Tag: Dana White’s Contender Series 54

DWCS 54 winner Daniel Marcos says time away helped him become a better fighter

Despite a long layoff, Daniel Marcos looked in top form at Dana White’s Contender Series 54.

LAS VEGAS – Despite a long layoff, [autotag]Daniel Marcos[/autotag] looked in top form at Dana White’s Contender Series 54.

Marcos (13-0) defeated Brandon Lewis by unanimous decision Tuesday, and the Peruvian was able to impress the UFC brass to earn a contract.

Tuesday marked Marcos’ first fight in almost three years. Although he slowed down toward the end of the contest, the undefeated fighter said the time away only benefitted him.

“No, I don’t think it impacted me,” Marcos told reporters, including MMA Junkie, through an interpreter. “I think I’ve always trusted myself. I’ve trusted the training. I’ve trusted God. I think the time away helped me be a better fighter and helped me tweak some things, and now we need to just watch the tape and improve a couple of things and go from there.”

Marcos stunned Lewis twice on the feet and battered his leg, but a tough Lewis just wouldn’t go away. Marcos wsn’t too surprised that Lewis was able to survive the early onslaught.

“I went for it. The original intention was to finish the fight and you saw it,” Marcos said. “I came out with the overhand, tried a couple of knees in there, as well, kicked him a lot, and he wouldn’t come down. But you know what? That’s kind of normal because this is your chance and you’re trying to get to the major leagues. It’s something that’s expected, and obviously I’m going to go back and look and try next time to not get it to the later rounds.”

[vertical-gallery id=2581122]

[listicle id=2581119]

DWCS 54 winner Ikram Aliskerov would love to rematch Khamzat Chimaev – but not right now

Ikram Aliskerov can see a Khamzat Chimaev rematch down the line, but knows he has some work to do.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Ikram Aliskerov[/autotag] can see a [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] rematch down the line, but knows he has some work to do.

Aliskerov (13-1) punched his ticket to the UFC with a quick kimura finish of Mario Sousa at Dana White’s Contender Series 54 on Tuesday. The combat sambo champion has justs one setback on his record: a knockout loss to Chimaev in April 2019.

Although the Dagestan native expects to reach the top, he knows Chimaev is a lot further along in his career.

“I don’t want to look too much further because Khamzat got in the top five,” Aliskerov told reporters, including MMA Junkie through an interpreter. “I believe he’s close to the title fight right now. But of course I would love to get to the top rankings and to meet him again.”

Dana White showed Aliskerov high praise for his dominant performance and said he’s ready to fight ranked opposition at middleweight right now. With 14 professional fights under his belt against tough competition, Aliskerov shares the same sentiment.

“I totally agree with Dana. I believe I have everything,” Aliskerov said. “I’m also so hungry right now. I’m ambitious, so I believe I can get to the top five rankings very easily.

“(I want) no time off, no layovers, no time to rest. I want to book another fight and fight until the end of the year, and God willing by the end of next year, I will be in the top five of my division.”

[vertical-gallery id=2581122]

[listicle id=2581119]

DWCS 54 winner Bruna Brasil says high-kick knockout is her specialty

Bruna Brasil spoke to the media after punching her ticket to the UFC at Dana White’s Contender Series 54.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Bruna Brasil[/autotag] spoke to the media after punching her ticket to the UFC at Dana White’s Contender Series 54.

Brasil (8-2-1) scored a spectacular head-kick knockout of Marnic Mann at DWCS 54 on Tuesday to earn a UFC contract. Dana White called it the greatest women’s knockout in Contender Series history, and Brasil said it’s a finish she’s drilled plenty of times before.

“I’m the special one,” Brasil told reporters, including MMA Junkie at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. “I love kicking. The high kick is a forte of mine. We trained that a lot, obviously, because the height difference – it was there. But I always try to attempt the high kicks.”

Watch the video of Brasil’s complete post-fight media availability above.

[vertical-gallery id=2581122]

[listicle id=2581119]

DWCS 54 winner Farid Basharat: ‘If you’re fighting the Basharat brothers, you better pack a second lunch’

Farid Basharat thinks few will be able to match his or his brother Javid’s pace now that both of them are in the UFC.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Farid Basharat[/autotag] thinks few will be able to match his or his brother Javid’s pace.

Basharat (9-0) joined his brother, Javid Basharat, on the UFC roster after he defeated Allan Begosso by unanimous decision at Dana White’s Contender Series 54 on Tuesday.

It was a well-rounded performance from Basharat, who swept the judges’ scorecards.

