Dana White is gonna have to find a new runner.
On Tuesday night, Week 8 of Season 10 of Contender Series took place at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, and while the bout was headlined by Preston LaGrange knocking out Nell Ariano and four fighters earning UFC contracts, the real star of the evening was Sal Everett, a current UFC employee who earned a UFC fight contract with one of the most devastating knockouts of the season.
Sal Everett def. Ozzy Martin
Everett currently works as UFC CEO Dana White’s personal runner, after working various jobs for the promotion over the years. But while he’s a UFC employee, Everett moonlights as a fighter, and he got his chance to prove himself against Ozzy Martin in the evening’s co-main event. And prove himself he did, brutally sleeping Martin in the first round.
Everett came out aggressively, sticking Martin with his jab, picking him apart until he lowered the boom with a big right hand that delivered one of the most brutal knockouts on this season of Contender Series. With such a spectacular knockout, no one could argue that Everett didn’t deserve a UFC contract, and he earned that, with White giving a very nice speech about how Everett is a great person and deserves this.
Preston LaGrange def. Nell Ariano
In the main event of the evening, Preston LaGrange and Nell Ariano had a hard act to follow after the local hero sent the APEX into orbit, but LaGrange did his best, delivering his own nasty knockout that earned him a UFC contract.
Ariano is an accomplished judoka, but LaGrange paid that no heed, walking him down and ripping hooks into the French fighter. Ariano responded in kind and did hit a nice throw during the fight, but LaGrange got back to his feet and leveled him with a perfect right hand that earned him a UFC contract.
Roque Conceicao def. Alexander Chavez
In the swing bout of the evening, Roque Conceicao made good on his second shot on Contender Series, tolling over Alexander Chavez en route to a first-round submission.
Conceicao came out aggressively, swinging lightning-fast right hands and nasty body kicks, backing Chavez up. After getting tagged with a big punch, Chavez shot for a takedown, but Conceicao immediately went for a guillotine choke. Chavez defended, so Conceicao switched to a kimura sweep, and then locked in a triangle choke. Chavez lifted Conceicao up to slam him, but the slam only locked the choke on tighter, forcing Chavez to tap out, giving Conceicao the win and the UFC contract.
Mateus Soares def. Ryuho Miyaguchi
In the second bout of the night, Mateus Soares impressed with a first-round TKO win over Ryuho Miyaguchi, getting the win in just over a minute.
Hyped up as a fighter in the mold of Jose Aldo, Soares certainly looked the part, storming across the cage and bombing on Miyaguchi with blazingly fast hands. Miyaguchi actually ate a few pretty well, but before long, Soares landed the one he didn’t, sending Miyaguchi crashing to the canvas and earning Soares a spot in the UFC.
Alivia Bierley def. Summer Onley
In the opening bout of the evening, Alivia Bierley extended her win streak to six in a row, picking up a decision over the previously undefeated Summer Onley.
Bierley got off to a slow start, walking Onley down consistently but not landing much offense. But in the second round, Bierley scored a nice double-leg takedown and worked Onley over on the floor. In the third round, Bierley simply seemed to want it more, pressing forward and scoring another takedown. In the end, the judges awarded Bierley a unanimous decision, but Dana White did not award her a contract for her lackluster fight.
Check out the full results for Week 9 of Contender Series below.
Main card
Preston LaGrange def. Nell Ariano via KO (punch) — 2:24, Round 1
Sal Everett def. Ozzy Martin via KO (punch) — 1:57, Round 1
Roque Conceicao def. Alexander Chavez via submission (triangle choke) — 3:37, Round 1
Mateus Soares def. Ryuho Miyaguchi via TKO (punches) — 1:03, Round 1
Alivia Bierley def. Summer Onley via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
