Diyar Nurgozhay

UFC Fight Night 254 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Marvin Vettori among highest earners

The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program has now paid nearly $33 million to athletes since its deal began with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 254 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $173,000.

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 254 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 254 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Chidi Njokuani[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Alexander Hernandez[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Kurt Holobaugh[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Da’Mon Blackshear[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Cody Gibson[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Brendson Ribeiro[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Diyar Nurgozhay[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Kevin Vallejos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]SeungWoo Choi[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Waldo Cortes-Acosta[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]SuYoung You[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]AJ Cunningham[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Carlos Vera[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Josias Musasa[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Sam Hughes[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Stephanie Luciano[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Andre Lima[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Daniel Barez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Priscila Cachoeira[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Josiane Nunes[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Carli Judice[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Yuneisy Duben[/autotag]: $4,000

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 2541 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:

“UFC Fight Night 254: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2” – $173,000
“UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev” – $213,500
“UFC Fight Night 253: Kape vs. Almabayev” – $134,500
“UFC Fight Night 252: Cejudo vs. Song” – $185,000
“UFC Fight Night 251: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues” – $168,000
“UFC 312: Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2” – $254,500
“UFC Fight Night 250: Adesanya vs. Imavov” – $137,500
“UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Moicano” – $306,000
“UFC Fight Night 249: Dern vs. Ribas 2” – $173,500

Year-to-date total: $1,745,500
2024 total: $8,280,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $32,763,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 254.

UFC Fight Night 254 live updates: Results, round-by-round coverage of every fight

Check out live round-by-round updates and official results from UFC Fight Night 254 in Las Vegas.

UFC Fight Night 254 took place Saturday, MMA Junkie provided live round-by-round coverage and official results beginning throughout the event. UFC Fight Night 254 (ESPN+) took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Former middleweight title challenger Marvin Vettori (19-8-1 MMA, 9-6-1 UFC) took on Roman Dolidze (15-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) in a main event rematch. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (25-9-1 MMA, 11-5-1 UFC) and Chidi Njokuani (25-10 MMA, 5-3 UFC) fought in the welterweight co-feature.

Check out our round-by-round updates and official results below.

Enjoy the fights, everyone.

UFC Fight Night 254 lineup

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

Roman Dolidze def. Marvin Vettori via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Chidi Njokuani def. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos via TKO (knee and punches) – Round 2, 2:19
Alexander Hernandez def. Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Da’Mon Blackshear def. Cody Gibson via submission (kimhra) – Round 2, 4:09
Brendson Ribeiro def. Diyar Nurgozhay via submission (kimura) – Round 2, 1:28
Kevin Vallejos def. SeungWoo Choi via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:09

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

Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Ryan Spann via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:48
SuYoung You def. AJ Cunningham via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Carlos Vera def. Josias Musasa via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:16
Sam Hughes def. Stephanie Luciano via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-27)
Andre Lima def. Daniel Barez via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:05
Priscila Cachoeira def. Josiane Nunes via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:46
Carli Judice def. Yuneisy Duben via TKO (head kick) – Round 1, 1:40

Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze

Round 1 – Dolidze takes the center and comes forward with big offerings early, although none of the punches landed. Vettori fires back, but was just out of range. As kicks are added to the mix, the exchanges heat up. An accidental clash of heads pauses the fight momentarily. On the restart, Dolidze gets back to leading the offense, landing a nice left hand. Vettori kicks to the body. Both dart in with punching combinations as they take turns striking. Dolidze checks a couple of kicks and then attempts a spinning elbow. One minute to go. Vettori lands a nice counter right as Dolidze charges ahead.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Vettori.

Round 2 – Dolidze goes inside with a leg kick and Vettori responds with an outside leg kick. Vettori is on the forward charge with punches, but gets poked in the eye. Between rounds, referee Herb Dean warned Dolidze about the eye pokes, but when it happens a few moments later, he gives another warning. No point is taken. The fight continues, and they get back to trading punches. The exchanges remain fairly even as they strike in the center of the cage. Vettori lands nicely in a combination. Dolidze answers with a punch. They keep going at it right to the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Dolidze.

Round 3 – Picking up right where they left off, the striking exchanges remain frequent early in the round. Vettori rocks Dolidze! He’s stumbling around, trying to keep his footing while avoiding Vettori. Dolize is able to gather himself and they reset to the center. Vettori’s output slows as Dolidze appears fully recovered from the early scare. Checking kicks and landing his own offense, Dolidze is coming on in the second half of the round. In the final seconds of the round, Dolidze closes in for the clinch.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Vettori.

Round 4 – Dolidze lands a combo to start the round. Vettori answers with a left hook. They both come forward, but it’s Dolidze with a knee up the middle, opening a cut. Another punch gets through for Dolidze, and it feels like the momentum is on his side. The action slows to one shot at at time, but Dolidze changes that with a nice combination of punches that forces Vettori to cover up along the fence. Dolidze adds a spinning attack to his output. A front kick followed by a right hand now for Dolidze. Vettori opens up for an exchange, but Dolidze gets the better of it.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Dolidze.

Round 5 – With the fight potentially hanging in the balance on the scorecards, both come out swinging. Dolidze lands a nice right hand after the initial flurry of offense from both. Dolidze cracks with a kick. They exchange punches in the center with both getting clean punches through. Vettori lands a nice left hand. Dolidze kicks to the body, but it lands low to pause the fight. It’s a short pause in the action. Back to it, Dolidze lands a left hand followed by a right head kick. A knee up the middle is not far behind it. Another right kick for Dolidze. Vettori complains about an eye poke, but keeps fighting. Dolidze offers another head kick. And another. The output from Dolidze is significantly higher than Vettori to close out the fight.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Dolidze, giving him the fight 48-47.

