LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene reporting live from Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 76 event.
Dana White’s Contender Series cards see prospects fighting for the opportunity to sign a UFC deal, with UFC president Dana White on hand to make the decisions.
The 10th and final week of the eighth season saw 10 fighters compete for their shot at a UFC contract. In the feature bout at middleweight, Nick Klein (6-1) took on Heraldo Souza (9-2-1)
The UFC Apex hosts the card, which streams live on ESPN+.
DWCS 76 full results
- Nick Klein def. Heraldo Souza via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 0:37
- Luis Gurule def. Nick Piccininni via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Yadier del Valle def. Antonio Monteiro via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
- Julieta Martinez def. Leslie Hernandez via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Jonathan Micallef def. Mohamed Ado via technical submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:01
Who won a UFC contract?
At the conclusion of the event, White handed out four UFC contracts. The UFC CEO awarded contracts to winners Micallef, del Valle, Gurule and Klein.
DWCS 76 round-by-round updates
Mohamed Ado vs. Jonathan Micallef
Round 1 – Micallef comes out firing a couple of punches as he circles. Ado digs in a couple of hard kicks to the midsection, and they clinch up. While wrestling for position, both knee to the body. Micallef shifts his weight and gets the takedown on top, but they’re back up quickly, still clinched. Another takedown attempt, and they scramble. Ado looks for a ninja choke, but Micallef rolls out and, in the scramble, slaps on a triangle choke from the bottom. It’s tight! Ado is fighting it, and Micallef thinks about transitioning to the armbar. He sticks with the triangle choke and clamps down harder! Micallef tells the ref he’s out! And he is! Wow!
Result: Jonathan Micallef def. Mohamed Ado via technical submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:01
Recap: DWCS 76 video: Jonathan Micallef’s submission makes Dana White exclaim ‘slick as sh*t’
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 76: Best photos
Records: Ado (6-0), Micallef (6-1)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Leslie Hernandez vs. Julieta Martinez
Round 1 – No glove touch here and Martinez opens up with a couple of side kicks. Hernandez responds with a punch and leg kick. After an exchange of kicks, Hernandez nails a sharp 1-2. They continue to trade and Hernandez gets a Thai clinch, landing a few more. Hernandez keeps coming forward with strikes and now they’re clinched. Martinez can’t get the fight to the ground after a few seconds of standing back control, and we’re back to the center now. Hernandez lands a solid leg kick. A nice front kick from Martinez catches Hernandez off balance. Martinez charges in for a clinch. Hernandez gets a Thai clinch and drills a knee. Back to the center again. Martinez changes levels nicely for a takedown. Hernandez elbows to the head from her back, and Martinez stands up to back away, but then decides to come back in on top.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Hernandez.
Round 2 – Martinez comes out darting forward with kicks to close range for a clinch, but Hernandez gets away. Hernandez comes forward with punches, and Martinez answers in an intense exchange. Martinez gets the fight to the ground and ends up on the back of Hernandez. Nothing comes of the position as Hernandez spins in to guard, and opts to stand up. Martinez shoots in again, and scrambles her way to a standing back take. Hernandez gets back to front over-unders. Martinez separates, but leaps right back in with a beautiful jumping switch knee to the face. Hernandez closes in with an overhand right, but Martinez responds with a left head kick at the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Martinez.
Round 3 – Hernandez presses forward, looking for kicks from range. She swings for an overhand right that misses, allowing Martinez to shoot in. Martinez takes the back on the ground again. Hernandez is quick to escape and threaten a heel hook. Martinez took a moment to twist and turn, but she escaped the hold to take top control. Martinez tries to take the back as Hernandez stands, getting her back to the ground momentarily. Hernandez works her way to a Thai clinch and lands a right elbow. They’re back in the center, and Hernandez looks for kick to the body. A spinning back elbow isn’t there for Hernandez. Martinez spins with a kick, allowing Hernandez to look for a takedown, but it’s not there. Hernandez lands a leg kick and a kick to the body.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Hernandez, giving her the fight, 29-28.
Result: Julieta Martinez def. Leslie Hernandez via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 76: Best photos
Records: Hernandez (4-2), Martinez (8-0)
Division: Strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Yadier del Valle vs. Antonio Monteiro
Round 1 – They trade a couple of leg kicks to start as they find the range. Monteiro looks for a high kick, but it’s blocked. Del Valle lands a powerful inside leg kick. He then follows up with a few punches upstairs. Del Valle keeps with the pressure, unloading another combo, punctuated with a clean left down the pipe. Now they’re clinched against the fence, wrestling for position. After a few knees to the thighs, del Valle sneaks in a solid short elbow. The clinch continues, but Monteiro gets del Valle’s back to the fence. Monteiro gets a single leg as del Valle threatens a guillotine counter. Del Valle powers up to his feet, but jumps on another guillotine and this one is deep! He’s cranking hard but the horn sounds.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for del Valle.
