LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 31: A general view of the Octagon before Dana White’s Contender Series … (+)
The eighth season of Dana White’s Contender Series kicks off tonight, Tuesday, August 13th, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. This season, Season 8 of Tuesday night fight cards, runs for 10 weeks. Fighters are battling for a UFC contract. Five fights in five weight classes are scheduled for this week’s event.
The event begins at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
DWCS Season 8 Episode 1 Fight-by-Fight Preview
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Wes Schultz
The main event of the first DWCS card of the 2024 season is a middleweight bout. In this fight, Mansur Abdul-Malik (5-0) will face Wes Schultz (6-1).
Abdul-Malik, 26, has four knockouts and one decision. He fights out of Columbia, Maryland. He has never left the first round. Schultz, 28, has wins by knockout (two), submission (three) and decision (one). His only setback was a decision loss in 2023 under the LFA banner. Since then, he has won three fights, all by first-round stoppage.
Meng Ding vs Rami Hamed
A welterweight fight between Meng Ding (34-8) and Rami Hamed (12-3) is scheduled for Tuesday evening. The 29-year-old Ding is from China. He has 27 KO wins, two submission wins and five points wins. Ding’s losses were by KO (two), submission (four) and points win (two). Before the DWCS card, he had won two fights in a row.
Hamed, 33, fights out of Beirut, Lebanon. He has eight knockouts, one submission fight, and three decision fights. All three losses came by submission. He has won his last four fights. Hamed took this fight on very short notice.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 6: UFC President Dana White announces the contract winners during … (+)
DWCS Season 8 Episode 1 Fight Card Results
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Wes Schultz
Meng Ding vs Rami Hamed
Bruno Lopes defeats Mikheil Sazhiniani by TKO at 4:14 in Round 2 (punches)
Jose Delgado defeats Ernie Juarez by KO after 1:25 in round 2 (knee to head)
Lone’er Kavanagh defeats An Tuan Ho by KO at 2:35 in round 1 (head shot from distance)
winner
Bruno Lopez: Despite competing in the DWCS for the second time, Bruno Lopes did not fight in a hurry. He took a long time to get going and was almost finished in the first round. However, his patience paid off as he found an opening for a knee to the body, which was the beginning of the end.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 13: (LR) Bruno Lopes of Brazil beats Mikheil Sazhiniani of Georgia … (+)
Jose Delgado: Jose Delgado scheduled his fight against Ernie Juarez on short notice, but the MMA Lab product was well prepared for Tuesday’s contest. Delgado had a big size advantage over Juarez and used it well.
Delgado used sharp strikes while also showing that he had some wrestling skills. He used his combinations very effectively and switched up his targets. His game plan for the fight confused and frustrated Juarez, leaving him more or less in cover whenever Delgado attacked.
Delgado’s furious offense was the main reason he was able to deliver the fight-winning knee strike when Juarez had his back pressed against the cage.
If there is one small criticism of Delgado, it is that he could make better use of his height.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 13: (RL) Jose Delgado knocks out Ernie Juarez in a featherweight bout … (+)
Lonely Kavanagh: Lone’er Kavanagh set the bar high for Season 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series by defeating his opponent An Tuan Ho with a brutal and terrifying knockout that left him unconscious in the center of the Octagon for a disturbing period of time.
Kavanagh showed patience and composure from the start of the flyweight bout, trying to gauge time, space, angles and counters. He did all of that, and when he saw an opportunity to go in for a vicious left hook, he landed with plenty of power and precision. The punch didn’t need any follow-up as Ho fell to the mat.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 13: (RL) Lone’er Kavanagh of England fights An Tuan Ho of Vietnam in a … (+)
loser
Mikheil Sazhiniani: Mikheil Sazhiniani’s attack consisted of overhand strikes and calf kicks. He was reckless and overextended himself, showing no defense as he stepped in and overcame his strikes. To make matters worse, Sazhiniani’s stamina waned as the fight went on.
Ernie Juarez: Ernie Juarez started his fight against Jose Delgado aggressively, but was unable to handle the power and size of his opponent. As the fight went on, Juarez had to pull himself together to avoid Delgado’s attacks. Juarez is combative and tough, but not ready for the UFC yet.
To Tuan Ho: An Tuan Ho started his fight with Lone’er Kavanagh aggressively, throwing everything around with force, but Kavanagh quickly noticed his opponent’s tendencies and knocked him down with a fearsome left hook.
Contract winner
Scorecard
Video highlights
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