Result: Roman Dolidze def. Marvin Vettori via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Recap: UFC Fight Night 254 results: Roman Dolidze avenges loss to Marvin Vettori
Social media reaction: ‘Dolidze vs. Adesanya?’: Fighters react to Roman Dolidze’s victory over Marvin Vettori at UFC Fight Night 254
Photos: UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Vettori (19-8-1 MMA, 9-6-1 UFC), Dolidze (15-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Judging: Mike Bell, Derek Cleary, Sal D’Amato

Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Chidi Njokuani

Round 1 – They touch ’em up and begin the feel-out process. Njokuani finds the range with opening front kicks. After mixing it up with a high kick, Njokuani’s offering goes low as dos Santos throws a kick at the same time. The fight pauses briefly due to the foul. On the restart, they get back to trading kicks, but dos Santos clips Njokuani! He’s rocked, but still with it to defend the follow-up attacks. A moment later, dos Santos charges across the cage for a takedown attempt. He ends up with standing back control as Njokuani keeps things on the feet. Njokuani gets his back to the fence, leading to the separation. Njokuani gets back to his snappy kicks to close out the round.

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

Round 2 – Njokuani comes out with forward pressure and more kicks to the legs and the body. An eye poke from Njokuani pauses the fight briefly. Njokuani gets back to his kicks, mixing them to the legs, body, and head. BANG! Njokuani lands a nasty knee in the Thai clinch that sends dos Santos crashing to the canvas! Njokuani rushes in for the finsh and gets the TKO stoppage!

Result: Chidi Njokuani def. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos via TKO (knee and punches) – Round 2, 2:19
Recap: UFC Fight Night 254 video: Chidi Njokuani blasts Elizeu Zaleski Dos Santos with clinch knee en route to finish
Photos: UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Zaleski dos Santos (25-9-1 MMA, 11-5-1 UFC), Njokuani (25-10 MMA, 5-3 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith

Alexander Hernandez vs. Kurt Holobaugh

Round 1 – They touch ’em up and Hernandez opens with a front kick to the body. They exchange leg kicks and keep the pace high early as punches fly. Hernandez is aggressive here, but also defensively sound as he darts out of range before Holobaugh can respond. Midway through the round now and the exchanges continue with Holobaugh adding a punch to the body. Hernandez puts togehter a nice combination of punches. Holobaugh answers with a hard right hand. Another punch causes Hernandez to hit the canvas, although it appeared to be more likely due to balance thing than damage. Hernandez gets right back into the heat of it, and looks for a takedown. Holobaugh slaps on a guillotine with a tight squeeze to counter. Hernandez gets his head free right before the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Holobaugh.

Round 2 – Holobaugh comes out aggressively with punches. Hernandez circles on the outside, firing punches in too, but Holobaugh’s offerings land with more impact. The body shots from Holobaugh continue to score. Hernandez appears more cautious now. Another right hand from Holobaugh lands flush. Holobaugh keeps bringing the fight to Hernandez. The change in momentum Hernandez needed comes in a clean takedown in the center of the cage. Holobaugh throws up an armbar attempt, but ends up eating a few punches from the top. Holobaugh regains full guard and offers a few elbows from his back, but Hernandez maintains top control until the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Holobaugh.

Round 3 – Hernandez goes for a takedown right away, landing in side control. Holobaugh looks to scramble up, but Hernandez floats well as he looks for submissions and ground and pound opportunities. Holobaugh does well to keep Hernandez neutralized from the top, and eventually scrambles to his feet with two minutes left. Holobaugh immediately unleashes his offense, but Hernandez finds another takedown a few seconds later. Hernandez goes for an arm triangle, but it’s not there. Holobaugh threatens a kimura from his back. Hernandez gets his arm free and rains down punches until the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Hernandez, but the fight goes to Holobaugh, 29-28.

Result: Alexander Hernandez def. Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Hernandez (16-8 MMA, 8-7 UFC), Holobaugh (22-9 MMA, 2-6 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Judging: Mike Bell (29-28), Eric Colon (29-28), Bryan Miner (29-28)

Da’Mon Blackshear vs. Cody Gibson

Round 1 – No glove touch. Gibson looks for an overhand right to start. Blackshear looks to answer with a combo of punches. Gibson circles and rips a combo of his own, landing better, and finishing with a takedown attempt. Blackshear keeps things standing. On the exit, Gibson unloads punches, forcing Blackshear to cover up. Gibson is hunting for another takedown, but Blackshear isn’t having it and they separate. Gibson continues to fire strikes first. They take each other off their feet with simultaneous leg kicks. They pop up, and a moment later Gibson gets his first takedown. Blackshear threatens a guillotine choke to counter. He puts enough squeeze on it to force Gibson to put his back on the canvas to escape. Gibson throws up an inverted triangle, but it’s not there for him. Blackshear goes for a north/south choke, but can’t get it.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Gibson.

Round 2 – Gibson keeps up the activity, but Blackshear appears more eager to exchange than he was to start the first round. Gibson finds his way into a takedown attempt to bring the fight to the mat. Blackshear finds a reversal and ends up on top in side control. Blackshear hunts for a kimura, but Gibson keeps his hands locked. Blackshear grinds his right elbow on Gibson’s face and then digs with the left to the body. Blackshear isolates the kimura again. With Gibson now on his side, he pulls the arm free and cranks on it. There’s the tap!

Result: Da’Mon Blackshear def. Cody Gibson via submission (kimhra) – Round 2, 4:09
Recap: UFC Fight Night 254 video: Da’Mon Blackshear breaks down Cody Gibson for submission
Photos: UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Blackshear (16-7-1 MMA, 4-3-1 UFC), Gibson (22-11 MMA, 3-6 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni

Diyar Nurgozhay vs. Brendson Ribeiro

Round 1 – No glove touch here. Ribeiro opens with a couple of leg kicks. Nurgozhay goes to the body with a kick. Ribeiro kicks high and then to the body. They trade punches. Nurgozhay slowly begins pressing forward as Ribeiro offers single strikes at a time. A kick to the body from Ribeiro prompts a 1-2 from Nurgozhay. They exchange low kicks. Out of nowhere, Riberio floors Nurgozhay with a 1-2! Riberio stays patient as Nurgozhay is still with it, and gets back to his feet. Ribeiro stays aggressive though, and puts together another strong combination in the closing seconds.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Ribeiro.

