Tag: Andrey Pulyaev

UFC Fight Night 255 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Jan Blachowicz hits top tier after 10 years

Jan Blachowicz and Kevin Holland were the highest paid under the Promotional Guidelines Compliance program at UFC London.

LONDON – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 255 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $204,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC Fight Night 255 took place at The O2. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 255 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Carlos Ulberg[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Gunnar Nelson[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Alexia Thainara[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Chris Duncan[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Jordan Vucenic[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Nathaniel Wood[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Morgan Charriere[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Chris Padilla[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jai Herbert[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Lone’er Kavanagh[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Felipe dos Santos[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Mick Parkin[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Christian Leroy Duncan[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Andrey Pulyaev[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Shauna Bannon[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Puja Tomar[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Caolan Loughran[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Nathan Fletcher[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Kaue Fernandes[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Guram Kutateladze[/autotag]: $4,500

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2551 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,949,500
2024 total: $8,280,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $32,967,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.

UFC Fight Night 255 play-by-play, live results

Check out live round-by-round updates and official results from UFC London.

LONDON – UFC Fight Night 255 takes place Saturday, and you can join us for live round-by-round coverage and official results beginning at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) from The O2 (ESPN+).

Former welterweight champion Leon Edwards (22-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) takes on Sean Brady (17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in the main event. In the light heavyweight co-feature, ex-champ Jan Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) meets Carlos Ulberg (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC).

Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 1 p.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN+ and 4 p.m. ET for the main card on ESPN+.

Enjoy the fights, everyone.

UFC London lineup

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

  • Sean Brady def. Leon Edwards via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 4, 1:39
  • Carlos Ulberg def. Jan Blachowicz via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Kevin Holland def. Gunnar Nelson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Alexia Thainara def. Molly McCann via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:32
  • Chris Duncan def. Jordan Vucenic via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:42
  • Nathaniel Wood def. Morgan Charriere via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 1 p.m. ET)

  • Chris Padilla def. Jai Herbert via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Lone’er Kavanagh def. Felipe dos Santos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Marcin Tybura def. Mick Parkin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Christian Leroy Duncan def. Andrey Pulyaev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
  • Shauna Bannon def. Puja Tomar via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 3:22
  • Caolan Loughran def. Nathan Fletcher via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Kaue Fernandes def. Guram Kutateladze via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady

Round 1 – Brady comes out throwing in a hurry and takes the center of the cage. He hits a combo, then pushes forward again with more. Edwards is backing up for the first minute and playing defense looking to counter. Brady lands a right, but Edwards counters with a solid body kick. They tie up briefly, but there’s not much to it. Edwards looks pretty calm on the outside. He’s got length and reach to his advantage, but two minutes in it’s a big combination from Brady that is the best of the fight so far. With 90 seconds left in the round, Brady pushes Edwards to the fence for the first true wrestling encounter in the fight. Edwards reverses things and they pivot off the fence to the center of the cage and Brady lands a trip takedown. There’s no damage down the stretch, but it helps score points.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Brady

Round 2 – Brady shoots for a takedown immediately. Like, faster than immediately if that’s possible. It’s not super clean, but it keeps Edwards off guard long enough he eventually has the fight to the canvas. This is Brady’s element, and he starts in half-guard. He quickly transitions around, though, and he’s got the back. Soon after, he gets the body triangle tightened up, and there’s more than three minutes for him to work. Edwards is strictly defensive at this point and he’ll have to fend off rear-naked choke attempts and short punches to the head. Edwards tries to fire backward elbows, and with two minutes left he forces a scramble and at least gets out of the triangle. Brady moves to half-guard, then looks for a kimura on Edwards’ right arm. Edwards is in a lot of trouble, but he defends nicely. With 45 seconds left, Brady takes his back for a few, then scrambles back to the top for some late ground-and-pound.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Brady

Round 3 – After a minute of slow playing, Edwards shoots a seriously ill-advised takedown attempt. It’s not a particularly good one, and he gives his neck to Brady on a silver platter. Brady gets it to the canvas and gets to full mount. Edwards stays defensive and tries to work his way back to his feet while Brady tries to find his way back to another submission attempt. Edwards is back to his back with Brady on top looking for ground-and-pound. It’s all control for Brady. There’s not incredibly damaging shots, but he’s trading between enough to be annoying and looking for that finish. It’s another easy round for Brady.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Brady

Round 4 – Brady easily gets his arms around Edwards and scoops him up for a double-leg takedown. And very seriously, with more than four minutes left in the round, the London fans are heading for the exits with their home country favorite dominating. And from the top, just seconds later, Brady locks up a single-arm guillotine choke from up top, and it’s tight … and it’s over. Insanely big win for Brady, and it was dominant from start to finish – like, it wasn’t ever close.

Result: Sean Brady def. Leon Edwards via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 4, 1:39
Recap: Sean Brady dominates, submits ex-champ Leon Edwards
Photos: Sean Brady def. Leon Edwards at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos
Records: Edwards (22-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC), Brady (17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog

Jan Blachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg

Round 1 – Ulberg works on the outside looking for an opening. He’s light on his feet and throws a couple quick left crosses to open the striking. Blachowicz presses forward and appears to be looking to find a spot to impose some power early. Ulberg looks patient 90 seconds in and pretty easily dances away from some jabs. He throws a solid leg kick, then a big left hand behind it that Blachowicz reacts to. Blachowicz responds with a leg kick of his own, then another midway through the round. More kicks to the lead leg for Blachowicz, who has used that to his benefit in the past. Blachowicz kicks high, but it’s blocked. Ulberg gets off a combination, but they trade some heavy kicks to the shins. Blachowicz misses with a high kick again. Neither landed a killer shot, but Blachowicz takes a close 10-9 round on the unofficial Junkie card based on the forward movement and activity.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Blachowicz

Round 2 – There’s no real pick-up in pace in the second. They trade low leg kicks, looking for openings. Never is there more than a couple pops at a time, perhaps owing to how critical a win is for each fighter. Neither seems willing to take a big enough risk to get in trouble, which makes the round again a tough one to score. Flip a coin.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Ulberg

