DWCS Season 8, Week 7 results: Five contracts awarded following night of quick finishes

Five new fighters earned UFC contracts on the latest episode of Contender Series.

On Tuesday night, the seventh episode of season eight of Contender Series took place in Las Vegas at the UFC APEX, and after five fights, UFC CEO Dana White handed out contracts to all five winners on the night, only the second time this season that’s happened.

Voievodkin stuns Schoenfelder

In the main event of the evening, Danylo Voievodkin stunned Bailey Schoenfelder with a first-round submission victory that earned the 24-year-old a UFC contract.

The biggest underdog on the card, Voievodkin didn’t look it in the cage with Schoenfelder, setting the pace right from the opening bell. Schoenfelder tried to stick and move but it didn’t take Voievodkin long to drop the former Minnesota Golden Gopher football player and immediately jump onto a rear-naked choke, getting the finish in just over one minute.

Frunza outlasts Kutsyi

In the penultimate fight of the evening, Daniel Frunza outlasted Vadym Kutsyi to score a second-round TKO and earn a UFC contract.

With an impressive 17-1 resume coming into Contender Series, Kutsyi had a lot of hype coming into the bout but Frunza started out hot, buzzing the Belarussian early with combinations. That lead Kutsyi to fall back on his wrestling for the remainder of the round, even landing some big shots from on top. But once the second round started, Kutsyi’s gas tank was gone and Frunza turned up the heat, overwhelming Kutsyi with strikes to earn the finish and a UFC contract.

Christian submits Mazzeo

In the third fight of the evening, Kevin Christian pulled off a small comeback, submitting Francesco Mazzeo with a triangle armbar in the second round.

An impressive sight at 6-foot-7 as a light heavyweight, Christian got off to a rocky start as Mazzeo scored an early takedown and spent most of the first round in top position. Christian attempted a few submissions but had little success and was also unable to get back to his feet. But in the second round, Mazzeo hit a cardio wall and after securing another takedown, this time Christian was able to throw on a triangle choke, finishing the maneuver quickly with an armbar extension added in for good measure.

After the fight, Dana White wasn’t quite sure whether to sign Christian, but Mick Maynard made the call and ultimately Christian earned his spot in the UFC.

Vallejos dazzles against Teague

In the second bout of the evening, Kevin Vallejos put on a dazzling display of striking against Cam Teague, earning a first round knockout and a UFC contract.

Only 22 years old, Vallejos fell short in his first attempt at Contender Series last year when he faced Jean Silva and suffered his first career defeat. This time around the Argentinian fighter had no such issues, lighting Teague up with combinations to the head and body, overwhelming the previously undefeated fighter. It was a near-perfect performance from Vallejos and Dana White awarded the young man a UFC contract as a result.

Thainara out-works Conceicao

In the opening bout of the evening, Alexia Thainara won a unanimous decision over Rose Conceicao and earned her spot in the UFC.

Thainara and Conceicao actually have a history of training together and while sometimes that can lead fighters to be timid, that certainly wasn’t the case for Thainara who came out guns blazing from the opening bell. Conceicao simply couldn’t keep pace with Thainara’s aggression and activity as she got out-worked every round. Ultimately, Thainara handed her former training partner the first defeat of her career and earned a contract from Dana White.

Check out the DWCS week 7 results below.

Danylo Voievodkin def. Bailey Schoenfelder via submission (rear-naked choke) — R1, 1:13

Daniel Frunza def. Vadym Kutsyi via TKO (punches) — R2, 3:30

Kevin Christian def. Francesco Mazzeo via submission (triangle armbar) — R2, 4:17

Kevin Vallejos def. Cam Teague via TKO (punches) — R1, 2:23

Alexia Thainara def. Rose Conceicao via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)