Round 2 – Ribeiro keeps up the steady volume early in Round 2. Nurgozhay switches things up with a takedown, ending up on the back as Ribeiro attempts to scramble to his feet. Ribeiro sneaks in a kimura to defend, but actually starts to crank on it. Nurgozhay attempts to roll over to counter, but Ribeiro keeps it. He’s on top and cranking it now! There’s the tap! Slick finish for Ribeiro!

Result: Brendson Ribeiro def. Diyar Nurgozhay via submission (kimura) – Round 2, 1:28
Recap: UFC Fight Night 254 video: Brendson Ribeiro rolls Diyar Nurgozhay with slick kimura
Photos: UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Nurgozhay (10-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Ribeiro (17-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean

SeungWoo Choi vs. Kevin Vallejos

Round 1 – They touch gloves to begin, and Vallejos takes control of the center. Choi offers an early variety of kicking techniques. Vallejos kicks to the legs, then darts in with a big right hand, but misses the target. They reset and Vallejos continues to pressure forward from the center. Choi keeps kicking to the body and the legs. They trade punches, with Vallejos just missing with a big swing. It’s like he’s seeing it, but not quite connecting. Vallejos dips under a right hand from Choi and drops him with a counter right! Vallejos swarms for the finishing follow-up punches and the referee comes in to call the fight! Beautiful finish by Vallejos!

Result: Kevin Vallejos def. SeungWoo Choi via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:09
Recap: UFC Fight Night 254 video: Top prospect Kevin Vallejos TKOs SeungWoo Choi in debut
Photos: UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Choi (11-8 MMA, 4-7 UFC), Vallejos (15-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Kerry Hatley

Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Ryan Spann

Round 1 – They touch gloves and size each other up. An early warning from the ref to both for extending their fingers. Spann gets things going with kicks to the leg and body. Cortes-Acosta darts in with a punch, but Spann isn’t there. Cortes-Acosta offers a leg kick but eats a big counter punch from Spann. An accidental clash of heads prompts a short pause in the fight. On the restart, Cortes-Acosta rocks Spann with a punch. Spann avoids follow-up shots to gather himself. They return to the center and both sit on powerful punches, looking to close the show, but neither connect. A kick from Spann is partially caught, and Cortes-Acosta takes him off balance with a punch. They reset and exchange again. Spann gets clipped again. Each punch feels like the fight could end. Cortes-Acosta peppers Spann with a few jabs, leading to a takedown. Spann kicks Cortes-Acosta away to prevent ground and pound.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Cortes-Acosta.

Round 2 – Spann comes out firing a jab, but Cortes-Acosta answers with one of his own. A kick to the body is there for Spann. A punch from Cortes-Acosta intended for the midsection lands to the junk, pausing the fight. On the restart, Spann works behind a left jab. Cortes-Acosta punches with a left, but Spann believes he was poked in the eye. The ref grants the pause, but quickly resumes action after the replay. They get back into it, but Spann backs away after Cortes-Acosta has his fingers extended. The refree warns him again, but they keep fighting. Spann punches as Cortes-Acosta comes in with a kick. The kick lands low, causing another pause. The referee asks the interpreter to communicate Cortes-Acosta to fight clean. The fight resumes again without a point deduction. Spann lands a leg kick. Cortes-Acosta darts in with a right. The output from both slows a bit. With just over a minute, they pick it up again, and it’s Cortes-Acosta landing cleanly. Spann is in trouble here as he attempts to escape. A left hook sits him down. Cortes-Acosta rushes in with devastating ground and pound to put Spann out for the finish.

Result: Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Ryan Spann via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:48
Recap: UFC Fight Night 254 video: Waldo Cortes-Acosta pounds out Ryan Spann with punches
Photos: UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Cortes-Acosta (13-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), Spann (22-11 MMA, 8-6 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith

AJ Cunningham vs. SuYoung You

Round 1 – They touch ’em up and we see the most patient start to a fight yet as they feel out the range. You steps in with a kick but gets countered quickly with a 1-2. You lands an overhand right and escapes out of range before Cunningham counters. A moment later though, Cunningham lands. You lands a clean right hand that stumbles Cunningham. You with a pair of kicks to the body. A takedown is there for You. Cunningham tries to escape and gets back to his feet for a second before You brings him down again, landing in full mount. Cunningham quickly gets out of that position, but gives up his back a moment later. The round ends in a standing clinch with You on the back.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for You.

Round 2 – You lands a nice leg kick as Cunningham appears somewhat hesitant to let his strikes go. Cunningham keeps the forward pressure on as his corner calls for him to get going. You lands a big punch but Cunningham eats it. You feels the breeze as he ducks under a spinning kick. You looks for a takedown, but gets shoved off. Cunningham then rips a quick pair of punches. You gets a takedown a moment later, though. Cunningham throws up a triangle, and it’s tight. You calmly defends and gives a finger wag when the referee checks closer. You escapes and racks up more top control with a few punches before the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for You.

Round 3 – Cunningham pressures as he controls the center. His punches can’t find You, though. You changes levels for a clean takedown and quickly takes full mount with three minutes to go. Heavy top control here from You. He looks for the arm triangle choke. The squeeze is tight, but Cunningham gets free. You stays heavy up top as the clock runs out on Cunningham. With about 20 seconds remaining, Cunningham nearly gets up, but You dragged him back down until the final horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for You, giving him the fight 30-27.