Round 3 – Who will be the first one to truly take a chance? The activity seems decidedly picked up in the first minute, and a minute in, Ulberg shoots for a takedown. Blachowicz rather easily stuffs it, then goes back to kicking. Statistically, the fight is very close. It hasn’t been sexy. It hasn’t been Fight of the Night quality. And for someone who normally throws with high volume, Ulberg has scaled way back. Midway through the final round, it’s just as even as the first 10 minutes. Blachowicz comes forward with power and maybe looks more fatigued – maybe? But if that’s the case, Ulberg isn’t taking advantage. He lands a good right, though, and some leg kicks. With 90 seconds left, someone still needs to do something to steal this thing. BLachowicz tries a takedown, but it’s not there. With a minute left, the crowd seems to want a brawl. Blachowicz tries some big power late to get the judges’ attention and a jumping kick. Honestly, it’s close, but if it’s all even everywhere, it seemed like Blachowicz did just a little more. Again, who knows.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Blachowicz, and the fight 29-28 Blachowicz

Result: Carlos Ulberg def. Jan Blachowicz via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Recap: Carlos Ulberg outpoints ex-champ Jan Blachowicz for 8th straight win
Photos: Carlos Ulberg def. Jan Blachowicz at UFC Fight. Night 255: Best photos
Records: Blachowicz (29-11-1 MMA, 12-8-1 UFC), Ulberg (13-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judging: Ben Cartlidge, David Lethaby, Vito Paolillo 29-28

Kevin Holland vs. Gunnar Nelson

Round 1 – Holland comes out agressive with leg kicks. Big swings from Holland! Holland fighting well at distance. Nelson shoots and gets a takedown! Holland puts Nelson in an omoplata! Nelson picks him up and shakes out of it. Nelson now working from Holland’s guard. Short shots landing for Nelson. Holland with a close guard, trying to be conservative. More shots from Nelson. Nelson tries to get Holland’s back, but they scramble and Holland gets out. Back to striking. Oh! Holland drops Nelson. Ground-and-pound! Nelson looks out! The bell rings. Wow.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8, Holland.

Round 2 – Nelson is in trouble. Let’s see if he recovered. Big leg kicks by Holland. Nelson clinches Holland and presses him against the cage. Nelson is working hard for the takedown, but Holland is defending well. Great defense by Holland! After a ton of work, Nelson finally gets Holland to the ground with two minutes remaining. Solid ground-and-pound by Nelson. Holland landing shots from bottom, too! Final minute. Nelson controls Holland until the end of the round. Not much damage.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Nelson.

Round 3 – They clinch right off the bat and Holland punishes him with knees and uppercuts. Nelson gets a single leg takedown and gets it! Three and a half minutes remaining. Nelson gets the mount. Holland with a great scramble pushes Nelson off and recovers guard. Big shots from top by Nelson. He advances and moves to half guard. Oh! Nelson gets an arm triangle! It looks very tight! Holland gets out! He presses Nelson against the cage. Knees to the body by Holland! Big knee from Holland wobbles Nelson! Nelson pressing him against the cage. Nelson shoves Holland to the ground. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Nelson. Overall 28-28, draw.

Result: Kevin Holland def. Gunnar Nelson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Recap: Kevin Holland drops Gunnar Nelson early, wins hard-fought decision
Photos: Kevin Holland def. Gunnar Nelson at UFC Fight. Night 255: Best photos
Records: Holland (27-13 MMA, 14-10 UFC), Nelson (19-6-1 MMA, 10-6 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Dan Movahedi
Judging: David Lethaby, Anders Ohlsson, Darryl Ransom 29-28

Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara

Round 1 – Thainara immediately takes the center of the cage and comes out very aggressivein her attack. Big left hand land for Thainara! McCann with a body shot. Big takedown by Thainara! Elbows from bottom by McCann! McCann looking to set up a submission off ger back. Thainara controlling, but not doing much damage. Thainara now sith some big shots from top! She moves to side control on McCann. McCann recovers guard. Gorund-and-pound from Thainara. Two minutes left. A failed armbar attempt from McCann, let’s Thainara advance and get her back! Thainara going for the rear-naked choke! McCann escapes! Thainara sinks it again! There’s the tap!

Result: Alexia Thainara def. Molly McCann via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:32
Recap: Molly McCann retires from MMA after Alexia Thainara’s quick win
Photos: Alexia Thainara def. Molly McCann at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos
Records: Thainara (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), McCann (14-8 MMA, 7-7 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Lucasz Bosacki

Chris Duncan vs. Jordan Vucenic

Round 1 – Vucenic takes the center of the cage. Oh! Giant right hand connects for Duncan! Vucenic goes down! Duncan jumps on him and gets a guillotine while being in Vucenic’s half guard. Vucenic breaks free and now he has Duncan in his guard. Vucenic gets back to his feet, but Ducan still has him tied up. Duncan presses Vucenic by the fence as he’s on top in turtle position. Knees from top by Duncan. Big lift and slam by Duncan. Duncan working from half guard. Duncan now controlling Vucenic from front headlock. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Duncan.

Round 2 – Early shot by Duncan and he gets it! Vucenic gets a guillotine, but Duncan defends well and gets out. Vucenic gets back on his feet, but is being pressed against the cage by Duncan. Vucenic breaks free. Nice combo by Vucenic. Right hand connects for Vucenic. Three minutes left. Vucenic shoots and Duncan stuffs it. Duncan has the front headlock on Vucenic. He’s looking for a choke. Vucenic gets up. Nice jabs by Vucenic. Vucenic shoots for a takedown and gets caught in a guillotine! There’s the tap! Duncan wins!

Result: Chris Duncan def. Jordan Vucenic via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:42
Recap: Chris Duncan submits Jordan Vucenic, calls out Terrance McKinney for UFC 314
Photos: Chris Duncan def. Jordan Vucenic at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos
Records: Duncan (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Vucenic (13-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog

Morgan Charriere vs. Nathaniel Wood

Round 1 – They trade leg kicks. Oh! Big left hand connects for Wood. Oh! Giant righthand drops Charriere! Wood jumps on him! More shots from Wood! Charriere takes half guard and ties up Wood.  Wood snatches a guillotine! Charriere gets out and now he’s on top. Two minutes left. Wood working for a triangle choke from the bottom. It looks promsing. One minute left. Short punches from bottom by Wood. Charriere gets out. Shots to the body by Wood. Light ground-and-pound by Charriere. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Wood.

