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Dana White's Contender Series 43 results: Three more secure UFC deals, including one who missed weight

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene and reporting live from Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 43 event, where three more fighters earned UFC deals.

Dana White’s Contender Series cards see prospects fighting for the opportunity to sign a UFC deal, with UFC president Dana White on hand to make the decisions.

In the featured bout, featherweight prospects clashed with undefeated Roufusport MMA product Christian Rodriguez (6-0) scoring a decision win over Arizona’s Reyes Cortez (5-2). While Rodriguez cruised to a decision win, he missed weight at Monday’s official weigh-ins and subsequently was not awarded a UFC deal.

However, that same scenario played out differently with a different fighter.

The UFC Apex hosts Tuesday’s card, which streams on ESPN+. The full lineup includes:

  • Christian Rodriguez def. Reyes Cortez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Martin Buday def. Lorenzo Hood via TKO (knee, punches) – Round 1, 4:56
  • Jake Hadley def. Mitch Raposo via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:11
  • Viacheslav Borshchev def. Chris Duncan via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 0:28
  • Maria Silva def. Kathryn Paprocki via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Kathryn Paprocki vs. Maria Silva

In the night’s first contest, strawweight Maria Silva (7-0) kept her career record perfect with a dominant decision win over late replacement Kathryn Paprocki (3-2).

The women looked to engage quickly at the start of the contest. Punches and kicks were traded in tight as both danced lightly on the feet. Silva eventually pressed forward and held double underhooks as she pushed the action to the cage, though she struggled to do much with the position, and referee Jason Herzog brought them back to the center of the cage.

On the restart, it was once again a spirited exchange to start, but Silva was quick to clinch, peppering with dirty boxing inside. For her part, Paprocki returned fire as best she could while stuck against the cage, and the two remained upright.

The two again started quickly in the second before again moving to the clinch. This time, Silva was able to secure a trip to the floor, and she latched on to the neck as Paprocki worked quickly back to the feet. Paprocki patiently worked to free herself from the hold, but she was quickly in trouble again as Silva returned the action to the canvas and secured top position.

Paprocki was forced to alternate between exposing the back and giving up mount before finally turning inside with less than a minute remaining. Even then, she didn’t get to enjoy much attacking time, with Silva turning quickly to an armbar.

Silva again came forward with sharp striking in the third, while Paprocki did her best to rally and swing things in her direction. Silva eventually found her way to the clinch, taking the action to the floor again with relative ease. Paprocki did her best to escape, but Silva again was able to secure dominant control in a constant rotation between back control and mount. Paprocki refused to quit until the end, surviving throughout the frame and even escaping in the final seconds, though she didn’t have enough time to truly capitalize.

In the end, Silva was awarded a clearcut decision win, 30-27 on all three cards.

Result: Maria Silva def. Kathryn Paprocki via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 43: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Kathryn Paprocki (3-2), Maria Silva (7-0)
Division: Strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog

Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Chris Duncan

In a lightweight matchup Viacheslav Borshchev (5-1) delivered an incredible highlight-reel knockout over a previously undefeated Chris Duncan (7-1).

Duncan was aggressive at the start, but Borshchev attacked with punches and kicks from all angles, clearly earning his opponent’s respect from the start. A crisp jab busted up Duncan’s nose early, and kicks to all levels also scored clean. Borshchev eventually landed a crisp right hand that stunned Duncan, and a follow-up flurry did big damage.

Busted up and wobbled, Duncan was forced to shoot inside. Borshchev defended the initial push well enough, but Duncan was able to drag him down with a second effort, where he enjoyed a brief moment of top control.

When they stood, Borshchev went back to work, with Duncan’s right eye showing damage, as well. Duncan was able to move inside to score a takedown, but he again couldn’t keep the action there. The two continued to trade big shots on the feet until the bell, and UFC president White stood to applaud at the close of the frame.

The pace remained high in the second, with both men mixing it up in aggressive fashion before a Borshchev left hand sent Duncan crashing to the canvas and out cold at the 28-second mark of the round. Borshchev was awarded a UFC deal for the highlight-reel finish.

Result: Viacheslav Borshchev def. Chris Duncan via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 0:28
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 43: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Viacheslav Borshchev (4-1), Chris Duncan (7-0)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith

Jake Hadley vs. Mitch Raposo

In a flyweight matchup between a pair of unbeatens, Jake Hadley (8-0) kept his record perfect with an impressive submission win over Mitch Raposo (5-1).

