Dana White’s Contender Series 17 results: Yorgan De Castro, Punahele Soriano earn UFC contracts
Summer is finally here, fight fans!
With that is the long-awaited return of Dana White’s Contender Series which takes place Tuesday night at the brand new UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The action will stream exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States.
For those who aren’t familiar with the Contender Series concept, the brightest prospects, as well as veteran of the sport looking for another shot at the biggest fight organization in the world, compete in the cage in front of UFC president Dana White, as well as matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard. The bouts count on the official professional records of the fighters and, once the final horn of the night sounds, Dana White will announce if any of the combatants will be awarded a UFC contract based on their performance.
For the first time in Contender Series history, a fight has been scratched leaving a four fight card to kick off the promotion’s third season. Leon Shahbazyan was ruled medically ineligible to continue his weight cut which cancelled his scheduled bout with Brok Weaver.
The headliner took place in the middleweight division as Punahale Soriano took on Jamie Pickett.
In the end, UFC president Dana White awarded Yorgan De Castro and Punahele Soriano earned UFC contracts.
Check out the round-by-round results from the main event on down below:
Punahale Soriano vs. Jamie Pickett
ROUND 1
The middleweights headline the season opener of the Contender Series. They meet in the middle and Soriano lands a body kick. Nice right hand from Pickett. Soriano just misses a head kick as they clinch up in the center of the cage. Body kick from Soriano, leg kick answer from Pickett. Soriano just misses a big left hand who is swinging for the fences. Left hand, followed by a right from Soriano. Pickett lands a quick right hand. Soriano lands a left hand and takes Pickett down with a trip. Pickett gets back to his feet. Jab lands by Pickett, followed by another to the body. Short right by Pickett and then an accidental eye poke stops the action momentarily. Big head kick lands clean from Pickett. Soriano is firing up in his own right. Body kick from Pickett lands as we’re under a minute. Heavy shots by Soriano land and Pickett survives. Soriano wobbles Pickett with punches. Huge left from Soriano, who is hanging on by a thread. Soriano is unable to finish as the horn sounds. Hard to imagine this thing gets out of the second the way these guys are throwing.
The Hawaiian is not looking to go the distance tonight! #DWCS pic.twitter.com/scyo76fJm2
— UFC (@ufc) June 19, 2019
MyMMANews.com scores the round 10-9 for Soriano
ROUND 2
More of a feeling out process in the first 30 seconds as Pickett lands a quick jab. Soriano is missing a big more as Pickett is fighting a big more defensively. Jab lands from Pickett, but a nice right hand counter from Soriano gets his attention. Another jab lands from Pickett, followed by another. Pickett looking comfortable, but that doesn’t last long as Soriano lands a big left hand. Pickett lands another jab, but is not following up with anything. Right lands from Soriano who then follows up with a big takedown. Soriano in half guard looking to advance. Pickett gets back to his feet, then lands a nice combination. Soriano swings wildly and misses. Soriano looks to be slowing down at the end of the round, but still cracks Pickett. Soriano shoots for another takedown and completes it. That’s how the round comes to an end.
MyMMANews.com scores the round 10-9 for Soriano
ROUND 3
Final round of the night begins at the UFC Apex. Pickett looks like the more energetic fighter here, but Soriano makes me look foolish with a scoop and a takedown. Soriano in half guard looking for ground and pound. Pickett doing a nice job avoiding any major damage to this point. Pickett looks to be working for a kimura as Herb Dean is looking for some action. Pickett almost has the hold locked, but it slips out. Soriano has the neck and tries to move to the back. Nice job by Pickett who needs something big to have any hopes of scoring a contract tonight. Soriano remains on top with 90 seconds to go. Short elbows from Soriano, followed by left handed body shots. Under a minute to go as Soriano lands more shots to the body from top position. Soriano looking to land some big shots, but he continues to the body as the final horn sounds.
With the win, Dana White awarded Soriano with a UFC contract.