Round 2 – Leg kick by Wood. Bg left hand connects for Wood! Charriere gets stunned, but he carries on. Leg kick by Wood. He’s looking good, clearly outstriking Charriere. Good jab by Charriere. Leg kick, then a jab by Wood. Clean jab by Wood. Charriere havinga tough time with Wood on the feet. Three minutes left. They trade jabs. Thay trade kicks and Charriere loses balance and falls to the ground. He quickly gets up and presses Wood agaisnt the cage. Wood breaks free shortly after. Nice combo by Wood. Oh! Huge elbow connects for Charriere! Charriere shoots and Wood gets him in a guillotine. He uses that to reverse Charriere. They get back up and Charriere lands a solid elbow form the clinch. Jab by Wood. The bell rings. Close one.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Wood.

Round 3 – Big right hand by Wood. Wood pressing the action here. Both fighters a little more careful this round. Very low output here from both fighters. Three minutes left. Leg kick by Charriere, then jab. The jab by Wood has been a big difference maker here. Leg kick by Wood. They trade jabs. Final minute. Nice double jab by Wood. Big leg kick by Wood. More jabs and leg kicks from Wood get him scoring. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Wood. Overall 30-27, Wood.

Result: Nathaniel Wood def. Morgan Charriere via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: Nathaniel Wood def. Morgan Charriere at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos
Records: Wood (21-6 MMA, 9-3 UFC), Charriere (20-11-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judging: Chris Lee, Anders Ohlsson, Clemens Werner 30-27

Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla

Round 1 – Herbet takes the center of the cage. Both fighters feinting a lot here, very tentative. Big leg kicks by Padilla. Not much going on here. Padilla staying on the outside with tons of movement and Herbet chasing. Two minutes left. Jab by Padilla. Big leg kicks by Padilla. One minute left. Padilla closes the distance and presses Herbet against the cage.Short knees to the legs by Padilla. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Padilla.

Round 2 – Sam dynamic here. Padilla stays on the outisede and Herbet chases. A head kick almost lands by Herbet. Leg kick by Padilla. Righthand lands for Padilla. Herbet is barely throwing here. Jab by Padilla. Three minutes left. Padilla closes the distance off a failed spinning attack from Herbet and presses Herbert against the cage. Knees to the legs by Padilla. Two minutes left. Herbet breaks free! They trade leg kicks. Body shot by Padilla. Herbert with a right hand. Padilla presses Herbert against the cage. Solid elbow from the clinch lands for Padilla. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Padilla.

Round 3 – Herbert likely needs a finish here. herbet chasing here, same dynamic as the first and second rounds. The crowd is growing restless. Leg kick by Padilla. Padilla closes the distance and presses Herbet against the cage. One, two lands for Herbert. We’re halfway through the round. Padilla, once again, presses Herbet against the cage. Not much going on here, just control. Padilla looking for the takedown, but Herbet defending well. they break apart. Oh, Padilla is split open on his left eyebrow. Padilla wobbles Herbet! The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Padilla. Overall 30-27, Padilla.

Result: Chris Padilla def. Jai Herbert via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Photos: Chris Padilla def. Jai Herbert at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos
Records: Padilla (16-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Herbert (13-6-1 MMA, 3-5-1 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Lukasz Bosacki
Judging: Darryl Ransom, Vito Paolillo 29-28. Anders Ohlsson 28-29.

Felipe dos Santos vs. Lone’er Kavanagh

Round 1 – Leg kick by dos Santos. Dos Santos pressing here. Oh! Big right hand stuns Kavanagh! Dos Santos presses Kavanagh against the cage. Kavanagh breaks free a few seconds after. Big leg kicks by dos Santos. Kavanagh with a leg kick of his own. They clinch. Kavanagh presses dos Santos against the cage, but he quickly breaks free. Oh! Spinning elbow by dos Santos! Kavanagh is cut and bleeding! Dos Santos closes the ditsnace and presses Kavanagh against the cage. Kavanagh reverses and takes down dos Santos but he immediately gets back to his feet. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, dos Santos.

Round 2 – Big leg kicks from Kavanagh! High paced action here. Dos Santos presses Kavanagh against the cage. Kavanagh gets free and they start brawling! Big shots from Kavanagh! Dos Santos shoots and gets reversed. He’s now on bottom. Solid ground-and-pound by Kavanagh! Dos Santos goes for a leg lock, but fails. Elbows from the bottom by dos Santos. Kavanagh with some heavy shots. Dos Santos tries to get up, but he gets dragged down by Kavanagh. Solid control from Kavanagh. Both landing shots here. Kavanagh is bleeding a ton. Nasty elbow by Kavanagh! Big elbows from dos Santos from bottom! Dos Santos gets up, but Kavanagh brings him right back down. Big shots from Kavanagh! The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Kavanagh.

Round 3 – Leg kick by dos Santos. Kavanagh with a body kick. Dos Santos pressing the action here. Head kick by Kavanagh! Kavanagh shoots and gets Dos Santos to the ground. The referee warns dos Santos on up kicks. Complete control here by Kavanagh. Kavanagh has dos Santos cntrolled by the cage, Khabib style. Elbows from dos Santos from bottom. Dos Santos gets back up. He’s pressing Kavanagh. Kavanagh shoots and Dos Santos stuffs it! The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Kavanagh. Overall 29-28, Kavanagh.

Result: Lone’er Kavanagh def. Felipe dos Santos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: Lone’er Kavanagh def. Felipe dos Santos at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos
Records: Kavanagh (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), dos Santos (8-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Dan Movahedi
Judging: Ben Cartlidge, David Lethaby, Clemens Werner 29-28.

Mick Parkin vs. Marcin Tybura

Round 1 – Both heavyweights meet in the middle. Oh! Clean combo by Tybura. Solid body kick by Tybura, but Parkin responds with a leg kick. Leg kick by Parkin. Jab by Parkin. Both guys landing solid combos here. Tybura closes the distance and tries to pindown Parkin against the fence, but unable to. Parkin pressing Tybura here. Nice combo by Parkin. Tybura with a takedown in the final seconds. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Parkin.

Round 2 – Clean body kick lands for Tybura. Parkin catches a kick from Tybura and takes him down to the ground. Parkin moves to side control. Parkin looking to advance, but Tybura doing a good job at defending. Solid shots from top by Parkin! We’re halfway through the round. Tybura scrambles out and they’re back to striking! Nice uppercuts by Parkin! Parkin presses Tybura against the cage. He takes Tybura down. Tybura gets back up and he now presses Parkin against the cage. Short shots here and there by Tybura. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Parkin.

