Dana White’s Contender Series Week 5 Winners Break Down 2024
Dana White’s Contender Series returned to Las Vegas for its fifth week of action, showcasing a five-fight card broadcast on ESPN+. This straightforward format consistently proves to be an effective way to identify emerging talent with the potential to significantly impact the UFC roster. We’ll be taking a close look at each of the winning fighters from this week’s event, evaluating their performances regardless of whether they secured a UFC contract.
Assessing the Flyweight Division Victor
The flyweight bout between Nicolle Caliari and Corinne LaFramboise set an exciting tone for the evening, concluding decisively in the first round. Caliari, despite her background in traditional martial arts, demonstrated impressive submission skills, proving she can hang with more experienced grapplers. LaFramboise, as anticipated, displayed considerable bravery in submission exchanges, using her aggressive approach to create opportunities. However, this same aggression ultimately proved to be her undoing, allowing Caliari to secure a deep armbar submission. While we didn’t see extensive striking from Caliari, her karate-style combinations offered a glimpse of a raw, yet effective, fighting style reminiscent of Tecia Pennington. Given Dana White’s recruitment tendencies, it came as no surprise that Caliari earned a UFC contract.
Bantamweight Bout and Middleweight Performance
In the bantamweight division, Josias Musasa secured a split decision victory over Otar Tanzilovi, a hard-fought win that also earned him a coveted UFC contract. While Tanzilovi showcased a well-rounded skill set crucial for the bantamweight division, Musasa’s strategic pressure proved to be the difference-maker. Musasa, a fighter from the Congo, displayed a controlled aggression, effectively mixing in body attacks and demonstrating a solid understanding of counter-grappling when taken down. This win marked a significant step for Musasa, as he rarely went past the first round in previous bouts. Meanwhile, Yousri Belgaroui secured a TKO victory over Taiga Iwasaki in the middleweight division. Despite the win, the fight itself was somewhat lackluster, leading to a C+ rating. Iwasaki, a last-minute replacement, proved to be more resilient than expected, turning what was anticipated to be a dominant performance by Belgaroui into a more chaotic affair. While Belgaroui eventually finished the fight with strikes in the third round, the overall performance didn’t quite warrant a higher grade, and it was somewhat surprising that White initially passed on signing him.
Light Heavyweight Knockout and Featherweight Contender
The light heavyweight matchup between Navajo Stirling and Phillip Latu delivered a definitive knockout, earning Stirling an „A“ rating. Latu, possessing natural fighting talent, started strong with counter-strikes that caught Stirling’s attention. However, Stirling maintained his composure, found his rhythm, and began to assert control as the fight progressed into the second round. As Latu began to fade, Stirling landed classic combinations and showed improved striking selection. A crucial exchange, initiated by Latu’s team’s strategy to maintain position, ultimately favored Stirling, who was better balanced and capitalized on the opening. Stirling’s performance strongly suggests he’ll be seen again in the Octagon soon, potentially against fighters like Dan Hooker or Carlos Ulberg. We can also hope that Phillip Latu receives another opportunity on the Contender Series in the future.
