If you haven’t already seen it, Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender web series has provided some pretty solid entertainment since its launch last month.
Produced as a new alternative to the UFC’s constant hunt for new talent, the show affords fighters the opportunity to fight for a contract with the world’s largest MMA promotion without the significant hassle of having to live in The Ultimate Fighter house for 6 weeks, or have to listen to Matt Serra screaming ‘breathe’ into your ear during Dana White’s Lookin’ For A Fight.
The show has already produced some high level action, such as Kurt Holobaugh’s KO of Matt Bessette or the ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley knockout which sent commentator Snoop Dogg (yep, you read that right) into howls of approval.
On Tuesday’s episode, one of the featured bouts was between middleweights Julian Marquez (excellently nicknamed ‘The Cuban Missile Crisis’) and Jackson-Wink product Phil Hawes. Marques lost the first frame handily but uncorked a fight-ending headkick in the second, earning himself one of the two contracts that White handed out after the show.
And judging by White’s reaction, it’s not hard to see why he wants Marquez on the roster.
THAT. JUST. HAPPENED. What a way to cap off #ContenderSeries tonight!! WOW! Congrats on a contract @JMarquezMMA! B2YB: @ToyoTires pic.twitter.com/XRdkoITPbW
— UFC (@ufc) August 2, 2017
Check out the reaction from @DanaWhite, @SeanShelby & @Mickmaynard2!
Spectacular KO by @JMarquezMMA! #ContenderSeries pic.twitter.com/8mYYrnzg0l
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) August 2, 2017
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