Dana White’s Contender Series 2024 Week 8 Play-by-Play and Results

Jacobe Smith (169.5) vs. Christien Savoie (170.5)

Round 1

Mark Smith will ref this welterweight bout. Savoie is targeting the legs with low kicks early. About 25 seconds in, Smith secures a double-leg, picks Savoie up and slams him to the mat. The Fortis MMA product jumps on the back as Savoie stands, but Smith can’t get his hooks in. Smith drags his man back down and lands a couple elbows, but he’s warned for landing illegal shots to the back of the head. Savoie is up, and Smith tees off on him near the fence. Another takedown follows and Smith transitions to the back. He slides off the back as his opponent stands. Smith executes another mat return and he’s ragdolling Savoie on the canvas. Smith is working to move to mount as he floats on top of Savoie. Savoie stands and gets his guard up just in time to block a head kick. Smith takes Savoie right back down with ease. Smith is in full guard near the fence. Smith stands and drops an elbow, splitting Savoie open. A big right hand is followed by an elbow, and Mark Smith warns Savoie to fight back. A scramble ensures, but Smith is still in control. Savoie stands, eats some punches and gets slammed back down in short order. Smith is in side control, dropping elbows. The round ends with another series of elbows from Smith. One way traffic for the Oklahoma State wrestler, and Savoie struggles to return to his corner after the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Smith
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Smith
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-8 Smith

Round 2

Savoie steps in with a high kick and then follows with a kick to the body. Smith answers with a leg kick and a punching combination. Smith swings so hard that he stumbles to the mat. Savoie can’t capitalize, however. A body kick lands for Savoie, and Smith answers with a straight shot. Smith catches a body kick from Savoie and plants the Canadian on his back. Smith drops more elbows from half guard. Smith drops another elbow and Savoie is warned to move. Savoie gets to his knees, but Smith traps a wrist and powers his man back down. Savoie frees his arm, but he’s eating more elbows and right hands. Everything Smith lands from top position is forceful, and Mark Smith continues to warn Savoie to defend himself. After one more powerful elbow, the veteran official has seen enough, and he steps in to save Savoie. Savoie looks momentarily confused, but the stoppage was the right call. Smith punctuates his triumph with a backflip off the cage.

The Official Result

Jacobe Smith def. Christien Savoie via TKO (Elbows) R2 2:55

Abdelah Er-Ramy (186) vs. Torrez Finney (186)

Round 1

Eric McMahon will officiate this middleweight contest. Finney ducks under a punch and takes Er-Ramy down right away. Er-Ramy gives up his back, and then Finney gets full mount. Er-Ramy gives up his back again and Finney works to flatten him out. Er-Ramy rolls to his back, but there’s no shelter here, as Finney locks in an arm-triangle choke. Er-Ramy gurgles but he isn’t tapping yet. Er-Ramy gives McMahon the thumbs up and Finney elects to release the choke. Finney is in half guard now, and he drops a left hand as they scoot toward the fence. Finney continues to land periodic punches before passing to mount. He picks up the intensity of his ground-and-pound. Er-Ramy seems helpless on his back. It’s just a matter of if Finney can get the finish. Finney’s main issue is his lack of length from this position. Finney transitions to the back and gets his hooks in. He flattens Er-Ramy out and wraps up his foe’s right wrist. Finney tees off with a barrage of unanswered left hands, and Er-Ramy offers no means of defense. Finally, McMahon has seen enough. Finney becomes the first athlete to go 3-0 on the Contender Series and fittingly, the finish came right in front of Dana White.

The Official Result

Torrez Finney def. Abdelah Er-Ramy via TKO (Punches) R1 4:10

David Martinez (136) vs. Xavier Franklin (135)

Round 1

Mark Smith will be the third man in the cage for this bantamweight encounter. Martinez lands an impactful leg kick early. It’s a deliberate opening minute for both fighters, but Martinez lands another low kick. Franklin is stalking as Martinez moves on the outside of the cage. Another low kick from Martinez, all have been solid. Martinez slams a head kick off the forearms of his foe. Franklin backs up Martinez with a 1-2. Martinez counters a body kick with a right. Franklin counters a leg kick and Martinez goes stumbling back momentarily. Franklin shoots from way outside and Martinez eludes the attempt with ease. Martinez fires a front kick, but it lands low and time is called. Franklin recovers in short order and the fight resumes. Martinez connects with his jab. Martinez follows a counter right with a spinning back kick that partially lands. Another leg kick lands for Martinez. Martinez steps in and cracks his foe with a heavy left. Martinez is throwing heavy offense in the final minute of the round, but he misses the mark on a wheel kick. Martinez lands another solid low kick and the final seconds. He slips on a jumping switch kick before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Franklin attempts to target the legs, and Martinez answers in turn. A striaght left connects for Martinez. Martinez sticks a jab and catches finger in the eye. They’re back at it after a short stoppage. Martinez lands another thudding leg kick. Franklin shoots, but Martinez shucks him off. A straight right from Franklin wobbles Martinez for a moment, but he recovers quickly. Another short right gets through for Franklin, who is figuring out his timing a little bit. Franklin is landing in exchanges, but he’s not checking calf kicks. Martinez tags Franklin with an overhand right. Franklin shoots and pushes Martinez into the wire. Martinez defends well and is able to break free. Another impactful leg kick for Martinez. A left hand and a pair of rights land for Martinez. Martinez shoots but is denied and Franklin follows with an uppercut. Martinez backs Franklin up with punches across the Octagon. More leg kicks from Martinez, and Franklin lands a right late in the round. They trade willingly until the horn.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Martinez is right back to work with low kicks. Franklin lands a kick to the body. A leg kick from Martinez brings Franklin off his feet. Franklin shoots right after but Martinez stuffs it. Martinez makes Franklin stumble forward with a leg kick. Franklin continues to stalk, but he’s absorbing lots of leg kicks. Franklin pressures and lands a knee in close quarters. Martinez lands a jab after another leg kick. A modified superman punch connects for Martinez. Franklin can’t find the range on a combination, and Martinez chops away at his lead leg. A front kick from Martinez is followed by yet another leg kick. Franklin is struggling to get his offense going, and Martinez is mixing up his kicks, including a pair of ax kicks. Martinez lands a low kick and then stumbles when Franklin returns fire. Franklin tries to follow his man down, but Martinez hustles to his feet. A stiff counter left backs Franklin up and he circles away as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

