Tag: Dana White’s Contender Series 64

Ernesta Kerackaite on war with fellow DWCS 64 contract winner Carli Judice: ‘The biggest heart won’

Ernesta Kerackaite outlasted Carli Judice in a barnburner that saw both fighters earn UFC contracts.

LAS VEGAS – Ernesta Kerackaite outlasted Carli Judice in a barnburner that saw both fighters earn UFC contracts.

Kerackaite (5-0-1) defeated Judice (2-1) by split decision Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 64. In what was conKerackaite praised Judice for putting up a great fight.

“She was a badass too, so we should fight like that,” Kerackaite said during the DWCS 64 post-fight press conference. “It was a war and the biggest heart won.”

Kerackaite set the bar high for her UFC debut, but she’s up for the challenge.

“It’s really good when you’re working hard and you’re doing your job in the cage, and I think people see that,” Kerackaite said. “My job is just to train harder and harder, and we will see everything in the future.”

Kerackaite has battled the full 15 minutes multiple times in her young career, but none like her thriller against Judice.

“Fights like this motivate me a lot to go higher and higher – to be a better fighter, to be a greater fighter,” Kerackaite said. “I just really, really appreciate that I have a team like that, and we will bring everything in the future – I’m sure of that.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 64.

Danny Barlow: 79-second finish just the preview at DWCS 64 for bigger picture in UFC

Danny Barlow had been circling paths opposite Raheam Forest for years. It was inevitable they’d eventually meet.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Danny Barlow[/autotag] had been circling paths opposite Raheam Forest for years. It was inevitable they’d eventually meet.

But neither Barlow nor Forest likely could have predicted a while back that they’d fight not on their Memphis home turf on a regional show – but for a chance to get into the UFC. That’s what happened Tuesday when Barlow (7-0) put away Forest (7-2) with a quick first-round TKO.

Barlow’s finish came in just 79 seconds, which gave him five first-round stoppages in seven wins. To the surprise of virtually no one, he was one of the UFC contract winners at Dana White’s Contender Series 64 in Las Vegas.

“It’s crazy. I can’t really process it right now. It’s been a long time coming for sure. I’m still processing. It might take a couple of weeks,” Barlow said after his win and contract. “I didn’t even get settled in yet. That’s just how I fight in the first round. I’m reading, making reads. It’s going to look sloppy because you don’t know what the other fighter wants to do. But I come to get the job done every time.”

Barlow and Forest actually fought on the same card once as amateurs in 2020. Oddly enough, that event happened to be when Barlow lost for the only time in MMA. But as it turned out, the perfect time for the welterweights to get matched up was with plenty on the line.

But Barlow said he had some mild hesitation, at least, given they may not be full-on teammates, but they’re also not enemies.

“It was a game of tug of war in Memphis. It was very hard. It was very difficult to take that type of fight,” Barlow said. “I had to put my morals away because my brothers – we fight in the house, but we don’t outside of it. I feel like they had us fighting outside in front of (people), so I had to just make it business. I had to think real business.

“… I’ll fight anybody. That matchup was probably the worst, emotionally, to deal with. It’s all open now for whoever wants it. I’ll fight anybody after that. That took me to a different place mentally I’ve never been. This is a guy that, I’ve been standing his way, saying whatever, and there was the fight that everybody wanted to see back home. We stayed out way long enough. When it made sense, it makes sense.”

Check out Barlow’s full interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 64.

Dana White on rumors of Showtime Boxing shutting down: ‘It’s about time that sh*tty product is off the air’

Dana White couldn’t help but smile when asked about rumors of Showtime leaving boxing.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] couldn’t help but smile when asked about rumors of Showtime leaving boxing.

The relationship between UFC CEO White and Showtime Sports President Stephen Espinoza has been rocky throughout the years, despite the pair working together for the mega successful boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor.

Rumors emerged on social media from analyst “Raf,” who reported that after 2024, Showtime will be pulling the plug on boxing. When asked his thoughts, White appeared to gloat in the potential demise of Showtime Boxing.

“That’s incredibly unfortunate,” White sarcastically told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “Production of that show was fantastic. The guy who runs Showtime Boxing is a great human being. It’s unfortunate to hear this. F*ck Espinoza, and it’s about time that sh*tty product is off the air.”

Showtime’s departure from boxing would leave a big gap in the market, and with White teasing the launch of Zuffa Boxing throughout the years, could the UFC CEO finally enter the market?

“You never know,” White said. “Sounds good to me.”

[lawrence-related id=517364,2682967,2683120]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 64.

Vinicius Oliveira reflects on contract-winning knockout at Dana White’s Contender Series 64

Vinicius Oliveira’s 15th career knockout led to a UFC contract.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Vinicius Oliveira[/autotag]’s 15th career knockout led to a UFC contract.

Oliveira (19-3) scored a walk-off knockout of Victor Madrigal (12-4) in the first round Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 64.

The former UAE Warriors bantamweight champion has a wealth of experience at just 27, which had UFC CEO White confident that he could be thrown right in the deep end from his octagon debut.

“I feel so good,” Oliveira said during the DWCS 64 post-fight press conference. “This is my dream come true. I’ve been training for this moment since I started martial arts, and I knew it will happen one day–  and this day was today.”

Oliveira’s left hook sent Madrigal crashing to the canvas, and the Brazilian is no stranger to highlight reel finishes – but none more special than Tuesday night’s.

