LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene reporting live from Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 64 event.
Dana White’s Contender Series cards see prospects fighting for the opportunity to sign a UFC deal, with UFC CEO Dana White on hand to make the decisions. And as has been the theme of the season, White was plenty generous in handing on contracts on arguably the best episode of the season so far.
White signed a season record six fighters to deals, including headliner Danny Barlow, who destroyed Raheam Forest with a flurry of strikes just 79 seconds into their welterweight matchup.
In addition to Barlow, White did not hold back on the deals. He signed multiple losing fighters. Contracts were issued to Danny Silva and Angel Pacheco after their unanimous decision brawl, which Silva won by unanimous decision. Ernesta Kareckaite and Carli Judice, who fought to a split decision with Kareckaite winning, were both signed. And, finally, Vinicius Oliveira, who scored one of the best knockouts of the year in the opening fight of the evening.
Full results of Dana White’s Contender Series 64 include:
- Danny Barlow def. Raheam Forest via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:19
- Mario Piazzon def. Alexander Soldatkin via disqualification (illegal knee to a grounded opponent) – Round 3, 0:20
- Danny Silva def. Angel Pacheco via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Ernesta Kareckaite def. Carli Judice via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Vinicius Oliveira def. Victor Madrigal via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 3:02
Continue reading below for more details about each fight.
Vinicius Oliveira vs. Victor Madrigal
Result: Vinicius Oliveira def. Victor Madrigal via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 3:02
Photos: Vinicius Oliveira def. Victor Madrigal at DWCS 64: Best photos
Records: Oliveira (19-3), Madrigal (15-5)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Round 1 – Oliveira attacked the legs of Madrigal with hard kicks to start the fight, prompting a takedown attempt from his opponent. Oliveira was intent on throwing absolute heaters, and he tagged Madrigal with a stiff uppercut just over a minute in. Madrigal displayed good composure, but Oliveira showed no hesitation in continuing to push with all the strikes in his arsenal. He loaded up with an absolutely savage left hook that immediately shut the lights off on Madrigal and left him stiff on the canvas.
ONE AND DONE FOR VINICIUS OLIVEIRA 💥 #DWCS pic.twitter.com/DJvNw4Vhq5
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 27, 2023
Carli Judice vs. Ernesta Kareckaite
Result: Ernesta Kareckaite def. Carli Judice via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Photos: Ernesta Kareckaite def. Carli Judice at DWCS 64: Best photos
Records: Kareckaite (5-0-1), Judice (2-1)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jacob Moltalvo
Round 1 – Both women came out ready to engage in a brawl to start the fight. Judice showed a lot of aggression and Kareckaite answered by stepping into the pocket and trading shots. The pace is relentless through 90 seconds and neither woman looked deterred by the power coming back the other way. The pace finally slows halfway through the round when Judice clinches Kareckaite against the fence, but it doesn’t stay there for long. They spend the remainder of the round exchanging, with each side getting their fair share of clean blows.
Round 2 – The breakneck pace continues to start the round, but Judice looks to slow it down by pushing Kareckaite against the fence. She can’t maintain position for long, and it goes back to the striking with Kareckaite seemingly finding her range and getting into a zone as she peppers the body with kicks and controls the cage with forward pressure. Judice is starting to show signs of fatigue and the output of Kareckaite is picking up. Judice goes back to clinch control toward the end of the round, but Kareckaite breaks away and makes her pay with punches.
Round 3 – Judice comes out aggressive and determined to start the final round and looks to make something happen. She’s keen to close the distance on Kareckaite and push her against the cage, but she can’t complete a takedown or land effective damage. Kareckaite breaks away and goes back to her methodical striking attack, but Judice refuses to be broken and is trying hard to respond. Kareckaite lands one of her best combinations with roughly 90 seconds left, and prompts Judice to shoot for her closest takedown attempt of the contest. She can’t get any control, and they return to clinch range to battle out of the final moments of a thrilling bout.
Takes a CLOSE one by split decision!