Round 3 – Nice quick combo for Tybura! Parkin looks to be slowing down. Big left connects for Tybura. Jabs by Tybura. parkin connects with a right hand. Both guys are tired. Clean left lands for Tybura! Tybura is pressing here. Nice short shots from the clinch by Tybura. They break. Righthand lands for Parkin! Tybura with a quick combo! Another right by Parkin! Solid shot. Final minute here. They’re both landing, but not much power on either end. Tybura presses Parkin against the cage. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Tybura. Overall 29-28, Parkin.

Result: Marcin Tybura def. Mick Parkin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: Marcin Tybura def. Mick Parkin at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos5: Best photos
Records: Tybura (27-9 MMA, 14-8 UFC), Parkin (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judging: Darryl Ransom, Chris Lee, Vito Paolillo 29-28.

Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andrey Pulyaev

Round 1 – Duncan immediately takes the center of the cage and begins chasing Pulyaev. Oh! Huge combo connects for Duncan! Pulyaev eats the shots well. Duncan now pressing Pulyaev against the cage. They trade knees to the legs in close quarters. Pulyaev reverses and presses Duncan against the cage. Pulyaev working for the takedown, but unable to. Duncan reverses. Two minutes left. Duncan with solid control, but little damage. The referee breaks up the action and starts them back at striking range. A little less than a minute remaining. Body kick by Pulyaev. Leg kick by Duncan. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Duncan.

Round 2 – Oblique kick lands for Pulyaev. Duncan presses Pulyaev against the cage. Duncan controlling Pulyaev against the cage. Pulyaev reverses! Knee to the head by Pulyaev. Back to striking. Duncan chasing Pulyaev here. Leg kicks by Duncan. Body shot by Pulyaev. Two minutes left. Not a ton going on. Nasty body kick by Pulyaev. Oh! Big right-hand lands for Duncan. He’s turning up the heat. Solid body kick by Pulyaev. Leg kicks by Duncan. Pulyaev is mainly running here, not landing much. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Duncan.

Round 3 – Duncan wastes no time and presses Pulyaev against the cage. Pulyaev reverses. Duncan reverses and takes control. Not a ton going on. They break. Duncan back to chasing. Duncan ties up Pulyaev against the cage. Pulyaev reverses, but gets reverses hsortly after. Shoulder strikes by Duncan by the cage. One minute left. Knee by Duncan. They break. Duncan presses Pulyaev against the cage. Duncan with some nasty short elbows! Pulyaev is hurt! The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Duncan. Overall 30-27, Duncan.

Result: Christian Leroy Duncan def. Andrey Pulyaev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Photos: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andrey Pulyaev at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos
Records: Duncan (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Pulyaev (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging: Ben Cartlidge, Clemens Werner 30-27. Anders Ohlsson 30-26.

Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar

Round 1 – Nice quick como by Tomar. Bannon pushes Tomar against the cage, as she looks for a takedown. Short knees land for Bannon. Tmar breaks free. Big combo by Tomar! Oh! Another big right by Tomar. Bannon with a one, two. Head kick by Bannon! Nice sidekicks to the body by Bannon. Leg kick by Bannon. Another head kick by Bannon! Bannon keeping Tomar at range with side kicks, and Tomar doesn’t seem to have an answer to them so fra. Final minute. A couple of big right hands land for Tomar! The bell rings. Close round.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Bannon.

Round 2 – Bannon back to pressing Tomar and keeping her at range with side-kicks. Bannon presses Tomar against the cage. Some knees to the body and legs land for Bannon. Another side-kick by Bannon. Bannon is spamming the side-kick. Oh! Giant head kick by Tomar drops! Big shots by Tomar on a downed Bannon! Bannon survives! Bannon locks an armbar! She adjusts, and there’s the tap!

Result: Shauna Bannon def. Puja Tomar via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 3:22
Recap: Shauna Bannon turns tables on Puja Tomar with Round 2 armbar
Photos: Shauna Bannon def. Puja Tomar at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos
Records: Bannon (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Tomar (9-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Lukasz Bosacki

Nathan Fletcher vs. Caolan Loughran

Round 1 – Jab lands for Fletcher, followed by a leg kick. Another low kicks lands for Fletcher. Fletcher with another leg kick. It seems they’re affecting Loughran. Solid right lands for Loughran. Loughran closes the distance and presses Fletcher against the cage. He gets the takedown! Fletcher scrambling to get back on his feet. He does, but still being presses against the cage. Short shots land for Loughran. He gets the takedown. Two minutes left. Fletcher gets back to his feet and breaks away from the clinch. Back to striking.Jab by Fletcher. Loughran catches a kick and presses Fletcher against the cage. Loughran with a takedown, but Fletcher reverses and end on top! Loughran gets up and presses Fletcher against the cage. Another takedown by Loughran. The bell rings. Very close round.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Loughran.

Round 2 – Fletcher gets the takedown early! Loughran gets up, but Fletcher controlling against the cage. Fletcher jumps on Loughran’s back while standing. He’s looking for the rear-naked choke. Short shots land for Fletcher. Fletcher in complete control here. Fletcher with more short shots. Two minutes left. Fletcher gets off Loughran’s back, but still controlling him against the cage. Loughran breaks free! Loughran presses Fletcher against the cage. Good elbow by Loughran on the break. Fletcher connects with a knee on Loughran, as Loughran went for the takedown. Loughran presses Fletcher against the cage. The bell ring.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Fetcher.

Round 3 – Loughran presses Fletcher against gne cage, and gets an early takedown here. Loughran takes the back of Fletcher! Fletcher breaks free and they’re back to striking. Fletcher shoots, but Loughran stuffs the takedown. Loughran pressing Fletcher against the cage. Fletcher with a nice knee. He breaks free. Two minutes left. Loughran scores a takedown! Loughran is all over Fletcher. Fletcher keeps getting back up, but Loughran drags him back down. Front headlock by Fletcher! Nice knees by Fletcher. Oh! Elbow by Fletcher. Solid combo by Fletcher. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Fletcher. Overall 29-28, Fletcher.

Result: Caolan Loughran def. Nathan Fletcher via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: Caolan Loughran def. Nathan Fletcher at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos
Records: Loughran (10-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Fletcher (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Dan Movahedi
Judging: Ben Cartlidge, Vito Paolillo 29-28. Anders Ohlsson 28-29.

