Dana White’s Contender Series 2024 Week 2 Play-by-Play and Results

Billy Brand (135.5) vs. Cody Haddon (135)

Round 1

Mark Smith is the referee for this bantamweight clash. Haddon opens up with a low kick right away. Brand has a high kick blocked. Haddon clips Brand with an overhand right. Haddon is pressuring early, forcing exchanges. They clinch after another exchange, and Haddon pushes his man into the wire. Brand is able to spearate quickly, and he rifles off some jabs. Haddon blocks a high kick and sprawls on a takedown. Both men land clean jabs, and Brand’s face is already red. Haddon closes the distance and Brand works his way to the back with a rear body lock. They scramble and eventually separate. Haddon lands a crisp combination and moments later, he drops Brand with a left hook. Haddon jumps on his foe’s back and hammers away with punches, looking for openings to secure a rear-naked choke. Brand attempts to stand, but Haddon drags him back to the mat in short order, tightening the choke at the same time. It’s only a matter of seconds before Brand is forced to tap out. Haddon has his fifth straight victory.

The Official Result

Cody Haddon def. Billy Brand via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R1 3:09

Torrez Finney (185.5) vs. Cameron Rowston (184.5)

Round 1

Black Grice is the third man in the cage for this middleweight bout. Finney takes the center of the cage and the taller Rowston probes with a push kick. Finney uses an overhand to secure a double-leg takedown, but Rowston works his way back to his feet against the fence. Rowston lands a hard knee before pushing Finney away. Rowston follows a jab with a front kick. Finney snatches a low kick and dumps his man on the mat. Rowston scoots to a seated position against the fence before powering to his feet. Finney connects his hands, lifts Rowston and slams him in the center of the Octagon. Rowston gets to his knees and then stands near the fence. Finney hasn’t done much with his three takedowns, but he keeps the pressure on. Finney elevates his foe and slams him down once again. Finney is in full guard, but Rowton’s long limbs are making it hard for him to advance position. Finney finds room to land a right and Rowston gets active from bottom, moving his hips and looking for potential submissions. Finney is able to thwart all submissions and he stands and hovers over Rowston before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Rowston begins with a front kick and follows with a jab. Finney is answering with overhand rights. He changes levels and briefly locks his hands, but Rowston defends it nicely. Finney is determined with his wrestling, though, and he continues to work for a takedown against the fence. Rowston is able to free himself and lands a punching combination at range. A straight right lands for Rowston. Finney whifss on an overhand right, but he is able to change levels and put Rowston on his back. Finney is making Rowston carry his weight near the fence, and the American lands a series of short lefts before his opponent stands. Rowston separates and lands a combination followed by a knee. They trade in close before Finney shoves Rowston into the fence and lands another takedown. Rowston scrambles to his feet with Finney clinging to him. They separate and Finney bombs away before changing levels. He puts Rowston on his seat yet again, and once again, Rowston is able to get back up. Rowston frees himself and he stings Finney with an uppercut and knees. They trade at range, and Rowston dislodges Finney’s mouthguard with a right during the exchange.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Rowston again opens with a front kick. A jab lands for Rowston and then another front kick. Rowston rushes in and Finney changes levels, shoving his foe into the fence. Rowston attempts to land some elbows to the side of the head before Finney slams him down. Rowston is up in short order, and he lands a solid knee in the clinch. Finney drives his man into the fence in hopes of another takedown. He has his hands connected, but Rowston is defending well. Finney pulls him off the fence, lifts him and slams his foe to the mat. This time, Finney lands in side control. Rowston recovers guard, but they’re in the middle of the cage. Rowston does his best to stay active from his back with short elbows and punches. Rowston is framing a triangle now, and he hammers Finney with elbows before his opponent powers free. Finney is heavy on top, trying his best to create openings for ground-and-pound. Rowston is mostly playing defense now, working his way toward the fence. Finney passes to half guard as they near the cage. Rowston stands with less than 10 seconds to go, and he takes the opportunity to land a knee and spining backfist before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Finney (29-28 Finney)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rowston (29-28 Rowston)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Rowston (29-28 Finney)

The Official Result

Torrez Finney def. Cameron Rowston via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Cortavious Romious (136) vs. Michael Imperato (135)

