LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene reporting live from Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 55 event.
Added: 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 ninth and penultimate week of Season 6 saw 10 fighters compete for their shot at a UFC contract. In the end, all five contract winners came out with contracts in Jefel Filho, Nurullo Aliev, Austen Lane, Raul Rosas Jr. and Brunno Ferreira.
Rosas had the majority of the spotlight coming in, with the 17-year-old becoming the youngest fighter to ever join the UFC roster.
The new youngest fighter in UFC history! Welcome to the roster Raul Rosas Jr. 👏 #DWCS pic.twitter.com/tORtYkCdv9
— UFC (@ufc) September 21, 2022
“He is absolutely, positively talented. He’s special,” White told Laura Sanko at the post-event decision announcement. “He’s different. At 17 years old you just don’t see kids handling themselves like that.”
The UFC Apex hosts Tuesday’s card, which streams live on ESPN+ and begins at 8 p.m. ET.
Full results of Dana White’s Contender Series 55 include:
- Brunno Ferreira def. Leon Aliu via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:35
- Raul Rosas Jr. def. Mando Gutierrez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Austen Lane def. Richard Jacobi via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:34
- Nurullo Aliev def. Josh Wick via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:36
- Jafel Filho def. Roybert Echeverria via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:09
Continue reading below for more details about each fight once the card begins.
Roybert Echeverria vs. Jafel Filho
Filho opened the card in dramatic fashion when he overcame some significant leg damage to score a late finish of Echeverria in their flyweight bout.
After two rounds that saw both fighters have their moments, Echeverria’s leg kicks began to take tole in the third and final round. That didn’t deter Filho, though, because he pushed forward and landed a nasty left hook that dropped his opponent and led to the TKO stoppage.
Filho was transported to a local hospital to get his leg injury checked, and therefor unavailable to be present for the contract decision announcement.
Result: Jafel Filho def. Roybert Echeverria via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:09
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 55: Best photos
Records: Jafel Filho (14-2), Roybert Echeverria (7-1)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Nurullo Aliev vs. Josh Wick
22-year-old prospect Aliev completely dismantled short notice replacement Wick with his superior grappling prowess, pounding his way to a stoppage victory in the opening round.
The fighter from Tajikistan added to his undefeated record with an early takedown followed by an endless stream of punches and elbows from top position. The pressure was so relentless all Wick could do is cover up until the referee called it off.
Result: Nurullo Aliev def. Josh Wick via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:36
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 55: Best photos
Records: Nurullo Aliev (7-0), Josh Wick (12-6)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Austen Lane vs. Richard Jacobi
Lane made good on his second chance on DWCS with a TKO finish of Jacobi in their heavyweight bout.
After losing his first opportunity against Greg Hardy several years ago, Lane slowly worked his way back. Things started rough, because he kicked Jacobi in the groin early with a loud and painful shot.
Jacobi ultimately continued, though, and he showed some resilience by getting top position and working submission attempts. Lane found his way on top in the end, though, when he pounded away with ground shots against Jacobi, who could only cover up until the referee stopped it.
Result: Austen Lane def. Richard Jacobi via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:34
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 55: Best photos
Records: Austen Lane (12-3), Richard Jacobi (6-1-1)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Mando Gutierrez
The anticipated matchup featuring 17-year-old Rosas Jr. went the way of the youngest as he showed off slick grappling skills en route to a unanimous decision win over Gutierrez.
The bantamweight prospect made his case for a contract with a huge first round where he had numerous scrambles, attempted all sorts of submission attempts – including a Suloev stretch – and was just one step ahead of his opponent.
Gutierrez came back a big stronger in the second round, but Rosas was still the more intense of the pair and threatened to finish more often. He couldn’t get it done, but he was up enough that Gutierrez’s corner had to tell him a finish was necessary in the third round.
Rosas wasn’t having any part of a rally, though, because he reversed Gutierrez after getting taken down then spend the final minutes working his submission attempts from dominant positions en route to the scorecards.
Result: Raul Rosas Jr. def. Mando Gutierrez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 55: Best photos
Records: Raul Rosas Jr. (6-0), Mando Gutierrez (7-2)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Leon Aliu vs. Brunno Ferreira
After some early exchanges on the feet, Ferreira cracked and wobbled Aliu with a hard left hook. He pounced with some punches, and forced the referee to stand in just 95 seconds after the bout began for the finish.
Result: Brunno Ferreira def. Leon Aliu via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:35
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 55: Best photos
Records: Brunno Ferreira (9-0), Leon Aliu (10-2)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Dana White’s Contender Series 55.