Result: SuYoung You def. AJ Cunningham via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Cunningham (11-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC), You (15-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Judging: Eric Colon, Chris Leben, Tony Weeks

Josias Musasa vs. Carlos Vera

Round 1 – They come out trading leg kicks to start. Vera looks to take the fight to the ground, pulling guard, but Musasa isn’t having it and waves him back up. Vera unleashes a spinning kick to the head! Musasa just eats it on the chin, catches Vera’s leg, and pushes him to the ground. Once again, he calls Vera to gett back up. They resume trading strikes, both bouncing around lightly. Out of nowhere, Vera floors Musasa with a head kick! Vera pounces on Musasa on the ground, takes the back and slaps on the rear-naked choke for the tap! What a finishing sequence!

Result: Carlos Vera def. Josias Musasa via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:16
Recap: UFC Fight Night 254 video: Carlos Vera stuns heavy favorite Josias Musasa with wild finish
Photos: UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Musasa (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Vera (12-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean

Sam Hughes vs. Stephanie Luciano

Round 1 – They touch ’em up and get right into it. They’re immediately trading strikes as they cover a lot of ground in the cage. Hughes gets the better of the opening moments, cracing Luciano with a big punch. Luciano’s kicks are able to slow Hughes down, though. Hughes catches one of those kicks, and lifts the leg above her head to push Luciano to the ground. They quickly get back to their feet, but Hughes sticks with the clinch. Luciano is able to get away, but Hughes stays in her range with forward pressure. Hughes gets a takedown, but Luciano quickly gets up. They work out of the clinch quickly too. Hughes keeps coming forward. Luciano lands a nice kick to the body. A left hand and an uppercut is there for her as well. Hughes lands an overhand right. Luciano gets the better of the closing exchanges.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Hughes.

Round 2 – Hughes gets back to her forward pressure, but Luciano lands the cleaner strikes. Luciano is mixing up her strikes well, punches to the head and body, with her kicks targeting different areas too. Regardless, Hughes stays in range and finds her spot for a takedown. This time, Hughes keeps Luciano down and takes full mount. Luciano turns and gives up her back as Hughes punches from the top. Hughes slaps on a rear-naked choke. Luciano fights the hands well and eventually gets her back to the canvas to escape the choke. Hughes, still in full mount, drops in a few nice short elbows. Luciano turns and gives up her back again with a minute to go. Hughes punches, but Luciano turns again and gets to half guard. Hughes gets a crucifix and rains down hard elbows until the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Hughes.

Round 3 – After an opening exchange, Hughes shoots in for a quick takedown. Luciano defends it well and reverses the position. They separate, returning to the center to trade punches. They clinch up, but nothing comes of it. Back in the center now, Luciano turns up her volume as Hughes’ forward pressure subsides. Hughes charges forward to clinch, but Luciano reverses the position before separating. Just over a minute to go. Luciano’s output continues to be higher. Hughes shoots in but is denied. Luciano continues to offer punches. Hughes lands a nice leg kick. They go for it in the final few seconds before the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Luciano, but the fight goes to Hughes, 29-28.

Result: Sam Hughes def. Stephanie Luciano via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-27)
Photos: UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Hughes (10-6 MMA, 5-5 UFC), Luciano (6-2-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging: Mike Bell (29-28), Derek Cleary (29-27), Sal D’Amato (28-29)

Daniel Barez vs. Andre Lima

Round 1 – They come out exchanging hard leg kicks. A few punches upstairs are traded, but Lima goes right back to chopping at the lead leg of Barez. Lima snaps out a left jab. Lima steps in with a powerful right hand that rocks Barez. The hunt is on now as Barez backs away and gets on his bike to prevent Lima from landing again. Lima keeps chasing around the cage but can’t land. Barez gets the clinch and tries to take the back, but Lima gets him off. Back in the center, they’re exchanging punches with Barez connecting well. Lima quickly answers after a combination. Blood is now trickling from Barez’s nose. Lima digs in some hard punches to the body. There’s another chopping leg kick. Now it’s the jab. Lima’s playing target practice now. But halting the momentum is an accidental poke. After a brief pause, the final seconds of the round conclude in the clinch.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Lima.

Round 2 – Lima gets right back to striking with more hard leg kicks. Barez looks to answer with punches and a takedown, but it’s stuffed easily. Lima continues to chop with leg kicks. Barez stumbles. Now he’s checking the kick, but that opens up punches upstairs for Lima. The left jab and the right leg kick continue to score. Add a hard body shot to the mix. Lima is pouring it on as he stalks Barez. Now it’s short elbows. Lima is teeing off now! The referee steps in for a closer look. As Lima looks to the ref for the stoppage, Barez lands a punch. Lima opts for a takedown and looks for ground and pound. Barez keeps him in tight to prevent damage and to make it to the next round.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8 for Lima.

Round 3 – Lima gets right back to the leg kicks. Barez tries for an early takedown, but gets reversed. Lima is on top in full guard. Barez does well again to prevent damage from his back. Lima stands up, but decides to enter the guard again. Barez tries to explode back to his feet, but gives up his back. Midway through the round now, Lima hunts for the rear-naked choke. He gets the arm under the chin and puts on the squeeze! There’s the tap!

Result: Andre Lima def. Daniel Barez via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:05
Recap: UFC Fight Night 254 video: Andre Lima dominates, finishes Daniel Barez
Photos: UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Barez (17-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC), Lima (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Karry Hatley

Priscila Cachoeira vs. Josiane Nunes

Round 1 – They get right into it, slinging punches. Cachoeira appears sharper here early. She’s repeatedly landing the right hand while Nunes stays in the pocket, eating them and trying to keep her guard tight. Nunes tries to answer, but Cachoeira slides out of range. Now Nunes connects with a couple of punches to keep Cachoeira honest. The pace remains steady as they trade punches. Nunes lands a nice overhand left, but then Cachoeira offers a few more punches straight down the pipe. Nunes keeps coming forward with punches. BOOM! Cachoeira puts Nunes out cold with a filthy right uppercut for the walkoff knockout!

