Dana White's Contender Series 2023 Week 1 Play-by-Play and Results

Kevin Borjas (125.5) vs. Victor Dias (126)

Round 1

Chris Tognoni will oversee the first Contender Series bout of the new season. Dias opens up with a lead leg kick. He targets the lead leg two more ties while feinting and moving, but it’s Borjas that lands a right hand. Borjas rips the body in an exchange. Dias just misses a big overhand right. The Brazilian pressures and lands a takedown near the fence. Dias laces Borjas’ legs as the Peruvian posts with his right arm. Dias peppers the ribs with left hands in the meantime. It’s early, but Dias already has a mouse under his eye. Borjas frees his legs and stands, but Dias maintains a body lock. He pulls Borjas down to his seat, but Borjas uses a wizzer to stand while landing a few rapid-fire punches. Dias still hasn’t broken his grip, however, and he presses Borjas into the fence. Dias knees the thighs from this position before spinning Borjas off the cage and onto the mat. Dias applies heavy shoulder pressure from half guard. Dias fights to pass guard by freeing his leg. He gets mount and Borjas flips over. Dias maintains the mount and lands some ground-and-pound before the period expires.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dias
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Dias
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Dias

Round 2

Borjas comes out firing his jab repeatedly. Dias wades in with hooks, but Borjas answers with a left hook of his own. Borjas is doing a good job controlling range with straight punches. His right hand is getting through as well, at least until Dias forces his way into the clinch. Dias pulls Borjas on top of him, and the flyweights struggle for control. Borjas uses his wizzer well, but eventually Dias is able to plant his foe on his seat against the fence. Dias is content to grind away, but Borjas suddenly explodes and reverses position. He wants to stand, and he’s going after Dias. Borjas is more effective at this range, and he tags Dias with a right hand. Multiple jabs and right hands are getting through for Borjas. Borjas sprawls on a Dias takedown and then lands an elbow on the break. Borjas misses a cartwheel kick at the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Borjas
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Borjas
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Borjas

Round 3

A stiff right finds the mark right away for Borjas. He jabs Dias as the Brazilian lands a low kick. Borjas continues to find his foe’s chin with jabs and right hands. Dias wings punches in hopes of closing the distance, but Borjas evades nicely. Borjas steps in and lands a nice knee down the middle. Just when it seems like Borjas is taking control, Dias times a level change perfectly and grounds Borjas at about the 3:45 mark. It’s a familiar position, with Dias lacing the legs and landing short body punches. Borjas explodes up and looks to gain separation as Dias drives him into the fence. Dias has his hands connected and he drags Borjas back to the mat. Dias isn’t doing much here, and Tognoni orders a standup at about the 1:30 mark. Borjas lands a big left to the body and Dias wants no parts of the exchange, as he drives his man into the fence in hopes of a takedown. Dias works hard and gets a double-leg. He can’t hold the position, and they’re back at range. Borjas sprawls on a takedown and digs to the body of Dias with a pair of lefts. Borjas is pouring it on in the waning seconds. Dias looks exhausted as Borjas lands to the head and body. To his credit, an exhausted Dias is still winging punches in response, but he’s losing this battle as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Borjas (29-28 Borjas)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Borjas (29-28 Borjas)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Borjas (29-28 Borjas)

The Official Result

Kevin Borjas def. Victor Dias via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Payton Talbott (135.5) vs. Reyes Cortez Jr. (135.5)

Round 1

Kerry Hatley is in charge for this bantamweight tilt. Talbott counters a low kick with a jab. Talbot catches a kick to the body and lets it go. They trade and Cortez lands a combination. Cortez kicks the leg and Talbott reponds with a body kick. Talbott with a left to the body. Cortez with a couple more low kicks. Talbott with a right to the body and Cortez counters. Talbott responds with a heavy leg kick. Cortez follows a kick to the body with a right hand. A left hook lands for Cortez in an exchnage. Cortez catches a leg and Talbott falls to the canvas before hustling to his feet. Cortez uses the chance to shoot and he briefly drags his man down with a body lock. Cortez lands a nice elbow on the break. Cortez ducks under a punch and shoves Talbott into the cage. Cortez with another nasty elbow on the break. Talbott keeps walking forward and throws a high kick. It’s blocked and Cortez lands a right hand. They trade low kicks. Talbott kicks the body and Cortez shoots again. He ends up with a rear body lock against the fence. They separate and Talbott kicks the legs and moves in with punches. Cortez shoots for a takedown again and presses his foe into the fence. Cortez lands yet another elbow on the break. They trade jabs before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cortez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cortez
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Cortez

