Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8 Week 8 10/1/24 – October 1st, 2024 full show
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00:00:00Contender can make dreams come true
00:00:06100 fighters welcome to the contender series these fighters know what gets them to the big show 10 nights
00:00:17One shot to impress the boss
00:00:22And earn a UFC contract
00:00:30This is Dana White's contender series
00:00:45It's time for the homestretch of season 8 three episodes remain which mean
00:00:5030 more fighters come through Vegas in October with UFC dreams
00:00:54Life-changing moments are set to go down on a terrific Tuesday night in the desert as Dana White's contender series is
00:01:01back on your screen
00:01:04We're live from the epicenter of the fight world
00:01:08It's the UFC apex for week 8 of the best thing going on Tuesday nights
00:01:13Dana White's contender series is presented by Bud Light
00:01:17Bud Light
00:01:19Octagon side with Laura Sanko and the UFC veteran Paul Felder Brendan Fitzgerald happy to have you with us
00:01:24We're deep enough into season 8 now where we have seen some show-stopping moments and some huge
00:01:30Underdogs making big statements to put themselves in the big show. It sets the bar high for the ten hopefuls tonight Laura
00:01:36Yeah, last week it was Danilo Voya Vodka a massive underdog got out there got the first-round submission
00:01:42You just you just never know what you're gonna see on the show and that's why we love it so much
00:01:48That is why we love it
00:01:49I mean MMA is unpredictable to begin with but then you add this contender series
00:01:53You never know who's gonna go out there and just get it, you know career-defining submission knockout. That's why we love it
00:01:58Let's start with a feature about it comes in the light heavyweight division and Poland has produced a champion in this
00:02:03205 pound weight class in the form of Jan Blahovic Bartosz Shevchak is hoping to follow in his footsteps
00:02:09But Paul will start on the other side Kazakhstan starting to produce a lot of fighters at the top level
00:02:15Dear Nurgajai is a ground-and-pound specialist that hopes to punch his ticket to the big show tonight
00:02:21Yeah, Nurgajai is a ground-and-pound specialist good wrestling and undefeated Kazakh
00:02:25We know how that goes these guys show up and they deliver every single time
00:02:29This guy is also a finisher goes out there good striking as well South Paul stance uses that left kick uses that crisp boxing
00:02:37But really it's when he gets to that top position and starts laying down those bombs good ground-and-pound good control
00:02:43From the position sets a really good pace
00:02:46This is a really good feature bout here between two very good fighters. His last fight came in May
00:02:51He took two years off before that on the other side Bartosz Shevchak has been in the room with some high-level UFC talent
00:02:57Yeah, he absolutely has and he is coming into this opportunity on an absolute heater three knockouts in a row
00:03:03And it's the striking that jumps off the page
00:03:06I mean the way that he's able to set traps
00:03:07He uses his kicks to set up his strikes and his strikes to set up his kicks and his ability to get that fight
00:03:13Finished any which way on the feet is so impressive six career knockouts
00:03:19You know, he's gonna be looking for another big knockout tonight here in front of the big boss
00:03:23We've mentioned that big underdogs have had their moments on season 8 so far
00:03:27Christian Savoie out of Canada gets that spot tonight as he is the biggest betting underdog on the card
00:03:33He fights out of New Brunswick, Canada on the other side
00:03:36Jacoby Smith has stood out in a loaded training room at Fortis MMA in Dallas, Texas
00:03:41Laura, perhaps the three-time collegiate national all-american wrestler is ready for the brightest lights in MMA
00:03:48Well, you see his wrestling accolades and you expect him to fight a certain way
00:03:51But let me tell you something Jacoby Smith is no one-trick pony
00:03:55I mean this guy has eight finishes in his career six
00:04:01Knockouts and his last one that you see right there in just 18 seconds. He has blistering hand speed
00:04:07It's the way that he's able to put together the boxing combinations
00:04:10And oh, by the way, if things are not going perfectly on the feet
00:04:13He can absolutely drag you to the mat and make your life in living nightmare
00:04:20Yeah, but Savoie is no stranger to facing really high-level competition and he knows that he's up against an absolute monster in this
00:04:28Matchup, but he has got the power. He has got the striking pedigree to be able to hang there
00:04:33It's really gonna come down to can he keep this on the feet?