Kaue Fernandes vs. Guram Kutateladze

Round 1 – Kutateladze takes the center of the cage. Both fghters being very cautious here. Leg kicks by Fernandes. Big leg kick by Fernandes! Kutateladze has yet to fire. Another leg kick by Fernandes. Kutateladze closes the distance and fails on a shot. Three minutes left. Head kick by Fernandes drops Kutateladze! Kutateladze back up. He seems to be fine. Two minutes left. Jab by Fernandes. Big leg kick by Fernandes. Kutateladze has very little to no output. Kutateladze shoots for a takedown and fails again. More leg kicks by Fernandes. Body kick by Fernandes. Final minute. Kutateladze’s nose and leg is red from damage taken by Fernandes. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Fernandes.

Round 2 – Oh! Nasty leg kick by Fernandes drops Kutateladze! Kutateladze is in pain. Fernandes follows him to the ground and begin landing shots. He lets Kutateladze back up. Kutateladze can barely stand. Kutateladze now bleeding from his nose. Kutateladze’s mobility seems to be getting better.  Another big leg kick by Fernandes. More leg kicks. Three minutes left. Kutateladze is getting light up here. Kutateladze shoots and Fernandes stuffs the takedown. Two minutes left. Big counter right by Fernandes wobbles Kutateladze! The fight hits the ground after a scramble and Fernandes ends on top. Final minute. Kutateladze looks to be fading fast. They get back up. Fernandes tries a takedown, but fails. The bell rings.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Fernandes.

Round 3 – Kutateladze needs a finish here. He’s clearly down two rounds. Props to Kutateladze, he’s still pressing despite the damage. Oh! Nasty body kick by Fernandes. the output has slowed down from Fernandes. Big leg kick by Fernandes. Nice short combo by Kutateladze. Jab by Fernandes. Two minutes left. Kutateladze is bleeding from the bridge of his nose. Right hook connects for Kutateladze. Final minute. Oh! Nasty leg kick from Fernandes collapses Kutateladze! More leg kicks from Fernandes on a downed Kutateladze. Kutateladze gets back up. Fernandes scores a takedown. The bell rings!

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Fernandes. Overall 30-27, Fernandes.

Result: Kaue Fernandes def. Guram Kutateladze via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: Kaue Fernandes def. Guram Kutateladze at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos
Records: Fernandes (10-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Kutateladze (13-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging: Darryl Ransom, David Lethaby, Clemens Werner 30-27.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.

Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andrey Pulyaev at UFC Fight Night 255: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Christian Leroy Duncan’s unanimous decision win over Andrey Pulyaev at UFC Fight Night 255.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Christian Leroy Duncan[/autotag]’s unanimous decision win over [autotag]Andrey Pulyaev[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night 255 at The O2 in London. (Photos by Peter van den Berg, USA Today Sports; MMA Junkie; UFC)

Following DWCS 69 contract win, Andrey Pulyaev hopes to make UFC debut in December

Andrey Pulyaev discusses when he’d like to debut for the UFC following a contract win at Dana White Contender Series 69.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Andrey Pulyaev[/autotag] doesn’t want to wait till 2025 for his UFC debut.

Following a UFC contract win at Dana White’s Contender Series 69 on Tuesday, the Russian middleweight made his plans clear – he wants to fight again this year, and hopefully return to Las Vegas for his UFC debut.

“In an ideal scenario, I would like to fight in December,” Pulyaev told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the DWCS 69 post-fight press conference. “And speaking of the venue, at this point it doesn’t really matter for me. As a matter of fact, I really like it over here in Vegas, and I would like a second to appreciate the help of all the UFC employees and UFC staff, all the athletic commission because everyone was super helpful. I could tell they’re professionals of really high class. We were watched and taken care of, and there was nothing that we wanted to have that we didn’t have.

“So I really felt great here, so I wouldn’t mind fighting in Vegas, maybe Apex arena again. But as I said, at this point the venue itself doesn’t really matter.”

Pulyaev (9-2) defeated Liam Anderson via unanimous decision to get himself a contract with the UFC. His bout served as the main event of the card, which drew more attention on his win.

“I didn’t feel any pressure because it was the main event,” Pulyaev said. “I really felt a lot of pressure because this was my first fighting the U.S. This was my first fight abroad and right away there was like a huge step in competition, a huge step in my career.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 69.

Dana White’s Contender Series 69: Grading the winners

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the performances of the five winners from Dana White’s Contender Series 69.

Week 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series (2024) took place on Tuesday in Las Vegas, and we’re grading the winners from the five-fight card, which streamed on ESPN+ from the UFC Apex.

With a simple but digestible format that has had the MMA fanbase responding, this series has shown to have legs in multiple ways while serving as a crockpot for contenders the UFC matchmakers can use to fill their roster for future events. With that trend in mind, I once again will be taking a look at the winning fighters, regardless of whether or not they won a UFC contract, and grading their performances in regard to their probability of returning to a UFC stage.

***

Nick Piccininni

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 27: (L-R) Nick Piccininni battles Jack Duffy in a flyweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season eight, week three on August 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Flyweight
Result: Nick Piccininni def. Jack Duffy via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Grade: B

Summary: Setting the tone for the night was an impromptu dogfight between [autotag]Nick Piccininni[/autotag] and Jack Duffy.

Despite my inherent bias for Piccininni as one of my : prospects to watch in 2023, I have to agree with the UFC president as far as scoring it two rounds to one for Duffy (giving him the first and third for the more varied striking volume and impact).

In Piccininni’s defense, the former All-American wrestler stepped up on just ten days’ notice, so not looking incredibly sharp or prepared is perhaps somewhat understandable for the OSU alum. Still, that same change-up also affected Duffy, who was previously scheduled to face more striking-based fighters.

Duffy acquitted himself well opposite Piccininni’s superior wrestling, and even stayed composed when finding himself wearing the Fortis MMA product as a backpack. Ultimately, it was the diverse striking and multi-dimensional threats of Duffy that set him apart in my eyes.

I feel like both fighters could’ve been justified signings for the UFC, but Dana White, unfortunately, felt different, calling for a Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo-type audible (something the UFC president seems to do when getting a result that he really disdains).

Considering that both flyweights and wrestlers alike have traditionally been given the short end of the stick from White, seeing these guys forced to jump through more hoops on short notice is sadly something we shouldn’t be surprised by. I just feel bad for both Piccininni and Duffy for only having six weeks between now and the final week of this season of the Contender Series to heal their bodies from this war and be ready for another.

