Welcome to Fightful.com's live coverage & discussion for Dana White’s Contender Series Episode 31. We'll be bringing you full, fight by fight coverage of every bout on the card. You can also send in your feedback on our Disqus boards below!
Dana White Awards The Contract(s) To: William Knight, Ronnie Lawrence & Jimmy Flick
Melsik Baghdasaryan def. Dennis Buzukja by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Jimmy Flick def. Nate Smith by submission via arm triangle choke (3:15, R3)
Ronnie Lawrence def. Jose Johnson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
William Knight def. Cody Brundage by TKO via strikes (2:23, R1)
Tucker Lutz def. Chase Gibson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Dennis Buzukja
Round One: The round begins with Baghdasaryan swinging away at Buzukja, Baghdasaryan cracks a backing Buzukja with a four strike combination. Buzukja looks for a clinch and Baghdasaryan gets free a short time later, Baghdasaryan cracks Buzukja with a plethora of knee strikes to the midsection. Baghdasaryan keeps Buzukja against the cage wall while landing tons of elbow strikes to the head, Baghdasaryan goes for a head kick and Buzukja blocks it. Baghdasaryan trips up Buzukja before swinging away at him, Baghdasaryan lands another kick to the midsection of Buzukja. Baghdasaryan continues backing up Buzukja while swinging away at him, Baghdasaryan gets Buzukja back against the cage wall while landing a left to the midsection. Baghdasaryan creates space before landing another kick to the midsection of Buzukja, Buzukja scores a takedown on Baghdasaryan. Baghdasaryan gets up and Buzukja holds him against the cage wall until the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-8 for Baghdasaryan
Round Two: The round begins with Buzukja attacking Baghdasaryan with some leg kicks, Baghdasaryan starts firing back against Buzukja. Baghdasaryan cracks Buzukja with an elbow strike to the head during a brief clinch, Baghdasaryan nails Buzukja with a few kicks to the midsection. Baghdasaryan comes forward and he cracks Buzukja with some lefts to the head, Buzukja continues landing leg kicks on Baghdasaryan. Buzukja nails Baghdasaryan with a few kicks to the midsection, Buzukja scores a takedown on Baghdasaryan and Baghdasaryan gets back up. Buzukja nails Baghdasaryan with a knee strike as they separate, Buzukja nails a swinging Baghdasaryan with a counter right uppercut. Buzukja grabs Baghdasaryan and he gets him up against the cage wall, Buzukja nails Baghdasaryan with some strikes while in the clinch. Buzukja scores another takedown on Baghdasaryan and Baghdasaryan gets back up, the fighters separate and swing away at each other. Buzukja attempts a head kick on Baghdasaryan as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Buzukja (Overall Score: 19-18 for Baghdasaryan)
Round Three: The round begins with Baghdasaryan attacking Buzukja with some front kicks, Buzukja lands some leg kicks on Baghdasaryan. Baghdasaryan and Buzukja exchange a few left hooks to the head, the fighters clinch and exchange some knee strikes. Buzukja lands a two punch combination on a swinging Baghdasaryan, Baghdasaryan hits Buzukja with a spinning back kick to the midsection. Baghdasaryan backs up Buzukja after landing a short left, Baghdasaryan scores a takedown on Buzukja and Buzukja gets right back up. Baghdasaryan nails Buzukja with a kick to the midsection, the fighters clinch and exchange a few strikes. Buzukja drags Baghdasaryan to the ground and he immediately rolls for an arm bar and Baghdasaryan defends to get the fight standing again, the fighters stay at a distance and swing at each other. Baghdasaryan gets Buzukja against the cage wall while landing an elbow strike, the fighters separate and exchange some strikes as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Baghdasaryan (Final Score: 29-27 for Baghdasaryan)
Official Result: Melsik Baghdasaryan def. Dennis Buzukja by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Jimmy Flick vs. Nate Smith
Round One: The round begins with Smith and Flick exchanging some leg kicks, Flick trips up a kicking Smith and he gets top control. Flick quickly transitions to back control on Smith, Smith scrambles and he finds a way to get top control on Flick. Smith gets side control on Flick while landing elbow strikes and knee strikes, Flick catches Smith in a straight arm bar and Smith defends. Flick then catches a scrambling Smith in a d’arce choke, Flick transitions to a guillotine choke and Smith defends. Smith gets to his feet and Flick holds him against the cage wall, the fighters separate and they exchange some kicks. Flick then cracks Smith with a kick to the midsection, Flick lands another body kick on Smith as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Flick
Round Two: The round begins with Flick attacking Smith with some leg kicks, Smith comes forward and he lands leg kicks on Flick. Flick backs up Smith after landing a short right hook, Flick grabs Smith and he gets him up against the cage wall. Smith looks for a kimura and Flick gets Smith to the ground while gaining the full mount, Flick looks for an arm triangle choke and Smith defends. Smith catches a swinging Flick in a triangle choke and Flick defends while landing a few knee strikes, Flick gets free and he keeps top control on Smith. Flick lands some ground and pound on Smith while getting the full mount, Flick rolls for an arm bar and he transitions to a triangle choke on Smith as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Flick (Overall Score: 20-18 for Flick)
Round Three: The round begins with the fighters exchanging some leg kicks, Smith cracks Flick with a front kick to the face. Flick gets Smith against the cage wall before scoring a takedown and getting side control, Smith gets Flick in his half guard while eating a few strikes. Flick transitions to the full mount on Smith while landing a few more strikes, Flick starts attacking Smith with ground and pound before getting back control. Flick looks for a rear naked choke and Smith defends while getting him in his half guard, Flick catches Smith in an arm triangle choke and a tap out follows.
