LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene reporting live from Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 80 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 fourth week of the ninth season saw 10 fighters compete for their shot at a UFC contract. In the feature bout at welterweight, Jack Congdon (7-2) took on Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani (9-2).
The UFC Apex hosted the card, which streamed live on ESPN+.
Check out our round-by-round updates below.
DWCS 80 full results
- Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani def. Jack Congdon via knockout (strikes) – Round 1, 1:08
- Cezary Oleksiejczuk def. Theo Haig via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:36
- Mandel Nallo def. Samuel Silva via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:29
- Eduardo Chapolin def. An Tuan Ho via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Tommy McMillen def. David Mgoyan via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Who won a UFC contract?
After the fights, UFC CEO Dana White awarded contracts to four winners: Tommy McMillen, Mandel Nallo, Cezary Oleksiejczuk, and Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani.
Jack Congdon vs. Jean Paul Lebosnoyani
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DWCS 80 winner Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani talks to MMA Junkie and other reporters after being awarded a UFC contract from Dana White.
Round 1 – They meet in the middle with Lebosnoyani pressing forward behind punches. Congdon does well with his own strikes to prevent Lebosnoyani from clinching. Lebosnoyani lands an overhand right. There’s left hand followed by a big left head kick from Lebosnoyani, and Congdon is wobbled in place! Lebosnoyani rushes in with a right hand punch and he timbers to the canvas! That’s it! The capacity crowd at the Apex goes wild for the quick knockout!
Theo Haig vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk
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DWCS 80 winner Cezary Oleksiejczuk talks to MMA Junkie and other reporters after being awarded a UFC contract from Dana White.
Round 1 – Haig quickly comes in with punches, but Oleksiejczuk circles out and counters nicely. Big punch from Oleksiejczuk and Haig shoots in. Oleksiejczuk counters with relentless hammerfists to the side of the head. There’s the stoppage! No. Wait. The referee calls for time? He thinks the shots were illegal? Gary Copeland now says Jason Herzog confirmed via replay that the shots were legal, Haig went out, and the fight is over. What a bizarre ending, but it’s a knockout for Oleksiejczuk.
Mandel Nallo vs. Samuel Silva
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DWCS 80 winner Mandel Nallo talks to MMA Junkie and other reporters after being awarded a UFC contract from Dana White.
Round 1 – They touch ’em up and get the action started with an exchange of leg kicks. Nallo goes high with a kick as Silva punches. There’s a slick front kick from Nallo. Silva resets. Nallo lands another front kick to the chin and Silva just eats it. He’s already wearing some damage on the right side of his face. Silva kicks high but is blocked. Silva’s punches that follow get Nallo’s attention, though. Silva checks a pair of kicks. There’s an overhand right from Silva. Nallo steps in with a nice right hand. A moment later, Nallo lands a crushing short right hand and it folds Silva! He rushes in to follow up and that’s it! Wow!
Eduardo Chapolin vs. An Tuan Ho
Round 1 – Both come out light on their feet, bouncing around as they find the range. Leg kicks are exchanged early. Ho goes high with a pair of kicks. Ho lands a nice spinning elbow, but Chapolin eats it and keeps coming forward. Ho is circling, sticking, and moving on the outside, working well as a hard-to-hit target. They clinch up along the fence, and Ho gets the trip. Not much comes of it and they’re back to feet. Chapolin comes forward with big punches. Ho drops to both knees and Chapolin drills him with an illegal knee! The ref doesn’t do anything! Ho looks to be hurt, but Chapolin keeps pouring on the offense. Ho gets up to his feet and comes up firing. 10-9 Chapolin.
Round 2 – Between rounds, the referee issued a warning for the illegal knee. The action starts and Chapolin looks for a wild spinning kick. Ho lands a nice kick to the body. Chapolin keeps control of the center while Ho darts in and out with single strikes. Chapolin charges in as Ho changes levels. Chapolin slaps on a side choke attempt, but Ho slips out and takes top position. Chapolin gets to his feet quickly, but Ho works for a takedown. Chapolin reverses and takes top control. Ho scrambles to his knees, giving up a front headlock. He works his way into a double leg, switches to a single, but can’t get either. Chapolin schucks him off and scrambles to take the back. Ho tries to get away, but gets taken down. Chapolin lands a big elbow from the top and a few other punches before the horn. 10-9 Chapolin.
Round 3 – Chapolin gets back to his forward pressure. He after an opening exchange, he changes levels nicely for a takedown, landing in full guard. Chapolin works to pass, but Ho keeps him in place. Chapolin keeps at it, and nearly has an arm triangle position. Ho explodes to his feet to escape. Chapolin steps in for the outside trip, but it fails and now Ho takes top position. Chapolin throws up a triangle. Ho lifts him and attempts to slam Chapolin, but he lets go of the triangle. They scramble for position and it’s Chapolin who ends up on top. One minute to go and Chapolin attempts to pass while Ho offers elbows from his back. Ho escapes with a few seconds left, but doesn’t get to his feet. Chapolin jumps on a guillotine before the horn. 10-9 Chapolin, and he takes the fight 30-27.
Tommy McMillen vs. David Mgoyan
Round 1 – No glove touch here. McMillen stuffs and nearly reverses a takedown to keep the fight standing. A second takedown attempt from Mgoyan is denied as McMillen counters with a front headlock. They stay in this position without much happening, and now they’re back to the feet. Mgoyan looks to spin with a punch and kicks to the body. McMillen offers a kick but gets clipped with a right hand and he goes down! Mgoyan rushes in but McMillen recovers quickly. The intensity is still high as they exchange. Mgoyan with a spinning back elbow to drop McMillen again! The swarm is still on! Mgoyan is unloading and the referee calls for McMillen to fight back! Now we’re in a wild scramble on the mat. Mgoyan goes for a mounted guillotine and McMillen’s head is nearly twisted to his back! Eww this looks nasty. Somehow he slips out! Back on the feet now. Mgoyan still swining for the fences. What a round. 10-8 for Mgoyan.
Round 2 – McMillen offers two looping punches early. They trade hooks. McMillen adds a leg kick and goes high a moment later. McMillen lands a right hand. Mgoyan shoots and easily gets stuffed. McMillen with the front headlock and thinks about a D’arce choke. Back on the feet, McMillen connects with a right. Mgoyan answers. Both lower their heads and swing big overhand punches. Mgoyan eats a knee up the center. McMillen adds a right hand, prompting another shot from Mgoyan, and it’s easily stuffed. Fatigue seems to be in play now as their punches get wider and sloppier, but McMillen still connects with right hands. 10-9 McMillen.
Round 3 – McMillen comes out offering long lead punches, but Mgoyan answers nicely with counter shots. A kick from McMillen gets caught, and Mgoyan punches his way forward. They’re standing and trading punches in the center, both connecting. It’s just a brawl now as they take turns landing punches. Mgoyan puts together a nice combination. McMillen answers with a sharp right. The slugfest continues. Mgoyan’s face is a bloody mess. McMillen is bleeding from his nose, too. They continue to trade as we approach the final minute. McMillen with a big right hand. Mgoyan responds. McMillen lands and postures to the crowd. He’s feeling it now. There’s a big right. A solid knee to the body. He’s pouring it on in the closing seconds. That’s 10-9 McMillen, making this fight a draw 28-28.