Round 2

Talbott pressures but eats a right and then goes to the ground following a leg kick from Cortez. Talbott keeps walking forward, throwing punches. Cortez closes the distance and pushes Talbott all the way across the cage into the fence. He goes back to the elbow on the break. Talbott stalks and digs a right to the body. He puts the pressure on, landing combinations to the head. Cortez with a lw kick. Cortez sticks a jab and a right, but Talbott responds with a body kick. Cortez catches it and lands a takedown. Talbott pops right back up. He shoves Cortez off him and walks him down. A left hook catches Cortez on the chin, and he digs the body. Tabott sticks three straight jabs and shakes his head at Cortez. A body kick lands, and Talbott follows that with an uppercut. Talbott lands a two punch combination followed by a body kick. Cortez catches a kick and Talbott tries to flip to escape. It works, and he’s back to walking Cortez down. He’s talking as he’s landing punches. Another right uppercut to the body connects for Talbott. Talbott with a kick to the lead leg followed by a stiff jab. Cortez goes for a takedown and moves ot the back, but Talbott shrugs him off. Cortez has a hold of a leg again and he lands a knee. Talbott closes with a flourish, following a lead knee with a pair of punches.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Talbott
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Talbott
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Talbott

Round 3

Talbott moves forward behind his jab and they trade. Talbott is blending punches and kicks well. A sneaky body shot lands for Talbott. Talbott steps in with a knee. Cortez eats it and gets a takedown, but Talbott is right back up. Talbott with a right elbow followed by a left jab and they’re boeth clean. Another 1-2 lands for Talbott and he shakes his head at Cortez, who misses a spinning backfist. Hatley calls time to take a look at the cut near above Cortez’s left eye. The doctor gives it a quick look and clears Cortez to continue, though it will probably need stitches after the bout. They get right back to it, and Talbott follows a combination with a kick — but the kick lands low and Cortez doubles over in pain. Cortez elects to stay seated against the cage during the first part of his recovery period. After about two minutes, he stands. Cortez uses about 3:30 before the fight resumes. With some renewed energy, Cortez tries for a takedown, but Talbott shuts it down. Talbott sprawls on another shot and lands a combination and a knee. More punches get throough for Talbott, and he lands a jumping knee as Cortez shoots. Cortez somehow keeps his grip and doggedly pursues the takedown against the fence. Talbott shoves him off and gets back to throwing offense. Cortez fires back a jab, but he’s getting overwhelmed by volume. Cortez slows down the forward momentum with another shot, but Talbott defends against the cage. Cortez appears to have nice timing on a takedown, and even though he connects his hands, Talbott remains upright. Talbott stuffs another trie and they end the fight trading a couple shots at close range.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Talbott (29-28 Talbott)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Talbott (29-28 Talbott)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Talbott (29-28 Talbott)

The Official Result

Payton Talbott def. Reyes Cortez Jr. via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Caio Machado (256) vs. Kevin Szaflarski (260.5)

Round 1

Chris Tognoni will be the third man in the cage for this heavyweight affair. Machado opens with a solid body kick. Another body kick lands for the Brazilian and Szaflarski changes levels for a takedown. It’s denied and Machado is swinging wild punches. Machado denies another takedown and wings heavy punches Szaflarski’s way. A left lands clean for Machado, who follows with a leg kick. Szaflarski shoves Machado into the cage, and Machado throws a knee. Szaflarski controls the position, but he’s not doing much from here. Machado throws punches with his back to the cage. More knees and punches for Machado as he fights off Szaflarski over-under grip. Szaflarski seems content to be in this position and lean on Machado. Tognoni breaks them up with 1:20 to go, and Machado lands a right. The Brazilian wings punches and moves into the clinch. Machado lands an elbow and backs away with 30 seconds left. Machado missses a big overhand left. Machado clinches up behind a left, and that’s how this round will end.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Machado
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Machado
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Machado

Round 2

Szaflarski will have to initiate more offense to turn the tide in his favor. Machado backs his man up with punches, then moves out of danger. A heavy body kick lands for Machado. Machado stuffs a takedown and knees the body. An inside leg kick lands for Machado. An overhand left backs up Szaflarski, who continues to throw very little. Finally, Szaflarski lands a stiff jab. Machado forces the clinch behind an overhand left. He breaks away quickly and goes back to the overhand left. Szaflarski initiates the clinch and pushes Machado into the wire. Szaflarski briefly gets his man down, but Machado scrambles up in short order. Szaflarski continues to lean on his man against the fence. Machado gains separation and fires off a straight left. The Brazilian moves in behind a body-head combination, and now he clinches with Szaflarski. The Poland-based fighter reverses position and turns Machado into the fence. They separate an dmove slowly about the cage. Szaflarski paws a jab that misses the mark. Machado moves forward and finds the range on a left to the body. Machado drops his hands and smiles at Szaflarski, who can’t capitalize on the opening. Pretty forgettable round.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Machado
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Machado
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Machado

Round 3

Machado’s hands are low, but that doesn’t stop him from landing an overhand left. Szaflarski is trying to land his jab, and he avoids another overhand. Szaflarski blocks a high kick. A body kick lands clean for Machado. Szaflarski changes levels but Machado stuffs it with ease. Machado wings a combination and lands an overhand left at the end of it. Machado likes the body kick, and he slams it into Szaflarski again. The Brazilian punches his way into the clinch. Szaflarski reverses and Machado elects to separate. The heavyweights trade jabs. A front kick to the midsection lands for Machado. An inside leg kick connects for Machado. Szaflarski lumbers forward with a left hook that badly misses the mark. Machado turns up the heat and attacks with a series of punches. Tognoni calls time to warn Machado to watch his fingers. Szaflarski tries to land his jab. Machado lunges in with another overhand left. Szaflarski doesn’t seem to have the desire to make him pay. Machado lands to the body, then moves out. Machado ends with one more flurry, and Szaflarski has nothing more to offer before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Machado (30-27 Machado)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Machado (30-27 Machado)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Machado (30-27 Machado)