00:04:36But that's no easy task either because his opponent is an absolute monster there
00:04:40But he's very well aware of the task at hand. He's faced really high-level competition
00:04:44You look at the strength the schedule of the opponents
00:04:47The at face has really led him to be prepared for this night. All of his finishes are by knockout
00:04:51So if he can't keep it on the feet probably his best chance to get it done
00:04:55Yanni the Greek is with us tonight speaking of underdogs
00:04:58Yanni's been on a heater this season as well and he gives you out the free plays right now
00:05:02What props you're looking at tonight VR? Let's go with some round totals Finney or Rami
00:05:0768% of contenders series fight at middleweight have finished inside the distance and this middleweight bout should follow that trend to proven finishers
00:05:15Both with power and a contrast of styles. We'll keep this one under one and a half at plus money then
00:05:22Martinez Franklin
00:05:23This is the only contender series fight over the last six weeks that's been favored to go the distance and it's not by accident
00:05:31Both have greater than the 70% finish rate
00:05:33But this is a huge step up in competition and the biggest fight for both go over two and a half play the 160
00:05:40finally featured belt
00:05:41Nergazi
00:05:42Shevchak six of last seven light heavyweight belts have finished inside the distance on the contender series and
00:05:4978% since inception plus tons of recency bias coupled with 15 of their 20 pro fights
00:05:55Finishing inside the distance has forced bookmakers to juice this under a little too heavily
00:06:01Let's take advantage go over one and a half lay the chalk
00:06:04Wrap it up. It pays about four to one a little better than that
00:06:08We'll check in with you cheese throughout the night. Thanks for the data there
00:06:12Look at the other three bouts five different weight classes represented tonight
00:06:16We've got 135 145 and 185 that also sees action and includes the return of Torres Finney
00:06:22He fought and won earlier this season and last season on the contender series tonight
00:06:27He's on a mission for that contract against Abdella or Rami David Martinez represents Mexico against Xavier Franklin and Alberto
00:06:34Montes takes on Carlos Calderon who quit his job to take this opportunity for a UFC
00:06:42Contract it's all led to this for these ten who compete tonight four of them are undefeated and
00:06:48Hoping to leave Las Vegas with a UFC contract in hands
00:06:53Oklahoma State University has produced a host of UFC stars over the years tonight
00:06:57Unbeaten Jacoby Smith hopes to join that group. But first he has to get past Christian Savoie
00:07:06My name is Jacoby Smith, I'm 28 years old and I fight for Fortis MMA
00:07:12I've accomplished a lot in amateur wrestling in college a two-time national champ one time all-american being one
00:07:21Wrestling was the first sport that I did. I ended up becoming a two-time national champ in Juco at Northeastern, Oklahoma
00:07:28Transferred over to Oklahoma State with John Smith. He turned me into a division one all-american
00:07:33What's harder this fight or one wrestling practice at Oklahoma State?
00:07:39Training with people from aka and Fortis, they put it on me
00:07:43Heightened me to another level the next biggest thing. I'm pretty much your perfect fighter. I'm John Jones
00:07:52What separates me is I don't deal with all the hype and all the bullshit
00:07:56I'm straight cut forward and what I mean, I say I'm putting people to sleep on my feet, you know in 18 seconds first round
00:08:09And this fights over everybody's gonna know Jacoby Smith is a man of his word and he does not
00:08:17I'm ready for the best fighters in UFC
00:08:27My name is Christian Savoie, I'm 32 years old and I'm fighting out of st. John New Brunswick, Canada
00:08:34I've been training for the UFC practically my entire life since I started Taekwondo when I was six years old
00:08:43The first fight I ever watched was on Matthews versus Carlos Newton, too
00:08:56Myself that's the coolest thing I've ever seen in my life
00:09:01Partake in this
00:09:04I
00:09:06Fight because I feel like this is what God has called me to do
00:09:11One from st. John New Brunswick small town known for crime
00:09:16It was harder for me to get opportunities and a lot of guys from big cities and big gyms, etc
00:09:23I'm truly a guy who had to
00:09:25Fight tooth and nail blood sweat and tears to get to where I'm at
00:09:31I
00:09:32Definitely want to represent kids from a small town who aspire to be whatever in life, you know
00:09:43What excites me about this matchup is that it's scary
00:09:48Is a threat he's a guy with power, but I'm a guy with power. I'm a threat
00:09:53He has a very deadly right hand that I'm ready for I think going out there
00:10:00Doing what I did my last couple fights putting these hands on showing them that I don't need my wrestling
00:10:06That's gonna get Dana to give me this contract
00:10:08Whether it's a three-round war or I went by knockout
00:10:13It's almost impossible to have me and Jacoby Smith locked in the octagon and have a boring fight
00:10:20Well
00:10:29Big underdogs have had their moments on season 8 of Dana White's contender series
00:10:33Perhaps Christian some law is the next one the 32 year old out of st
00:10:37John, New Brunswick Canada is the biggest underdog tonight Danilo
