Dana White’s Contender Series 77 results: Two fighters earn contracts

DWCS 77 full results

• Ilian Bouafia def. Neemias Santana via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-27)
• Ty Miller def. Jimmy Drago via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Baisangur Susurkaev def. Murtaza Talha via TKO (kick) – Round 1, 3:12
• Radley da Silva def. George Mangos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Yuri Panferov def. Christopher Ewert via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Who won a UFC contract?

After the fights concluded, UFC CEO Dana White extended two contract offers. Ty Miller and Baisangur Susurkaev earned contracts. White gushed over Susurkaev, crediting him with saving the show with his performance as the only finish of the week.

Ilian Bouafia vs. Neemias Santana

Round 1 – They meet in the center with no glove touch. Bouafia goes for a big head kick early. Santana catches it, but Bouafia gets it back pretty quickly. There’s not much action as they bounce in front of each other looking for openings. Santana offers a leg kick. Now they’re heating up, trading punches. Bouafia takes himself off balance with a kick and Bouafia takes advantage to bring him to the ground. Santanta straight up headbutts Bouafia! What!? The ref is right on top of it and Bouafia looks to be in a bad way as it landed to his eye. The doctor comes in to check on Bouafia. Referee Jason Herzog takes a point. Bouafia is good to continue, and the fight is back on after a three-minute break. Santana comes out with punches and a head kick. Bouafia fires a hard kick, but Santana catches it and charges in for the takedown. Bouafia ends up on top with 90 seconds to go. Bouafia lands a couple of hard elbows. Hammerfists now. Hard elbows! Big shots for Bouafia! Santana explodes to his feet as Bouafia holds a front headlock. They separate and Bouafia lands a hard kick. Santana somehow eats it. They’re clinched up against the fence again for the closing seconds. That’s a 10-8 round for Bouafia with the point deduction.

Round 2 – They come out playing the hand range game. They trade hard punches, but both just miss. Santana connects with a right a moment later. Bouafia lands a nice calf kick. Santana spins with a kick to the body, but it’s out of range. Bouafia lands a jab and Santana smiles. Three minutes to go. The action slows back down to single-shot offerings and range-finding as they paw at each other’s lead hand. One minute to go. Santana misses with an overhand left. Santana spins with a kick followed by a punch. Santana is fired up, yelling at Bouafia to engage. There’s the horn. 10-9 Santana.

Round 3 – Bouafia takes the center, but doesn’t offer any offense. They’re just standing there. There’s a jab from Bouafia. More staring and pawing the lead hand. Bouafia darts with a jab. Santana front kicks to the body. Santana is back to talking to Bouafia. Another hard front kick from Santana. More patty cake. Santana offers a right hand. Bouafia circles and thinks he was poked. The referee says he didn’t see anything. Santana is yelling again and then he comes with a right hand. Time is just ticking away as they stand and stare. Santana keeps trying to draw something out of Bouafia, but he’s not throwing either. Bouafia kicks high and Santana takes him to the ground. Bouafia blatantly grabs the glove. Santana points it out to the ref and stands up. Herzog calls time and awarads Santana the position on the ground until the horn. That’s a 10-9 for Santana, and we have a draw due to the point deduction.

Jimmy Drago vs. Ty Miller

Round 1 – They meet in the center and start feeling out the distance. Drago slaps with a leg kick as he works on the outside. Miller comes forward with a punch. Drago digs in with a hard outside leg kick. Single strike offerings from both here. Miller closes with strikes and Drago clinches up, driving Miller into the fence. They separate and they take turns with punches. Drago adds a head kick. Miller responds with one of his own. Drago lands a nice check hook as Miller comes foward. Miller answers with a clean two-piece. Miller cracks Drago with a hard overhand right that stumbles Drago. Now the pressure is turned up. Miller keeps Drago on the back foot as he connects with sharp punches. Drago finds an answer with a right hand just before the horn. That’s a 10-9 for Miller.

Round 2 – Drago comes out with more kicks, while Miller stays active with crisp punches. Miller keeps Drago moving backward as he works his way through the combinations. Drago finds a way to dip in to clinch and drags Miller to the ground. Miller is quick to get back to his feet, though. Drago darts in with an overhand left, but gets tagged by Miller. A clean left jab from Miller buckles Drago! He quickly recovers and starts firing back. Miller’s defense is tight and his puches are accurate. There’s a beauty of an uppercut from Miller. Drago shoots in but can’t get Miller down. Drago spins with an elbow. Miller backs away to reset, and comes forward working the lead jab. Miller with a nice two-punch combo. The stiff jab lands again. Add a clean right for Miller right at the horn. That’s another 10-9 for Miller.

Round 3 – They touch ’em up and Drago charges forward with punches. Miller circles and comes back with jabs. Drago looks to answer with punches. Miller keeps control of the center while working behind the left hand. Drago tries to close the distance but gets caught in a buzzsaw of counters. Drago offers a spinning backfist. Miller drills him with a straight right. Midway through the final round and the pace starts to slow. Drago slips when offering a kick, but he gets right back up. Miller turns up the pressure a bit with his punches. A clean left hook looks to hurt Drago. Miller senses it and starts hunting for the finish. Drago opens up a cut over the left eye. They’re both pulling out all the stops now. Drago lands a big punch. Miller responds. They continue trading until the final horn. That’s another round for Miller, giving him the fight, 30-27.

