Dana White’s Contender Sequence 74 recap, evaluation, winner grades

Week 8 of Dana White’s Contender Sequence (2024) happened on Tuesday in Las Vegas, and we’re grading the winners from the five-fight card, which streamed on ESPN+ from the UFC Apex.

With a easy however digestible format that has had the MMA fanbase responding, this sequence has proven to have legs in a number of methods whereas serving as a crockpot for contenders the UFC matchmakers can use to fill their roster for future occasions. With that development in thoughts, I as soon as once more might be having a look on the successful fighters, no matter whether or not or not they gained a UFC contract, and grading their performances in regard to their chance of returning to a UFC stage.

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Jacobe Smith

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 01: (L-R) Jacobe Smith faces Christien Savoie of Canada of their welterweight battle throughout Dana White’s Contender Sequence season eight, week eight occasion at UFC Apex on October 1, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Strawweight
End result: Jacobe Smith def. Christien Savoie through TKO (floor and pound) – Spherical 2, 2:55
Grade: A

Abstract: Setting the tone for the night time was Jacobe Smith, who earns a straightforward A for his destruction of Christien Savoie.

Contemplating that Smith was already on my radar as considered one of my prospects to observe in 2023, I can’t say I used to be stunned to see him come away with the win right here. That mentioned, I used to be impressed with Smith’s continued strides in his transition recreation.

Whether or not we’re speaking about his comfortability taking a again or the truth that he appears to naturally discover strikes in transition, Smith confirmed every thing you’d wish to see in a welterweight prospect.

Though Smith could also be a bit on the smaller facet for the division, the previous two-time NJCAA champion has the right basis to thrive in a division that carries the unofficial nickname of “wrestle-weight” given its historical past of successors.

Signing Smith was a no brainer, so don’t be shocked to see him again within the cage prior to later. I imagine that Smith can already swim with the center of the pack at 170 kilos, however I think that the UFC will begin him off with a reputation like Charlie Radtke for his first official task.

Torrez Finney

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 01: (R-L) Torrez Finney reacts after defeating Abdellah Er-Ramy of Morocco of their middleweight battle throughout Dana White’s Contender Sequence season eight, week eight occasion at UFC Apex on October 1, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Middleweight
End result: Torrez Finney def. Abdellah Er-Ramy through TKO (punches) – Spherical 1, 4:10
Grade: A

Abstract: Making fast work of Abdellah Er-Ramy, it was exhausting to disclaim Torrez Finney each an A and UFC contract.

In what was Finney’s third swing at bat on the Contender Sequence, the stress was definitely on for the undefeated fighter to go away little doubt this time round. And after grounding Er-Ramy proper in entrance of Dana White and the UFC matchmakers, Finney went proper to work with each strikes and positional advances, finally mounting his opponent off of some strong wrist rides.

Regardless of Er-Ramy being extremely outmatched on this spot, I’m pleased that the UFC lastly awarded Finney a contract. Don’t be stunned to see him booked by 12 months’s finish in opposition to somebody like Zachary Reese or Sedriques Dumas.

David Martinez

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 01: (R-L) David Martinez of Mexico kicks Xavier Franklin of their bantamweight battle throughout Dana White’s Contender Sequence season eight, week eight occasion at UFC Apex on October 1, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Bantamweight
End result: David Martinez def. Xavier Franklin through unanimous choice (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Grade: A

Abstract: Regardless of being the one winner to not discover a end, I exhausting time denying David Martniez something lower than an A for arguably being essentially the most UFC-ready fighter of the night time given the abilities that have been on show, in addition to the opponent at hand.

Not solely did Martinez display some strong ring consciousness and sharp counters, however the Mexican fighter virtually turned Xavier Franklin into “Professor Xavier” with the variety of crushing leg kicks he was touchdown on him.

Credit score to Franklin, who displayed a number of promise for such a younger fighter. Though Franklin was getting tagged early, the American was capable of finding Martinez with some strong counters in Spherical 2.

That mentioned, you can argue it was too little too late for Franklin on condition that the harm had already been carried out concerning his leg situation and skill to blow up. I’m glad that Martinez bought signed and hope we see Franklin once more sooner or later.

Though Martinez seems to be like he’s already primed to swim with the sharks, I think that the UFC brass matches him up with somebody like Lee Chang-ho.

Alberto Montes

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 01: (L-R) Alberto Montes of Venezuela punches Carlos Calderon of their featherweight battle throughout Dana White’s Contender Sequence season eight, week eight occasion at UFC Apex on October 1, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Featherweight
End result: Alberto Montes def. Carlos Calderon through submission (anaconda choke) – Spherical 2, 2:38
Grade: A

Abstract: Though Alberto Montes bought somewhat too positionally wild for my liking, I had a tough time denying him an A for hitting his particular transfer in type over Carlos Calderon.

After gorgeous Calderon early with the counter proper hand, Montes discovered himself warding off an opponent who was intent on making this a sticky affair. After some entertaining scrambles (and botched submission makes an attempt prior), Montes was capable of make some critical hay from a failed Peruvian necktie try by transitioning proper into his patent anaconda choke.

I imagine that Montes will make for a strong action-fighting addition to the burden class, so I’m glad to see Dana White signal the Venezuelan fighter. I hope that the matchmakers pair Montes up with somebody like Hyder Amil for some assured fireworks.

Diyar Nurgozhay

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 01: (L-R) Diyar Nurgozhay of Kazakstan reacts after defeating Bartosz Szewczyk of Poland of their mild heavyweight battle throughout Dana White’s Contender Sequence season eight, week eight occasion at UFC Apex on October 1, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Gentle heavyweight
End result: Diyar Nurgozhay def. Bartosz Szewczyk through knockout (head kick) – Spherical 2, 3:32
Grade: A

Abstract: Though this battle felt dangerously near falling sufferer to a slow-paced slogfest, Diyar Nurgozhay finally ends up incomes an A for superbly paying off his earlier work to earn an emphatic knockout to shut out the present.

Regardless of Bartosz Szewczyk doing his greatest to maintain Nurgozhay sincere with some exhausting returns of his personal, the Kazak fighter confirmed some savvy putting from his southpaw stance.

Establishing the specter of the left hand (in addition to the occasional physique kick), Nurgozhay was capable of get Szewczyk to finally chunk exhausting on something coming from mentioned facet. And after Nurgozhay drew a robust response from a left-sided feint, he well adopted up with a cross to a same-side head kick that despatched the Pole falling to the ground half-conscious.

Nurgozhay is a strong mild heavyweight signing for the UFC. I wouldn’t be stunned to see him on the following United Arab Emirates card reverse somebody like Magomed Ghadzhiyasulov.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for DWCS 74.