This week’s episode of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series would feature one of the more spotlighted fighters in the show’s history.<\/p>\n
Kicking the night off were the featherweights. And they were two of the youngest fighters to compete in Contender Series history as Chase Hooper (18) fought Caanan Kawaihae (20).<\/p>\n
The first round saw Kawaihae landing at will with whatever strike he wanted, having Hooper hurt badly on several occasions.<\/p>\n
Although Kawaihae was unable to finish, Hooper showed great ability to survive.<\/p>\n
As the fight went to the second round, Kawaihae quickly showed that he may have unloaded the tank as Hooper would find a way to get the Hawaiian to the mat where he would dominate from there with ground and pound while searching for submissions.<\/p>\n
Kawaihae would survive the 10-8 beatdown into the third where it continued all the way to a decision.<\/p>\n
Result: Hooper via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-26, 28-26)<\/p>\n
https:\/\/twitter.com\/Hamderlei\/status\/1021918756128337920<\/p>\n
In the action that followed, we had heavyweights as Josh Appelt took on Jeff Hughes.<\/p>\n
The fight started out fast on Appelt’s end up but he very quickly ran out of steam after tasting some of Hughes’ leather.<\/p>\n
After some brief takedowns and ground and pound, Hughes would find the closer with a nasty uppercut that connected directly on Appelt’s nose and finishing the fight early.<\/p>\n
Result: Hughes via RD1 TKO (4:36)<\/p>\n
https:\/\/twitter.com\/Hamderlei\/status\/1021921851256303616<\/p>\n
The third fight of the night was definitely the most exhilarating.<\/p>\n
We dropped back down to 145-pounds where high-level prospects Mike Davis and Sodiq Yusuff went to war.<\/p>\n
In a wild first round that saw each man have their fair share of success, it would be Yusuff who stole the round with two big shots that hurt Davis. One of which so big that it dropped Davis.<\/p>\n
Throughout the fight, Yusuff landed leg kicks a plenty which really caught up to Davis by the fight’s end. Despite this, Yusuff stated after the fight that he was the one who hurt his leg in the first round. Though surely Davis’ isn’t doing too well right about now either…<\/p>\n
Result: Yusuff via unanimous decision (30-27 All)<\/p>\n
https:\/\/twitter.com\/Hamderlei\/status\/1021929483237040128<\/p>\n
In the co-main event of the night, we got Australia’s first ever Contender Series contestant as 22-year old Jim Crute put on a show.<\/p>\n
Starting the action early by landing at will with his leg kicks and punch combinations, his opponent Chris Birchler would eventually catch on a bit to find his counters and slow down Crute.<\/p>\n
In the end, it wouldn’t be enough as Crute would land a big overhand left that turned Birchler’s legs to jello.<\/p>\n
Result: Crute via RD1 TKO (4:23)<\/p>\n
https:\/\/twitter.com\/Hamderlei\/status\/1021934467085156353<\/p>\n
In the main event was the talented “Notorious” Nick Newell who stands out for his lack of a left arm from a birth defect. Newell wouldn’t let this stop him from following his dreams.<\/p>\n
In the bout, he would be facing the Team Alpha Male product, Alex Munoz who started out quick before Newell started to get comfortable and find his range.<\/p>\n
Munoz turned a flying knee attempt from Newell into a takedown early on and this would essentially be the story of the fight.<\/p>\n
Munoz would capitalize on Newell’s mistakes to get the fight to the ground while using his movement to avoid any really hard shots. In the third round, Newell sunk in a guillotine that looked to be a potential fight ender but Munoz strategically worked his way out of it.<\/p>\n
Even though Munoz would spoil Newell’s big night, the former XFC champion would put his massive heart on full display as he was constantly seeking the finish.<\/p>\n
Result: Munoz via unanimous decision (30-27 All)<\/p>\n
https:\/\/twitter.com\/Hamderlei\/status\/1021942032569229313<\/p>\n
It was another four out of five night when it comes to contract handouts as the young Hooper would take home a developmental contract. The rest of the night’s winners, except for Munoz, would all get UFC contracts<\/p>\n
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