Another episode of Dana White's Contender Series, another crop of excellent fights. All five matchups on Tuesday night's card delivered in one way or another, earning each victor a UFC contract, something that was yet to happen in season eight. Below are grades and potential debut matchups for each winner.
Lightweight: Quillan Salkilld-B+
UFC Debut Matchup: Jai Herbert
Every single card-opener in season eight has been a banger, and Salkilld did well to continue the trend. In an almost-evenly matched battle with Gauge Young, Salkilld displayed what makes him so dangerous: excellence in kickboxing and proficiency everywhere else. The Aussie was largely in control of the striking game, utilizing his reach to fire off sniper-like right hands throughout the fight. Eventually, Salkilld's damaging work on the feet opened up a variety of double-legs, body locks, and slams that he used to work Young to the mat and keep him there. It was one of the more complete Contender Series appearances in recent memory, one that should inspire faith in Salkilld's ability to take on high-level competition in his debut. Jai Herbert has been around the UFC block a few times, making him anything but an easy fight. Salkilld would still likely open as a small favorite in what should be an excellent technical kickboxing match, at least until Salkilld decides it's time to take things elsewhere.
Bantamweight: Yuneisy Duben-A
UFC Debut Matchup: Ravena Oliveira
In a fight she entered as a massive underdog, Yuneisy Duben provided one of the best Contender Series knockouts of all time. There isn't much to analyze from her performance because of how quickly it ended, but it's clear that she earned her contract and a shot at the big show. Women's bantamweight is quite thin, so building Duben slowly and starting her off with a favorable matchup like Ravena Oliveira is most beneficial.
Featherweight: Austin Bashi-A
UFC Debut Matchup: Westin Wilson
Despite being thrown a short-notice opponent as a curveball, Bashi did exactly what everyone expected him to. Dominant wrestling, elite athleticism, and a solid striking base led to a seamless outing and a second-round finish from the American. Bashi was never in anything remotely close to danger, as he was seemingly miles ahead of anything his opponent was able to throw at him. His wrestling-heavy style will lead to immediate success in the UFC, but the promotion would be wise to handle Bashi, one of the best American MMA prospects in recent memory, with care. There's a real opportunity to build a star with him, an opportunity that the UFC seldom misses out on. Westin Wilson is not a UFC-level fighter, but he's maintained a tenuous hold on a roster spot through a recent submission over Jeka Saragih. Let Bashi walk through him and get a highlight-reel finish in his debut before he moves on to real competition.
Middleweight: Djorden Santos-B-
UFC Debut Matchup: Jose Medina
Another fighter who came in as a big underdog, Santos proved that he belonged in the UFC over a full 15 minutes. Will Currie, a highly touted Cage Warriors prospect, seemed to have no answer for Santos's boxing-heavy approach, an approach that hurt Currie and brought the Brazilian within inches of a knockout finish multiple times. It was an encouraging performance from Santos on the feet, especially since he defended 13 of 15 of Currie's desperate takedown attempts. He showed a well-rounded approach, but noticeably absent was the so-called killer instinct that Dana White covets so much. Currie was on his last legs at some point in every single round, but Santos often submitted to being clinched on the cage instead of truly hunting for a finish. Medina is among the worst middleweights on the roster, but he can take a beating and keep on coming. That recipe would be an excellent test for Santos to see if he can dig deep and find some finishing power late in a fight.
Welterweight: Seok Hyun Ko-B
UFC Debut Matchup: Gilbert Urbina
The final fight of the night ended in yet another upset. Seok Hyun-Ko led the dance against Igor Cavalcanti in a fairly one-sided affair, winning the exchanges in every phase of the fight. Ko displayed excellent, albeit unexciting boxing, often slipping just out of range of Cavalcanti and returning fire with vicious straight right hands. In order to neutralize Cavalcanti's power, the first Korean DWCS signee utilized a solid wrestling base to down the Brazilian, and while Ko wasn't all that aggressive on the mat, his control time was crucial to wearing his opponent down and securing a decision. It's unlikely that Ko ever makes a serious run in the UFC, but he's certainly technically skilled enough to take out some lower-level welterweights. Gilbert Urbina should provide a solid test, especially with his UFC career on the line with another defeat.
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