Welcome to Fightful.com's live coverage & discussion for Dana White’s Contender Series Episode 32. 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: Aliaskhab Khizriev, Drako Rodriguez, Phil Hawes & Tafon Nchuwki
Tafon Nchuwki def. Al Matavao by KO via head kick (2:01, R2)
Sherrard Blackledge def. Cameron Church by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Phil Hawes def. Khadzihimurat Bestaev by TKO via strikes (1:18, R1)
Drako Rodriguez def. Mana Martinez by submission via triangle choke (2:22, R1)
Aliaskhab Khizriev def. Henrique Shiguemoto by submission via rear naked choke (0:50, R1)
Tafon Nchuwki vs. Al Matavao
Round One: The round begins with Matavao taking a few swings at Nchuwki, Nchuwki and Matavao get into a few striking exchanges. Matavao starts attacking Nchuwki with some leg kicks, Nchuwki cracks a swinging Matavao with a counter left. Nchuwki then cracks a kicking Matavaoo with a two punch combination, Nchuwki also lands some knee strikes on Matavao. Matavao keeps Nchuwki at bay while throwing a few kicks, Nchuwki comes forward and he nails Matavao with a three strike combination. Matavao continues firing back and he attacks Nchuwki with some combinations, Matavao stuns a swinging Nchuwki with a counter right hook followed by a body kick. Nchuwki recovers and he hits a swinging Matavao with a counter left hook, Nchuwki pops Matavao with a few shots to the midsection. Nchuwki charges at Matavao while swinging away at him, Nchuwki nails Matavao with a head kick as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Nchuwki
Round Two: The round begins with Matavao attacking Nchuwki with some leg kicks, Nchuwki backs up Matavao while landing a two punch combo. Nchuwki backs up Matavao while swinging away at him, Nchuwki lands a combo to the body of Matavao. Matavao fires back and he lands some combinations of his own on Nchuwki, Nchuwki continues coming forward while swinging away at Matavao. Nchuwki destroys Matavao with a head kick and Matavao goes out cold.
Official Result: Tafon Nchuwki def. Al Matavao by KO via head kick (2:01, R2)
Sherrard Blackledge vs. Cameron Church
Round One: The round begins with the fighters exchanging jabs and leg kicks, Church nails Blackledge with a front kick to the midsection. Blackledge grabs Church and he gets him up against the cage wall, the fighters exchange some strikes while in the clinch. The fighters separate and Blackledge lands an overhand right on Church, Church cracks a backing Blackledge with a combination. Church backs up Blackledge as the fighters swing away at each other, Church starts winning the leg kick battle against Blackledge. Church pops Blackledge with a left uppercut followed by a left hook, Blackledge scores a takedown on Church and he gets the half guard. Church gets back up after eating a few strikes from Blackledge, Church slips and Blackledge pops him with a right. Church backs Blackledge into the cage wall while swinging away at him, Blackledge clinches with Church before landing some knee strikes. Blackledge nails Church with a multiple punch combination as they separate, Blackledge pops a swinging Church with a counter right. Blackledge then lands another counter right on a kicking Church, Blackledge scores another takedown on Church and he gets the half guard. Blackledge attacks Church with ground and pound as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Blackledge
Round Two: The round begins with Blackledge peppering Church with some jabs, Church continues charging forward as the fighters swing away at each other. Blackledge accidentally nails Church low and the fight is halted, the fight resumes with Church attacking Blackledge with a few kicks. Church backs Blackledge into the cage wall after landing a pair of rights, Blackledge then pops Church with a three punch combination. Blackledge cracks an incoming Church with a head kick, Blackledge also lands multiple kicks to the midsection of Church. Blackledge backs up Church after landing a knee strike and a multiple punch combination, Church accidentally nails Blackledge low and the fight is halted. The fight resumes with the fighters swinging away at each other, Blackledge grabs Church and he gets him up against the cage wall for a short time. Blackledge scores a takedown on Church and he gets the full guard, Church rolls for an arm bar and Blackledge escapes to get the fight standing again. Blackledge scores another takedown on Church and he gets the open guard, Blackledge attacks Church with some ground and pound. Church rolls for another arm bar and Blackledge escapes to get back control, Blackledge attacks Church with more strikes. Church scrambles to his feet and Blackledge drags him back to the ground, Church gets up and he swings at Blackledge as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Blackledge (Overall Score: 20-18 for Blackledge)
Round Three: The round begins with the fighters immediately swinging away at each other, Blackledge nails a swinging Church with a spinning elbow strike. Church starts attacking Blackledge with some leg kicks, Blackledge lands some knee strikes on Church as they clinch. The fighters separate and Church attacks Blackledge with a head kick, Blackledge grabs Church and he scores a takedown. Blackledge attacks Church with some ground and pound, Blackledge advances to the half guard against Church while landing more strikes. Church eventually gets Blackledge back in his full guard, Church looks to scramble and Blackledge keeps him on the ground. Blackledge and Church exchange some strikes on the ground as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Blackledge (Final Score: 30-27 for Blackledge)
Official Result: Sherrard Blackledge def. Cameron Church by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Khadzhimurat Bestaev vs. Phil Hawes
Round One: The round begins with Hawes and Bestaev exchanging some leg kicks, Hawes attacks a backing Bestaev with an overhand right. Bestaev charges at a kicking Hawes while swinging away at him, Bestaev and Hawes also exchange a few jabs. Hawes drops a swinging Bestaev with a counter right and he pounces on him with more strikes until the referee jumps in.
Official Result: Phil Hawes def. Khadzihimurat Bestaev by TKO via strikes (1:18, R1)
Mana Martinez vs. Drako Rodriguez
Round One: The round begins with Rodriguez attacking Martinez with some leg kicks, Rodriguez follows by landing a left on Martinez. Martinez starts landing some leg kicks of his own on Rodriguez, Rodriguez pops a kicking Martinez with a counter right. Rodriguez scores a takedown on a kicking Martinez and he gets the half guard, Martinez gets Rodriguez in his full guard while eating some strikes. Martinez rolls for an arm bar and Rodriguez escapes, Martinez sweeps Rodriguez and he gets top control. Rodriguez catches Martinez in a triangle choke and Martinez eventually goes out cold.
Official Result: Drako Rodriguez def. Mana Martinez by submission via triangle choke (2:22, R1)
Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Henrique Shiguemoto
Round One: The round begins with Khizriev attacking Shiguemoto with a high kick followed by body kicks, Khizriev looks for a takedown and he gets one after some time. Khizriev gains back control on Shiguemoto while landing a few strikes. Khizriev locks in a rear naked choke and the tap out follows.
Official Result: Aliaskhab Khizriev def. Henrique Shiguemoto by submission via rear naked choke (0:50, R1)
Dana White's Contender Series Episode 32 takes place from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday, September 8 and Tafon Nchuwki vs. Al Matavao will headline the card. Keep up with Fightful for all your fight night coverage.
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