Baisangur Susurkaev vs. Murtaza Talha

Round 1 – Susurkaev quickly closes the distance and opens with a few hard kicks to the legs. A head kick from Susurkaev gets caught by Talha, who then drives the fight into the fence. Talha works for the takedown while they both offer short punches in the clinch. Susurkaev gets a little space and lands a knee to the head, but Talha is quick to get chest to chest against the fence again. Susurkaev slips out and resets. Susurkaev darts in and leaps with a knee. Talha charges with punches. Susurkaev darts back with a teep to the body. Talha folds over yelling in pain! Oh wow! This is over without any follow ups! Very nice finish by Susurkaev!

Radley da Silva vs. George Mangos

Round 1 – Da Silva comes right out threatening a spinning kick as he bounces around light on his feet. He goes for a spinning back kick to the body. Mangos catches it and charges forward with a punch into a clinch. Da Silva wrestles for a takedown and gets top position. Mangos threatens an armbar from his back, but Da Silva is wise to it. Mangos attempts to scramble out, but Da Silva floats well. Woah. These are some wild scrambles in the center. Somehow, Da Silva manages to stay on top. A minute to go, and Mangos gets up to a knee against the fence. Both feet now. Da Silva drags him back down. Mangos reverses the position, but he gets too high, and gives it right back. The round ends with Da Silva on top. That’s a 10-9 round for Da Silva.

Round 2 – Da Silva darts across the cage again, and after swinging with a big looping punch, drives in for a nice takedown. Da Silva gets a hook in while working to take the back. Mangos manages to get in a favorable position, but Da Silva is quick get back in on a double leg. Mangos reverses and takes the back. This is his strongest position yet. He’s got a body triangle in and works for the rear-naked choke. Da Silva explodes and takes guard. Mangos immediately threatens a triangle, but it’s not there. Two minutes left. Mangos grabs a kimura from his back, but Da Silva easily gets his arm out. Now Da Silva gets to side control with a knee on belly. Mangos gives up his back. Da Silva adds a punch, but Mangos keeps squirming, making it difficult to mount offense. That’s another 10-9 round for Da Silva.

Round 3 – Mangos comes forward with a front kick. Da Silva shoots in. Mangos gets in a nice knee to the head, but gives up the takedown. Mangos reverses and finds full mount! Da Silva easily escapes it, though. They’re back to the feet, but Da Silva stays attached and gets the takedown. Mangos manages to scramble to take side control and starts looking for elbows. Mangos takes the back and adds some ground and pound as Da Silva is turtled up. Mangos alternates betweet punches and rear-naked choke attempts. One minute left. Mangos gets a tight choke attempt in. Da Silva fights the hands well. Mangos goes for anotehr strong choke, but it’s not there. Da Silva explodes out, gets a takedown and looks for some ground and pound before the horn. It’s a 10-9 round for Mangos, but the fight goes to Da Silva, 29-28.

Christopher Ewert vs. Yuri Panferov

Round 1 – They touch gloves and begin feeling out the range with single strikes. Panferov pressures from the center. Ewert goes to work chopping away with leg kicks. Panferov keeps the distance tight as he unloads punching combinations. Ewert is getting tagged, but doesn’t appear too bothered. Now it’s Ewert charging forward with a combo. Panferov covers well and returns fire. Ewert grabs a Thai plum and drills a solid knee to the head. Panferov shoots for a double leg and gets the takedown in the center. He takes the back with just over two minutes to go. Ewert stays calm and works his way to the fence. One minute. Ewert gets to a knee, but Panferov adjusts to regain back control and hammers away with punches. Ewert explodes out and gets back to standing with a few seconds left. Panferov blasts him with clean punches until the horn. 10-9 round for Panferov.

Round 2 – They touch gloves again and get right into it with a heated exchange. Panferov rips a beautiful combo to send Ewert backward. Ewert resets and comes forward with hard punches. Panferov eats them and looks for a takedown, but it’s not there. They trade punches as they move all over the cage, both landing. Panferov switches it up with a takedown. Midway through the round now. Panferov adds some ground and pound. He floats into full mount and postures up. Ewert gives up his back. Panferov gets both hooks in with just over a minute. The body triangle is in and he works for a rear-naked choke. It’s not there, and Ewert is able to rotate into him to take top position. Now Ewert unloads ground and pound. He stands up, and then leaps back in with a hammerfist before the horn. 10-9 Panferov.

Round 3 – They touch ’em up one more time. Panferov rips a hard right hand and starts yelling as he throws. They’re trading heavy blows. A clinch slows things up, but they quickly separate and get back to trading punches in the center. Panferov shoots in and gets another takedown. Ewert gets to the fence and works his way up, but Panferov is still attached. Panferov resets and now Ewert points to the ground with three minutes to go. Ewert turns up the volume but isn’t landing cleanly. Panferov lands an nice punch and shoots in for another takedown. Panferov gets the back with a body triangle. Ewert is talking to him and a seemingly friendly conversation breaks out mid-fight. One minute to go. Ewert is trying to work out of the body triangle but is stuck and tries punching over his head. He explodes out with 20 seconds to go and Panferov immediately clinches again. Ewert punches in the clinch while Panferov holds on. That should be another 10-9 round for Panferov, giving him the fight 30-27.

DWCS 77 faceoffs

Dana White’s Contender Series 77 full card faceoffs for Season 9 debut

Check out the faceoffs for the five-fight lineup at Dana White’s Contender Series 77, which kicks of Season 9 on Tuesday in Las Vegas.