Result: Priscila Cachoeira def. Josiane Nunes via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:46
Recap: UFC Fight Night 254 video: Priscila Cachoeira’s uppercut puts Josiane Nunes out cold
Photos: UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Cachoeira (13-6 MMA, 5-6 UFC), Nunes (10-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC)
Division: Women’s bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni

Yuneisy Duben vs. Carli Judice

Round 1 – They touch ’em up and get right into the opening striking exchanges. Judice lands a quiestion mark kick, but Duben fires back a series of punches. Judice stays on the attack. Duben’s counters are landing well, but Judice keeps coming forward, backing Duben into the cage and tagging her with punches. Duben stumbles, but circles away. Judice stays with her and BANG! A left head kick floors Duben! The follow up punches land and the referee rushes in to stop the fight! Woah!

Result: Carli Judice def. Yuneisy Duben via TKO (head kick) – Round 1, 1:40
Recap: UFC Fight Night 254 video: Carli Judice smokes Yuneisy Duben with head kick and punches
Photos: UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Duben (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Judice (4-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 254.

UFC Fight Night 254 video: Brendson Ribeiro rolls Diyar Nurgozhay with slick kimura

The wild finishes continue to mount at UFC Fight Night 254 in Las Vegas.

[autotag]Brendson Ribeiro[/autotag] pulled off a slick kimura submission Saturday at UFC Fight Night 254.

On the main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Ribeiro (17-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC) grabbed hold of the arm of [autotag]Diyar Nurgozhay[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), torqued and got the tap at the 1:28 mark of Round 2.

Brendson Ribeiro forces the tap in round two #UFCVegas104 pic.twitter.com/WT5PXZ8pCr

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 15, 2025

Ribeiro has won back-to-back fights after an 0-2 start to his UFC tenure. Saturday’s win was his seventh career submission victory.

Nurgozhay missed weight by 4.5 pounds for Saturday’s matchup. The fight was his promotional debut after a contract-earning win on Dana White’s Contender Series in October.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 254 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 254.

Dana White’s Contender Series 75: 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 75.

Week 9 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.

***

Sean Gauci

Weight class: Flyweight
Result: Sean Gauci def. Anthony Drilich via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Grade: B

Summary: Setting the tone for the night was a technical scrap between [autotag]Sean Gauci[/autotag] and Anthony Drilich.

I’m not beyond rewarding fighters who go to a decision with an A, but there wasn’t enough output and action to get there for me. That said, it was a shame that Gauci didn’t get consideration come contract time given that he was one of the most complete fighters to compete on the entire card.

I know Dana White has gotten everyone (including myself when it comes to winner grades) to associate quick finishes with good performances, but those two things are far from mutually exclusive.

Unfortunately for Gauci, he claimed to have broken his hand early in the second frame and couldn’t make a case as strong as he would like.

It’s a shame that the UFC flew out two Australian talents who could’ve just fought on the regionals (especially given the flyweight grading curb), but I hope that Gauci and Drilich get serious consideration from the UFC matchmakers down the road.

Islam Dulatov

Weight class: Welterweight
Result: Islam Dulatov def. Vanilto Antunes via knockout (elbow) – Round 1, 2:44
Grade: A

Summary: After turning the cage into a cartoon dust storm, it was hard to deny [autotag]Islam Dulatov[/autotag] anything short of an A for his knockout over Vanilto Antunes.

As his record indicates, Dulatov is a fighter accustomed to getting things done early.

Dulatov, like other fast starters, such as Conor McGregor, appears to have the ability to lock in straight out of the gate regarding his reads on distance and openings.

Although it can be hard to tell given his enthusiasm and work rate, Dulatov appears to have solid technique and a diverse striking arsenal from which to draw. Dulatov also owns multiple submissions on his record, so I’m curious to see more of him against stiffer competition.

Signing the Chechnya-born German was a no-brainer for Dana White, so don’t be surprised to see Dulatov featured on an international card early next year.

I’m not sure who they’ll book Dulatov with, but I suspect he’d be the perfect dance partner for someone like Danny Barlow.

Mario Pinto

Weight class: Heavyweight
Result: Mario Pinto def. Lucas Camacho via knockout (left hook) – Round 1,
Grade: A

Summary: Even though it was a quick outing, it’s difficult to deny [autotag]Mario Pinto[/autotag] an easy A for his knockout over Lucas Comacho.

Both men seemed to be somewhat shakey at first given the height and length parity at play, but Pinto was able to be the more composed of the two by staying behind his lead hand. And once Pinto was able to establish his range, the native of Portugal smartly hooked off his jab to catch Camacho coming in.

I obviously want to see way more of Pinto before making any bold declarations, but not even I can argue with a heavyweight who actually jabs.

Considering Dane White’s Vince McMahon-like adulation for huge men, seeing Pinto get promptly signed came as no surprise to me. As far as his first assignment goes, I think Thomas “Jefferson” Peterson would be the perfect matchup to test Pinto in his promotional debut.

Kody Steele

Weight class: Lightweight
Result: Kody Steele def. Chasen Blair via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:07
Grade: A

Summary: Bodyshot stoppages equal instant A’s for me, so it should be no surprise that [autotag]Kody Steele[/autotag] gets the proverbial rubber stamp from myself and the UFC brass alike.

Looking like the second coming of Rick Story, Steele – who comes from a grappling base – showed steady pressure and bodywork en route to wearing down Blair.

In Blair’s defense, he did take the fight on a short turnaround from a fight he won in late September, so I hope to see him again on a full camp.

Steele appears ready to meet the usual standard signed for this show, but I can’t help but worry about his propensity to keep his head upright and on center in exchanges. That said, I expect solid fight-to-fight improvements from Steele, given his age and the camp he trains at.

I’m happy to see Steele get signed considering the fallout he endured during this season and wouldn’t be shocked to see him paired with someone like Mitch Ramirez for his first UFC assignment.

