DWCS 33 results: Third time's the charm for Jordan Williams as he earns one of three contracts

LAS VEGAS – The third time was the charm for middleweight Jordan Williams.

Making his third appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series on Tuesday night, Williams needed just 2:19 to earn a TKO of Gregory Rodrigues  in the middleweight main event of DWCS 33 at the UFC Apex.

Williams (8-2), a Type 1 diabetic who weighed in at 181 pounds, rocked Rodrigues (7-3) back toward the fence with a wicked left hand, then rained lefts and rights one after another until Rodrigues crumpled to the mat and the fight was waved off.

“That bitter taste is far gone,” said about finally having the performance he wanted on the show. “It’s a good, good feeling.”

Williams was awarded a UFC contract after his third appearance on the show, making him one of three out of the five winners on the evening to earn such status.

Willams was fired up after the victory, but after earning the contract, he seemed in a state of disbelief.

“There’s a lot going through my mind, three years’ worth of emotion I’m processing,” he said. “I’m going to let it take its time processing.”

"GIVE ME MY CONTRACT!"@JWill_NCFA had a point to prove pic.twitter.com/fe0ccSfcF8

— UFC (@ufc) September 16, 2020

In one of the best fights in DWCS history, Collin Anglin (8-1) picked up a hard-fought decision win over a previously undefeated Muhammad Naimov (5-1).

Naimov scored first with a nasty low kick that nearly swept his opponent off his feet, but Anglin responded well and looked to trade strikes in a fast-paced open. Anglin moved to a clinch after a quick opening minute, but Naimov defended well and was able to move to the outside, delivering a few knees before they separated.

Naimov flashed a variety of spinning attacks from range, with punches and kicks coming from all angles, though Anglin rolled well with the strikes and eventually was able to trip the action to the floor. Once there, Anglin moved quickly to the back. Naimov was unfazed, spinning inside and standing and landing a huge knee that looked dangerously close to being illegal as Anglin stood. A few big punches followed, but Anglin was able to outlast the barrage and actually scored a late takedown, ending the round on top.

Naimov scored with a crisp punching combination to start the second, but Anglin again showed his durability and shook it off before looking to land strikes of his own. Both men landed several bruising knees as they worked in the clinch before Naimov saw one score low, leading to a brief timeout and a warning from referee Mark Smith.

The pace remained high on the restart, and every time it seemed Naimov was starting to take control, Anglin would answer right back with dangerous strikes of his own. With 90 seconds left, Anglin was able to slam Naimov to the floor and again work to the back. While Naimov defended the choke well, Anglin was able to switch to mount and strike, forcing Naimov to roll again, though he was able to survive until the bell.

While the two understandably slowed a bit in the third, but still looked to engage. The two went toe-to-toe in the pocket, and it was Anglin who landed the cleaner blows, clearly wobbling Naimov, who refused to back down. Every time it seemed Naimov was ready to go, he steadied himself and tried to fire back.

Anglin was not to be denied, and teed off on the feet before tripping Naimov to the canvas and moving to the back once again. The choke went in, but Naimov pulled the connecting arm away and swept to the top, finishing the round on top. However, Anglin had done enough to take home the victory, 29-28, 29-27 and 29-27.

The performance was also enough to earn him a UFC contract.

That performance had the Boss standing up

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— UFC (@ufc) September 16, 2020

In welterweight action, Michael Lombardo (11-2) picked up a very workmanlike decision over a larger Korey Kuppe (8-4), though it lacked much in terms of highlight-reel moments.

Kuppe, the much taller fighter, set up in his sport karate stance at range and bounced lightly on his feet. Meanwhile, Lombardo tried to pick his moments to move forward, eventually working to the clinch and driving the action to the cage. He remained patient in the position and was eventually able to drag the action to the canvas, where he set up in Kuppe’s guard.

Working from his back, Kuppe utilized a rubber guard to slow things down, though he eventually released his leg, and Lombardo instantly starting looking for punches and elbows from the dominant position. Eventually, Lombardo elected, perhaps surprisingly to go back to the feet. It nearly cost him the fight, as he got caught in a standing guillotine that could have easily earned a tap, though the round came to an end as Kuppe transitioned to the floor to gain leverage.

Lombardo worked to a clinch quickly in the second, slipping around to the back and trying to kick Kuppe’s legs out from underneath him. Kuppe stayed upright, but he also wasn’t especially aggressive in trying to get free. The complacency cost him, and Lombardo was able to eventually get the fight to the floor.

Once on the ground, Lombardo was unable to much from the top, with Kuppe very active underneath in terms of looking to strike and also teasing potential submissions. Lombardo did sneak a few nasty elbows, though, and he finished the round on top.