Malcolm Wellmaker

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 27: (R-L) Malcolm Wellmaker punches Adam Bramhald of England in a bantamweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season eight, week three on August 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Bantamweight
Result: Malcolm Wellmaker def. Adam Bramhald via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:29
Grade: A

Summary: Despite walking a fine tightrope to entertain us in his audition for Dana White, [autotag]Malcolm Wellmaker[/autotag] earns the easiest A of the night in my book.

Wellmaker, who has apparent swagger and savvy from both stances, is a high-risk, high-reward striker who seemingly has an inherent feel for range.

Whether Wellmaker is slipping just outside of punches or darting to an outside angle, the American pokes and prods his opponents with trapping responses in mind. And once he gets the bite he’s looking for, Wellmaker clearly keeps heavy counters on a hair-trigger

Bramhald, to his credit, did a decent job of keeping Wellmaker’s lowered guard in check by looking to counter in combination. Unfortunately for the Englishman, he committed a little too hard with a jab that his opponent was waiting for.

Signing Wellmaker was a no-brainer, and I expect to see him thrown into action sooner than later – likely in a showcase spot opposite the likes of Steve Nguyen or Connor Matthews.

Marco Tulio

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 27: (R-L) Marco Tulio of Brazil punches Matthieu Duclos of France in a middleweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season eight, week three on August 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Middleweight
Result: Marco Tulio def. Matthieu Duclos via TKO (spinning back kick) – Round 2, 2:38
Grade: A

Summary: Someone cue Phil Collin’s “Sussudio,” because [autotag]Marco Tulio[/autotag] just earned a UFC contract on what was his second swing at bat.

Despite besting noted kickboxer, Yousri Belgaroui, Tulio failed to earn the thumbs up from the UFC president on last year’s season of the Contender Series.

Although this fight started as another classic middleweight slogfest that ran the risk of failing to impress the big boss, Tulio was able to build off his steady leg and bodywork to land an emphatic spinning back kick to Mattheiu Duclos’ liver that closed the show.

It’s nice to see another Chute Boxe Diego Lima product get signed off a clean stoppage win, so don’t be surprised to see Tulio compete again this year. For my money, I’d be willing to bet that we see Tulio booked opposite Americans like Zachary Reese or Sedriques Dumas for his first UFC assignment.

Bogdan Grad

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 27: (R-L) Bogdan Grad of Romania punches Michael Aswell in a featherweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season eight, week three on August 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Featherweight
Result: Bogdan Grad def. Michael Aswell via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
Grade: B

Summary: Despite this being another split decision where I disagreed with the judges, I was hard-pressed to deny [autotag]Bogdan Grad[/autotag] anything lower than a B for his insane effort over three rounds.

Coming out like hell on wheels, Grad quickly turned the Apex’s octagon into the World War 2 battleground that his name sounds like.

This aggressive approach ran Grad right into the jab-cross continuums of Michael Aswell, who won the first round on my card. That said, Grad’s aggression and pressure steadily began the pay dividends by the middle of the fight, where the Austrian fighter was able to start winning exchanges and force a cut on his American counterpart.

Unfortunately for Aswell, the blood from said cut provided a solid distraction from the solid counters and bodywork that MMA judges continually undervalue (which is a shame since the most reaction-drawing offense in the final frame was clearly Aswell’s body punches).

Aswell is getting his name moved to the top of the queue when it comes to the UFC’s constant need for short-notice call-ups, while Grad gets the contract that both of the flyweights who opened the card were denied.

To be fair, Grad should make for a fun addition to the featherweight division. And though I’d love to see him paired straight away with recent Ultimate Fighter winner, Mairon Santos, I suspect that the matchmakers will book him on an upcoming international card against someone like Jeka Saragih.

Andrey Pulyaev

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 27: (L-R) Andrey Pulyaev of Russia kicks Liam Anderson in a middleweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season eight, week three on August 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Middleweight
Result: Andrey Pulyaev def. Liam Anderson via unanimous decision (30-27, 20-27, 20-27)
Grade: B

Summary: Despite failing to find the finish that he was trying hard for, I found it hard to deny [autotag]Andrey Pulyaev[/autotag] anything less than a B for the effort he put up against Liam Anderson.

Tougher than a two-dollar steak, it was reminiscent of a Rocky movie watching Anderson take the damage he took this past Tuesday.

To his credit, Anderson had his moments throughout the fifteen-minute affair by making things ugly and getting to the grappling realm (where this fight was supposed to favor him on paper). Unfortunately for Anderson, Pulyaev proved to be just as scrappy on the floor – winning out on scrambles down the stretch.

Pulyaev may not be a top-shelf prospect coming out of Russia or your stereotypical ‘Dagestani destroyer,’ but the 26-year-old has a solid arsenal from southpaw that I see keeping him competitive with the bottom half of the division.

If Jose Medina and Robert Valentin get matched up like I suspect they do, then don’t be surprised to see Pulyaev paired up with anyone from Cody Brundage to Christian Leroy Duncan on the next international card (if those last two names are booked against each other, that is).

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Dana White’s Contender Series 69.

Dana White’s Contender Series 69 results: Four contracts issued, plus a rare immediate rematch

Season 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series continued Tuesday, and Dana White offered some rare stipulations afterward.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene reporting live from Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 69 event.

Dana White’s Contender Series cards see prospects fighting for the opportunity to sign a UFC deal, with UFC president Dana White on hand to make the decisions.

The third week of the eighth season saw 10 fighters compete for their shot at a UFC contract. In the feature bout at middleweight, Liam Anderson took on Andrey Pulyaev.

The UFC Apex hosts Tuesday’s card, which streams live on ESPN+.

DWCS 69 full results

  • [autotag]Andrey Pulyaev[/autotag] def. [autotag]Liam Anderson[/autotag] via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • [autotag]Bogdan Grad[/autotag] def. [autotag]Michael Aswell[/autotag] via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
  • [autotag]Marco Tulio[/autotag] def. [autotag]Matthieu Duclos[/autotag] via TKO (spinning back kick to the body) – Round 2, 2:38
  • [autotag]Malcolm Wellmaker[/autotag] def. [autotag]Adam Bramhald[/autotag] via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:29
  • [autotag]Nick Piccininni[/autotag] def. [autotag]Jack Duffy[/autotag] via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

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Who won a UFC contract?

At the conclusion of the event, White handed out four UFC contracts to winners Wellmaker, Tulio, Grad and Pulyaev.