Artem Vakhitov

Weight class: Light heavyweight
Result: Artem Vakhitov def. Islem Masraf via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:23
Grade: A

Summary: Despite starting off a bit shaky, I felt like [autotag]Artem Vakhitov[/autotag] showed enough in his first-round finish over Islem Masraf to earn an A from me.

When you consider that Vakhitov only recently came over from kickboxing (only having two professional MMA fights prior to this), then I feel like we should temper our expectations when it comes to both the Russian’s style and ceiling.

The clinch is quietly the most important space for strikers coming into this sport, so seeing Vakhitov gravitate toward this phase of the fight isn’t the worst thing in the world (although I suspect he was only doing it to quiet the chaos and reduce win conditions for his opponent).

So long as Vakhitov can avoid pulling his opponent on top of him like he briefly did in this bout, then I expect his competence in closed quarters to only improve from fight to fight. That said, I suspect that the UFC will be careful with how they book Vakhitov, considering his history with Alex Pereira (who apparently played a role in his former foe’s signing).

I feel bad for Yousri Belgouri, who now trains with Pereira and still didn’t get this treatment in his two swings at bat on the Contender Series, but I wasn’t surprised to see Vakhitov get the nod from Dana White and company. For my money, don’t be shocked to see Vakhitov paired up with someone like Ivan Erslan for his UFC debut.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 75.

Dana White’s Contender Series 74: 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 74.

Week 8 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.

***

Jacobe Smith

Weight class: Strawweight
Result: Jacobe Smith def. Christien Savoie via TKO (ground and pound) – Round 2, 2:55
Grade: A

Summary: Setting the tone for the night was [autotag]Jacobe Smith[/autotag], who earns an easy A for his destruction of Christien Savoie.

Considering that Smith was already on my radar as one of my prospects to watch in 2023, I can’t say I was surprised to see him come away with the win here. That said, I was impressed with Smith’s continued strides in his transition game.

Whether we’re talking about his comfortability taking a back or the fact that he seems to naturally find strikes in transition, Smith showed everything you’d want to see in a welterweight prospect.

Even though Smith may be a bit on the smaller side for the division, the former two-time NJCAA champion has the correct foundation to thrive in a division that carries the unofficial nickname of “wrestle-weight” given its history of successors.

Signing Smith was a no-brainer, so don’t be shocked to see him back in the cage sooner than later. I believe that Smith can already swim with the middle of the pack at 170 pounds, but I suspect that the UFC will start him off with a name like Charlie Radtke for his first official assignment.

Torrez Finney

Weight class: Middleweight
Result: Torrez Finney def. Abdellah Er-Ramy via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:10
Grade: A

Summary: Making quick work of Abdellah Er-Ramy, it was hard to deny [autotag]Torrez Finney[/autotag] both an A and UFC contract.

In what was Finney’s third swing at bat on the Contender Series, the pressure was certainly on for the undefeated fighter to leave no doubt this time around. And after grounding Er-Ramy right in front of Dana White and the UFC matchmakers, Finney went right to work with both strikes and positional advances, eventually mounting his opponent off of some solid wrist rides.

Despite Er-Ramy being incredibly outmatched in this spot, I’m happy that the UFC finally awarded Finney a contract. Don’t be surprised to see him booked by year’s end against someone like Zachary Reese or Sedriques Dumas.

David Martinez

Weight class: Bantamweight
Result: David Martinez def. Xavier Franklin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Grade: A

Summary: Despite being the only winner to not find a finish, I hard time denying [autotag]David Martniez[/autotag] anything less than an A for arguably being the most UFC-ready fighter of the night given the skills that were on display, as well as the opponent at hand.

Not only did Martinez demonstrate some solid ring awareness and sharp counters, but the Mexican fighter almost turned Xavier Franklin into “Professor Xavier” with the number of crushing leg kicks he was landing on him.

Credit to Franklin, who displayed a lot of promise for such a young fighter. Although Franklin was getting tagged early, the American was able to find Martinez with some solid counters in Round 2.

That said, you could argue it was too little too late for Franklin given that the damage had already been done regarding his leg condition and ability to explode. I’m glad that Martinez got signed and hope we see Franklin again in the future.

Although Martinez looks like he’s already primed to swim with the sharks, I suspect that the UFC brass matches him up with someone like Lee Chang-ho.

Alberto Montes

Weight class: Featherweight
Result: Alberto Montes def. Carlos Calderon via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 2, 2:38
Grade: A

Summary: Even though [autotag]Alberto Montes[/autotag] got a little too positionally wild for my liking, I had a hard time denying him an A for hitting his special move in style over Carlos Calderon.

After stunning Calderon early with the counter right hand, Montes found himself fending off an opponent who was intent on making this a sticky affair. After some entertaining scrambles (and botched submission attempts prior), Montes was able to make some serious hay from a failed Peruvian necktie attempt by transitioning right into his patent anaconda choke.

I believe that Montes will make for a solid action-fighting addition to the weight class, so I’m glad to see Dana White sign the Venezuelan fighter. I hope that the matchmakers pair Montes up with someone like Hyder Amil for some guaranteed fireworks.

Weight class: Light heavyweight
Result: Diyar Nurgozhay def. Bartosz Szewczyk via knockout (head kick) – Round 2, 3:32
Grade: A

Summary: Although this fight felt dangerously close to falling victim to a slow-paced slogfest, [autotag]Diyar Nurgozhay[/autotag] ends up earning an A for beautifully paying off his previous work to earn an emphatic knockout to close out the show.

Despite Bartosz Szewczyk doing his best to keep Nurgozhay honest with some hard returns of his own, the Kazak fighter showed some savvy striking from his southpaw stance.

Establishing the threat of the left hand (as well as the occasional body kick), Nurgozhay was able to get Szewczyk to eventually bite hard on anything coming from said side. And after Nurgozhay drew a strong reaction from a left-sided feint, he smartly followed up with a cross to a same-side head kick that sent the Pole falling to the floor half-conscious.