MyMMANews scores the round 10-9 and the fight 30-27 for Soriano
Official Result: Punahele Soriano def. Jamie Pickett via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-26)
Hannah Goldy vs. Kali Robbins
ROUND 1
Goldy lands a leg kick early as the ladies are showing patience. Right hand lands by Robbins and they clinch up. Goldy lands a knee to the body, followed by a right hand over the top. Kick to the body lands by Goldy, Robbins with a counter right. Left kick from Goldy. Robbins just misses a missile right hand and continues to move forward. Body kick from Robbins, who just misses a big combination. Head kick attempt from Goldy and Robbins initiates the clinch, landing knees to the body. Goldy lands a right hand, left kick combination. They clinch against the cage and Robbins lands an outside trip to get the takedown. Goldy gets back to her feet and Robbins takes her back. Robbins gets a hook in, and Goldy rolls over and gets back to her feet. Goldy with a series of punches with under 10 seconds to go. Robbins lands an overhand right as the round ends.
MyMMANews.com scores the round 10-9 for Goldy
ROUND 2
Goldy lands a couple of kicks to the body to kick off the second round. Robbins looks to clinch and Goldy fights it off with a knee and an elbow. Leg kick and right hand lands by Goldy. Robbins continues to follow Goldy around the cage and looks for another takedown against the fence. Nice left hand by Goldy on the break. Under two minutes to go and Goldy is definitely the volume striker in this fight thus far. Nice left hook lands from Goldy. Thai clinch to a huge knee from Goldy, followed by a kick to the body. Elbow lands by Goldy, and a counter elbow from Robbins. Another clinch and huge knee from Goldy. Robbins rolls to the ground and looks for a leg. Robbins is on top looking for something to get in the judges’ good graces. The round comes to an end as Robbins may not have stolen the round, but may have gotten some momentum.
MyMMANews.com scores the round 10-9 for Goldy
ROUND 3
They touch gloves to kick off the final round and Goldy lands a couple of short leg kicks. Robbins lands a pair of punches and Goldy answers with some leg kicks. They trade punches in the center and begin to circle. Robbins is moving forward but falls into the clinch of Goldy, who lands a knee to the head. Leg kick from Robbins, followed by a right hand. A pair of body kicks from Goldy and Robbins answers with a two-punch combination. Robbins lands another combination, counter right by Goldy. Robbins just misses a big right hand and the ladies clinch against the cage. Goldy lands a right hand on the separation. Robbins pushes Goldy against the fence. Goldy, once again, lands a punch and a kick on the break. The volume of Goldy has been adding up throughout the contest as we’re under 90 seconds. Clinch and knee, again, from Goldy. Under a minute to go and Goldy lands a short right hand. Head kick from Goldy that was lighting fast. Goldy is starting to throw with some serious bad intentions. Big kicks landing from Goldy with under 30 seconds. Clinch knees once again from Goldy as Robbins ties her up. Goldy with a flurry of punches on the ground as the fight comes to an end.
MyMMANews scores the round 10-9 and the fight 30-27 for Hannah Goldy
Official Result: Hannah Goldy def. Kali Robbins via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-26)
Bill Algeo vs. Brendan Loughnane
ROUND 1
In the fight fans and media members seemed to have on their radars the most for this card, featherweights Bill Algeo and Brendan Loughnane, a former TUF Smashes contestant, went to battle with Loughnane looking for his second shot in the UFC’s Octagon. They touch gloves and trade leg kicks. Algeo misses a high kick, but lands a leg kick. Loughnane lads a couple of his own. Another big leg kick from Loughnane and Algeo looks to clinch up. Loughnane throws Algeo to the canvas before landing another leg kick. Algeo eats a right hand counter from Loughnane and they trade punches in the middle. Another leg kick from Loughnane and Algeo charges in and pushes his opponent against the fence. Loughnane turns it over and lands some knees to the legs. Loughnane just misses a huge fight hand. They battle against the fence and Algeo gets his back off to land a nice elbow. Loughnane lands a beautiful right hand, leg kick combination. Loughnane lands an accidental eye poke and Herb Dean stops the action. They get back at it with Loughnane landing a leg kick and stopping an Algeo takedown. Under a minute to go and Loughnane lands another hard leg kick. Algeo looking to move forward, but eats a left hand for his troubles. Loughnane pushes Algeo against the fence and just misses a spinning back fist. They trade punches as the horn sounds. A lot of action here!