Ernesta Kareckaite edges Carli Judice at #DWCS Week 8 👏 pic.twitter.com/ASr3eoZTX6
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2023
Angel Pacheco vs. Danny Silva
Result: Danny Silva def. Angel Pacheco via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: Danny Silva def. Angel Pacheco at DWCS 64: Best photos
Records: Silva (8-1), Pacheco (7-2)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Round 1 – Silva opens the fight on fire and knocks Pacheco down inside the first 20 seconds. He can’t finish it with close distance to the fence, though, and Pacheco manages to escape danger and circle free. Pacheco starts to settle into the fight and is picking up steam. Silva clearly remains confident, but Pacheco is absorbing his shots much more comfortably and is not afraid to step in the pocket. Pacheco starts to outmatch Silva on the output as the round winds down, and they brawl until the horn.
Round 2 – The pure striking battle continues in the second stanza as Pacheco comes out with some momentum on his side. Silva isn’t worried, however, and starts to land his cleanest blows since the first exchange. His body work is paying off big time, and one nasty hook to the liver forces Pacheco to back up and show some concern. He toughs it out and survives, but Silva senses he’s in trouble and keeps attacking. The referee warns Pacheco to protect himself, and that prompts Silva to clinch up and land some elbows. He breaks and lands more vicious body shots, but Pacheco won’t go away. Pacheco shows reliance late in the round with some very crisp body punches and head shots of his own, and Silva answers by getting a late trip takedown.
Round 3 – Silva rushes Pacheco to start the final round and is looking to end this one. He accidentally kicks Pacheco to the groin, though, which forces a break in the action. The fight resumes and Pacheco tries to seize control of the pace. Silva doesn’t allow it and forces his opponent on the back foot with his combinations. Silva begins to inflict some damage with the strikes and Pacheco is starting to show everything he’s absorbed in the fight. The referee gives him another warning to fight back and he does, but Silva’s body language shows he knows he has this fight in the bag. He pours it on down the stretch to close out another fantastic fight.
What an end to the round 🔥🔥 #DWCS pic.twitter.com/XR8mR2uazl
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2023
Mario Piazzon vs. Alexander Soldatkin
Result: Mario Piazzon def. Alexander Soldatkin via disqualification (illegal knee to a grounded opponent) – Round 3, 0:20
Photos: Mario Piazzon def. Alexander Soldatkin at DWCS 64: Best photos
Records: Piazzon (8-0), Soldatkin (14-4)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jacob Montalvo
Round 1 – Piazzon bum-rushes Soldatkin from the opening bell and gets a big takedown. Soldatkin keeps calm, however, and manages to stand up. Soldatkin has the body lock attached, however, and manages to drag him down twice more before getting a semblance of control from the back while Soldatkin is on his knees. Soldatkin stands up again and gets against the fence before being taken down again and again. Piazzon refuses to give up the body lock until Soldatkin can finally escape. He fights back with his own clinch in a forgettable end to the opening frame.
Round 2 – Piazzon tries to shoot for a takedown again from the outset but this time he’s reversed and Soldatkin manages to briefly get control until they stand back up. Piazzon tries to close the distance again and Soldatkin hammers him with a nasty head kick. Piazzon keeps pushes forward after briefly being rocked and forces his way back into body lock clinch control. It just keeps going on as an absolutely grueling fight from clinch distance as Soldatkin has no answers to break the back control of his opponent.
Round 3 – They scrap from a similar position to start the final round, but when they get into a clinch position with Soldatkin in control, he seemingly illegally knees a downed Piazzon and hurts him badly. The referee immediately halts the action and the strike is being reviewed. The replays show the strike as very close on the line of being clean, and after Piazzon can’t continue, the bout is waved off. After replay review, the judges deem the illegal blow as intentional and Alexander Soldatkin is disqualified.
Winner by disqualification!
Mario Piazzon will leave #DWCS with a victory after an illegal strike from Alexander Soldatkin pic.twitter.com/pyAf3HaV9B
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2023
Danny Barlow vs. Raheam Forest
Result: Danny Barlow def. Raheam Forest via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:19
Photos: Danny Barlow def. Raheam Forest at DWCS 64: Best photos
Records: Barlow (7-0), Forest (7-2)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Round 1 – Neither side shows patience to start the fight as Forest cracks Barlow then takes a huge shot in return. Barlow waits for his moment to follow up then lives up to his “Left Hand to God” nickname with a clean punch and ferocious flurry of head and body punches to follow that forces the referee to step in and wave the fight off.
BIG shots from Danny Barlow for the finish 💪 #DWCS pic.twitter.com/dhEPo6ygFj
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 27, 2023