Nurgozhay is a solid light heavyweight signing for the UFC. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the next United Arab Emirates card opposite someone like Magomed Ghadzhiyasulov.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 74.

Dana White’s Contender Series 74 results: Five winners get contracts, including Torrez Finney’s 3rd chance

Dana White handed out five more contracts on Week 8 of DWCS, including to Torrez Finney, who fought and won for the third time on the show.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene reporting live from Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 74 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 eighth season saw 10 fighters compete for their shot at a UFC contract. In the feature bout at light heavyweight, Kazakhstan’s Diyar Nurgozhay knocked out Bartosz Szewczyk.

The UFC Apex hosts the card, which streamed live on ESPN+.

[lawrence-related id=2775351]

Who won a UFC contract?

At the conclusion of the event, White handed out UFC contracts to all five winners: Diyar Nurgozhay, Alberto Montes, David Martinez, Torrez Finney and Jacobe Smith.

DWCS 74 full results

[autotag]Diyar Nurgozhay[/autotag] def. [autotag]Bartosz Szewczyk[/autotag] via knockout (head kick) – Round 2, 3:32
[autotag]Alberto Montes[/autotag] def. [autotag]Carlos Calderon[/autotag] via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 2, 2:38
[autotag]David Martinez[/autotag] def. [autotag]Xavier Franklin[/autotag] via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
[autotag]Torrez Finney[/autotag] def. [autotag]Abdellah Er-Ramy[/autotag] via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:10
[autotag]Jacobe Smith[/autotag] def. [autotag]Christien Savoie[/autotag] via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:55

DWCS 74 round-by-round updates

Christien Savoie vs. Jacobe Smith

Round 1 – Savoie opens with a trio of leg kicks before Smith answers with one back. Smith shoots in for a single leg and elevates Savoie above his head and slams him to the mat. He tries to establish top position but Savoie gives up his back and uses the fence to stand up. Smith is still hanging from the waist and pulls Savoie back down then lands some big punches and elbows, one of which opens a cut on the back of Savoie’s head. Savoie scrambles up then is taken back down to the mat. Smith steps over to the back and is working for a rear-naked choke but Savoie stands up. Smith won’t get go of him and scores a slick trip. Smith is overwhelming Savoie, who stands up once more before being reintroduced to the canvas. Savoie already looks out of ideas with roughly 90 seconds remaining and Smith cuts his face open with an elbow. The referee warns Savoie to defend himself and he tries to kick free but has his back taken again. Smith lets him up but then ducks in for a scoop takedown – his sixth takedown of the round. He lands some more elbows to close out the frame.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8 for Smith.

Round 2 – Savoie comes out with a pair of wild kicks high and to the body. Smith looks completely unintimidated and steps in with some huge punches that barely miss. Savoie is throwing back on the feet but looks concerned about the takedowns as he moves forward. Smith is more content to strike than he was in the first at this moment until Savoie nearly lands a massive knee that leads into a takedown. Smith slides into side control and starts landing some more shots. Savoie is stuck and the referee warns him to defend. Smith keeps chipping away and finally the referee has seen enough and waves it off. Smith gets the TKO and stays undefeated.

Result: Jacobe Smith def. Christien Savoie via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:55
Recap: Oklahoma State wrestler Jacobe Smith slices Christien Savoie en route to TKO
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 74: Best photos
Records: Smith (9-0), Savoie (10-2-1)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith

Abdellah Er-Ramy vs. Torrez Finney

Round 1 – Finney gets a takedown with a matter of seconds and takes Er-Ramy’s back within 30 seconds. Er-Ramy flips over and Finney moves into mount. Finney latches on an arm-triangle choke and it’s deep just over one minute into the fight. Er-Ramy is squirming and gasping for air as Finney tries to finish it, but he lets it go and takes half guard position. Finney eventually takes the back again and postures up and unloads with punches to force the TKO stoppage. Finney makes history with his third career win on DWCS, then goes to Dana White and dances to the smile of the UFC CEO. Perhaps her finally gets his contract tonight.

Result: Torrez Finney def. Abdellah Er-Ramy via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:10
Recap: Torrez Finney wins for third time, breaks out dance for Dana White
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 74: Best photos
Records: Finney (10-0), Er-Ramy (7-1)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Eric McMahon

Xavier Franklin vs. David Martinez

Round 1 – Both men are staying just out of range each other in the first couple minutes of the fight. They are trying to connect with hands and feet but are failing to land clean. Franklin is being the early aggressor but Martinez catches him with a hard overhand. Franklin comes back with a stinging jab and straight right. A low blow briefly halts the action, but it goes on and Franklin is back to pressuring. Martinez is landing some good shots from the outside as he circles away from the power of his opponent. He walks into a shot that briefly staggers him but he’s right back to the game plan of sticking and moving. Franklin is landing a few good blows but Martinez shows no fear as he attacks with a flying kick late in the round.

Close opening frame, but MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Martinez.

Round 2 – There’s intensity on the striking exchanges early going. There’s a brief eye poke stoppage as Franklin sticks Martinez, but we’re back to it. Martinez throws a plethora of leg kicks but Franklin counters one and Martinez is staggered. He quickly recovers and comes forward but is tagged again moments later. They keep striking and Franklin shoots for a pair of takedowns with just over two minute remaining. Martinez does well to defend and circles free, but he needs to do something to sway the round back in his favor. Franklin shoots for some more takedowns but Martinez is resisting with powerful leg kicks and multi-strike combinations as he moves forward. There’s some good action late in the round, but no one gets badly rocked.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Franklin, but it was another close one.