MyMMANews.com scores the round 10-9 for Loughnane
ROUND 2
Algeo starts the round with a nice forearm shot on Loughnane. Algeo lands a leg kick and lands a left hand. Loughnane follows up with a clean counter punch. Algeo is starting to gain some confidence and is throwing big shots. Head kick from Algeo is slightly blocked. Loughnane’s nose is busted up as Algeo lands a step in knee. Loughnane clinches up against the fence and Algeo separates. Algeo moving forward and lands a right hand. Nice, hard leg kick by Algeo. Left hand and a right by Loughnane. Another right hand by the UK based fighter. 90 seconds left in the round and Algeo lands a pair of jabs. Big swinging by both fighters. Loughnane is starting to land a little bit more in the final minute, and lands a takedown. Algeo gets up and is immediately taken back down. Loughnane takes the back and has both hooks in, which may steal this second round. Back to the feet they go as the round comes to an end. Close round, but Loughnane may have stolen it.
MyMMANews.com scores the round 10-9 Loughnane
ROUND 3
Final round kicks off with both guys coming-out aggressive. Algeo lands a couple of jabs and Loughnane takes Algeo’s back against the cage. Loughnane lands a knee to the body and Algeo is able to break free. Jab by Algeo lands as Loughnane follows with a jab. Another leg kick lands from Loughnane, followed by a nice combination. Loughnane is landing shots and Algeo ends up with a hard shot to push his opponent against the cage. Algeo lands a pair of elbows in the clinch as Loughnane separates. Combination from Loughnane, and a huge right hand. Another combination from Loughnane and Algeo is starting to slow down. Leg kick lands by Loughnane and another combination. Then, in true fighting spirt, they smile at each other. Loughnane is picking Algeo part, but Algeo is a warrior. Loughnane just misses a fastball right hand. Jab lands by Algeo. Big body shot by Loughnane and Algeo drops. Loughnane looking for the back and Algeo spins out of it to get back to his feet. Under a minute to go and Loughnane with another combination, finished with a leg kick. Algeo is throwing with everything he has as they trade in the middle. Loughnane just misses with a head kick and lands a big right hand. Loughnane lands a takedown at the end of the fight to cap off a barnburner!
Loughnane with the quick 1-2! 👊#DWCS pic.twitter.com/paQWgg4fGv
— UFC (@ufc) June 19, 2019
MyMMANews scores the round 10-9 and the fight 30-27 for Loughnane
Official Result: Brendan Loughnane def. Bill Algeo via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Yorgan De Castro vs. Alton Meeks
ROUND 1
The heavyweights kick things off in the third season of the Contender Series pitted New England’s Yorgan De Castro taking on fellow unbeaten fighter Alton Meeks. They touch gloves and off they go. De Castro misses a combination. Meeks shoots for a takedown but eats a flying knee from De Castro. Meeks battles through it and lands a takedown. De Castro gets back to his feet as Meeks is relentless looking to get the fight to the ground. They battle against the fence as Meeks shoots for a single leg and finishes it. De Castro pushes the head down and tries to wall walk against the cage, which he eventually does. Leg kick lands by De Castro, followed by a right hand. Meeks gets De Castro against the fence once again with about two minutes to go. Meeks is the biggest favorite on the card and lands an elbow on the break. Another big leg kick from De Castro and a left hook. Meeks may be hurt, and another flying knee from De Castro didn’t seem to make things easier on him. Meeks has slowed down a bit who eats a right hand from De Castro. Meeks answers with a right of his own. About 30 seconds to go and Meeks throws a right hand, countered by his opponent. De Castro lands a leg kick from hell and Meeks is down! De Castro gets on top and the referee stops the fight right before the round ends. Big upset win for De Castro according to the oddsmakers.
Leg kick KO?!
De Castro gets the first round finish to kickoff #DWCS! https://t.co/G5rZYRYp73 pic.twitter.com/QmgFj5AOpH
— UFC (@ufc) June 19, 2019
With the win, De Castro earned a UFC contract.
Official Result: Yorgan De Castro def. Alton Meeks via TKO – Round 1, 4:45
Full Dana White’s Contender Series 17 results:
- Punahele Soriano (earned UFC contract) def. Jamie Pickett via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-26)
- Hannah Goldy def. Kali Robbins via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-26)
- Brendan Loughnane def. Bill Algeo via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
- Yorgan De Castro (earned UFC contract) def. Alton Meeks via TKO, Round 1, 4:45
