Week five of Dana White’s Contender Series rolls on tonight with five more matchups of fighters comprising of ten fighters looking to get a UFC contract and fast-track their MMA careers. All night MMA Sucka will have the results for you as the fights roll on.
Dana White’s Contender Series 41 – Main Event
The main event contests Lukasz Sudolski against Igor Poterya in a light heavyweight bout. Sudolski comes into tonight’s fight with an 8-0 record that includes six finishes, five by knockout, but his overall game is very well rounded and is comfortable in several areas of the fight game. Poterya enters the octagon tonight with a massive record of 19-2 that includes 16 finishes, 10 by knockout, and six by submission, so for as well-rounded Sudolski’s game is Poterya may be even better.
This is an excellent main event for Dana White’s Contender Series.
Dana White’s Contender Series 41 – Co-Main Event
The co-main event was scheduled to be a fight between Chris Duncan and Manuel Gaxhja. Duncan missed weight for the lightweight bout they were scheduled for by 4.5 pounds and then earlier today it was reported by MMA Junkie’s Nolan King that Duncan is off the card all together tonight after medical issues arose today.
With this fight now off it’s assumed that Aaron Jeffrey and Caio Borralho are now moved up to the co-main event. Jeffrey fights out of Canada and enters the bout with a record of 9-2 with 8 wins coming by stoppage but he has shown that on the ground he may need some work with his last loss coming by way of rear-naked choke. His opponent Borralho travels to the Apex out of Brazil and has a record of 8-1 entering tonight. He has four submission wins on his record which makes this an interesting clash of styles for both men heading into tonight.
Dana White’s Contender Series 41 – Rest Of The Card
The rest of the card is made up of fighters Lucas Almeida versus Daniel Zellhuber in a lightweight bout, and Rizvan Kuniev versus Edivan Santos in a heavyweight bout. All these men have combined for a record of 45-4-1 and all men are fighting from outside the United States so this is very much an international version of the Dana White Contender Series coming on the heels of international fight week.
Dana White’s Contender Series 41 Results
Follow along with MMASucka as we provide you with Dana White’s Contender Series 39 Results throughout the card as well as a recap after each fight.
Contracts awarded to Daniel Zellhuber and Ihor Potieria
MAIN CARD (ESPN+ – 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)
Ihor Potieria def. Lukasz Sudolski via TKO (Strikes) 3:41
Poterya wasted no time after a slow co-main event in stealing the show with a thunderous combo of hooks with the left landing initially and following it up with a right that dropped Sudolski and he wasted no time finishing it on the ground.
Caio Borralho def. Aaron Jeffrey via Unanimous Decision (30-27,30-27,29-28)
This was less than convincing of performance for either man. Borralho used his striking and counter striking to keep Jeffrey distant but when he got close Jeffrey couldn’t do anything other than lean against him in the clinch. A very disappointing performance for both men but especially for Jeffrey as a second-time Contender Series fighter.
Daniel Zellhuber def. Lucas Almeida via Unanimous Decision (29-28,29-28,29-28)
Round one was Almeida being the aggressor and was landing counter strikes and hooks on Zellhuber but in round two Zellhuber was able to take that round with tactical striking and movement. Round three though saw Zellhuber pick Almeida apart with his jab and was able to earn the win in a very fun back and fourth fight.
Rizvan Kuniev def. Edivan Santos via TKO (Strikes), at 1:00 of Round 3
Kuniev and Santos had a rough first round with both men exchanging eye pokes and groin shots, both accidental, and from there both men took it easy through two rounds. Round three Kuniev listened to his corner finally and took it to the ground and with some vicious ground and pound secured a win and an impressive one at that.
**Chris Duncan missed weight by weighing in at 160.5 pounds and then was forced out of his bout due to medical issues thus resulting in his bout against Manuel Gaxhja to be cancelled.