“All fights are most important of my career, but this knockout is the most important because I was in the door to get into the UFC. (Because of) this knockout, I was able to get in the UFC.”

Oliveira hasn’t competed in Brazil since 2019, and would love to make his official UFC debut on the Nov. 4 UFC Fight Night card in Sao Paulo.

“I think it’ll be amazing to fight in Brazil, in my country. But if I’m not able to, I’m prepared to fight in any country – like December, November, anywhere,” Oliveira said.

[lawrence-related id=2682967,2683120]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 64.

Dana White’s Contender’s Series 64: 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 64.

Week 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series (2023) took place 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.

Dana White reacts to Israel Adesanya’s drink-driving charge: ‘Thank God nobody was hurt’

UFC CEO Dana White is thankful no lives were truly endangered by former champion Israel Adesanya’s drink-driving incident.

UFC CEO [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] is thankful no lives were truly endangered by former middleweight champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag]’s drink-driving incident.

Weeks after Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) lost his title to Sean Strickland in a major upset at UFC 293 in Sydney, it was revealed that 18 days before the fight he’d been pulled over and charged with drink-driving in his home country of New Zealand.

When the news surfaced to the public after Adesanya appeared in court, the questions about his mental state going into and in the aftermath of the fight with Strickland came further into question than had already been.

Adesanya apologized for his actions and expressed embarrassment, but the speculation around him remains. White commented on the situation for the first time Tuesday following Dana White’s Contender Series 64 at the UFC Apex, and he expressed hope this is an uncharacteristic situation for Adesanya, and not the beginning of a trend.

[lawrence-related id=2682866,2681174]

“Bad decisions, man,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “No matter how many drinks you’ve had – if you drink, don’t drive. Especially, it’s one thing, Ubering is easy, but when you have that kind of money that kid has, get a driver. Have somebody drive you or Uber or whatever.

“He made a bad decision. Thank God nobody was hurt. Him or nobody else. You know what I say about mistakes: How do you handle them after you make them? Hopefully, that’s a one-and-done for him, and he never does it again.”

White has not commented further on what the future holds for Adesanya or the 185-pound division. He stated in the immediate aftermath of UFC 293 that “The Last Stylebender” would likely get a rematch, but has since backed off any firm decisions.

Dana White’s Contender Series 64 results: Six fighters signed – including two losers

Season 7, Week 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series goes down Tuesday, and MMA Junkie will have live results from on-site at the UFC Apex.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene reporting live from Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 64 event.

Dana White’s Contender Series cards see prospects fighting for the opportunity to sign a UFC deal, with UFC CEO Dana White on hand to make the decisions. And as has been the theme of the season, White was plenty generous in handing on contracts on arguably the best episode of the season so far.

White signed a season record six fighters to deals, including headliner Danny Barlow, who destroyed Raheam Forest with a flurry of strikes just 79 seconds into their welterweight matchup.

In addition to Barlow, White did not hold back on the deals. He signed multiple losing fighters. Contracts were issued to Danny Silva and Angel Pacheco after their unanimous decision brawl, which Silva won by unanimous decision. Ernesta Kareckaite and Carli Judice, who fought to a split decision with Kareckaite winning, were both signed. And, finally, Vinicius Oliveira, who scored one of the best knockouts of the year in the opening fight of the evening.

[lawrence-related id=2683120]

Full results of Dana White’s Contender Series 64 include:

  • [autotag]Danny Barlow[/autotag] def. [autotag]Raheam Forest[/autotag] via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:19
  • [autotag]Mario Piazzon[/autotag] def. [autotag]Alexander Soldatkin[/autotag] via disqualification (illegal knee to a grounded opponent) – Round 3, 0:20
  • [autotag]Danny Silva[/autotag] def. [autotag]Angel Pacheco[/autotag] via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • [autotag]Ernesta Kareckaite[/autotag] def. [autotag]Carli Judice[/autotag] via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • [autotag]Vinicius Oliveira[/autotag] def. [autotag]Victor Madrigal[/autotag] via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 3:02

Continue reading below for more details about each fight.

DWCS 64 video: Vinicius Oliveira flattens Victor Madrigal, brings pen to Dana White during celebration

Vinicius Oliveira brought a pen to Dana White after scoring a walkoff knockout at Dana White’s Contender Series 64.

[autotag]Vinicius Oliveira[/autotag] came prepared in more ways than one to win a UFC contract.

Kicking off the festivities at Dana White’s Contender Series 64, Oliveira (19-3) made a statement against Victor Madrigal. In the first round, Oliveira landed a devastating left hook that sent Madrigal (12-4) crashing to the canvas for a walkoff knockout.

To put the icing on the cake, someone from Oliveira’s team tossed him a writing pen, and then the Brazilian bantamweight went over to UFC CEO Dana White, signaling that he’s ready to sign his UFC contract.

Check out video of the finish below (via X):

The result was Oliveira’s second-straight first-round knockout, and the 15th of his career overall.

White appeared very impressed with the finish and his post-fight antics with the pen, which are signs that usually point to a fighter receiving a UFC contract at the end of the show.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 64.

Dana White’s Contender Series 64 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 64 in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – The pre-fight activities are in the books for Dana White’s Contender Series 64 following Monday’s official weigh-ins and faceoffs.

Ten fighters will vie for UFC contracts in their fights, including welterweights Danny Barlow (6-0) and Justin Burlinson (7-1), 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.

[lawrence-related id=2682816]