Dana White’s Contender Series 25 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 in Las Vegas.
With a refreshing 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 whom the UFC matchmakers can use for future events. So, with that trend in mind, I will once again be taking a look at the winning fighters regardless of whether or not they won a UFC contract, grading their performances in regards to their probability of returning to a UFC stage.
****
Ricky Steele
Weight class: Bantamweight
Result: Ricky Steele def. Phil Caracappa via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Grade: C
Summary: Although it looked like a fun affair on paper, I had a hard time giving out a higher grade for Ricky Steele’s grinding effort over Phil Caracappa.
Steele, the southpaw, came out showing his karate-inspired stylings early, launching long shots on his shorter foe. Caracappa spent most of the first round frustratingly trying to ply his game, eventually scoring a takedown for his efforts. And though Caracappa was able to briefly take the back, Steele showed solid defense and composure to escape.
The Ultimate Fighter alum also seems to use his frame well, as he was able to sting Caracappa early in the second round with some slick shots off of feints. Caracappa would stage comebacks late in the second and third frames, but his questionable in-fight IQ had him clinching against his corner’s orders or dropping back for a failed guillotine choke once finally hurting his foe.
On the flip side, Steele was more than happy to press the action into the fence whenever possible and show his strength in the clinch, which – unfortunately for his contract hopes – is the last type of fight that both Dana White and the UFC brass typically like to see (especially in this particular format).
Steele showed great character post-fight and technically overachieved as the on-paper underdog, but he was gonna have to do a lot more than he did to get a ticket to the UFC’s bantamweight division being that he’s north of 30 and coming off of three years of professional inactivity. That said, I would still love to see him considered for a UFC call-up in the future should he get back to work on the regional scene.
Mallory Martin
Weight class: Strawweight
Result: Mallory Martin def. Micol Di Segni via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Grade: C
Summary: In a fight that I felt was a bit closer than the scorecards let on, I had a hard time justifying a higher grade for Mallory Martin’s winning effort over Micol Di Segni.
The 25-year-old showed solid composure while being spammed with strikes by Di Segni, picking and placing shots when she felt it applicable. Martin also demonstrated some smart tactics by utilizing her edge on the ground, scoring takedowns with roughly two minutes to go in the first two rounds.
However, even though Martin stated post-fight that she wasn’t worried about Di Segni’s striking ability, one could argue that she still shouldn’t have allowed so many strikes (regardless of quality) to come her way without offering more in return, as her approach could have easily been perceived as lackadaisical – particularly in the third round.
Nevertheless, Martin’s groundwork and ability to take the fight to the floor will always be a standout feature for her amongst her contemporaries. And though I’m sure Martin is upset to have not gotten a contract, I wouldn’t mind seeing her get another fight or two (preferably under the Invicta FC banner) to further sharpen and round out her game, as I could easily see Martin become a future player at strawweight with the proper time.
Steve Garcia
Weight class: Bantamweight
Result: Steve Garcia def. Desmond Torres via first-round TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:35
Grade: B
Summary: Although I typically give A’s to fighters who find decisive finishes in the first round, I had a hard time overlooking Steve Garcia’s weight miss opposite Desmond Torres.
Although Contender Series fighters aren’t getting the most convenient notices in regards to their amount of time to prep, there are no excuses for missing weight at this level (especially when you have a short-notice opponent who is able to make it).
Torres – who did make weight – came storming out the gates, putting together punches and takedowns on his former training partner. And with one of the biggest size discrepancies I’ve seen south of welterweight in a long time at play, it almost felt like I was watching a vintage Frankie Edgar fight at lightweight.
Still, as heroic as the Hawaiian-born fighter tried to be, the size and skills of Garcia proved to be too dangerous to stand in front of as long as he did. The tall southpaw was able to hit Torres with everything from elbows, uppercuts to knees, variating to both the head and body for the finish.
At a well-built and rangy 5-foot, 9-inches tall, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Garcia take the UFC president’s advice by trying his future at featherweight. But considering his lone bout at 145-pounds cost him his only stoppage loss (to Contender Series alum Aalon Cruz, no less), I’m not sure he takes that step so hastily. Regardless of weight class, I’m sure we’ll see Garcia on a UFC stage sooner than later should he have another good showing in the cage and, more importantly, on the scale.
Jamal Pogues
Weight class: Light heavyweight
Result: Jamal Pogues def. Marcos Brigagao via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Grade: B
Summary: Given the general state at light heavyweight, I ended up coming away pleased with what I saw in Jamal Pogues’ effort over a game Marcos Brigagao.
Both men, who are sizeable light heavyweights, came out exchanging hard early looking to hook and cross with one another. Brigagao ultimately won the early stanza by visibly stunning his American counterpart with hooks and elbows off of the clinch break, but Pogues was able to smartly change levels for a takedown and clear his head.
Pogues, the Joe Stevenson-trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, displayed excellent groundwork while playing from topside, shutting down all of Brigagao’s submission attempts while looking to strike and advance.
The Brazilian repeatedly fought hard to return to his feet and get back to pressuring, but Pogues – though appearing tired at times – never wilted under the pressure as he intelligently drew his aggressive foe into his takedowns (setting a Contender Series record of 7 total). And when Pogues either failed or feinted a takedown, the 23-year-old talent from California was good about landing right hands on Brigagao consistently off the breaks.
There’s still plenty of room to sharpen tools, but Pogues shows the physical skills that are crucial to be successful at his level, as well as the mental wherewithal to take direction from his coaches during combat (something that can’t be understated).
Although I don’t necessarily agree with age being an absolute or determining factor for contracts (otherwise why would they invite such young talent?), I do appreciate Dana White acknowledging the unforgiving nature of the UFC matchmaking machine, as Pogues is a promising product that I wouldn’t want to see prematurely pushed into the market.
Phil Rowe
Weight class: Welterweight
Result: Phil Rowe def. Leon Shahbazyan via third-round TKO (punches) – Round 2, 0:16
Grade: A
Summary: In what was easily the wildest fight of the night, I found it difficult to give Phil Rowe anything short of an A for his resurgent win over Leon Shahbazyan.
Rowe, who came in as the underdog, started things off a bit slow, allowing Shahbazyan to pressure him to the fence and repeatedly sting him with sharp strikes. And though the story seemed to be written by the start of the second round, Rowe was able to turn the tables from a clinching exchange along the fence, spinning Shahbazyan around and stunning him with hard shots off the break.
Shahbazyan was clearly wobbled and almost out of the fight entirely, but was able to score a takedown to buy himself more time. It wouldn’t be much time, however, as Rowe was easily able to sweep his Armenian foe and finish the round on top by landing brutal ground strikes.
Fueled by his previous success, Rowe rushed out for the third and sparked off a finish from a nice series of front kicks and right hands. Showing solid skills both on the feet and floor as a
6-foot, 4-inch welterweight, I wasn’t exactly surprised to see the UFC president make room on the roster for an action fighter who can work his way through adversity.
Rowe also showed a lot of personality in his post-fight scrum, where I almost bumped him to an A+ for stating that he watched the film “Romeo Must Die” to help prepare him to perform on the night. If Rowe is fit and willing, then I wouldn’t mind seeing the Florida-based fighter on the upcoming Tampa card in October against another newcomer like Cole Williams.