Official Result: Jimmy Flick def. Nate Smith by submission via arm triangle choke (3:15, R3)
Jose Johnson vs. Ronnie Lawrence
Round One: The round begins with Johnson attacking Lawrence with a front kick followed by a high kick, Johnson nails Lawrence with a right hook followed by a knee strike. Lawrence scores a takedown on Johnson and he gets the open guard, Lawrence postures up and Johnson gets up after throwing some up kicks. The fighters clinch and Lawrence scores another takedown on Johnson, Lawrence transitions to side control on Johnson before getting put back in the open guard. Johnson scrambles to his feet and Lawrence gets him up against the cage wall, Lawrence jumps on the back of Johnson and Johnson quickly shakes him off. Lawrence quickly starts attacking Johnson with some leg kicks, Lawrence nails Johnson with a spinning back kick to the midsection. Lawrence scores another takedown on Johnson and he gets the full guard, Johnson scrambles to his feet and Lawrence goes for a jump guillotine choke, Johnson defends and Lawrence drags him to the ground as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Lawrence
Round Two: The round begins with Lawrence attacking Johnson with some leg kicks, Johnson nails Lawrence with a kick to the midsection. Lawrence comes forward and he nails Johnson with an uppercut, Lawrence scores a takedown on Johnson and he gets the full guard. Lawrence attacks Johnson with some ground and pound, Lawrence postures up and Johnson gets up a short time later before landing a knee strike. Lawrence eats a few strikes while getting Johnson up against the cage wall, the fighters separate and Lawrence scores another takedown on Johnson. Johnson scrambles to his feet and he nails Lawrence with a left, Lawrence scores another takedown on Johnson and he gets side control. Johnson scrambles and he gets top control on Lawrence, the fighters exchange strikes while on the ground. Lawrence rolls for an arm bar as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Lawrence (Overall Score: 20-18 for Lawrence)
Round Three: The round begins with Lawrence nailing a spinning back kick to the head of Johnson, Lawrence then hits Johnson with a spinning back kick to the midsection. Lawrence scores a takedown on Johnson and Johnson gets right back up, Lawrence scores another takedown on Johnson and he gets him in a seated position. Lawrence then gets the full guard position on a downed Johnson, Lawrence gets back control on Johnson after escaping an arm bar attempt. Johnson gets up and Lawrence drags him right back to the ground, Lawrence transitions to the half guard against Johnson. Lawrence gains the full mount and Johnson gets him back in the half guard, Johnson then gets Lawrence back in his open guard. Lawrence gains the half guard again on Johnson while landing a few strikes, Lawrence advances to side control as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Lawrence (Final Score: 30-27 for Lawrence)
Official Result: Ronnie Lawrence def. Jose Johnson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
William Knight vs. Cody Brundage
Round One: The round begins with Knight attacking Brundage with some leg kicks, Brundage grabs Knight and he gets him up against the cage wall. Knight drops for a guillotine choke and Brundage escapes to get back control, Brundage attacks Knight with a lot of ground and pound. Knight scrambles and both fighters get back to their feet, Brundage looks for a takedown and Knight drops him with elbow strikes. Knight lands a ton of unanswered strikes on Brundage and the referee jumps in.
Official Result: William Knight def. Cody Brundage by TKO via strikes (2:23, R1)
Tucker Lutz vs. Chase Gibson
Round One: The round begins with Lutz and Gibson exchanging kicks to the midsection, Gibson pops a swinging Lutz with a superman punch. Gibson goes for a head kick and Lutz blocks it, Lutz starts landing some leg kicks against a swinging Gibson. Gibson cracks a swinging Lutz with a counter overhand right, Gibson lands a two punch combination on Lutz. Lutz starts landing more kicks to the midsection of Gibson, Gibson pops a swinging Lutz with a counter right. Lutz trips up a swinging Gibson and he gets top control while landing a few strikes, Lutz transitions to back control on Gibson. Lutz attacks a downed Gibson with some more strikes, Gibson gets back up as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Gibson
Round Two: The round begins with Lutz kicking Gibson in the midsection, Lutz charges forward and he pops Gibson with a right. Lutz follows up by landing some more body kicks on Gibson, Gibson eats some leg kicks after landing a high kick. Gibson also starts landing some leg kicks on Lutz, Lutz then cracks a backing Gibson with a multiple punch combination. Lutz also lands a plethora of left hooks and jabs on Gibson, Gibson responds by landing a few rights on Lutz. Lutz backs Gibson into the cage wall after landing a pair of combinations, Lutz pops Gibson with a kick and left hook to the midsection. Gibson responds by landing a pair of body kicks on Lutz, Gibson nails a kicking Lutz with a counter right. Lutz recovers and he nails Gibson with a multiple punch combination as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Gibson (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)
Round Three: The round begins with the fighters exchanging strikes in the middle of the Octagon, Lutz pops a kicking Gibson with a counter right. Gibson responds and he lands his own counter right on Lutz, Lutz backs up Gibson after throwing a combination. Gibson and Lutz start exchanging some leg kicks, Gibson eats a few strikes while kicking Lutz in the midsection. Gibson barely lands a high kick on a swinging Lutz, Gibson hits Lutz with a body kick followed by a right. Lutz continuously attacks Gibson with punching combinations, Gibson grabs Lutz and he gets him up against the cage wall. Gibson scores a takedown on Lutz and Lutz scrambles to get back control on him, Lutz attacks Gibson with some ground and pound. Gibson gets up and he gets Lutz against the cage wall before dragging him to the ground, Gibson looks for a rear naked choke as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Lutz (Final Score: 29-28 for Lutz)
Official Result: Tucker Lutz def. Chase Gibson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Dana White’s Contender Series Episode 31 takes place from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday, September 1. Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Dennis Buzukia will headline the card. Keep up with Fightful for all your fight night coverage.
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