00:10:41Voya vodka and last week Juneezy Dubin earlier this season if he can keep it on the feet Laura
00:10:47That's probably his best path to a victory and perhaps a UFC contract
00:10:51Yeah, this is the place where to be honest with you. The odds don't matter
00:10:55What matters is what you do out there tonight against the opponent that you have tonight
00:10:58And he does have a real opportunity to make a statement and like you said on the feet that is his best chance
00:11:04He is a tremendously aggressive kickboxer
00:11:08Started taekwondo at age 6 and a lot of times Paul when you see guys transition from taekwondo. They have finesse
00:11:13They've got really fancy kicks, but they don't always have the power. He brings the power
00:11:18There's a real thud when he lands whether it's his punches or his kicks. I'm very excited to see what he brings in the striking
00:11:23Yeah, absolutely
00:11:24And one of the things that I absolutely wrote down about him was that flooding kick that he has and to the leg in particular
00:11:30He's got ground-and-pound finishes and like I talked about earlier on the stand-up that he's got he's got a good strength of schedule
00:11:36He's only losses to Basil Hafez and there's his watch party back in New Brunswick, Canada
00:11:42Everybody getting ready to go crazy. They know how to put away some suds up in the Maritimes. I'll tell you that
00:11:49Only UFC event to take place in New Brunswick was in Moncton back in 2018 Christian Savoie representing New Brunswick tonight's
00:12:05And here is Jacoby Smith 28 years old fighting out of Dallas, Texas
00:12:11He's an Oklahoman
00:12:14wrestled in junior college
00:12:17Then went to Oklahoma State where he linked up with one Daniel Cormier
00:12:23Jacoby Smith is a fantastic wrestler out of Oklahoma State University
00:12:27One of the guys that we plucked right out of that room and recognized him to be a good fighter
00:12:31From the moment he even signed that Oklahoma State is a tremendous wrestler
00:12:35He's a fantastic grappler
00:12:36But what separates Jacoby from most of these wrestlers turned MMA fighters is he is a dog and he's willing to fight
00:12:44I'm excited to see Kobe perform tonight. Hopefully he earns that contract
00:12:49Yeah DC's right. I mean this guy would stand out in any room of wrestlers athletes. You can tell he's in phenomenal shape
00:12:56He's extremely strong. His wrestling is second to none. But more importantly, he's got dynamite in those fists
00:13:02he can put people to sleep within seconds and I expect him to try that early and
00:13:07Often in the beginning of this fight and then as a backup plan, I think he'll rely on his wrestling
00:13:12But let's be honest guys. It's gonna go out there and try to get a knockout. He's got what I would call weaponized
00:13:18Athleticism. I mean, he's just so good everywhere got folks back at home in Muskogee, Oklahoma
00:13:24Representing cheering him on
00:13:26Yeah, a really really huge top prospect safes been talking about this kid for a very long time as has DC
00:13:32So anxious to see what he brings to the table today. He was at an aka for two years
00:13:37Cormier asked safe Saud
00:13:39to bring him back home as
00:13:42Jacoby Smith wanted to get back closer to his native home state of Oklahoma and he's found a home in Dallas, Texas
00:13:48Kobe Smith's line is up to minus 950 as a betting favorite. He's four years younger than the Canadian
00:13:53Christian sub wah is an inch and a half taller
00:13:56The reach is the same this tale the tape is brought to you by Bud Light official beer sponsor of the UFC
00:14:02Mark Smith is our referee for the first of five bouts tonight
00:14:07All right, Christian ready Jacoby ready fights on
00:14:12Jacoby Smith is in red Christian sub wah is in blue Smith eight and oh as a pro is one of four undefeated fighters
00:14:19We will see tonight
00:14:21I
00:14:24Already
00:14:42Slammed him down
00:14:44And the way that he's controlling that ankle right now is really smart. It's a lot. It's not allowing sub water
00:14:50You know work on that guillotine that he was hoping for as he was getting taken down
00:14:55Let's see if Smith can pass or take the back
00:15:04He's having trouble getting that other hook in around because of the fence
00:15:07Stop was got to keep that hip along that fence that can prevent Smith from being able to get both hooks in but now it
00:15:12Looks like he's gonna try to put that pressure forward drag him down and reverse it bring him back down nice
00:15:20It does have to be careful there, but some of these shots
00:15:28It's a heavy punches with the right Smith now tee it off along the fence. Oh, there's a cut
00:15:34It's on the back of the head
00:15:36Clearly showing that that was an illegal shot that he landed. It's got to be careful
00:15:41So well seems to be okay, but that is right where it's illegal
00:15:45Right along the Mohawk is what we're in the fighters fired by Smith in that exchange
00:15:53Sometimes guys turn yeah at the last second is something you can't avoid right
00:15:58But it's when he's targeting the area all both hooks in he's gonna look to flatten him out. Here's grab that wrist
00:16:04And for all the wrestling credentials not a single pro win by submission in MMA
00:16:09This is a race to see if stop walking yep stand back up, but he's gonna get suplexed in the process
