DWCS 57 winner Caio Machado: ‘It wasn’t the most exciting fight, but I dominated’

Caio Machado didn’t put on the most entertaining showing, but was the far more active fighter at Dana White’s Contender Series 57.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Caio Machado[/autotag] can admit he didn’t put on the most entertaining showing, but was the far more active fighter at Dana White’s Contender Series 57.

Machado (8-1-1) swept the judges’ scorecards to defeat Kevin Szaflarski (11-2) by unanimous decision on Tuesday – and it was enough to earn him a UFC contract.

To Machado’s defense, he came out swinging wildly. But the Brazilian says a hand injury in Round 2 limited his offense, which led to an uneventful affair.

“I think I did my best,” Machado told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “I dominated the fight from the beginning to finish. I tried to go for the knockout, but unfortunately I started messing up my hand and foot. I needed to pick my shots a little bit more and not just throw, so I probably would have finished that fight.

“I saw the stats. I think I threw over 100 strikes more than this guy. I defended all the takedowns he attempted. He couldn’t hold me against the cage. He couldn’t hold me down. It wasn’t the most exciting fight, but I dominated. I showed control, I showed dominance, and I know at the end of the day, that’s what I’m here for.”

Machado, who is eyeing his UFC debut in the rumored Nov. 4 card in Sao Paulo, vowed to put on a better showing in his next outing.

“Whoever was watching that, sorry – that’s not my best performance,” Machado said. “I like to go for the KO. I like to go for the finish, and next time and every time after that, that’s what I’m going to be doing. But you can also expect me to work for every second of that fight.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 57.

Dana White’s Contender Series 57 results: All winners get contracts, including 35-year-old kickboxing standout

Season 7 of Dana White’s Contender Series debuts Tuesday, and MMA Junkie will have live results from on-site at the UFC Apex.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene and reported from Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 57 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 debut episode of Season 7 saw 10 fighters compete for their shot at a contract at the UFC Apex. The series continues every Tuesday through Oct. 10, with 90 of the 100 athletes revealed.

Although there were four decisions across the five fights, White elected to sign all the winners, including former Glory Kickboxing standout [autotag]Cesar Almeida[/autotag]. Also signed was Australia’s [autotag]Tom Nolan[/autotag], who secured a nasty first-round knockout.

Heavyweight [autotag]Caio Machado[/autotag], bantamweight [autotag]Payton Talbott[/autotag], and flyweight [autotag]Kevin Borjas[/autotag] also received UFC deals for their unanimous decision wins.

The full DWCS 57 results include:

  • Cesar Almeida def. Lucas Fernando via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-27)
  • Tom Nolan def. Bogdan Grad via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:23
  • Caio Machado def. Kevin Szaflarski via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Payton Talbott def. Reyes Cortez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Kevin Borjas def. Victor Dias via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make UFC with December wins

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves.

Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator, or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.

This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.

  • A Brazilian-Canadian heavyweight hopes another win will regain him the UFC look he had but lost due to circumstances outside of his control.
  • A former Olympic wrestler from Mexico looks to secure an LFA title – and a UFC phone call shortly thereafter.
  • One of the best women’s prospects in North America wants to prove a point after a year on the shelf.
  • A rising 20-year-old Argentinian superstar aims to bring his record to 11-0 before 2022 comes to an end.
  • A Malaysian flyweight who lives in Texas has already made an impact, but a Fury FC title could be his ticket to an even more life-changing upgrade.