Round 1

Mark Smith gets the assignment for this bantamweight affair. Romious just misses a head kick. Imperato moves in and alnds a low kick. Romious answers with a body kick. Romious stuffs an Imperato takedown. Imperato shoots again and then pulls guard when it fails. They’re back up at range in a hurry. Imperato eats a body kick as he moves forward and he falls to the canvas in pain, clutching at his side. Romious dives into top position, and Imperato pulls him close in hopes of recovering. Romious stands and lets his foe up. They trade and Romious stumbles backward, losing his balance. Imperato lands a right. Romious with an inside leg kick. They’re trading now, both men landing. Romious shoots and gets his opponent to the mat. Imperato plays defense from his back, and Romious stands. They’re both swinging in the pocket, but Romious gets the better of the action. An inside leg kick connects for Romious. A right lands for Imperato. Romious kicks the legs and the body and then they have another spirited exchange. Romious misses a high kick at the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Romious pressures with a leg kick, then goes up high, but it’s partially blocked. An inside leg kick lands for Romious. Imperato answers with a swing and miss. Imperato changes levels, and assumes top position after a brief scramble. Imperato is in Romious’ full gaurd. Imperato is landing short punches to the body, but nothign too damaging. Romious gets his guard high and looks to frame a triangle. He transitions to an armbar, and Imperato is in defense mode. Imperato is free now, and he settles back into top position. Romious creates some space and attempts to scramble up, only to see Imperato jump on a guillotine. Romious escapes, and now he’s inside Imperato’s guard near the fence. Romious drops a couple elbows from above. Romious now in half guard, staying heavy on top and making life miserable for Imperato. Romious hovers and briefly rains down a flurry of heavy shots. Imperato threatens with a heel hook at the end of the round as Romious attempts to unload with more ground-and-pound.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Romious pressures and tags Imperato with a big left. That sparks a brief exchange before Romious backs away. Romious pressures with a combination and then smiles at Imperato as they reset. Imperato lands to the body and then the head. Imperato steps in and lands a nice right to the body. When Imperato moves forward, Romious looks to land a body kick, but it lands a little too low. Time is called so Imperato can recover. They’re back at it, and this time, Imperato delivers a kick to the groin almost immediately. Smith gives both fighters a stern warning before the fight continues. Imperato catches a low kick and wings a counter at Romious. Imperato pressures and lands a big right hand. Imperato shoots against the fence, but Romious reverses and powers his man to the canvas. Romious is in half guard, smothering Imperato and driving short elbows into his adversary’s face. Imperato recovers full guard as Smith urges Romious to work. Imperato creates some space with his guard and Romious backs away. They’re standing with 30 seconds to go. Imperato tries to change levels but Romious threatens with an armbar during a scramble. Imperato might’ve been in danger but he’s saved by the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

The Official Result

Cortavious Romious def. Michael Imperato via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Rizvan Kuniev (263.5) vs. Hugo Cunha (259.5)

Round 1

Blake Grice will oversee this heavyweight tilt. Kuniev sends Cunha backwards into the wire with a front kick. Kuniev is pressuring and fires off a leaping knee. Cunha ties up his man and turns him into the fence. Foot stomps from Cunha. Cunha tries to drop down but stumbles to his seat. He clings to a leg and then shoves Kuniev back to the fence. They remain in the clinch and Cunha lands a knee. Kuniev reverses and lands a knee of his own. The separate and Cunha lands a short right hook. Kuniev with a low kick as he advances. Cunha shoots behind a right hand and takes Kuniev all the way across the cage. Kuniev defends and reverses position. They separate with about 1:30 to go. A left hook lands for Cunha as he moves forward. Kuniev pressures and fires a right hand-left hook combination. Kuniev backs Cunha up and lands a combination before Cunha grabs a hold of a leg. He turns Kuniev into the fence and leans on him. Cunha gives up on the single leg in the waning seconds of the round and it’s a mistake. Kuniev hurts Cunha with a big knee to the body in the clinch. He then lands a short right uppercut and an elbow and Cunha crumbles to the canvas. Kuniev follows his man to the floor and lands about five unanswered shots before Grice steps in to intervene. Kuniev just beats the horn to get the first-round stoppage.

The Official Result

Rizvan Kuniev def. Hugo Cunha via TKO (Knee and Punches) R1 4:59

Pat Pytlik (169) vs. Andreas Gustafsson (170.5)

Round 1

Mark Smith will officiate the final bout of the evening. Gustafsson pressures early and ties up Pytlik. He pulls Pytlik off the fence and takes him down, landing in side control. Pytlik gets to a knee as Gustafsson knees the thighs. Gustafsson maintains a body lock as he continues to knee his foe’s thighs. Gustafsson continues to bully Pytlik in the clinch. It’s a grueling clinch battle, and even when Pytlik gets underhooks, it doesn’t seem to matter. Gustafsson punishes him with a couple short elbows in tight. Gustafsson is relentless, continung to make Pytlik work to defend clinches and takedowns against the fence. Pytlik turns around and lands a knee. They briefly separate, but Gustafsson is right back on hi. He drives a knee into Pytlik’s midsection. Another short elbow for Gustafsson, who then goes to the head with a knee. Pytlik hasn’t had much space this round. He separates and lands some offense before Gustafsson ties him up again. Pytlik with a couple knees before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Gustafsson leaps in with a left and then clinches immediately. Gustafsson pushes his man back and lands a knee to the face. Pytlik is already in a familiar position, defending with his back to the fence. Pytlik is landing some knees of his own, but Gustafsson fires off another short elbow. Pytlik gets free and advances with hooks and uppercuts before Gustafsson sucks him back into the clinch. A punishing elbow lands on the chin for Gustaffson. Pytlik gets free and he’s got a mouse near his left eye. Gustafsson pressures and Pytlik tags him with an overhand right counter. Gustafsson closes the distance again and gets back to grinding away in close quarters. Two massive elbows land for Gustafsson. The Swede rocks Pytlik with a knee to the jaw. He lands three more brutal knees as a busted up Pytlik tumbles to the canvas. This one is over. A violent finish for Gustafsson.

The Official Result

Andreas Gustafsson def. Pat Pytlik via TKO (Knees) R2 3:20