Dana White’s Contender Series 2024 Week 1 Play-by-Play and Results

Lone’er Kavanagh (126) vs. An Tuan Ho (125.5)

Round 1

Herb Dean will get the assignment for the first bout of the eighth season of Contender Series, and it’s a matchup of undefeated flyweights that may both be UFC ready. Kavanagh absorbs a leg kick from Ho, who misfires on a head kick. Kavanagh counters an inside leg kick, and the Englishman follows up with a front kick to the body. Ho cracks his man with a straight right and absorbs a calf kick in return. It’s been a kick heavy approach early — especially for Kavanagh — but both men are still trying to make reads on their opponent. And then just like that, Kavanagh lands a front kick and then leaps in with a left hook that detonates on Ho’s chin. The MMA Lab product collapses in a heap on the canvas, so there’s no need for any follow-up blows. Meanwhile, Kavanagh punctuates his victory with a superhero back flip in the Octagon. Ho stays down for a couple minutes until he is helped to his feet.

The Official Result

Lone’er Kavanagh def. An Tuan Ho via KO (Punch) R1 2:35

Jose Delgado (145.5) vs. Ernie Juarez (145)

Round 1

The MMA Lab-trained Delgado will lock horns with the undefeated Juarez, who has cut his teeth primarily with Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat promotion. Chris Tognoni will be the third man in the cage for the featherweight affair. Juarez fires off a leg kick early. He catches a kick from Delgado and they get to trading. Delgado is already on the attack, blending in punches and kicks nicely. Delgado moves in a plants Juarez on the canvas in the center of the cage. Delgago lands a series of short punches and then moves to Juarez’s back as his foe stands. Juarez defends well, but Delgago lands a knee on the break. Delgado partially lands a head kick before taking his man to the floor once again. Delgago stacks his opponent near the fence and looks for openings to land offense. Delgado looks to clear the legs and then jumps on Juarez’s back. Delgado has a body triangle and makes Juarez carry him briefly. Back at range, Juarez lands a couple heavy right hands. Delgado follows a body kick with a flurry of punches and knees in close before taking Juarez down again. Juarez works his way up and Delgado elects to back away. Juarez counters a front kick with a right hand. Delgado is pressuring again, landing knees and punches. They go back to the center of the cage and Delgado fires off a spinning back kick, but Jaurez has his guard up. Juarez stuffs a takedown and lands a knee to the ribs before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Juarez lands a low kick, catches a front kick from his foe and rips the body with a combination. A nice body kick lands for Juarez. Delgado is firing long punches, but Juarez tags him with a combination as he closes the distance. Juarez thinks about a takedown but lets it go. Delgado tags Juarez with a left hook, and Juarez shells up. Delgado remains on the attack as Juarez backs into the fence. He follows a distracting left hand with a knee that lands flush to Juarez’s face. Juarez is out as he crumbles to the canvas, but Delgado is able to land a few more hammerfists before Tognoni steps in to wave off the fight. Delgado keeps his perfect finishing rate intact even after accepting the bout on short notice.

The Official Result

Jose Delgado def. Ernie Juarez via KO (Knee and Punches) R2 1:25

Mikheil Sazhiniani (205) vs. Bruno Lopes (203.5)

Round 1

Georgian light heavyweight Sazhiniani will take a six-fight winning streak into the clash with Lopes, a Brazilian who fell to Brendson Ribeiro via first-round knockout on the Contender Series last year. Herb Dean will oversee the proceedings. Sazhiniani shoots early from far away, but Lopes denies it easily. Sazhiniani swings heavy leather from the outside. The Georgian connects with a thudding calf kick. Lopes lands a calf kick of his own. Another leg kick for the Brazilian, and Sazhiniani responds in turn. They briefly trade and Sazhiniani just misses a massive overhand right. Lopes counters a kick with a straight right. Sazhiniani leaps in and drops Lopes with an overhand right. Lopes pops right back up and Sazhiniani is winging punches at his opponent. Lopes answers with a two-punch counter. Sazhiniani gets in on a leg and pushes Lopes into the fence. They jockey for position against the fence before Sazhiniani briefly grabs a front headlock. Lopes escapes and they’re back at range. Sazhiniani wings another overhand but Loopes evades the offering. Sazhiniani closes the distance and lands an elbow and left hand in close.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Lopes pressures but his calf kick is countered by a left from Sazhiniani. Lopes lands a leaping knee and Sazhiniani looks for a takedown. Lopes defends and breaks free. Sazhiniani misses on a head kick. Lopes steps in and lands a spinning backfist. Lopes with a two punch combo and Sazhiniani fires back with heavy punches. Sazhiniani changes levels but Lopes defends. They clinch and Sazhiniani gets in on a single leg, but again Lopes denies it. Lopes pressures forward and defends a takedown. Lopes backs up and Sazhiniani goes back on the attack. Sazhiniani shoots again and shoves Lopes into the fence. Lopes creates some space, lands an elbow to the head and turns his man into the wire. Sazhiniani is still winging punches, but Lopes steps in and lands a punishing knee. Another knee lands for the Brazilian and he evades an overhand from Sazhiniani. Sazhiniani appears to be slowing down, and Lopes hurts the Georgian with a left to the body in basically the same spot where the knee landed. Sazhiniani backs up and doubles over in pain. Lopes follows his opponent to the fence and flurries with punches before Herb Dean steps in to rescue Sazhiniani.

