Video: Lone’er Kavanagh kicks off Dana White’s Contender Series season opener with shock KO of An Tuan Ho
Lone'er Kavanagh kicks off Dana White's Contender Series 67 (Season 8) with shock and style KO of An Tuan Ho, wins a contract.
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Lone'er Kavanagh knocked out An Tuan Ho (Source: Instagram/X)
There’s a reason Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) has much hype around it. Gunning for that sweet contract, many prospects deliver on those blink-and-miss moments during the course. Lone’er Kavanagh kicked off Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8 on Tuesday with a bang! He scored a knockout of An Tuan Ho in such a way that Dana White was left deeply impressed.
Many notable alumni from DWCS have made their way into the active UFC competition roster. Perhaps in their shadow, Lone’er Kavanagh found the strength to tee off the competition hard enough. An Tuan Ho started the action with low torso kicks and clean shots first. Kavanagh’s early offense to Ho entailed attacks with separation by leg kicks. Ho did have his moments in the bout.
Nevertheless, out of nowhere, the duo stepped forward at the same time, and it was the 25-year-old Kavanagh who connected in the probable slugfest! A short left hook, not even a deliberate shovel shot, and Ho was completely out! Kavanagh defeated An Tuan Ho via knockout (punch) – Round 1 at the 2:35 mark.
Perhaps the Chinese flyweight was going for Alex Pereira‘s UFC 300 shovel hook KO. He was about to channel his inner DWCS alum Sean O’Malley and go for some ground-and-pound and hammer fists. However, he didn’t need to. It was a walk-off KO for Kavanagh.
DWCS 67 Result: Contact with a contract
DWCS cards feature hopefuls fighting for the opportunity to sign a UFC contract. The main event at middleweight pitted undefeated Mansur Abdul-Malik (6-0) against Wesley Schultz (6-2). The UFC Apex hosted Tuesday’s event (on ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET). Kavanagh was the card opener, and a good one at that. Subsequently, flashy finishers earn the top spot, and Lone’er Kavanagh just fits the bill aptly.
The up-to-the-minute DWCS 67 accordingly saw Abdul-Malik, Bruno Lopes, Jose Delgado, and Kavanagh win contracts. Kavanagh has become the latest Cage Warriors product to impress the UFC brass. Names like Tom Aspinall, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett, Conor McGregor, and Irish compatriot Ian Garry are top standouts from there. Tuesday’s knockout was his fifth in his seven-fight career, with a fifth straight over an undefeated opponent.
The once-undefeated An Tuan Ho (6-1) was down and out until medical personnel and referee Herb Dean had to come to his aid. He subsequently did recover. But could not come to the reading of the official decision. Dana White is the instigator of ‘holy sh*t’ moments that he sells at his events. Kavanagh, now 7-0-0, is the poster child of such a moment.
Kavanagh now joins names like ‘Suga’ and Jamahal Hill to hot prospects like Payton Talbott, Jack Della Maddalena, and Joe Pyfer in hopes of making a mark under the UFC banner.
In case you missed it:
- Dana White ranks contender series over UFC pay-per-view fights in favorites list
- “Here to see the Knockouts”- Deontay Wilder makes an appearance at Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6
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