White also passed on Piccininni because he disagreed with the decision, but offered a rematch vs. Duffy in Week 10 of Season 8. Both fighters will get another chance to vie for a UFC contract.

Additionally, White said UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby will have Aswell on his short-list for replacements if the UFC is in need of short-notice fix.

Jack Duffy vs. Nick Piccininni

Round 1 – Duffy lays out on his back with his legs up against the cage as the referee starts the fight, then rolls over and charges at his opponent with strikes. Piccininni steps away and looks to land, but Duffy rushes him and pushes Piccininni into the fence. turns him and gets a takedown of his own, and Duffy immediately looks to counter with a guillotine choke then a triangle choke attempt. Piccininni stands up and looks to land sniping ground strikes while hovering over his foe. He dives in, and Duffy grabs Piccininni and rolls for a kneebar submission. Piccininni escapes and stands back up. Duffy lands a knee to the body and multiple leg kicks. Piccininni tries to push forward, but Duffy is hammering him with a relentless assault of strikes to keep the momentum in his favor to close the round.

MMA Junkie scores the opening round 10-9 for Duffy.

Round 2 – After receiving a scolding in the corner from coach Sayif Saud, Piccininni comes out and manages to get the fight to the ground in short order. He can’t do much damage from inside the guard, however, because Duffy is holding him close and only allowing space when he throws elbows and punches from bottom position. Piccininni scoots Duffy into the corner then takes the back off a scramble attempt. Piccininni gets the body triangle from the back and is working toward a rear-naked choke while landing rabbit punches. Duffy scrambles back to his feet but is still being controlled along the cage wall. Piccininni lands a trip takedown with less than 30 seconds left, and again takes the back but can’t finish it before the end of the round.

MMA Junkie scores the second stanza 10-9 for Piccininni.

Round 3 – Both men trade hard strikes to begin the final round. The punches and kicks are flying to start a potentially definitive round, and Duffy is the first to shoot a takedown that ends up being stuffed. Piccininni advances forward and gets a takedown just over 60 seconds in, and he works hard to establish control before taking the back. Piccininni is too high on the back and falls off, but he quickly gets it back while Duffy stands up. Piccininni steps away and looks quite fatigued, and Duffy senses the chance to attack with more knees and punches. Duffy lands a front kick to the face and another series of strikes. Piccininni goes for a takedown and Duffy grabs the fence to stop it, but the referee doesn’t do a damn thing. They break back into striking range and both sides are fighting with urgency as the clock reaches 60 seconds remaining. They trade spinning backfist attempts and Piccininni gets a critical takedown as the seconds wind off the clock. Duffy stands back up, then Piccininni steps away and the pair trade bombs until the final buzzer, bringing Dana White to his feet in applause.

MMA Junkie scores the final round 10-9 for Duffy, giving him a 29-28 edge on our scorecard. But that was an extremely competitive fight.

Result: Nick Piccininni def. Jack Duffy via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 69: Best photos
Records: Piccininni (7-0), Duffy (7-1)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson

Adam Bramhald vs. Malcolm Wellmaker

Round 1 – Both men start the fight with clear intention to stand and trade. They use footwork to move into kicks and punches, with Wellmaker connecting with a good series of leg kicks in the first few minutes. Wellmaker is the first to shoot for a takedown, but it’s easily stuffed by Bhamhald, who charges forward and eats a gigantic counter right hand from Wellmaker that faceplants him into the canvas out cold! A brilliant highlight-reel knockout to build on his undefeated record.

Result: Malcolm Wellmaker def. Adam Bramhald via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:29
Recap: Malcolm Wellmaker faceplant KOs Adam Bramhald while moving backward
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 69: Best photos
Records: Wellmaker (8-0), Bramhald (13-3)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Eric McMahon

Matthieu Duclos vs. Marco Tulio

Round 1 – Tulio is eager to attack with leg kicks from the outset and it causes Duclos to move back and attempt to time a chance to throw his own kick or counter with a punch. Tulio beats him to it with a pressing combination, however, and managed to land a shot that briefly drops Duclos as he’s moving backward. Duclos recovers quickly and escapes from close range to get it back to a striking fight from distance. Tulio senses his opportunity to do more damage, though, and is still pushing forward with his hands and mixing in leg kicks. Duclos gets some respect back with a stinging left hook. Tulio charges forward, but Duclos evaded and throws a looping overhand right that’s blocked. Duclos slips to the ground off a kick and that allows Tulio to close distance and press him to the fence. He circles away and it’s clear Duclos is growing in confidence with less than a minute remaining. They crash into each other in the final seconds, and Tulio tries a body lock takedown, but Duclos reverses it and ends on top.

MMA Junkie scores the opening round 10-9 for Tulio due to the knockdown.

Round 2 – The pace is somewhat slowed to open the second stanza but picks up about 30 seconds in when Tulio just misses with a spinning back elbow during a wild exchange. Tulio lands a nice straight right hand to the sternum and Duclos is trying to stay patient while answering back. Tulio’s pressure is giving him a tough time, and the leg kicks are seemingly adding up. Tulio staggers Duclos with a hard punch then crashed into the clinch with a serious of knees that are partially blocked. They battle from close range against the fence. They break and Tulio lands an absolutely perfect spinning back kick to the body that folds Duclos. He tries to survive, but Tulio needs the referee to save him and the fight is over! Nasty finish from Tulio.

Result: Marco Tulio def. Matthieu Duclos via TKO (spinning back kick to the body) – Round 2, 2:38
Recap: Marco Tulio shuts down Matthieu Duclos with expertly-timed spinning back kick
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 69: Best photos
Records: Tulio (12-1), Duclos (6-3)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson

Michael Aswell vs. Bogdan Grad

Round 1 – There is zero caution shown from both sides to start the fight as they meet in the middle and trade blows. The kicks are landing low and to the body, but Aswell and Grad are barely missing on some absolute bombs with their hands. Aswell lands a nice straight punch that earns some respect but he’s still the one moving backward as Grad stalks him. Grad lands a nice left body kick and some clean shots with the hands. Aswell is finding his timing on the counters but the pace and output on both ends is very high. The fight settles in and Aswell is getting the better of the exchanges and showing solid defence. Grad answers with a pair of hooks, then a spinning backfist moments later that’s barely blocked. Grad shoots for a takedown with less than a minute left and gets it, but Aswell pops back to his feet. Grad tries for a standing guillotine, but Grad pushes him against the fence to break leverage then separates back into striking range. They trade to close the round, with Grad landing a stiff left hook late to close a tight round.

