Dana White’s Contender Series 5 results(Week 1): AJ Fletcher and Azamat Murzakanov stun the UFC President with spectacular finishes

Dana White’s Contender Series 5 results(Week 1): AJ Fletcher and Azamat Murzakanov stun the UFC President with spectacular finishes

AJ Fletcher at Dana White's Contender Series

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 5 kicked off and oh boy do we have some great fighters getting added to the roster. The standouts from week 1 were AJ Fletcher and Azamat Murzakanov.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 5 took place in the UFC Apex on Tuesday night. In week 1 we had eight fighters fighting for a place in the UFC roster and it sure did bring the best out of them. This week was special because it was Dana White‘s first five-contract fight night. The show had four fights lined up where Dana White, Sean Shelby, and Mick Maynard were the ones who decide who make the cut.

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Dana White’s Contender Series week 1 winners

Azamat Murzakanov Dana White's Contender Series
Azamat Murzakanov

The first fight of the night was easily the best knockout one could ask for. AJ Fletcher took on Leonardo Damiani. AJ put Damiani to sleep in Round 1, 2:24 with a stunning flying knee. There was no doubt that was the highlight of the week. Dana White was so impressed that he demanded that knockout is in ESPN’s top plays category. AJ Fletcher won a contract.

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The second fight was between Victor Altamirano and Carlos Candelario. This bout got a little tricky as the judges gave Victor the fight while several members there from the UFC disagreed. Dana White and Paul Felder being part of that group. For the first time in the history of the show has a fighter won a contract after suffering a loss. Victor def. Carlos via split decision with scores, 29-28, 28-29, and 29-28. Both the fighters were awarded contracts.

The co-main event was between Diego Lopes and Joanderson Brito. The fight between the two featherweights was a bit of a bummer given the fight had to be stopped after Brito poked Lopes in the eyes. The fight was taken to the judges and Brito def. Lopes via technical decision with scores, 29-28, 29-28, and 29-28. Despite deducting a point for the eye poke, Brito got the contract.

The main event was another amazing fight as Russia’s Azamat Murzakanov took on Brazil’s Matheus Scheffel. Both the fighter started out really well and Murzakanov dropped the Brazilian after 3 minutes in the fight.

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Also read: “I’m not too worried,” Sean O’Malley explains why he didn’t take the Frankie Edgar fight in New York at UFC 268