Tag: DWCS 36

After earning UFC deal at DWCS 36, Tucker Lutz says his future lies at 145 pounds

Despite finding success at lightweight, Tucker Lutz is looking to return to his original home of featherweight after securing UFC contract.

LAS VEGAS —Despite finding success at lightweight, [autotag]Tucker Lutz[/autotag] is looking to return to his original home.

Lutz (11-1), who’s currently riding an 11-fight winning streak, earned a UFC contract by defeating formerly unbeaten Sherrard Blackledge via unanimous decision at Dana White’s Contender Series 36 at the UFC Apex.

Though he has no timetable for his UFC debut due to a nagging cartilage issue in his chest, Lutz is planning to drop down to featherweight, where he spent a good portion of his early career.

“Most of my professional fights have actually been down at ’45, and I’ve been walking around significantly lighter, so I think that’ll be the move,” Lutz told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at the post-fight press conference. “I’ve really gotta address this injury that I have, so I’m gonna be getting an MRI when I get back home to Baltimore and go from there. But I think my future is honestly at ’45 from here on out.”

The second time was the charm for Lutz, who failed to secure a UFC contract two months ago, when he defeated Chase Gibson via unanimous decision at Dana White’s Contender Series 31.

This time around, Lutz vowed to accept whatever outcome he was presented, a mentality which paid off for him at the end.

“I was nervous, but it was a dog fight I thought,” Lutz said. “It was a grindy fight which I don’t prefer, but they’re fun every now and again so I was at peace with what happened, whether I got the contract or not. It was a good showing.”

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Dana White rips ‘(expletive) scumbag’ Bob Arum over Terence Crawford money comments

After Arum recently complained about the money he’s lost promoting Terence Crawford, and White said that’s not Crawford’s problem.

LAS VEGAS — UFC president Dana White rarely passes up an opportunity to bash one of his main promotional rivals, legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum. But then, rarely has Arum teed one up for White like he did with comments after a recent Top Rank card.

Arum promotes Terence Crawford. The current WBO welterweight champion is an outstanding competitor who currently ranks No. 1 on the Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list. But he hasn’t turned into a drawing card to match such status.

After Crawford’s successful title defense Saturday night over Kell Brook, Arum complained to The Athletic about the money he’s lost promoting Crawford.

“I could build a house in Beverly Hills on the money I lost on him in the last three fights,” Arum said.

That comment got White’s attention. Asked about it during Tuesday night’s Dana White’s Contender Series 36 post-fight news conference, White said he was aware of Arum’s comments, and said it’s not Crawford’s problem whether his promoter can figure out how to promote him. That responsibility is solely on the promoter, according to White.

“Can you imagine if I said that?” White said. “Are you (expletive) kidding me? You guys would murder me if I said that. I’d never hear the end of that. That’s what you do. That’s not (Crawford’s) (expletive) problem, that’s your problem.

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“His problem isn’t to figure out how you make money. You (expletive) signed a deal with this kid, at how many people we have on the roster, our roster is very inflated right now. We have a very big roster, the biggest roster we’ve ever had in the history of the company. I have to pay all these kids. How I pay them is not their (expletive) problem. It’s my (expletive) problem.“

White went on to wonder aloud how people would respond if he complained publicly about the money the UFC is paying former lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor.

“Imagine me saying ‘oh, I gotta pay Conor McGregor this much money, I could have built a house in Beverly Hills.’ Shut the (expletive) up, you (expletive) scumbag. Pay your (expletive) fighter what you owe him, do you job. Bob Arum is a piece of (expletive) (expletive).”

It’s probably fair to say White and Arum won’t be exchanging holiday cards this winter.

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Dana White’s Contender Series 36 live results (8 p.m. ET)

Get one last dose of Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020, as the last DWCS of the season goes down Tuesday night.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Tuesday’s official Dana White’s Contender Series 36.

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.

In the featured bout, a pair of Dana White’s Contender Series return to the show, with South African flyweight JP Buys (8-2) following up on a 2017 appearance to face Jacob Silva (6-3), who suffered a decision loss in his DWCS debut in August.

The UFC Apex hosts Tuesday’s card, which streams on ESPN+. Due to scheduling conflicts, the ceremony did not feature faceoffs between the fighters.

Dana White’s Contender Series 36 results:

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

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JP Buys vs. Nate Smith added to Dana White’s Contender Series on Nov. 17

Will the third time be the charm for the booking between JP Buys and Nate Smith?

The UFC is giving [autotag]JP Buys[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Nate Smith[/autotag] another shot.

Twice the flyweight bout was scheduled for Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4 – and twice it was canceled due to visa issues with Buys (8-2 MMA). Now, his fight against Smith (6-1 MMA) has been scheduled for a third time: Nov. 17 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Multiple people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Both fighters have previously competed on DWCS.

On Season 1 in 2017, Buys lost to UFC signee Joby Sanchez by second-round TKO. Since then, Buys has made the move to Fortis MMA and now rides a four-fight winning streak. Buys’ wife, Cheyanne Buys, earned a UFC deal earlier this season by defeating Hilarie Rose.

The Buys matchup, marks Smith’s second appearance on Season 4. On Sept. 1, Smith lost to UFC contract-winner Jimmy Flick by third-round submission. Despite the loss, UFC president Dana White praised Smith’s performance and said he would be given a second shot later on in the season.

With the addition, the Nov. 17 card includes:

  • Kenneth Bergh vs. Matheus Scheffel
  • Chelsea Hackett vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth Wessels
  • Sherrard Blackledge vs. Tucker Lutz
  • JP Buys vs. Nate Smith

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