Round 2 – Del Valle starts with a strong inside leg kick. He then charges forward with a pair of punches, but Monteiro counters very nicely. Del Valle starts swining hooks as he closes in. Monteiro is game to exchange. They’re just throwing now! Del Valle keeps unloading. He gets a Thai clinch and digs in knees. Now it’s elbows! He keeps going! Somehow Monteiro is still standing! Monteiro gets off the fence and attempts to reset, but del Valle is right there with more strikes! Monteiro circles away again. Now Monteiro starts firing back with big shots! Wow. Del Valle gets a takedown. Monteiro works back up. They’re both exhausted now in the clinch, but del Valle finds some energy to keep offering strikes until the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8 for del Valle.
Round 3 – They waste little time getting right back into the striking exchanges, but it doesn’t last long. They reset. Del Valle looks to clinch, but Monteiro isn’t having it. Now Monteiro is on the forward pressure. Both miss with big hooks. Del Valle lands a nice left as he closes in. Del Valle unloads a series of punches. Monteiro circles away. Del Valle shoots in but Monteiro jumps on a guillotine! It seems tight! But he loses the grip. Now Del Valle with huge ground and pound, slicing open Monteiro with elbows. The referee steps in closer. Monteiro gets his back to the fence and wall walks up to bring the fight back to standing. Del Valle shoots in again, but is easily stuffed. Monteiro is unloading punches now. Del Valle starts to fires back! They’re just swining at each other until the horn. Wow. What a fight.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for del Valle, giving him the fight 30-26.
Result: Yadier del Valle def. Antonio Monteiro via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Recap: DWCS 76 results: Yadier del Valle vs. Antonio Monteiro turns into all-time slugfest
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 76: Best photos
Records: del Valle (8-0), Monteiro (17-5-1)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Luis Gurule vs. Nick Piccininni
Round 1 – Piccininni comes out of the gates fast, straight into a takedown attempt. He lifts and dumps Gurule to the canvas, immediately slapping on a rear-naked choke from the back. The sub isn’t there, and Gurule works his way back up to this feet while Piccininni stays heavy on him with punches. Gurule gets away and resets. Piccininni front kicks to the chest, taking Gurule off his feet. Piccininni blasts in for a double leg. Gurule gets up and returns to the center. Piccininni lands a left, Gurule answers with an uppercut. Piccininni lands a front kick followed by a left. Gurule responds with a sharp combo. Piccininni darts in with a punch. Gurule digs in a left to the body. Gurule puts together a combo. Piccininni lands a solid short left as Gurule charges in. Gurule comes in again, this time Piccininni changes levels for a takedown. Gurule pops up quickly, and gets back to the center. They trade punches in close. Gurule lands a kick.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Piccininni.
Round 2 – Piccininni darts across the cage with a kick, sparking a fast exchange. Gurule comes forward, unloading punches, tagging Piccininni. A right head kick connects too, prompting Piccininni to shoot in. He gets the fight to the ground, but a wild scramble follows, and they’re back to a standing clinch, exchanging close strikes. Piccininni gets standing back control against the fence as the action slows. Gurule breaks the grip and gets back to the center. He comes forward with another sharp combo. Piccininni circles, but Gurule lands another series of punches. Piccininni gets a half clinch and fires off a few short uppercuts. They trade punches in close before Piccininni changes levels for a takedown. Gurule eats a couple of punches before quickly getting back up. Piccininni drags him back down. Gurule gets up and attempts to break free by jump-kicking off the fence. It doesn’t work, but it was slick. They end up separating anyway, and trading until the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Gurule.
Round 3 – Piccininni darts across with a kick again. Gurule comes forward with punches. Piccininni answers, but Gurule’s volume is higher now. Piccininni changes levels but can’t get a firm grip. They continue to trade punches in the center. Piccininni adds a front kick to the mix while working behind a left jab. Gurule looks to fire back but Piccininni powers through for a big takedown. Piccininni postures up and rains down punches. Gurule turns and gives up his back. Piccininni keeps punching. Gurule gets back to standing, but Piccininni is still attached to his hips. Gurule breaks away and comes forward with punches. Piccininni shoots in, but is denied. Gurule points to the center, before offering a few more punches. Piccininni charges forward for a takedown. He can’t get it, but unloads strikes on the exit.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Piccininni, giving him the fight 29-28.
Result: Luis Gurule def. Nick Piccininni via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 76: Best photos
Records: Gurule (10-0), Piccininni (7-1)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Nick Klein vs. Heraldo Souza
Round 1 – They touch ’em up and Klein opens with a front kick. Souza looks for a punch in response, and Klein shoots for a takedown. They scramble for position, and Souza attempts to stand up. Klein hops on the back and slaps on a rear-naked choke. Souza is in trouble! He’s squirming, trying to get free. Klein adjusts and clamps down harder! It’s really tight now! There’s the tap! Wow!
Result: Nick Klein def. Heraldo Souza via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 0:37
Recap: DWCS 76 video: Nick Klein closes Season 8 with 31-second submission of Heraldo Souza
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 76: Best photos
Records: Klein (5-1), Souza (9-1-1)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
DWCS 76 faceoffs
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 76.
