Dana White’s Contender Series 2024 Week 5 Play-by-Play & Results

Corinne Laframboise (126) vs. Nicolle Caliari (124.6)

Round 1

Kerry Hatley will ref the first fight of the evening. Laframboise backs Caliari into the fence and they trade immediately. Laframboise punches her way into the clinch and gets tagged on the way in. Caliari muscles her opponent to the canvas and gets to work inside full guard. Caliari stands and backs away, and Laframboise is back up to her feet. The Canadian pressures with punches and Caliari answers with a flurry of her own. The women are alternating brawling exchanges with clinching. After a tie-up, Caliari tosses Laframboise to the canvas. Laframboise is active with her guard, and she looks to frame an inverted triangle. She uses it to create a scramble and transitions to an inverted crucifix. The Canadian lands some short elbows to the side of Caliari’s head as she controls both arms. Caliari is struggling to free herself from the predicament, but eventually the Brazilian stands. Laframboise has a body lock and thwarts a judo throw. Laframboise drags Caliari to the mat and assumes top position. Caliari transitions to an armbar and goes belly down with the maneuver. She briefly appears to lose the grip, but she is able to recover and adjust the submission to increase the torque. Moments later, Laframboise is forced to verbally tap with just seconds remaining in the period.

The Official Result

Nicolle Caliari def. Corinne Laframboise via Verbal Submission (Armbar) R1 4:45

Otari Tanzilov (134.5) vs. Josias Musasa (135.5)

Round 1

Mark Smith will oversee the bantamweight action. Musasa fires off a leg kick and Tanzilov answers with a body kick. Musasa throws heavy leather, and Tanzilov elects to close the distance. He gets his foe down from the clinch. They stand and Tanzilov slips on a head kick on the break. Tanzilov goes right back to wrestling and he presses Musasa into the fence, where he lands a knee to the gut. They get back to range and Tanzilov attacks with a body kick. Musasa tags his man with a straight. Tanzilov shoots and Musasa defends with ease. Musasa pressures and forces a tie-up behind some missed punches. Musasa lands a right on the break. Tanzilov keeps the range with a push kick and then he lands a long right. Musasa pressures and jabs the body. Another right lands for Musasa. Tanzilov shoots for a single leg, but Musasa keeps his base and reverses against the fence. Musasa frees himself but eats a stiff jab. Musasa is swinging wildly and they collide in the clinch. They trade knees and both men appear to land low. Time is briefly called but the action resumes in short order. Tanzilov with a hard right followed by a body kick. Tanzilov ducks under a punch and secures a body lock. The Georgian presses his foe into the fence. Tanzilov lands a knee in close. Musasa knees the body and frees himself to land a combination at the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tanzilov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Tanzilov
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Tanzilov

Round 2

Musasa is in the second round for just the second time of his young career. Tanzilov offers a jumping switch kick and then tries a spinning high kick, which Musasa eludes. Musasa clinches and shoves his foe into the wire. He lands a short elbow in close quarters. Tanzilov separates and circles out. Musasa jabs the body. They clinch in the center of the cage and Tanzilov lands a trip. Musasa stands and reverses. He punches Tanzilov’s body with short shots. Tanzilov lands an uppercut and breaks free. Tanzilov with a two-punch combo, and then he slams a high kick off Musasa’s forearm. Musasa pressures behind a leg kick and a right hand. They clinch again, but Tanzilov can’t get the trip. Musasa keeps the pressure on and he lands a combination against the fence. Musasa escapes a single leg, but Tanzilov is able to close distance quickly and drive his man into the fence. Musasa lands elbows while he defends with his back to the fence. Musasa reverses and frames a knee to the head. Tanzilov partially lands a knee to the head before they break from the clinch. They tie up again and Musasa is in control, landing a couple short shots before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Musasa
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Musasa
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Tanzilov

Round 3

Tanzilov kicks the legs immediately, then has a head kick blocked. Tanzilov changes levels and briefly gets a single-leg takedown. Musasa powers his way up right away, and Tanzilov walks him into the cage. Musasa reverses position and lands a knee to the gut. They’re back at range, and Tanzilov lands a 1-2. Musasa with a left to the body but Tanzilov is able to close the distanc ewhen his opponent gets too wild with his strikes. Tanzilov presses his foe into the fence. Tanzilov lands a knee on the break, but it’s low and time is called. Tanzilov with a slapping kick to the body. Musasa catches a kick and is able to take his opponent’s back. He hooks one leg and lands some punches before briefly threatening with a choke, but the angle is wrong. Musasa maintains control against the fence, and he lands a short elbow. Tanzilov with a hard knee to the gut as they battle it out in the clinch. Another knee from Tanzilov before he changes levels. Musasa defends well and they separate. Tanzilov grabs a single leg on a low kick, but Musasa keeps his feet. Musasa reverses position but Tanzilov keeps throwing knees. Musasa lands a knee of his own and then a short elbow before they get back to range. Musasa counters a head kick with a 1-2, and then Tanzilov forces the clinch. Musasa turns his foe into the cage. They trade knees in close quarters. They continue to jockey position in the clinch until the final horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tanzilov (29-28 Tanzilov)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Tanzilov (29-28 Tanzilov)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Tanzilov (30-27 Tanzilov)

The Official Result

Josias Musasa def. Otari Tanzilov via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) R3 5:00

Yousri Belgaroui (186) vs. Taiga Iwasaki (185)

