Dana White’s Contender Series Storylines | Week 5, Season 6
It has been a couple of days since Leon Edwards shook the masses with his jaw-dropping knockout over former welterweight king Kamaru Usman. That emphatic knockout is what every fighter seeks. Therefore, on this week’s contender episode, best believe everyone will be hunting for that moment.
Eduardo Neves vs Michael Parkin
Two undefeated heavyweights collide as they headline this week’s contender series intending to close the episode with a bang.
Undefeated twenty-two-year-old prospect Eduardo Neves hails from Brazil, riding a three-fight finish streak with the ultimate confidence of a young fighter. Moreover, Neves made his professional debut in 2019, ending all his fights before the final bell. That shows the danger Neves carries into his fights. However, we’re yet to see how he deals with adversity. After this week’s fight, we’ll undoubtedly have a better idea.
Fellow undefeated heavyweight Michael Parkin hails from the united kingdom, with a combined record of 13-0 if you include both amateur and professional bouts. Moreover, Parkin is currently ranked as the #6 heavyweight in Britain and Ireland.
Someone’s 0 has got to go. Who will it be?
Darrius Flowers vs Amiran Gogoladze
Darrius Flowers was the embodiment of a journeyman. A C-level mindset was what he described as his former mental state eight months ago. However, a flame of fire and desire erupted in his soul, leading him to “put all the quarters in the bucket” he described. The Chicago born is carrying a record of 11-5-1. Currently, he’s on a three-fight win streak that he piled in twenty-one days. It’s now or never for Darrius Flowers.
The twenty-four-year-old Georgian standout Amiran Gogoladze enters the contest as the GFC champion, with a record of 14-2.
Currently, Seven Georgian fighters in the UFC are carrying the flag with pride on the grandest stage of all. Amiran Gogoladze looks to become the eighth Georgian fighter in the UFC.
“Fighting is in our blood. Our ancestors had to fight to defend our land. So this is what we do, and we are good at it.”
Erisson Ferreira da Silva vs Jesus Aguilar
A fighter is most dangerous when fighting with a potent calling. And Ferreira’s purpose is as powerful as it gets.
On the last season of DWCS, Erisson Ferreira won by unanimus decision. However, the boss wasn’t that impressed by his showing. Riding on a five-fight win streak, with his only loss being by split decision, Ferreira feels that the momentum is on his side heading into this week’s show.
“I fight for myself, but now I also fight for my family to give them a better life, a better lifestyle. I want them to feel proud of all those moments I wasn’t with them.”
On the opposite corner, Jesus Aguilar looks to add his win streak to eight and make a statement under the brightest lights with hopes of locking in his UFC contract.
Aguilar’s character has been proven, with him bouncing back emphatically after losing his professional debut. Will his character grant him a contract? Or will Ferreira’s purpose be too powerful for him?
Joshua Wang-Kim vs Cameron Saaiman
Josh Wang-Kim is undoubtedly the most experienced fighter on this week’s episode, with a combined amateur and professional record of 20-2. Currently, the twenty-nine-year-old is 1-1 in his last two. In one night, Kim can start extending his win streak and earn a UFC contract while doing so.
Twenty-one-year-old Cameron Saaiman hails from South Africa with an unblemished record of 5-0 in the amateurs and a matching 5-0 record in the professional ranks. Saaiman became the EFC champion after five gruelling rounds in his last outing. That is what you call a priceless experience.
Both bantamweights went through similar routes leading to this week’s showdown. Will the lengthy experience of Kim be the factor? Or will the youth and hunger of Saaiman overwhelm his adversary?
Rayanne Amanda vs Denise Gomes
We start the night with a Brazilian firefight between Rayanne Amanda and Denise Gomes with a UFC strawweight seat at stake.
Currently, the twenty-seven-year-old Amanda is riding a four-fight finish streak, with a total record of 11-5. Nine of her wins have ended before the final bell, with Seven coming by Submission. A finisher is what Rayanne Amanda is.
On the other corner, twenty-two-year-old Denise Gomes enters this fight as the training partner of one of the most devastating prolific finishers in UFC history, Jessica Andrade.
After Gomes lost her debut by stoppage, she strived to change her weakness in striking and making it her strength. And the results show with Gomes ending four of her five wins by knockout.
Both females can do it all. But based on their stats, this is a classic striker vs grappler showdown. Who will prevail with a contract and possibly jump on the UFC Brazil card that is rumoured to take place in January? Our questions shall be answered on this week’s Dana White’s contender series.