“I haven’t seen the fight yet, but I’m very satisfied,” Basharat told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “It’s just once the fight finished, it was such a fast-paced fight, I just kind of crashed a little bit, energy wise. We do this a lot in training. We simulate these kind of crazy cardio rounds. It reminded me of that. Once the fight finished, I was exhausted because I really left it all on the line.

“It’s tough to keep up with my pace, and I think you’re going to see a lot more of this – this Basharat pace. You’ve seen Javid, who’s got an even more sickening pace than I have, so this is very common with us. So if you’re fighting the Basharat brothers, you better pack a second lunch.”

Javid Basharat (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) fights Saturday against Tony Gravely (23-7 MMA, 4-2 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 210 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

“Javid’s also fighting this week, and that’s just going to make it such a special week when he goes out there and gets the ‘W,’ as well,” Basharat said.

“As far as I’m concerned, job’s not done. Job’s done when Javid gets his hand raised on Saturday. He’s got a tough opponent, though he is so prepared. And Saturday night when he wins, that’s when we can sit back and just reminisce on the past few months. This is a special fight because it’s a landmark because we’re both in the UFC now.”

[vertical-gallery id=2581122]

[listicle id=2581119]

VIDEO: Dagestan’s Ikram Aliskerov locks nasty kimura on Mario Sousa at DWCS 54

Ikram Aliskerov wasted no time at DWCS 54.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Ikram Aliskerov[/autotag] wasted no time leaving a lasting impression at Dana White Contender Series.

The Dagestan native submitted Mario Sousa just a couple of minutes into their middleweight contest, forcing the Brazilian to tap after locking up a nasty kimura at DWCS 54. The bout took place on Tuesday night at the UFC Apex.

Despite defending the first two takedown attempts, the third was the charm for Aliskerov (13-1), who locked up the kimura submission moments after the fight hit the ground.

[lawrence-related id=2581222]

It was a dominant showing that put Aliskerov on a five-fight winning streak. The 29-year-old has only lost once as a professional, and that defeat came against top UFC contender Khamzat Chimaev back at Brave FC in 2019.

You can watch Aliskerov’s finish in the video below:

[listicle id=2581119]

[vertical-gallery id=2581122]

Dana White’s Contender Series 54: Best photos

Check out these photos from the fights at DWCS 54 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Check out these photos from the five fights at Dana White’s Contender Series 54 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. (Photos courtesy of Joshua Hedges, UFC)

Dana White’s Contender Series 54 live results

Follow along with the live results of Dana White’s Contender Series 54 live at UFC Apex.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene reporting live from Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 54 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 eighth week of the sixth season will see 10 fighters compete for their shot at a UFC contract. A bantamweight bout between Allan Begosso (7-1-1) and undefeated Farid Basharat (8-0) serves as the final bout of the evening.

The UFC Apex hosts Tuesday’s card, which streams live on ESPN+. The full results of Dana White’s Contender Series 53 include:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Allan Begosso vs. Farid Basharat
  • Ikram Aliskerov vs. Mario Sousa
  • Malik Lewis vs. Trevor Peek
  • Bruna Brasil vs. Marnic Mann
  • Brandon Lewis vs. Daniel Marcos

Continue reading below for more details about each fight.

Dana White’s Contender Series 54 faceoff highlights video, photo gallery from Las Vegas

Check out the video highlights and a photo gallery from the Dana White’s Contender Series 54 weigh-ins and faceoffs in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – The pre-fight activities are in the books for Dana White’s Contender Series 54 following Monday’s official weigh-ins and faceoffs.

Ten fighters will vie for UFC contracts at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

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 54 takes place Tuesday and streams on ESPN+.

[vertical-gallery id=2580856]

Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 54 weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the Dana White’s Contender Series 54 weigh-ins and faceoffs in Las Vegas.

Check out these photos from the Dana White’s Contender Series 54 weigh-ins and faceoffs in Las Vegas. (Photos by Chris Unger–UFC)

Dana White’s Contender Series 54 weigh-in results: All UFC hopefuls on point

MMA Junkie was on scene and reporting live from Monday’s official Dana White’s Contender Series 54 fighter weigh-ins.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was scene and reporting from Monday’s official Dana White’s Contender Series 54 fighter weigh-ins.

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

Everyone made weight within 25 minutes of the official session beginning, setting the stage for Week 7 of Season 6.

The full Dana White’s Contender Series 54 weigh-in results include:

  • Farid Basharat (135.5) vs. Allan Begosso (135.5)
  • Ikram Aliskerov (186) vs. Mario Sousa (185.5)
  • Malik Lewis (156) vs. Trevor Peek (156)
  • Bruna Brasil (115) vs. Marnic Mann (115.5)
  • Daniel Marcos (136) vs. Brandon Lewis (135.5)

[vertical-gallery id=2580856]