Dana White’s Contender Series 55: Grading the winners
Week 9 of Dana White’s Contender Series (2022) took place Tuesday in Las Vegas, and we’re grading the winners from the five-fight card, which streamed on ESPN+ from the UFC Apex.
With a simple but digestible format that has had the MMA fanbase responding, this series has shown to have legs in multiple ways while serving as a crockpot for contenders whom the UFC matchmakers can use for future events. So, with that trend in mind, I will once again be taking a look at the winning fighters regardless of whether or not they won a UFC contract and grading their performances in regards to their probability of returning to a UFC stage.
Jafel Filho
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 20: (R-L) Jafel Filho of Brazil works for a submission against Roybert Echeverria of Venezuela in a flyweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six week nine at UFC APEX on September 20, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Weight class: Flyweight
Result: Jafel Filho def. Roybert Echeverria via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:09
Grade: B+
Kicking off the evening was a fun flyweight fight between [autotag]Jafel Filho[/autotag] and Roybert Echeverria.
Even though Echeverria was arguably the more exciting fighter, Filho displayed solid composure considering how much damage he was sustaining to his lead leg. Filho, who appears to be a big and strong grappler for the division, did his best to take down Echeverria from the body lock whenever he was able to get his opponent to the cage (even opting to fight from the guard at times).
Unable to get his grappling going in third, Filho seemed content to bide his time and look for a counter. Thankfully for him, that opportunity eventually came off a kick that saw Echeverria open himself up to a classic hook-cross return that cost him his consciousness.
It may not have been the prettiest win for Filho, but I don’t mind the UFC president bolstering the flyweight division with more talent at 125 pounds. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Filho matched with someone like Denys Bondar or Carlos Hernandez for his first UFC assignment.
Nurullo Aliev
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Nurullo Aliev of Tajikistan punches Josh Wick in a lightweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six week nine at UFC APEX on September 20, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Weight class: Lightweight
Result: Nurullo Aliev def. Josh Wick via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:36
Grade: A
Considering the straightforward nature of [autotag]Nurullo Aliev[/autotag]’s win, I was hard-pressed to award him anything short of an A for his effort.
After eating a couple of calf kicks from Josh Wick, Aliev quickly corralled his American counterpart along the cage to score a takedown. Once on the ground, Aliev demonstrated improved urgency from past contests, opting for a much higher rate of ground striking and aggression.
The combat sambo champion knows how to stay heavy while punishing from top position, as Wick seemed to wear some of the attrition on his face (though, in Wick’s defense, he did take this fight on somewhat short notice).
I’m not surprised to see Dana White sign the talent from Tajikistan, especially given the overall trend in recent seasons. I say match him up with other similarly experienced grapplers like Alexander Munoz or Jordan Leavitt.
Austen Lane
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 20: (R-L) Austen Lane punches Richard Jacobi of Brazil in a heavyweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six week nine at UFC APEX on September 20, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Weight class: Heavyweight
Result: Austen Lane def. Richard Jacobi via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:34
Grade: B+
After getting the job done on his second try, [autotag]Austen Lane[/autotag] earns an emphatic B+ for his contract-winning performance opposite Richard Jacobi.
Despite getting taken down and mounted by a kickboxer in the early going, Lane displayed solid composure from the bottom while waiting for the right time to explode and reverse position. From there, Lane was able to successfully shuck off any of Jacobi’s submission attempts while landing hard enough strikes to force a stoppage from the referee.
Lane has quietly stacked up some solid experience, so I’m happy to see him get his shot in the UFC. Hopefully, we see Lane matched up with someone like Mohammed Usman or the thick-set William Knight.
Raul Rosas Jr.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Raul Rosas Jr. battles Mando Gutierrez in a bantamweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six week nine at UFC APEX on September 20, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Weight class: Bantamweight
Result: Raul Rosas Jr. def. Mando Gutierrez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Grade: B
Setting the record for the youngest UFC signee is 17-year-old [autotag]Raul Rosas Jr.[/autotag], who earns a solid B for out-grappling Mando Gutierrez to a decision.
Don’t let the grade fool you: I see a very high ceiling for Rosas and am incredibly excited for his future, but let’s try and be realistic rather than get swept up in the excitement that the teenage cage-fighter is (rightfully) feeling.
Rosas’ grappling strength, endurance and overall wherewithal were well-beyond his years. Whether Rosas was dogging out back mount positions or changing his level off of springboarding flying knees like he’s Yoel Romero, the kid is definitely not lacking in confidence or creativity.
However, aside from still seeing very little of Rosas’ striking (he does fight at bantamweight, mind you), the young man’s inherent aggression and wildness appear to allow for some opportunities to either escape or reverse position.
Gutierrez didn’t seem to have sharp enough fight IQ to take advantage of the positions he was being given against Rosas, but the UFC’s insanely-deep bantamweight roster won’t likely be as forgiving. For that reason, I sincerely hope that they don’t book Rosas until next year, allowing ample time for the Mexican fighter to further develop.
Brunno Ferreira
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Brunno Ferreira of Brazil knees Leon Aliu of Albania in a middleweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six week nine at UFC APEX on September 20, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Weight class: Middleweight
Result: Brunno Ferreira def. Leon Aliu via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:35
Grade: A
Closing out the show in style was [autotag]Brunno Ferreira[/autotag], who earns an easy A for making quick work of Leon Aliu.
Despite being listed as a Brazilian national champion in judo, Ferreira strikes like a right-handed southpaw who likes to bang from both stances. Ferreira can switch his stance a bit heavy like a taekwondo fighter, but the 29-year-old seems to offer power from each side.
Although Ferreira was able to capitalize on Aliu’s low lead hand (something that Laura Sanko smartly pointed out prior from the commentary position), I noticed that the Brazilian had a similar habit – particularly when fighting from southpaw.
I’ll be curious to see if any future opponents will be able to make anything off of that, but Ferreira looks to be a cannonball that will be hard for anyone to control early. Signing Ferreira was a no-brainer, as I’d like to see him against another action-fighter like Joe Pyfer or Denis Tiuliulin.