00:16:16So I've lost gotta really try to hang on to this chaotic beginning
00:16:25He's just getting creative tonight
00:16:27I
00:16:34Feel like Smith doesn't even know how he wants to finish him right now. He's got to make up his mind
00:16:40But if you can push that knee down step over I expect him to start looking for elbows again
00:16:47Smith needs to get past the right knee of Savoie
00:16:57Chance for a mount if Smith can creep up higher past the knees instead
00:17:08He'll sweep over to the right side for side control two minutes to go in round one
00:17:13It has been all pressure from Jacobi Smith
00:17:17Savoie doing a lot of the right things in terms of building back
00:17:20But he's got to be very careful in these transitions because that's where Jacobi Smith is so dangerous
00:17:27Easily takes him right back down
00:17:37Just pressure and look how high he stays over top of him I
00:17:42Mean he's putting so much pressure on his throat there, too
00:17:47Yep
00:17:50Savoie you know a very active guard I am I am impressed with his activities certainly not just resting here even though he's in a bad
00:17:57Good elbow split him wide open with that one toes out of the cage
00:18:02That split him right open with that left elbow there from Smith big right hand as well
00:18:08He's getting busy here guys
00:18:11Warning for Mark Smith for Savoie to do something
00:18:16Or else Smith is gonna hammer his way to victory
00:18:19right to mount
00:18:21slide over
00:18:24A beautiful transition just floated right into it
00:18:35He's got to do something to get some respect from Smith
00:18:40Slams him down does Jacobi Smith. That's a sick takedown of the first round
00:18:46That time is running out if Smith wants to end it inside of round one
00:18:53I
00:18:59Mean he doesn't even punch when he
00:19:02Pure elbows, and that's what's doing all this. I know I can tell and look at the damage on Savoie
00:19:08That's it just goes to show you look at when you decide to start
00:19:13Elbows to the bell
00:19:16Dominance from Jacobi Smith
00:19:18Oh
00:19:21Five to four, let's go Chris
00:19:27Sit I got you
00:19:39He's now to get that sit set up gun get up on
00:19:42We're gonna stay we're not putting on that cage situation, you're not gonna stay down you're gonna get to the cage you're getting back up
00:19:47So he on him first with that straight right soon as he makes a shot as soon as he makes a shot stay low
00:19:51Get that Thunder in get the Thunder in finish with the five
00:20:02Mouthpiece in mouthpiece in let's go
00:20:05Mouthpiece in mouthpiece in let's go
00:20:12Took a while to get to his stool, but
00:20:15Looking decent to start number two marks with another warning to Jacobi Smith for strikes to the back of the head
00:20:21I got second round fight
00:20:26Has got his work cut out for he wants to get back in this one
00:20:30He needs to not kick to the body. He needs to look for solid punches keep his base low
00:20:34And look for things up the middle for knees
00:20:38When you know when you know for a fact that your opponent is gonna be level changing
00:20:42It's all that stuff. Like you say Paul right up the middle
00:20:48Smith swung out of his shoes there
00:20:52Subwah unable to capitalize
00:20:55So much punishment from Smith. Yes. That one gives one back though. He's responding still
00:21:01But he is beat up
00:21:03He's tough, there's no doubt he took a lot of damage in that first round, but he's still fighting he's showing his grit
00:21:15Spent it a lot of energy as well
00:21:18Finishes fights early
00:21:26Our move there from Smith to get it right back down to the ground where he was absolutely dominating in the first round
00:21:31Because listen, I think he can get a knockout no doubt
00:21:34But he is going to risk the chance that you give some walk a big right hand
00:21:40Watch the eyes
00:21:46Covering the mouth and then sliding right into an elbow
00:21:51That's a tough spot that sub was is cut right between the eyes
00:21:55So when he's on his back that that you know up and down cut between the eyes just bleeds into either eye depending on which
00:22:01Way, you're you're leaning. All right, Chris, so you got a move
00:22:05Yeah, Mark Smith taking a good look here, you know, he's fighting back. He knows how badly he's getting damaged 50 shots
00:22:10Well, it's not wasn't a spot where he's gonna have to expose his back to be able to get back up
00:22:15Off of that left hip
00:22:21This is where he could finish if he just starts unloading with these big uppercuts try to go under the arm
00:22:28He's got the wrist trap now
00:22:37Mitigate the damage now if he can control the posture of Smith Smith pins down the right
00:22:45Just enough to stay in the fight every time Smith was stepping in for a warning
00:22:50Short elbow and then he comes across with the right twice
00:22:57Everything that Smith is doing
00:23:06Elbows from Jacoby Smith
00:23:15And
00:23:18That's gonna do it Mark Smith steps in to call it
00:23:22Jacoby Smith is your winner by TKO
00:23:26Dana White approves
00:23:28Smith is that standout athlete we were building up we expected to see
00:23:37Yeah aggression in all phases and that's what he put forth
00:23:41super exciting young man right here, I mean
00:23:45Jacoby Smith's what 28 years old with that wrestling pedigree, but the Jimmy's at
00:23:51Round and pound that he put on display here
00:23:55We got an early front-runner right there guys
00:23:59Why s safe Saud earlier in
