Dana White’s Contender Series 76 live updates and results

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene reporting live from Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 76 event, which begins at 8 p.m. ET.

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.

The 10th and final week of the eighth season will see 10 fighters compete for their shot at a UFC contract. In the feature bout at middleweight, Nick Klein (5-1) will take on Heraldo Souza (9-1-1)

The UFC Apex hosts the card, which streams live on ESPN+.

DWCS 76 round-by-round updates

Yadier del Valle vs. Antonio Monteiro

Round 1 – They trade a couple of leg kicks to start as they find the range. Monteiro looks for a high kick, but it’s blocked. Del Valle lands a powerful inside leg kick. He then follows up with a few punches upstairs. Del Valle keeps with the pressure, unloading another combo, punctuated with a clean left down the pipe. Now they’re clinched against the fence, wrestling for position. After a few knees to the thighs, del Valle sneaks in a solid short elbow. The clinch continues, but Monteiro gets del Valle’s back to the fence. Monteiro gets a single leg as del Valle threatens a guillotine counter. Del Valle powers up to his feet, but jumps on another guillotine and this one is deep! He’s cranking hard but the horn sounds.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for del Valle.

Round 2 – Del Valle starts with a strong inside leg kick. He then charges forward with a pair of punches, but Monteiro counters very nicely. Del Valle starts swining hooks as he closes in. Monteiro is game to exchange. They’re just throwing now! Del Valle keeps unloading. He gets a Thai clinch and digs in knees. Now it’s elbows! He keeps going! Somehow Monteiro is still standing! Monteiro gets off the fence and attempts to reset, but del Valle is right there with more strikes! Monteiro circles away again. Now Monteiro starts firing back with big shots! Wow. Del Valle gets a takedown. Monteiro works back up. They’re both exhausted now in the clinch, but del Valle finds some energy to keep offering strikes until the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8 for del Valle.

Round 3 –

Result:
Recap:
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 76: Best photos
Records: del Valle (7-0), Monteiro (17-4-1)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean

DWCS 76 full results

Mohamed Ado vs. Jonathan Micallef

Round 1 – Micallef comes out firing a couple of punches as he circles. Ado digs in a couple of hard kicks to the midsection, and they clinch up. While wrestling for position, both knee to the body. Micallef shifts his weight and gets the takedown on top, but they’re back up quickly, still clinched. Another takedown attempt, and they scramble. Ado looks for a ninja choke, but Micallef rolls out and, in the scramble, slaps on a triangle choke from the bottom. It’s tight! Ado is fighting it, and Micallef thinks about transitioning to the armbar. He sticks with the triangle choke and clamps down harder! Micallef tells the ref he’s out! And he is! Wow!

Result: Jonathan Micallef def. Mohamed Ado via technical submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:01
Recap: DWCS 76 video: Jonathan Micallef’s submission makes Dana White exclaim ‘slick as sh*t’
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 76: Best photos
Records: Ado (6-0), Micallef (6-1)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean

Leslie Hernandez vs. Julieta Martinez

Round 1 – No glove touch here and Martinez opens up with a couple of side kicks. Hernandez responds with a punch and leg kick. After an exchange of kicks, Hernandez nails a sharp 1-2. They continue to trade and Hernandez gets a Thai clinch, landing a few more. Hernandez keeps coming forward with strikes and now they’re clinched. Martinez can’t get the fight to the ground after a few seconds of standing back control, and we’re back to the center now. Hernandez lands a solid leg kick. A nice front kick from Martinez catches Hernandez off balance. Martinez charges in for a clinch. Hernandez gets a Thai clinch and drills a knee. Back to the center again. Martinez changes levels nicely for a takedown. Hernandez elbows to the head from her back, and Martinez stands up to back away, but then decides to come back in on top.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Hernandez.

Round 2 – Martinez comes out darting forward with kicks to close range for a clinch, but Hernandez gets away. Hernandez comes forward with punches, and Martinez answers in an intense exchange. Martinez gets the fight to the ground and ends up on the back of Hernandez. Nothing comes of the position as Hernandez spins in to guard, and opts to stand up. Martinez shoots in again, and scrambles her way to a standing back take. Hernandez gets back to front over-unders. Martinez separates, but leaps right back in with a beautiful jumping switch knee to the face. Hernandez closes in with an overhand right, but Martinez responds with a left head kick at the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Martinez.

Round 3 – Hernandez presses forward, looking for kicks from range. She swings for an overhand right that misses, allowing Martinez to shoot in. Martinez takes the back on the ground again. Hernandez is quick to escape and threaten a heel hook. Martinez took a moment to twist and turn, but she escaped the hold to take top control. Martinez tries to take the back as Hernandez stands, getting her back to the ground momentarily. Hernandez works her way to a Thai clinch and lands a right elbow. They’re back in the center, and Hernandez looks for kick to the body. A spinning back elbow isn’t there for Hernandez. Martinez spins with a kick, allowing Hernandez to look for a takedown, but it’s not there. Hernandez lands a leg kick and a kick to the body.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Hernandez, giving her the fight, 29-28.

Result: Julieta Martinez def. Leslie Hernandez via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 76: Best photos
Records: Hernandez (4-2), Martinez (8-0)
Division: Strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog

Luis Gurule vs. Nick Piccininni

Round 1 –

Result:
Recap:
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 76: Best photos
Records: Gurule (9-0), Piccininni (7-0)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee:

Nick Klein vs. Heraldo Souza

Round 1 –

Result:
Recap:
Photos: Dana White’s Contender Series 76: Best photos
Records: Klein (5-1), Souza (9-1-1)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee:

DWCS 76 faceoffs

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 76.