Tuesday night was wild. Dana White’s Contender Series Week 5 saw four new fighters snag UFC contracts, but the main event delivered the kind of violence that makes you sit up straight: Quentin Pasley blasted Arlind Berisha with two flush elbows for a first-round KO, immediately earning his shot in the UFC. It was a chaotic night of finishes and decisions, proving once again that DWCS is where prospects either sink or swim, and Pasley just showed he’s ready to swim with sharks.
That Main Event Was Pure Chaos
Man, if you didn’t see Quentin Pasley’s performance, you missed out. This light heavyweight prospect from Connecticut, who only had two pro fights under his belt, went in against Arlind Berisha and just absolutely owned him. Pasley worked his grappling, got Berisha into side control on the ground, and then, bam, he exposed Berisha’s head. What came next was straight out of a highlight reel: two flush elbows delivered with such force that Berisha was knocked out cold on contact. You didn’t even need Dana White to say it, everyone watching knew right then that Pasley was getting a contract. It was vicious, it was fast, and it sent a clear message: this guy is for real.
More Talent Headed to the Octagon
While Pasley’s KO stole the show, Dana White handed out three more contracts, making it four total for the night. Isaac Moreno, a 28-year-old welterweight coming off a couple of TKOs from Fury FC, battled his way through Reginaldo Junior. It wasn’t an easy fight, going to the judges, but Moreno got the unanimous decision with all three scorecards reading 29-28. That tough, gritty performance was enough to impress White and get him a spot. Then there was the towering 6-foot-4 middleweight Martin Kozak, who scored a second-round TKO against Christian Echols. Kozak just battered Echols across the Octagon, leaving no doubt he deserved a shot. And let’s not forget Apollo Gomes, who also earned a contract after a unanimous decision win over Kwon Won, with scores of 29-28 across the board. These guys proved they belong.
An Impressive Win That Didn’t Get the Call
Not everyone walked away with a contract, even after a dominating performance. Christian Natividad, nicknamed “The Hawaiian Punch,” looked absolutely incredible in his flyweight bout against Colton Loud. Natividad, who only has nine professional fights, brought immediate pressure and just overwhelmed Loud, securing a first-round TKO via punches. He truly looks like he can compete with the top end of the flyweight division, showing incredible potential and skill. It’s wild that a guy who looks that good, that aggressive, and gets a first-round finish didn’t get a contract. It just shows how tough it is to stand out even on a night where four contracts are given out. We’ll definitely be watching to see what’s next for “The Hawaiian Punch,” because that dude is a problem for anyone in his division.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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