LIVE! UFC ‘Contender Series’ Results, Streaming Play-By-Play Updates

Photo by Brandon Magnus/DWTNCS

We’re closing in on the end of Season Five of Dana White’s “Contender Series,” but we’re not done by a long shot, as another dozen mixed martial arts (MMA) hopefuls are set to show their stuff on ESPN+ tonight (Tues., Oct. 26, 2021).

Four more hopefuls joined the world’s largest fight promotion last week. Pedro Falcao and Armen Petrosyan scored brutal knockouts, Caio Borralho made it 2-0 on the show with a first-round finish off a three-week turnaround, and Jonny Parsons scored a sizable split decision upset in the main event.

As has become tradition for this series, we’re looking at an almost entirely international cast this week. Brazil’s Jansey Silva (7-1) meets Russia’s Gadzhi Omargadzhiev (12-0) in the Middleweight main event, while the Mexico vs. China co-feature pits UWC Bantamweight champ Christian Quinonez (15-3) against WLF veteran Xiao Long (16-6). Down at Bantamweight, Javid Basharat (10-0) takes on Oron Kahlon (16-0), who hit the scales three pounds heavy yesterday.

The evening’s sole women’s fight sees Yan Qiqui (11-3) square off with Karine Silva (13-4). 30 pounds north, Manuel Torres (11-2) faces Kolton Englund (9-3), and Olivier Murad (5-0) fights Xie Bin in the Featherweight opener.

‘Contender Series’ Quick Results:

Jansey Silva vs. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev
Christian Quinonez vs. Xiao Long
Javid Basharat vs. Oron Kahlon
Yan Qihui vs. Karine Silva — Silva def. Yan by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:44 of Round Two
Manuel Torres vs. Kolton Englund — Torres def. Englund by TKO (punches) at 2:10 of Round One
Olivier Murad vs. Xie Bin — Murad def. Xie by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

‘Contender Series’ Play-By-Play Results:

185 lbs.: Jansey Silva vs. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev

Round one:
Round two:
Round three:

Final result:

135 lbs.: Christian Quinonez vs. Xiao Long

Round one:
Round two:
Round three:

Final result:

135 lbs.: Javid Basharat vs. Oron Kahlon

Round one:
Round two:
Round three:

Final result:

125 lbs.: Yan Qihui vs. Karine Silva

Round one: Front kick and right hand land for Silva to start. Body kick and flurry by Yan against the fence. Silva lands a clean right cross in the center. Yan catches a kick and muscles her to the mat a minute in. Silva trying to work a high guard. Hard right hands from Yan two minutes in. Silva using that rubber guard but not generating much offense from her back. Looking for upkicks as Yan stands. Hard low kicks from Yan in return, then back to guard with two minutes to go.

Short punches for Yan. One minute to go. Sneaky elbow. Silva suddenly has a gogoplata locked up, but Yan pops her head free, then postures up for some more punches. 10-9 Yan.

Round two: High kicks from Silva, low kicks from Yan. Silva lands a counter right. Silva shoots, gets sprawled on, continues to drive. One minute in. Left hand from Yan. They tie up, Yan shoves her away. Left hook from Yan, but Silva locks up a guillotine as Yan slams her down. It’s in deep and there’s the tap.

Final result: Silva def. Yan by submission (guillotine choke)

155 lbs.: Manuel Torres vs. Kolton Englund

Round one: Torres lands an early front kick. Potshotting at range. Solid teep, low kick. Jabs connects a minute in. Heavy hook lands for him, glancing head kick. Englund shoots against the fence. Torres reverses, lands knees downstairs. Englund backs off, claiming an eye poke, but Herb Dean doesn’t intervene. Torres jumps on him as he reels back and smashes him into oblivion.

Final result: Torres def. Englund by TKO (punches)

145 lbs.: Olivier Murad vs. Xie Bin

Round one: Murad eats a 1-2, tries to blitz. They trade knees near the fence and Murad starts sprinting after him with wild punches. Another knee lands. Things slow back down after a moment. Awkward slip puts Xie on top in guard a minute in. Xie on top, periodically punching. Not letting Murad get anything going. Two minutes in. Now Murad gets a bit of space and stands. Good left hand lands for him, then another on the counter. Continuing to charge, another left cross. Two minutes to go.

Xie digs a nice knee to the body. Another left from Murad stings him. Another. Knee upstairs. Another left hand. Xie lands a counter right and hits a reactive shot into side control with a minute to go. Looking for the crucifix. Brief americana attempt. Two hammerfists before the bell. 10-9 Murad.

Round two: Low kicks from Murad, who drops him with a straight left and stuffs a takedown. Elbow up top before they separate. Straight right by Xie. One minute in. 1-2-2 from Murad, who looks for a guillotine as Xie takes him down into guard. No dice. Looking to pass. Murad sweeps just over two minutes in and they reset on the feet. Combo from Murad, brief clinch. 1-2 by Xie with two minutes to go.

Another right cross lands for Xie. Body shot. Murad lead left. Xie tries a Superman punch into a takedown attempt, drags him down into side control with a minute to go. Staying tight on top, brief attempt to pass. He tries to drop elbows at the bell. 10-9 Xie.

Round three: Murad hits his own takedown behind a straight left, then lets him up. Well-timed knee by Murad nearly catches Xie leaning. He lands a left hand, succumbs to an aggressive shot into guard. One minute in. Short shots from the top. Two minutes in. Brief scramble, back to the same position. Murad holding overhooks but not doing much else. Two minutes to go.

Now Xie postures up for some heavier shots, uses the threat of the d’arce to keep Murad down. Murad sweeps and separates. One minute to go. Solid right hand from Murad behind a low kick. Xie body kick, blocks a head kick, eats a series of heavy punches. Another huge left by Murad. Brief clinch. 10-9 Xie.

Final result: Murad def. Xie by split decision

For more “Contender Series” news and notes, be sure to hit up our comprehensive archive right here.