00:24:022024 who's coming up from your gym. He said Jacoby Smith is gonna be a problem
00:24:06Well, we can see what type of problem he's gonna be right here
00:24:09I mean the creativity and his takedowns and then the dominance once he's able to get on top
00:24:14This style of ground and pound is what keeps grappling so exciting
00:24:19I mean the damage that he was doing with those elbows every single time it would strike and there's that athleticism
00:24:25We were talking about look out just engage you we got another backflipper and credit to Mark Smith
00:24:30I think that was a really fair stoppage, you know Christian
00:24:32So what boy would have went out there on his shield, but he stepped in and and you know
00:24:37Took him out of there for his own good
00:24:40Jacoby Smith moves to 9 and 0 as a pro getting it done
00:24:44With his seventh knockout win. Here's Justin Bernard to make it a fish
00:24:50Ladies and gentlemen after two minutes 55 seconds in a round number two referee Mark Smith calls a stop to the fight for the winner by
00:24:58TKO
00:25:04So two-time junior college
00:25:07All-american and national champion at Northeastern, Oklahoma A&M
00:25:12He's originally from Muskogee, Oklahoma
00:25:14I spent a year at Oklahoma State where he was an all-american train with Daniel Cormier out in a cave for two years
00:25:21But when he wanted to move back closer to home
00:25:24Cormier linked up with safe Saud and said I got a real prospect on the rise for you and
00:25:30Jacoby Smith is living up to the hype once again
00:25:33Yeah
00:25:34He should you know what? I like about what Jacoby Smith did tonight is he showed a little bit of his game everywhere
00:25:41He immediately went out there and showed that wrestling and not only did he show I can get this to the ground
00:25:46I can do it with just powerful slams
00:25:49Aggressive takedowns insane ground-and-pound. He got to show off some of his striking
00:25:55Now I get to say hi to Dan in the matchmakers who I'm sure very pleased with that performance
00:26:00You take a look at that kid and you think man, we got a prospect on our hand
00:26:04Dana
00:26:08Take a look here early on he gets in there just immediately
00:26:12Put some elevation on that takedown and these punches
00:26:17Ground-and-pound he's ferocious with these elbows. That's something that you just can't really teach a fighter to Jacoby Smith
00:26:24You can tell he's got it
00:26:25He's got that nastiness in that ground-and-pound looking to hurt you with every shot that he throws
00:26:30That's what you want to see in a young prospect and now
00:26:33He's with Laura Sanko
00:26:35Thank you so much guys. We'll still undefeated now 10 and oh that was a one-way traffic my friend. Absolutely
00:26:43I just want to thank God my family
00:26:46The whole Dan and white contender series the staff everything is so professional
00:26:51And I'm just grateful for every opportunity. I got only up from here and you got a face time from DC there
00:26:57We didn't catch that on camera. What do you what did he say to you? Cowboys up, baby. That's family
00:27:02You know as hard as this fight game is, you know, we and are knocking each other's heads off, you know
00:27:08I just got to give a shout out to signups TBA. Go give him a look go give him a shout out
00:27:13That's all I got to say talk to me about your strategy in this fight
00:27:17I don't know if I've ever seen more vicious ground-and-pound than what you deliver out there pure elbows
00:27:23Cutting him up from the very beginning man. A lot of people don't know it's way worse than this and training, you know
00:27:30My coaches they teaching me how to how to
00:27:34Control my breathing and doing all that which that comes with it, but it gets way more deadly daily than that
00:27:42I'm coming in small, you know, I'm only weighing 174 right now, but it don't matter
00:27:48You know, we about to get me on this lift this lift. I'm the professionalism is coming out. Just stay tuned. I
00:27:55Love it. You got a great crowd behind you back in Muskogee, Oklahoma
00:27:59Take a look here. They were going crazy
00:28:08That's what that beast come from her my daddy Jacoby Austin and Latrice Smith the beast treats the beast
00:28:16Not at all blacksmith baby, let's go. Thank you Dana white. Thank you contender series. I respect all y'all
00:28:22Thanks for the opportunity. Give me more. Give me more. Give me more. That's a mic drop if I've ever heard one
00:28:28Congratulations to Kobe guys. We'll send it back to you. Thanks very much
00:28:31Give me more fight fans are gonna want to see more out of Jacoby Smith a rising welterweight prospect safe to say
00:28:41The end of the night only up from here
00:28:44Hey, well coming up next Ilya to Borea smashed in the door for a Spanish fighter
00:28:48Say hello to Abdulla El Rami Moroccan born but now fighting out of Malaga, Spain
00:28:53He enters his first fight in 18 months tonight, but he does so riding a six-fight win streak
00:28:58But Torres Finney looks to stop that streak and finally break through. He's the 5'8 middleweight that Dana White says
00:29:06He needs to show something more to punch his ticket to the big show. We'll see what he has in store for us tonight
00:29:16He's back Torres Finney 25 years old
00:29:24Definitely coming out here to prove himself right keep doubt me because every time I step into that cage