MMA Junkie scores the opening round 10-9 for Grad.

Round 2 – Defense goes out the window in the opening moments of the second round. Both men are tagged clean but look rather comfortable taking each other’s power at this point. Grad mixes in a leg kick, and Aswell has only thrown one kick to this point according to the commentary team. He finds more success with his hands moments later and snaps Grad’s hand back, but Grad fires back with a hard right hand. Grad is growing in confidence as he moves forward with his hands low, then throws some more leg kicks. Aswell lands a few nice jabs and evades a big spinning head kick attempt. Grad eats some more jabs then an overhand and a straight right seconds later. He charges with an overhand then shoots for a takedown against the cage, and Aswell stands up after being grounded for a moment. Grad lands a knee to the body and nearly an elbow as they break, and Aswell is now bleeding from near his left eye. Grad lands more good punches late to close out a strong round.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Grad.

Round 3 – Aswell comes out with a sense of desperation to start the final round after the doctor was brought into the cage to check it. He pressures with solid boxing combinations and is landing, but Grad doesn’t look deterred. He is standing in the pocket and trading with success of his own, and the blood is leaking more significantly from the cut around Aswell’s left eye. Grad shoots for a takedown and engages in a grappling sequence, but it doesn’t last long and Aswell gets it back to the feet. Grad is showing some fatigue as the fight enters the final minutes, and Aswell is all over him with big punches to the body and hand. Aswell is applying tons of pressure and output late and both men land hard blows. They leave it all in the cage as it reaches the final bout, and the broadcast reveals UFC CEO Dana White called the production truck to say both men will receive the show and win portion of their purse.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Aswell, with a 29-28 victory for Grad.

Result: Bogdan Grad def. Michael Aswell via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 69: Best photos
Records: Grad (14-2), Aswell (9-2)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Eric McMahon

Liam Anderson vs. Andrey Pulyaev

Round 1 – Anderson closes the distance on Pulyaev within the first few seconds and has him on the back foot and against the cage inside of the 30 seconds ticking off the clock. Anderson changes levels and is putting full effort into a takedown from either a double leg of a body lock. Pulyaev shows good balance and defense but there is minimal damage. They finally break at the midway point of the round and Pulyaev starts unloading with body kicks and solid boxing combinations, one of which snaps Anderson’s head back. Pulyaev starts to open up with his striking attack and Anderson is starting to display some concerning sides. Anderson fights his way inside the clinch, but can only end the round by pressing him against the cage. Anderson heads back to his corner with a busted and bloody nose.

MMA Junkie scores the opening round 10-9 for Pulyaev.

Round 2 – Pulyaev is beaming with confidence to start the round, but Anderson is standing his ground agains the attacks. Anderson clinches Pulyaev in the center of the cage and pushes him toward the fence. He fights hard for a single leg takedown and spins Pulyaev, but the Russian shows sharp takedown defense and get gets himself toward the cage and upright. Pulyaev eventually gets himself free andgoes back to work with diligent striking. He’s tagging Anderson over and over from all ranges and Pulyaev is taking control of the contest in all forms. Anderson shows all kinds of courage and spins Pulyaev into a takedown with less than 75 seconds remaining. He works for a Hail Mary submission as the clock winds down, then adjusts to some ground-and-pound in the closing seconds.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Pulyaev.

Round 3 – Anderson pursues the takedown again right of the bat and manages to push Pulyaev against the cage. They trade elbows and uppercuts from inside before Pulyaev escapes. Pulyaev lands a series of powerful punches and Anderson somehow absorbs them without going down. Anderson clinches Pulyaev and tries to get a takedown from the front headlock, but Pulyaev counters him and ends up in top position. Pulyaev goes to work with punches and elbows from inside Anderson’s guard, and precious time is ticking off the clock as the final round hits its midway point. Pulyaev continues to work effective ground and pound as Anderson struggles to get free with less than 90 seconds left. The blood of Anderson is getting smothered all over the mat, and that forces him to turn around and give up his back. Pulyaev tries to get a choke but is too high on the back and falls off. Anderson takes the back with just under a minute left and tries to get a choke! Pulyaev fights the hands perfectly and turns him around, ending up back in guard as the time expires.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Pulyaev, giving him the 30-27 sweep on the scorecards.

Result: Andrey Pulyaev def. Liam Anderson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 69: Best photos
Records: Pulyaev (9-2), Anderson (6-3)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 69.

Dana White’s Contender Series 69 faceoff highlights video, photo gallery from Las Vegas

Check out the weigh-in and faceoff video highlights and photos from Dana White’s Contender Series 69 in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – The pre-fight activities are in the books for Dana White’s Contender Series 69 following Monday’s official weigh-ins and faceoffs.

For the third event of the season, 10 fighters will vie for UFC contracts in their fights, including middleweights [autotag]Liam Anderson[/autotag] (6-2) and [autotag]Andrey Pulyaev[/autotag] (8-2), who headline the show.

At the conclusion of the official weigh-ins, the fighters came face to face for staredowns. Check out the highlights in the video above and a photo gallery from the weigh-ins and faceoffs below.

Dana White’s Contender Series 68 takes place Tuesday and streams on ESPN+.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Dana White’s Contender Series 69.

Dana White’s Contender Series 69 weigh-in results: All 10 fighters set for UFC auditions

Check out the results from the third week of Dana White’s Contender Series weigh-ins in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Monday’s official Dana White’s Contender Series 69 fighter weigh-ins, which kick off at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

The weigh-ins take place at the UFC host hotel in Las Vegas. The UFC Apex hosts Tuesday’s card, which streams on ESPN+.

For the third event of the season, 10 fighters will vie for UFC contracts in their fights, including middleweights [autotag]Liam Anderson[/autotag] (6-2) and [autotag]Andrey Pulyaev[/autotag] (8-2), who headline the show.

Below are the complete Dana White’s Contender Series 69 weigh-in results include:

  • Liam Anderson (185) vs. Andrey Pulyaev (185)
  • Michael Aswell (145) vs. Bogdan Grad (145.5)
  • Matthieu Duclos (185) vs. Marco Tulio (184)
  • Adam Bramhald (135.5) vs. Malcolm Wellmaker (135.5)
  • Jack Duffy (125) vs. Nick Piccininni (125)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Dana White’s Contender Series 69.