The two athletes didn’t waste time engaging, standing in the pocket and rattling off combinations before Raposo changed levels and drove through for a takedown. Hadley was quick from his back, immediately working through a variety of armlocks, though Raposo was able to pull free from each attempt before moving back to the feet.

On the restart, both men again were content to kickbox in close range. Each had moments of success with their hands, and low kicks were added on both sides, as well. Raposo pushed through for another takedown in the final minute, and this time he was able to push down and finish on top.

The pace remained high to open the second, with Hadley holding the center but Raposo showing excellent timing on his attacks as he worked from the outside. Combinations scored for both men, and Hadley eventually worked inside for a takedown and moved quickly to the back in an ensuing scramble. Hadley eventually wrapped the left arm around the chin and squeezed and torqued. Raposo was slow to battle the hands away, seemingly comfortable in the position, but Hadley kept adjusting his squeeze until he got the tap at the 3:11 mark of the frame.

Despite missing weight on Monday, Hadley was awarded a UFC deal, with White admitting he broke all of his own rules to give the Brit a contract.

Result: Jake Hadley def. Mitch Raposo via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:11
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 43: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Jake Hadley (8-0), Mitch Raposo (5-1)
Division: Flyweight (Hadley missed weight)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog

Martin Buday vs. Lorenzo Hood

In heavyweight action, Martin Buday (9-1) survived an early barrage of strikes from opponent Lorenzo Hood (12-5) before slowing things down and scoring a stoppage win due to strikes in the clinch.

Hood was aggressive early, opening with a probing kick and then a big punch up top. Buday was patient early, though he was warned for an eye poke in the opening minute. He was more aggressive on the restart, moving into a clinch and driving the action to the cage before firing in big knees and punches to the body.

Unable to score a takedown, Buday let go of the position, which proved to be a mistake. Hood stated teeing off with big punches that landed clean, firing off overhands and uppercuts in quick succession. Buday was quick to clinch again and work to slow things down. Buday leaned heavy on his opponent against the fence and continued to drive knees to the body and short punches inside. With time winding down and Hood bloodied from the inside work, Buday kept swinging away. A well-timed knee landed clean and sent Hood to the floor, where a few punches sealed the result at the 4:56 mark of the opening round.

The performance was enough to earn Buday a UFC deal.

Result: Martin Buday def. Lorenzo Hood via TKO (knee, punches) – Round 1, 4:56
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 43: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Martin Buday (9-1), Lorenzo Hood (12-5)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith

Reyes Cortez vs. Christian Rodriguez

In the night’s featured contest, Christian Rodriguez (6-0) kept his career record perfect with a dominant decision win over Reyes Cortez (5-2).

Cortez moved out quickly and fired punches down the middle, but Rodriguez was right there to return strikes. After a spirited start, the two then moved to the clinch, working an over-under before Rodriguez was able to duck under and slip to the back. Rodriguez quickly turned back inside, but Rodriguez maintained control from the outside. Rodriguez eventually framed and created space, and the two reset in the center.

Rodriguez found a home for his jab as the round unfolded, and he did a better job of keeping Cortez’s grappling advances at bay. Cortez was happy to fire punches inside, but Rodriguez was clearly getting the best of the exchanges. A few knees inside scored, as well, and Cortez’s bloody nose stood as testament to Rodriguez’s work.

The two engaged again quickly in the second, and Rodriguez sprawled well on an early takedown attempt. Cortez continued to brawl between looking for grappling opportunities, but Rodriguez was able to stay upright and strike in combinations.

Rodriguez landed big shots as the round carried on, but Cortez showed his durability by battling through them and always returning fire.

The two came out swinging in the third, and Rodriguez again sprawled perfectly on an early takedown. Cortez did move to the clinch shortly after and drag the action to the canvas, but Rodriguez went right back to his feet, turned inside and created space to reset.

Rodriguez continued to get the best of the striking exchanges in the late stages of the contest, and Cortez turned again to the body lock to drag the fight to the canvas. Rodriguez refused to settle on his back and continued to work back to his feet so he could strike again. The action finished on the feet, and while Cortez was game until the end, it was Rodriguez who walked away with the decision win, 30-27 on all three card.

Result: Christian Rodriguez def. Reyes Cortez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 43: Best photos from Las Vegas
Records: Reyes Cortez (5-2), Christian Rodriguez (6-0)
Division: Featherweight (Rodriguez missed weight)
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog

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