00:29:29Every time you see me do something my life
00:29:44The Punisher Torres
00:29:46Yes, it's done here in Vegas, I am the Punisher I am Torres Finney and then it is one thing
00:29:57What's all right
00:30:10Of a monster
00:30:16You stand up with this guy
00:30:22This is my belt, I'm coming nobody can take that belt away from me
00:30:33Salt Lake City, Utah has been a
00:30:37Great spot on the calendar in recent years. It was Leon Edwards breakthrough moment
00:30:42It was the BMF title fight last year with Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier. And now it's Poetan Pineda
00:30:49Defending his belt. He's the busiest champ, and he's trying to turn back Khalil roundtree jr. For the 205 pound strap
00:30:57It's part of a championship doubleheader with Rocky Pennington
00:30:59Defending her bantamweight title against the former champ Giuliana Pena who wants it back also Jose Aldo an underdog to Mario Bautista
00:31:07And Kevin trailblazer Holland is back in the middleweight division kept UFC 307 this Saturday on ESPN plus
00:31:15pay-per-view
00:31:16But up next
00:31:18185 pounders on deck and ready to shine one of them very familiar with this UFC apex
00:31:25On week two of the contender series this season Torres Finney picked up his second win on the show
00:31:30He plans on making it his fight against Abdullah Rami his last before making his way to the UFC
00:31:40My record is 7-1 five finishes by KO and TKO
00:31:45I'm a different breed I suffering a lot when I was young this whole times inside me make me more strong and my
00:31:53Mind is bulletproof
00:31:55My name is Abdullah Rami
00:31:5727 years old. I fight from Malaga, Spain. I
00:32:01Born in Morocco. I born in Casablanca
00:32:04When I was three years old my family moved to Spain my mom and my dad is a very very strong persons
00:32:12It's a very strong
00:32:14Mentality my mother my father create this man. Yeah, I need to make my father's and my family proud
00:32:20My father helped me a lot in everything him plenty in me discipline
00:32:26And he make me a good mentality and good health. I stopped my kickboxing career
00:32:3355 54 victories in 72 fights and
00:32:37When I was 20 years old, I decided to change to MMA and I love it
00:32:44I love it. I love it
00:32:46This is my opportunity. I need the best performance of my life. I go to finish this fight
00:32:53100% he can't stop a guy like me with my mind with a bulletproof mind
00:32:57I am ready for this victory and for my entrance in the UFC
00:33:05For the winner by unanimous decision
00:33:15Congratulations to Torres Finney his entire cheering section is hyped up
00:33:19You also talked about is he a fighter that people want to see fight
00:33:25What a journey it has been you know to be back here once again
00:33:29The contract isn't the thing that's motivating me anymore
00:33:33You have now put doubt amongst me now you challenging me and I want to show that I'm up to the challenge
00:33:39I'm excited to be able to go out here and show the reason why I'm gonna be in the UFC. Don't keep down Torres feet
00:33:46My name is Torres Finney, I'm fighting out of Chattanooga, Tennessee from a bogey combats
00:33:52Week two I competed against Cam Rousey. That wasn't my best performance. I know it wasn't even walking to the back
00:33:58I even had it in the back of my mind man
00:34:02But I know that I'm a better fighter than what I showed I
00:34:06Do understand the reason why Dana didn't give you the contract Dana said Finney. I'm always brutally honest with this stuff
00:34:16With the performance that you put on tonight
00:34:20Now he said based on your performance today
00:34:24What about my performance tonight?
00:34:30I know what type of fight I am. I know what type of fighter I can be. I know I have so much more potential
00:34:36I know I'm at 25, 9 and 0, on the verge of 10 and 0. I'm ready and I'm ready for anything you throw at me
00:34:42You say I get decimated, you say it was a disservice to bring me in, well, let's see
00:34:46Let's see if that's true because I'm ready for that challenge
00:34:56Abdella Errami
00:34:57looking to become
00:35:00The first Moroccan born fighter to punch his UFC ticket through Dana White's contender series
00:35:07Pauly's a decorated kickboxers the youngest Spanish national champion as a kickboxer moved to Spain when he was three years old
00:35:14That's why he fights out of Malaga, Spain and calls it home
00:35:18Repping two countries tonight as he looks to make it to the big show. Yeah, and I really do like his kickboxing style
00:35:23He's very tight with his hands up high always got good kicks and I wrote in my notes, especially for a guy his size
00:35:29He kicks really well to all areas high low middle
00:35:33He can do it all and he's sneaky with some of his elbows
00:35:35He when he's in close, he gets creative
00:35:38He finds ways to land his close-range weapons as well as those far-range weapons and he's been put through it
00:35:43I've seen him get dropped in fights and find his way back and get the win in those fights
00:35:47Very tough and having all that kickboxing experience combined with the seven-in-one professional MMA record. He's in for it tonight
00:35:55He knows he's gonna have to defend takedowns here
00:35:57So we're gonna see a lot about that takedown defense tested here tonight Yanni the Greek
00:36:01You're getting a pretty decent underdog price on Errami. What are your thoughts on this fight?