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

The Official Result

David Martinez def. Xavier Franklin via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Carlos Calderon (145.5) vs. Alberto Montes (145.5)

Round 1

Eric McMahon will officiate this featherweight duel. Calderon gets to work with a combination and he’s attacking with reckless abandon before slipping to the floor. He stands and gets back to work before eating a stiff counter right from Montes. Shortly thereafter, Calderon lands a takedown. Montes scoots his way to the fence and eventually stands. Calderson is looking for a takedown and Montes threatens for an anaconda choke. Calderon escapes in a scramble. It’s some frenetic grappling early in the fight. Claderson secures a body lock and slams Montes to the floor. Calderson has Montes’ left arm trapped momentarily. He lets it go to keep top position and moves to north-south position. Montes reverses and winds up in side control. Montes deftly transitions to a brabo choke. He adjusts the maneuver. Calderon is desperately defending, scooting around in a circle. He’s able to escape the predicament and begins swinging away when they stand. Montes is on the defensive as Calderon attacks. Montes gathers his bearings and starts firing back. Both men are landing without much through to defense. After a couple hard rights for Montes land, Calderson shoots for a takedown. Calderon pulls his man off the fence and tries to jump on the back, but he can’t secure the position. Calderon keeps the body lock until Montes frees himself. They trade at range in the waning seconds, and it appears that Calderon gets the better of the final exchange.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Montes lands a push kick and Calderon goes on the attack with punches. Montes lands a combination. Calderson sticks a jab. A counter left connects for the American. Montes responds with a counter right. The featherweights aren’t shy about trading punches. Calderson in particular, is willing to just wade forward regardless of the consequences. Montes with a spinning back kick to the body, and Calderson answers with a series of punches. Montes with a push kick to the body and a couple solid right hands. Calderon looks for a takedown but Montes escapes with ease. Montes is starting to land the clean strikes now, especially his counter right. Calderon doesn’t like it, so he shoots and Montes stuffs the attempt, landing a knee that might have been illegal because his opponent’s hand was on the floor. Calderson goes to the canvas, and Montes sits back for a Peruvian necktie before transitioning to an anaconda choke. It’s very tight and Calderon won’t be able to escape this one. As Montes continues to apply the squeeze, Calderon taps out.

The Official Result

Alberto Montes def. Carlos Calderon via Submission (Anaconda Choke) R2 2:38

Diyar Nurkozhay (206) vs. Bartosz Szewczyk (206)

Round 1

Mark Smith gets the nod for the evening’s featured bout. Szewczyk has a front kick blocked. Nurgozhay kicks the body. Szewczyk lands an inside leg kick. The Pole lands a body kick. Nurgozhay catches a kick and the combatants nearly clash heads in an ensuing exchange. Nurgozhay steps in a lands a big left. Another inside leg kick for Szewczyk. Nurgozhay with another solid left. Szewczyk steps in and Nurgozhay digs to the body. Nurgozhay stays busy with left hands, but Szewczyk is defending well. Szewczyk is sticking rimarily with a kick based attack. Nurgozhay finds the mark with a counter uppercut. Szewczyk lands a right to the body. Nurgozhay just misses on a high kick. Szewczyk has a kick blocked in return. It’s been a slow-paced round. The action picks up as Szewczyk kicks the body and Nurgozhay fires back with a combo. Szewczyk doubles up on a kick to the body but Nurgozhay blocks the offerings. The round ends without further incident.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Szewczyk is back to work with kicks early, while Nurgozhay attempts to find openings for his left. A solid inside low kick lands for the Pole. Nurgozhay blocks a body kick. Nurgozhay with a kick to the body that lands. Nurgozhay counters an inside low kick with a solid combination. Nurgozhay lands a left that has a visible impact on his foe. Szewczyk can’t find the range on his punches. A hard body kick connects for Nurgozhay and Szewczyk answers with an inside leg kick. It’s quite often one strike at a time for both sides. Szewczyk shoots for a takedown and Nurgozhay defends against the fence. Nurgozhay lands a knee as they separate. Szewczyk lands a right as Nurgozhay attempts to find the mark with an uppercut. After a relatively uneventful beginning to the round, Nurgozhay follows a left hand with a perfectly-placed left head kick that catches Szewczyk dipping directly into the strike. The Pole goes crashing backward to the canvas. Nurgozhay is able to land about three standing-to-ground strikes before Smith intervenes on Szewczyk’s behalf. Nurgozhay keeps his undefeated record intact in impressive fashion.

The Official Result

Diyar Nurgozhay def. Bartosz Szewczyk via TKO (Head Kick and Punches) R2 3:32