravely lands about three heavy elbows from side control. Rodriguez recovers full guard, but Gravely postures up and drops some heavy ground-and-pound. Rodriguez is looking to sweep to return to his feet, but Gravely stays on top position. He has a guillotine locked in, looking to pass guard. He relents on the choke, though. Rodriguez scrambles up with about 50 seconds left. Gravely lands an elbow before breaking the clinch. A left connects for Gravely, who stalks Rodriguez. Gravely shoots behind a punch and gets Rodriguez down again late in the period. Rodriguez reverses into top position just before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gravely
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Gravely
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Gravely

Round 2

Rodriguez swings and throws a combination early, but he gets stung but an answer from Gravely, who lands a head kick. Gravely shoots and drives his foe into the cage. Gravely can’t get the takedown. Instead, it’s Rodriguez who executes a trip and immediately takes Gravely’s back. He only has one hook in, and Gravely is able to explode back up. Gravely slams Rodriguez down and lands in half guard near the fence. Gravely stays heavy on top. Rodriguez recovers full guard, but Gravely is relentless, grinding away while landing occasional elbows and punches. Rodriguez is still trying to fight his way up, but Gravely just drags him right back down. Gravely lands some more punches to the side of the head. Rodriguez attempts to roll away, but now Gravely has his back. He squeezes on a rear-naked choke, but Rodriguez slides out of danger and Gravely scrambles to top position, where the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gravely
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Gravely
Mike Fridley scores the round:10-9 Gravely

Round 3

Rodriguez rushes out for a flying attack but instead eats a counter left hand and lands on his back, which allows Gravely to instantly assume top position. Rodriguez reverses position and takes Gravely’s back. Rodriguez is too high for the rear-naked choke, and Gravely looks to shake him off. Gravely eventually escapes and returns to top position, and he lands some short left hands to the head. Gravely passes to full mount and he Rodriguez gives up his back. Gravely postures up and rains down a series of unanswered lefts and rights to the head. Rodriguez is no longer defending himself, and referee Mark Smith has had enough, as he steps in to wave off the contest.

The Official Result

Tony Gravely def. Ray Rodriguez via TKO (Punches) R3 2:16

Women's Bantamweight Bout:
Sarah Alpar vs. Shanna Young

Round 1

Young with a low kick and Alpar counters with a punching combination. Alpar swings aggressively and connects with a couple quality shots. Moments later, Alpar lands the first takedown of the fight. She takes Young’s back but is in danger of sliding off the top. She’s battling to get her other hook in, but instead it’s Young who reverses into top position. Young lands a hammerfist from top position. Young lands a few right hands as Alpar works her way back up. Young uses a cradle to maintain control against the fence. Alpar finally separates her foes hands and gets up. A two-punch combination lands clean for Young, but she stumbles forward momentarily attempting to capitalize. She recovers and drives Alpar into the fence. Young lands a pair of nice knees from the clinch. Alpar attempts to change levels but Young defends nicely and looks to transition to a brabo choke as time winds down. The horn sounds before she can seriously threaten with the choke.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Young
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Young
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Young

Round 2

Alpar lands a hard low kick at the outset. Young sticks a nice jab, and Alpar answers with another hard low kick. Alpar leaps in with a right hand and backs out. Both fighters are landing solid punches now. Young with a big right hand, taking advantage of her reach. Alpar secures a body lock and muscles Young to the canvas. Alpar is able to get Young’s back, but she only has one hook in. Alpar lands some punches to the ribs. Alpar suddenly gets her arm underneath Young’s chin and starts to apply some pressure. They roll over, Alpar gets the other hook in and now it’s extremely tight.Young has no choice but to tap out.

The Official Result

Sarah Alpar def. Shanna Young via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2 2:55

Welterweight Bout:
Devin Smyth vs. Brok Weaver

Round 1

Smyth with a hard body kick followed by a takedown. Weaver gets up, but Smyth picks his man up and slams him on the mat. Smyth drops a short elbow from half guard and then passes to side control. Smyth lands four quick right hands. With Weaver seated against the fence, Smyth drives a hard knee to the midsection. He transitions to the back, but he’s too high and falls off the top. Weaver lands a right hook and they’re back in the clinch. Weaver is talking as they trade knees. The welterweights break and Smyth shoots for another takedown. Weaver defends against the fence and lands some elbows to the side of the head. Weaver stuffs another takedown and lands a quick one-two. Smyth is undeterred, as he continues to pursue the takedown. They break with about a minute left. Smyth backs into the cage, then changes levels for another takedown. Again, Weaver remains upright against the fence. Weaver smiles as time ticks down in the frame. Weaver tries to drop for a guillotine but Smyth’s head slips out and he ends the round in top position.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Smyth
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Smyth
Mike Fridley scores the round:10-9 Smyth