Lombardo wasted no time moving inside to start the third, immediately getting into the clinch and then dragging the fight back to the canvas in the opening minute. From there, Lombardo was happy to grind away from the top, working in punches and elbows when possible but clearly focused on remaining in the dominant position.

For his part, Kuppe tried to get his feet on the hips and create space and also did punch a bit from his back. However, he waited until the final minute to crawl back to his feet, and he wasn’t able to get free. Instead, Lombardo drove him back to the canvas with a powerful takedown and finished the round on top. Kuppe tried for a triangle in the closing seconds, but it wasn’t there, and Lombardo walked away with the win, 29-28 on all three cards.

2⃣9⃣ – 2⃣8⃣ across the board!

Michael "The Don" Lombardo takes the W in this bout.

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— UFC (@ufc) September 16, 2020

In the first women’s featherweight contest in DWCS history, amateur boxing champ Danyelle Wolf (1-0) was tested but ultimately outlasted Taneisha Tennant (3-1) over 15 minutes.

Wolf flicked her jab out early and often, looking to pack the right hand behind it. Meanwhile, Tennant tried to stay mobile and mix low kicks in her attacks. Wolf was confident and aggressive in the pocket, and she staggered Tennant a bit in the early going but didn’t get too aggressive while likely expecting a takedown attempt to come her way.

Tennant did eventually force her way into a clinch, but Wolf framed and separated rather easily to reset in the center. She defending a more earnest takedown attempt shortly after, as well.

Wolf’s boxing was crisp to start the second, though Tennant certainly wasn’t hesitant to engage, and she again pressed her way into a clinch. However, Wolf simply muscled her way out of the position each time.

Wolf needed a brief break after suffering an inadvertent eyepoke, but she went right back on the attack on the restart. Wolf was able to trip Tennant to the floor after catching a kick but declined to follow. Despite being a pure striker, it might have been a mistake, because Wolf was tagged by a few right hands that seemed to stagger her just a bit. Tennant swarmed at the opportunity, letting punches fly before moving into the clinch, where the round ended.

Wolf started quickly again in the third, but an early eyepoke drew an audible scream from Wolf. Referee Mark Smith brought in the doctor take a look at Tennant’s right eye, which seemed to have some sort of abrasion underneath it, but the fight continued.

Wolf was incredibly aggressive on the restart, and Tennant countered with a clinch but couldn’t get her opponent off-balance. Wolf’s right hand found the mark repeatedly when they separated, but Tennant walked forward and again got deep on a clinch before switching to a single. Wolf surprised by grabbing a guillotine and falling to guard. The choke looked tight, but Tennant refused to tap, tripodding up and trying to drive her shoulder forward.

Tennant eventually was able to work past the guard and into side control, forcing Wolf to let go of the neck. Tennant then stood up and kicks the legs a bit, avoiding upkicks as she tried to again establish the dominant position. The final round ended with Wolf on her back, but she had done enough to take home a decision win, 29-28 on all three cards.

Despite boasting just one professional MMA bout, Wolf was awarded a UFC deal.

Not bad for her MMA debut

Does @DanyelleWolf deserve a contract?

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— UFC (@ufc) September 16, 2020

In the night’s first contest, featherweight Kyle Driscoll (12-3) banked the first two rounds against Dinis Paiva (13-8) and then survived a late charge to take home a decision win.

Paiva landed a big right hand early in the contest, sending Driscoll briefly to the canvas. He stood back up quickly, and after a bit more of a feeling out on the feet, Driscoll shot forward for a takedown, though he couldn’t get the fight to the floor. A second effort shortly after did get the action to the canvas, slipping around to the back when Paiva scrambled back to his feet. Paiva was patient, though, and eventually worked his way free, and they played out the remainder of the round on the feet.

The pace remained steady on the feet to open the second. Driscoll was the aggressor, and he occasionally looked unsuccessfully for a takedown. Paiva was solid in defense, but he also wasn’t able to mount much in the way of counters.

That changed in the third, when Paiva came alive on the feet. Driscoll seemed to slow just a bit, and Paiva found a home for a big left hand. Driscoll tried to turn to his wrestling, but Paiva hit a slick switch and was able to push down to top position.

Driscoll worked from an open guard, briefly teasing an armbar on a couple of occasions and then sweeping to the dominant spot late in the frame. Paiva reversed the favor in the final seconds, but it was too little, too late, and Driscoll walked away with a decision win, 29-28 on all three cards.

1st win locked! @KyDriscoll takes the win by UD!

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— UFC (@ufc) September 16, 2020

Up-to-the-minute Dana White’s Contender Series 33 results include:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

• Gregory Rodrigues def. Jordan Williams via TKO — Round 1, 2:19
• Collin Anglin def. Muhammad Naimov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27)
• Korey Kuppe def. Michael Lombardo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Danyelle Wolf def. Taneisha Tennant via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Kyle Driscoll def. Dinis Paiva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)