DWCS Season 8, Week 4 results: Outrageous knockout among five contracts awarded by Dana White

It was a night for the underdogs on the latest episode of Contender Series.

On Tuesday night, the fourth episode of season eight of Contender Series took place in Las Vegas at the UFC APEX. After five fights, three underdogs managed to get their hands raised, including Yuneisy Duben, who delivered one of the best knockouts in Contender Series history. At the end of the night, UFC CEO Dana White rewarded all the underdogs with UFC contracts, along with the two other winners, signing five new fighters to UFC.

Ko upsets Cavalcanti

In the featured fight of the evening, Seok Hyun Ko took on Igor Cavalcanti in a welterweight contest, showing well-rounded skills to win a unanimous decision.

A +240 underdog heading into the bout, Ko survived Cavalcanti’s big haymakers and mixed his skills well, scoring takedowns and landing clean shots on the feet, wearing Cavalcanti down for three rounds. In the end, Seok Hyun Ko won a wide unanimous decision and impressed White enough to earn a UFC contract.

Santos outboxes Currie

It wasn’t the most exciting performance, but Djorden Santos kept his win streak alive against Will Currie.

Santos was a sizable underdog in his middleweight matchup with Currie but certainly didn’t look it, defending takedowns and working Currie over with his superior boxing and pressure. As the fight went on, Santos wasn’t able to secure a finish, but nonetheless picked up a wide unanimous decision win and White rewarded Santos for the big upset win with a UFC contract.

Bashi submits Ramos

Austin Bashi entered Contender Series as one of the best prospects of the season, and the 22-year-old looked every bit of that, scoring a submission finish over Dorian Ramos.

Already 12-0 in his young MMA career, Bashi is one of the new breed of fighters who has been training in all aspects of MMA since he was a child, and he showed all of those skills, working combinations on the feet to then transitioning into the grappling. Ramos fended Bashi off as best he could, but simply had no answer for the BJJ prowess of Bashi and eventually gave up the choke in the second round. Given how hyped he is, it’s unsurprising that Bashi was awarded a contract.

Duben starches Clark

Yuneisy Duben delivered one of the most impressive knockouts in Contender Series history over Shannon Clark.

A massive +800 underdog coming into this matchup of two undefeated fighters, Duben came out with fire, repeatedly tagging Clark as the Canadian fighter charged blindly in. That proved to be disastrous for Clark, as a little over a minute into the fight, Duben timed a perfect overhand right that starched Clark stiff as a board and had White telling her she was in before they even got to the end of the show. Then, when the time for contracts did arrive, White brought Duben with him and lauded her with praise for her great performance.

Salkilld outworks Young

In the opening fight of the evening, Quillan Salkilld won a hard-fought scrap over Gauge Young.

Both Salkilld and Young are only 24 years old and they showed that youthful enthusiasm trying to earn a UFC contract, but it was Salkilld’s great kicks and wrestling ability which allowed him to control the action for most of the fight. So competitive was the fight that White even went into the cage to tell both Salkilld and Young they have a bright future in the sport, though ultimately only Salkilld received a contract.

Check out the DWCS results below.

Seok Hyun Ko def. Igor Cavalcanti via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Djorden Santos def. Will Currie via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Austin Bashi def. Dorian Ramos via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 2, 3:15

Yuneisy Duben def. Shannon Clark via knockout (punch) — Round 1, 1:13

Quillan Salkilld def. Gauge Young via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)