The Official Result

Bruno Lopes def. Mikheil Sazhiniani via TKO (Knee and Punches) R2 4:14

Meng Ding (170.5) vs. Rami Hamed (170)

Round 1

China’s Ding boasts 27 KO/TKO wins among his 34 professional victories. He’ll face Beirut’s Hamed, who has experience in Brave CF and Titan FC and accpeted the bout on short notice. Chris Tognoni will be the third man in the cage. Hamed misses the mark on a head kick. Hamed steps in with a straight left as he utilizes a traditional karate stance. Hamed switches stances and lands a straight right. The welterweights appear to briefly clash heads. Ding closes the distance and clinches, but he lands an accidental knee to the cup. They’re back at range after a reset. Hamed with a low kick. Hamed tries a leaping knee as Ding closes the range. Ding drives his foe into the fence. Hamed is able to separate and circle out. Ding tries to punch his way into the clinch but he eats a knee for his efforts. Hamed gets his hooks in and he breaks free. Hamed steps in with a left to the body. Hamed with another single counter shot and Ding forces the clinch. Hamed digs to the body aafter they break.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Ding moves forward and lands a leg kick. Another leg kick for the Chinese welterweight, who follows up with a spinning back kick. Hamed moves in with a straight left. Hamed counters with a left to the body. Ding pressures and eats a body shot before clinching with Hamed. Hamed gets underhooks and separates without issue. Ding lands another low kick. They clinch and Ding turns his man into the fence. Hamed lands a knee with his back to the cage. Ding lands a knee of his own, and Hamed grimaces. They ‘re back at range, and Hamed lands a counter left hook. A counter knee connects for Hamed. Ding pressures with a 1-2 and Hamed fires back a combination. Ding goes to the body but eats a left upstairs. A clean straight left draws a reaction from Ding, who responds with a takedown in the waning seconds of the round. He’ll end the period in side control.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Ding begins as the aggressor and connects on a spinning back kick to the body. Ding with a low kick. Ding is doing better now, landing a body kick and a right to the head. A straight left connects for Hamed. Ding pressures and Hamed counters with a jab. Moments later, a kick from Ding lands low and time is called. Ding gets a stern warning and the fight resumes. Hamed opens with a left to the body and Ding gets animated, waving his foe on. Hamed with a head kick and a lead hook to the head. Ding wants a brawl, but Hamed is unlikely to oblige. Another Ding kick lands low during an exchange and time is called. Tognoni promised a point deduction if Ding landed another low blow, and he loses a critical point as a result. Hamed circles on the outside, blocks a body kick and lands a leg kick. A body kick lands for Ding. Ding forces the clinch, but Hamed has double underhooks. Ding can’t do much before they break. A straight left lands for Hamed. Ding shoots for a takedown, but Hamed defends and digs to the body before the separate. Hamed counters again as Ding moves forward. Ding rushes back into the clinch and knees the body. Ding yells at Hamed as he circles on the outside. Hamed tags him. Ding moves forward and ties up his man in the waning seconds. Hamed lands a combination on the break, and that’s how it’ll end.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Hamed (30-26 Hamed)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 9-9 (29-27 Hamed)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-8 Hamed (29-27 Hamed)

The Official Result

Rami Hamed def. Meng Ding via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-27, 29-27) R3 5:00

Mansur Abdul-Malik (186) vs. Wesley Schultz (185)

Round 1

Abdul-Malik has finished all five of his triumphs inside of a round. Schultz, meanwhile, is on a three-bout winning streak where he has stopped each of those opponents in the opening stanza. Herb Dean will officiate the final fight of the evening. Schultz is looking to find his range with a variety of kicks. Abdul-Malik moves forward and cracks Schultz with a combination. Schultz scrambles to his foe’s back after another exchange, but Abdul-Malik is able to reverse position and shove his man into the fence. Schultz attacks with wheel kicks and back kicks, but it’s Abdul-Malik who lands the damaging kick. Abdul-Malik sprawls and ends up in top position. Schultz has a high guard, and Abdul-Malik briefly clears the legs. Abdul-Malik drops a heavy shot before Schultz scrambles up. Abdul-Malik has a head kick blocked. Abdul-Malik fires off a straight left and a head kick. A right gets through for Schultz. Abdul-Malik sticks a lead hook. Abdul-Malik backs his foe up, but Schultz answers with a straight right. Abdul-Malik pressures with punches in the waning seconds, but Schultz won’t back down. Abdul-Malik will reach the second round for the first time in his pro career.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Schultz begins with a toolbox of kicks, including a head kick that partially lands. Abdul-Malik fires a kick up high, but Schultz has his guard up. Abdul-Malik lands a left hook. Schultz follows a spnning hook kick with an elbow. Moments later, Abdul-Malik lands a right that prompts Schultz to shoot. The action is picking up, as Schultz rushes forward. He briefly drops to his knees but appears to be OK. Schultz has a body lock and initially can’t make Abdul-Malik budge. He eventually gets Abdul-Malik down, but he gets up quickly. Schultz is making his opponent carry his weight, using a full nelson to control the head while chipping away with knees. Abdul-Malik is able to break away and he sticks a stiff jab. Schultz shoots out of desperation and a scramble ensues. Abdul-Malik punishes Schultz with hammerfists before taking the back. More heavy ground-and-pound lands for Abdul-Malik. He takes full mount and rains down punishing elbows on Schultz. Dean urges Schultz to fight back, but Abdul-Malik unloads with more elbows and hammerfists. Finally, Dean has seen enough and this one is over.

The Official Result

Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Wesley Schultz via TKO (Elbows and Punches) R2 3:55