Round 3 – Martinez lands the first nice punch of the round less than 15 seconds in then fires home another leg kick to Franklin’s lead left leg. He lands another smashing one that takes the balance of Franklin, who shoots in for a desperation takedown that’s easily rejected. Martinez looks to be the more confident side at this point as he lands a jab and another kick to Franklin’s front leg. Martinez sneaks in an uppercut, followed by two leg kicks. Franklin is still moving forward but it starting to fade and show signs of damage he steps in with a knee to the body. Martinez is bleeding from the right eye but he’s still using solid movement. Martinez lands a superman punch and has the looks as if he’s got this fight won with less than two minutes left. Franklin is trying to make something big happen and swings a head kick, but his energy is running low. Martinez lands another leg kick and another jab. Martinez lands another leg kick to bring his total for the fight to above 30, then starts going high with a head kick and a wheel kick attempt. Martinez is just showing out at this point but he stumbles off a kick and Franklin tries to take him down. No luck, though, and Martinez closes out the fight switching stances and throwing.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Martinez, and he should win a decision here as Dana White comes into the octagon and praises both fighters.

Result: David Martinez def. Xavier Franklin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 74: Best photos
Records: Martinez (11-1), Franklin (5-1)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith

Carlos Calderon vs. Alberto Montes

Round 1 – It’s an immediate collision in the center of the octagon with both men tagging the chin of the other and slipping all over the place. Calderon slows the pace down with a takedown but he can’t keep Montes down long as he scoots to the fence and works his way upright. Calderon has Montes pressed against the fence but Montes tries to snatch the neck for an anaconda choke. Calderon squirms free and ends up on top. They scramble and now Calderon is looking for a guillotine from the front headlock position. He lets is go and we get some wild scrambles in the following minute with both men getting top position. It’s now Montes in control and he sets up the D’Arce choke. It’s in deep but Calderon is shifting his body and giving his neck space. He eventually frees himself and gets back to the feet. Calderon is throwing heavy with less than 90 seconds left. Montes is obliging in exchanges and it forces Calderon to shoot for takedown that leads to another scramble. They trade to close the round.

MMA Junkie scores a wild round 10-9 for Montes, but it was real close.

Round 2 – Thing pick up right where they left off as they throw punches and kicks from right in front of each other and are landing. There seems to be comfort in what’s being thrown both ways, but Montes is doing some good work from behind his jab. Calderon is moving forward without fear and throwing but he is getting countered with the right hook over and over. Montes is taking over and he reacts to a takedown attempt with a Peruvian necktie attempt! He switches to an anaconda choke and gets the tap! Incredible grappling to close an incredible fight.

Result: Alberto Montes def. Carlos Calderon via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 2, 2:38
Recap: Alberto Montes locks anaconda choke to end entertaining battle vs. Carlos Calderon
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 74: Best photos
Records: Montes (10-1), Calderon (7-2)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Eric McMahon

Diyar Nurgozhay vs. Bartosz Szewczyk

Round 1 – To the surprise of no one the strikes are coming hard and fast from both sides to start the fight. Szewczyk is working the kicks more while Nurgozhay is focusing on using his hands. Nurgozhay catches a kick from Szewczyk and lands an uppercut in the process of releasing. Szewczyk continues to use leg kicks and now Nurgozhay is timing them with step-in counters. Nurgozhay seems to be waiting for something big and he lands a pair of clean lefts in the process. Szewczyk is starting to do more with his hands but Nurgozhay looks completely composed as the round winds under 60 seconds. There’s a big exchange as we hit 30 seconds but they both come out in the clear. Szewczyk works more kicks late, but nothing is overly impactful.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Nurgozhay, but Szewczyk landed some good kicks.

Round 2 – Nurgozhay hits a second round for just the third time in his career and he looks fine. Szewczyk goes right back to the kicking game while Nurgozhay is sticking true to his boxing. The leg kicks from Szewczyk look like they are starting to take some effect. He tries to go high but it’s blocked by Nurgozhay, who answers with some boxing combinations. Both men are struggling to do anything to change the momentum of the fight, but A is fine with it as his boxing is doing well and he seems to have a hold on the kicking range. Szewczyk finally shoots for the first takedown of the fight with two minutes left, but he’s easily denied and Nurgozhay feed him a knee to the body on the break from the clinch. Szewczyk just misses with an uppercut. A loads up a huge left head kick that lands clean to the face of Szewczyk! He goes flying back and Nurgozhay jumps in with a follow-up punch to close the show. It’s over. Explosive finish by Nurgozhay to stay undefeated.

Result: Diyar Nurgozhay def. Bartosz Szewczyk via knockout (head kick) – Round 2, 3:32
Recap: Diyar Nurgozhay blasts Bartosz Szewczyk with violent head kick
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 74: Best photos
Records: Nurgozhay (10-0), Szewczyk (8-3-1)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 74.

DWCS 74 video: Diyar Nurgozhay blasts Bartosz Szewczyk with violent head kick

UFC hopeful Diyar Nurgozhay brought the UFC Apex from silent to electric with a head kick knockout of Bartosz Szewczyk.

All was calm and quiet at the UFC Apex until [autotag]Diyar Nurgozhay[/autotag] pulled a massive head kick out of his bag of tricks.

In the featured light heavyweight bout Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 74, Kazakhstan’s Nurgozhay (10-0) knocked out Poland’s [autotag]Bartosz Szewczyk[/autotag] (8-3-1) with a beautiful high kick at 3:32 of Round 2.

The fight was pretty calm without much, if any, significant offense. The repetitive, uneventful rhythm quickly blew to smithereens as Nurgozhay landed the big knockout blow midway through Round 2.

BRUTAL HEAD KICK KO BY DIYAR NURGOZHAY #DWCS pic.twitter.com/HM2xHGHZ4p

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 2, 2024

Nurgozhay, 27, maintains a perfect undefeated professional record. He’s a former Eagle FC light heavyweight champion and has eight stoppages in 10 wins.

Szewczyk, 27, had a three-fight winning streak snapped, in defeat.

The up-to-the-minute DWCS 74 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 74.

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