00:36:04Yeah, and this is not a fate of the undefeated as a pro and undefeated as an amateur Torres Finney
00:36:10This is a bet on Errami based on the betting line open to minus 145 got bet up to minus 200 within five minutes
00:36:17But now we're looking at about a three to one favorite and with all that k1 experience and dangerous power
00:36:22He mixes the strikes. Well little takedown defense. I'll sprinkle some plus money
00:36:26All right, five of those seven wins for Abdallah Errami have come by knockout
00:36:32See if he can extend his six-fight win streak tonight's here in Las Vegas
00:36:45There is much more history to Torres Finney than just the last two fights
00:36:49It was a two-time state wrestling champion high school in Georgia played college football for Tennessee Chattanooga
00:36:56But of course the focus has been on what he's done on Dana White's contender series last summer
00:37:02It was a win season two. It was a win Paul Felder
00:37:06I don't know if I've ever heard Dana White be as harsh in his criticism
00:37:10Certainly this season then Torres Finney after a win safe to say he's got to go out and show
00:37:15Something different. Yeah, I mean he really does right?
00:37:18He really needs to go out there and almost come out of it himself and what he's used to doing
00:37:24I'm not saying that he can't stick to his guns and use some wrestling
00:37:27But he's got to be damn aggressive with he's got to be powerful with the ground and pound
00:37:31And he has got to look like he is going for the finish the entire time. He's in the octagon
00:37:36I think if he goes out there and he lays it on the line and takes
00:37:40Risks in front of Dana and the matchmakers and gets a big finish here. He's got a chance
00:37:45Yeah, you nailed it on the head there risk-taking
00:37:48Urgency, those are the things that Dana White wants
00:37:50If he gets a win tonight, he would be the first fighter in Dana White's contender series history to have three wins on the show
00:38:06Back here a third time looking for that win. There's his crew back home in Chattanooga at a gogi combatives
00:38:13Torres Finney others have fought three times on the contender series
00:38:18But that was after some results that didn't go their way. Torres Finney has won each time here
00:38:23Now he's looking for the contract to go along with it
00:38:26He's three years younger than Abdullah Errami. Errami stands four inches taller
00:38:31Finney's always going to be the shorter fighter in this weight class, but he's a minus 270 betting favorite
00:38:39Ready for this one Eric McMahon is your referee for fight number two tonight
00:38:44I
00:38:44Thought are you ready? You ready?
00:38:47This fight clock is brought to you by Bud Light fish will be your sponsor of the UFC Finney's in red
00:38:53Errami's in blue big left hook there from Errami take down early for Finney
00:39:00And he gets it now the big question. Let's see how he approaches the aggression. I put it right in front of Dana
00:39:06Yeah, what will he do with it? He's got this spot front and center
00:39:09These are the moments where he's got to maintain control, but do
00:39:14Damage like we saw in that last fight
00:39:17Collects the right wrist of Errami and Errami a bit of a fish out of water in this position full mount for Finney now
00:39:31I mean a very tough spot here
00:39:33They're gonna have to expose his back or give full mountain he's gonna choose the back route towards Finney a
00:39:40Little high here, but he's flattening him out. This is bad for Errami
00:39:52Choke now he's he almost stepped off to the side. He's choosing to stay in full mount squeeze away
00:39:58this is where that 5-8 burly frame might
00:40:02Provide an advantage
00:40:04For Finney. Oh, yeah, I can only imagine what it's like to be squeezed in an arm triangle. Did he tap?