Round 1

Kerry Hatley will referee this middleweight bout. Belgaroui probes with a jab. Another jab from Belgaroui. Belgaroui kicks the leg and then throws a right to the body. Another hard low kick from the Tunisian. Belgaroui is starting to really find the range on his jab. Iwasaki closes the distance and eats a knee. They clinch ad Iwasaki shoves his man into the fence. Belgaroui lands a knee before they separate. Belgaroui lands a solid straight right. Iwasaki kicks the body and his foe answers with a low kick. Balgaroui follows a front kick with a jab. Iwasaki catches a finger to the eye and time is called. It’s a short break. Iwasaki knocks Belgaroui off balance wth a jumping front kick to the body and he quickly closes the distance. Iwasaki lands a short elbow before moving back to range. Iwasaki gets a thumb in the eye during the process and time is called again. Hatley gives a more stern warning and the action resumes. Iwasaki is pressuring forward, and Belgaroui backs him up with an elbow. Belgaroui follows a jab with a knee. Belgaroui with a front kick and a laser straight right. Iwasaki bulls forward and eats more damage before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Belgaroui
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Belgaroui
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Belgaroui

Round 2

Belgaroui steps in and connects with a right hand. Iwasaki blitzes forward again, and Belgaroui is picking his spots. Belgaroui with a straight right and a slapping leg kick. Iwasaki closes the distance and shoves his foe into the fence. Iwasaki nearly gets Belgaroui down, but the Japanese fighter is reversed into the wire. They disengage and Iwasaki eats a lead hook as he wades foward. A jab lands for Belgaroui. They clinch again and Iwasaki lands a short uppercut in close. Belgaroui reverses and lands a solid elbow. Belagaroui lands a counter right before Iwasaki forces the clinch. Back at range, Belgaroui lands a knee. Iwasaki is undeterred and he moves foward again. Belgaroui continues to punish Iwasaki every time he moves forward. Iwasaki lands a nice elbow in the clinch before Belgaroui frees himself. Belgaroui trips and Iwasaki is right back on him. Belgaroui knees his foe but can’t avoid landing another eye poke as he backs away. Time is called yet again, and this time the cageside doctor comes in to take a look. Hatley deducts a point from Belgaroui as promised for the repeated fouls. There’s just three seconds remaining in the round when the bout resumes, so nothing of consequence happens before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 9-9
Brian Knapp scores the round: 9-9
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 9-9

Round 3

Iwasaki is eating more shots from Belgaroui as he tries to wade forward. A couple nice jabs land for Belgaroui. Iwasaki clinches and absorbs a knee to the body. Belgaroui moves forward and throws a glancing head kick before Iwasaki forces the clinch. Iwasaki lands a knee in close and Belgaroui answers with one of his ownbefore freeing himself. Iwasaki with a body kick. Balgaroui backs his man up with a straight right. Iwasaki forces the clinch again, but Belgaroui punishes him with a knee to the body that clearly takes a toll on the Japanese middleweight. At range, he puts Iwasaki on the retreat with a leaping knee that lands clean on the chin. He has Iwasaki reeling now, and Belgaroui tags his adversary with a barrage of punches. Iwasaki is on his last legs and one last straight right from Belgaroui sends him to his knees. Hatley has seen enough, and he steps in to wave off the fight.

The Official Result

Yousri Belgaroui def. Taiga Iwasaki TKO (Knees and Punches) R3 2:34

Kody Steele (155.5) vs. Quemuel Ottoni (154)

The Official Result

It’s announced on the broadcast that Quemuel Ottoni has withdrawn from the fight against Kody Steele, resulting in a last-minute cancellation. Dana White promises Steele that he’ll get another opportunity to compete on the Contender Series later this season.

Navajo Stirling (206) vs. Phillip Latu (206)

Round 1

Kerry Hatley will be the third man in the cage for the evening’s featured bout. Stirling is chpping at the lead leg early on. Stirling goes up high with a kick. Stirling with a combination to the body and Latu misses a head kick. A jab to the body lands for Stirling. Latu kicks the legs. A counter right uppercut lands for Latu, and that gets Stirling’s attention. Stirling lands a jab. Latu is swinging heavy leather, while Stirling is opting for straight shots. Another low kick lands for Stirling. Strililng with a glancing head kick and stumbles, and Latu briefly gets aggressive. Nothing significant lands during the sequence. Latu jabs the body and Stirling lands another leg kick. Stirling closes the distance and they clinch against the fence. Stirling looks for a single leg, and he lands some knees up high while he continues ot threaten the takedown. Latu shucks Stirling off of him and they’re back at range. Stirling jabs the body and then the head, drawing a nod from Latu. Latu misses a spinning high kick before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Stirling

Round 2

Stirling goes back to targeting the legs and then he lands a glancing head kick. Latu steps in and lands a left. Stirling lands a right to the body. Stirling follows a low kick with a two-punch combination. Latu leaps in with a left. Stirling digs a left uppercut to the body. For the most part, Latu is struggling to find the range. Latu picks up the pressure and lands a combination in close. They clinch and Stirling follows a knee to the body with an elbow upstairs. Moments later, both men are attempting to throw left hooks while trading in the pocket. Stirling improves to 5-0 with his fourth KO/TKO victory. Latu takes a minute to sit up and get to a stool.

The Official Result

Navajo Stirling def. Phillip Latu via TKO (Punch) R2 2:22