Round 2

Weaver throws a kick right away that lands directly on the cup and Smyth falls to his knees in agony. Weaver gets a warning and the fight resumes. Weaver clinches behind a one-two and then when they separate Smyth changes levels behind a spinning back elbow. Weaver’s takedown defense is holding up once again. Smyth with a couple knees as Weaver reverses position. Weaver secures a rear-waistlock, and Smyth gets a warning for grabbing the fence. Weaver lands some nice punches to the face in close quarters. He pushes Smyth into the cage and lands lefts to the body and head. Smyth connects with a knee with his back to the fence. Weaver keeps the pressure on, landing more punches in the clinch. Smyth breaks free and narrowly avoids a combination. Weaver finds an opening and clinches behind a combination. Smyth is able to turn Weaver back into the fence as the clinch battle wages on. Smyth doesn’t appear to have much energy behind his takedown try but he nonetheless gets his man down with less than a minute remaining. Weaver explodes back up and turns Smyth around, landing a knee. He lands a series of rights on the break and then a knee on a fading Smith.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Weaver
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Weaver
Mike Fridley scores the round:10-9 Smyth

Round 3

Weaver opens with a pair of low kicks as he backs Smyth into the fence. Weaver clinches behind a combination, but Smyth drives him back into the cage. They’re back in the clinch again, battling for position. Smyth drops for a takedown and Weaver defends, landing some elbows to the side of the head. Moments later, Smyth is able to get Weaver to the mat. Weaver hustles back up, and they stay in the clinch. Weaver lands some uppercuts to the body. They break and Weaver lands another combination. Smyth misses a spinning back elbow, but won’t throw his hands, leading the commentary team to speculate he has a hand injury. Weaver creates space and flurries with more punches before clinching again. Weaver stays active with offense in close quarters and Smyth changes levels. Weaver defends and lands some more punches. Smyth shoots behind an elbow, driving his man into the fence. Weaver continues to defend well, and he turns Smyth back into the fence. Weaver lands some punches to the body, while Smyth connects with a short elbow. Smyth is stymied on a takedown late in the round and then fires off a spinning elbow before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Weaver (29-28 Weaver)
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Weaver (29-28 Weaver)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Weaver (29-28 Smyth)

The Official Result

Brock Weaver def. Devin Smyth via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Light Heavyweight Bout:
Herdem Alacabek vs. William Knight

Round 1

Alacabek with a nice body kick, and Knight shoots for a takedown. They battle in the clinch and Alacabek lands a knee. They trade short shots in the clinch and Knight drives for a takedown again. Alacabek turns and lands a heavy knee to the gut, then another. Alacabek continues to punish Knight with knees to the body. They break and the Swede lands a stiff jab followed by a body kick. Alacabek works a body-head punching combination before clinching. He creates some space and attacks the body of Knight with short punches. Alacabek plants Knight on his back and drops some elbows. Knight attempts to stand and Alacabek takes his back. He’s a little high but Alacabek maintains back control and briefly threatens with a choke. Knight goes to all fours and Alacabek flattens him out, raining down left hands. Knight powers back up to all fours, but Alacabek is still riding him. Knight tries to slip out the back door and he does it, grabbing a leg and getting a takedown. Alacabek transitions to an armbar, but Knight frees himself. They light heavyweights trade blow in the clinch until the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Alacabek
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Alacabek
Mike Fridley scores the round:10-9 Alacabek

Round 2

Alacabek catches a kick and lands an overhand right. He follows up with a left hand before forcing the clinch against the cage. Alacabek works the body with uppercuts. They trade knees in close. More short punches to the body by Alacabek, and then he lands a knee. Knight lands some uppercuts to the chin as they remain in the clinch. A body punch and then an uppercut to the chin by Alacabek. Alacabek drops low, picks Knight up and slams him down. He lands in side control, where he drops a short elbow. Alacabek just misses a massive elbow before taking his foe’s back. Knight eats a heavy right as he stands up. Alacabek still has a rear body lock. Knight turns into his opponent and then lands in top position as Alacabek fails on a trip. Knight postures up and unloads with ground-and-pound. Knight passes to full mount with 20 seconds left. Alacabek manages to survive as Knight attempts to isolate an arm in the waning seconds.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Alacabek
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Alacabek
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Knight

Round 3

Knight begins with a low kick. A stiff jab from Knight catches his opponent coming in. They trade leg kicks. Alacabek marches forward and forces the clinch. A leaping knee by Knight with his back to the fence has Alacabek reeling briefly. Alacabek seems to have recovered, and he shoves Knight back into the cage. Alacabek goes back to work attacking the body in the clinch. They break, and Knight drops low for a takedown. Alacabek defends for a moment, but Knight is persistent and briefly gets his foe down. Knight lands a series of punches as Alacabek stands. Knight is landing his jab effectively now. Alacabek wades forward and Knight beautifully times a takedown. Alacabek powers up and shoves Knight into the fence. Alacabek looks for a takedown and Knight sprawls. Knight unleashes some punches and ragdolls Alacabek down. He lands some powerful elbows before stepping into full mount with a minute left. Alacabek is bleeding and Knight is dropping heavy right hands. Jason Herzog is taking a close look. Knight is teeing off, and finally this one is waved off. What a comeback victory for Knight.

The Official Result

William Knight def. Herdem Alacabek via TKO (Punches) R3 4:34