The Official Result

Caio Machado def. Kevin Szaflarski via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Tom Nolan (155) vs. Bogdan Grad (156)

Round 1

Kerry Hatley will ref this lightweight bout. Nolan kicks the body and follows with a front kick and a leg kick, showing off his ability to control the range. The Aussie then drops his man with a left early and Grad quickly wraps up the body in hopes of recovering from the blow. Nolan struggles to create the separation he needs, and suddenly Grad swivels his hips to threaten with an armbar. Nolan frees himself and lands some ground-and-pound before ordering his foe up. Nolan immediately lands a body kick and then looks for more openings to do damage. Moments later, Nolan wades through some heavy punches from Grad and drops him with a clean left hook in close quarters. He then dives in with a devastating follow-up left, and Grad is done — his mouthpiece dislodged on the canvas. Hatley sees that punch land and quickly moves in to save Grad from further damage. Nolan celebrates his victory by jumping on the cage and yelling at Dana White, who is appropriately impressed.

The Official Result

Tom Nolan def. Bogdan Grad via KO (Punches) R1 1:23

Cesar Almeida (185.5) vs. Lucas Fernando (186)

Round 1

Chris Tognoni will officiate the evening’s middleweight feature. Fernando lands a leg kick and shoots for a takedown immediately. He pulls Almeida off the fence and plants him on his back. Almeida posts and stands, but Fernando is still attached to him. Fernando wants a trip, but Almeida keeps his feet. Fernando lands a knee before they break. Almeida jabs the body, then goes upstairs with a combination. A low kick connects for Fernando. Almeida lands a low kick but is countered by a jab. A hard front kick down the middle lands for Fernando. Fernando stumbles backward following an exchange, most likely due to a loss of balance. Almeida briefly takes the back and then thinks better of clinching, instead choosing to move back to range. Fernando ducks under a right hand for a beautifully timed takedown, landing in half guard. Almeida gives up his back as he attempts to stand. Fernando threatens with a choke, but the initial attempt is on the chin. Almeida works to control the wrists and Fernando switches sides with the choke. Almeida spins into top position with a little more than a minute left. Almeida lands some ground-and-pound, then stands. Fernando stays on his back, and Almeida goes back into half guard, where he drops a couple short elbows. Almeida ends the round with a few more right hands.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Fernando
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Fernando
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Fernando

Round 2

A two punch combination lands for Fernando before he forces the clinch against the fence. Fernando drops for a single leg takedown, but Almeida sprawls and punches the body. Fernando eats a couple more shots to the head while on his knees, so he stands and goes back to pursuing the takedown. Fernando gives up on it and backs off. Fernando shoots awkwardly and pulls guard when the takedown fails. Almeida lands some elbows and punches from full guard. He then stands and clears the legs, teeing off with more punches. He moves to mont and punishes Fernando with shots. He gives up on a rear-naked choke, then stands and clears the legs again, smashing Fernando with right hands. Almeida drops short elbows from half guard. Almeida switches between short punches and hammerfists to the face, and Fernando doesn’t like any of it. Almeida briefly gets full mount, but Fernando recovers half guard. Almeida stands and hoves over Fernando. He dodges an upkick and hammers Fernando with more big shots. Almeida drops for a mounted reverse triangle, which isn't a serious threat by itself, and punches the body of Fernando, who looks helpless to stop the barrage. Almeida looks at Tognoni for help, but the official will allow it to continue. The attack stalls out but it’s a dominant round.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Almeida
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-8 Almeida

Round 3

Fernando with a two-punch combination, and then he counters an Almeida body shot with two more punches. Almeida slips on a kick, and that allows Fernando to assume top position near the fence. Almeida is seated against the cage, and then he posts and stands. Fernando maintains control against the fence, but he isn’t doing much with the position. Almeida turns off and they’re back in the center of the cage. A jab lands for Fernando, and he follow with a solid 1-2. A right lands for Fernando. Almeida lands a combination. Fernando ducks under a punch and pushes Almeida into the fence. Fernando knees the thighs a couple of times but it’s mostly a stalemate here. Tognoni warns the fighters to stay busy. Almeida reverses the position and knees the midsection of his opponent. Fernando reverses and lands a takedown with a minute left. He’s in Almeida’s full guard. Almeida slides toward the fence. Fernando is simply holding on the the hips, but Almeida is able to scramble up. They trade in the waning seconds. Almeida is aggressive, landing an elbow and a solid combination before the final horn.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (29-27 Almeida)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (29-28 Almeida)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (29-27 Almeida)

The Official Result

Cesar Almeida def. Lucas Fernando via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-27) R3 5:00