00:40:19Man he is fighting with everything
00:40:22It
00:40:24Gives the thumbs up after McMahon checked in
00:40:35Credit to Errami for getting out of that at what cost
00:40:40What about heart
00:40:46He's got to be careful again here
00:40:49And every time he looks to frame for a spin he uses his head to start to start to look for that choke again
00:41:00Finney is nine and oh he's finished seven of those nine wins
00:41:03So his performance on season two that went the distance is not indicative of the fighter that he's been as a pro
00:41:09But only one of his wins are by submission
00:41:13Curiously enough it came last October right here on
00:41:18Squeezes him out again. Yeah, he's got to be very careful
00:41:20He keeps trying to reach over to try to get back up to his feet and get to a hip
00:41:24He's got to try to clear that right leg get out of this half guard and get himself to that fence as best he can
00:41:30You know, one of the things that I think
00:41:33Torres Finney deals with in terms of how short he is for this division. It's hard to be face to face a chest-to-chest
00:41:40In half guard, he's got to get to full mouth to really be
00:41:45This is what Finney's got to do here I
00:41:51Think forget even the arm triangle. I know he could probably get it, but I think it would be even more exciting and just
00:41:57Better for his case to get the contract
00:42:00He just postures up right in front of Dana and the guys it starts laying down some ground and power
00:42:04I
00:42:12Mean he's fighting so hard
00:42:15To maintain this dominant position against the longer legs of a Rami that he is. He's losing a little bit momentum of the moment
00:42:34Oh
00:42:42Folks in and flattens him out looking for the renegade choke
00:42:49Ring away close to the TKO victory right in front of Dana White
00:42:56And Torres Finney
00:42:59Becomes the first fighter to win three bouts on Dana White's contender series a sly smile
00:43:14Got exactly what he came for the data probably got a little more than he came
00:43:19That
00:43:26Is a stout powerful middleweight
00:43:29from
00:43:31Chattanooga, Tennessee Torres Finney is now 10 and O
00:43:36And pretty fleet of foot and the music comes on he sure is I mean the way that he was able to
00:43:42Ride these positions stay in a dominant spot
00:43:46Even though the height was at a disadvantage for him and then when the moment came
00:43:50land big shots
00:43:51That is what we have been looking for the entire time from Torres Finney the urgency to finish the fight and what better spot
00:43:58Right in front of Dana White to deliver these shots and finish that fight. That was awesome
00:44:05total strikes 49 to 2
00:44:08significant strikes 35 to nothing for Torres Finney who was utterly dominant in
00:44:15A first round stoppage victory. That's his fifth win that came inside of round number one
00:44:22Let's make it official
00:44:24Justin Bernard
00:44:27Ladies and gentlemen after four minutes ten seconds into round number one
00:44:30Referee Eric McMahon calls a stop to the fight for the winner by TKO
00:44:36Torres
00:44:44Gotta think the third time's the charm. Don't you Paul? I mean it would be quite cool
00:45:02He's got the Dana White's contender series triple crown now as he said, yeah
00:45:06I mean on the scorecards one by sub one by knockout. He's done it all and I do think that
00:45:11After a performance like that you go in here the third time
00:45:15Especially after hearing some harsh things from Dana to come back and then pull off a performance like that. I think it's time
00:45:32Such a res Vinny
00:45:34He's good on the mic to Paul. That was impressive. We've seen two dominant fighters tonight so far
00:45:40Listen and as long as Torres Finney can do these types of fights where he gets these dominant positions. He's so strong
00:45:47He's so physical and all I think we wanted to see from him is to open up a bit
00:45:52Let the strikes go use that size and that power to set up these big TKOs
00:45:57You've shown you got submissions now you got a TKO
00:46:00I mean, this is what we wanted to see from him. And now Torres Finney's with Laura Sanko. Thank you very much guys
00:46:06Well Torres Finney you came for that three Pete and you did it right in front of Dana white
00:46:11Yeah, hey, I got to take down the perfect spot. I told y'all man. Look I'm on that level
00:46:17I don't come in here just to say that I know it the people I've trained with the gyms
00:46:22I've been to I know I'm on that level tonight
00:46:24I had a great opportunity and I showcased it
00:46:26I know the last two fights wasn't to the best of my ability
00:46:29But thank God that he is still a warrior spirit in me to like no matter what how many knows you hear your life?
00:46:36keep grinding because eventually you'll get that one yes from God keep knocking that door down keep knocking that door down an
00:46:42Absolute inspiration to come out here three times first fighter in contender series history to have three wins on the show
00:46:49Talk to me though about the mindset that it took to
00:46:52Experience what you did previously in this season here
00:46:56What you know Dana's harsh criticism and then come back out here and do it again and get the finish
00:47:02Yes in a dominant fashion, you know, I tell people you know
00:47:05I took this fight on short notice
00:47:07I literally was about to plan to go on vacation after my fight in August and they said
00:47:13One more opportunity what you like to do
00:47:15I said bring it on because I know what level I'm on took the final short notice came here went against a high level
00:47:21High level kick Boston got him out of there around one. So you put anybody in front of me?
00:47:26I say this I know Dana the first time he said it'll be a disservice
00:47:29I know the second time he said I get decimated
00:47:31But I got a challenge to you put them in front of me and I'll show you who a decimate who I like my chances
00:47:36Against anybody on this planet in the middle weight on this planet. Hey, I got God with me
00:47:40So give me anybody knock them down. Talk to me about the crew PC here in Chattanooga, Tennessee
00:47:45You have an amazing amazing
00:47:48Man I see my whole team that's family. You know, my family's here my mom my dad
00:47:54Everybody knows anybody everybody's been following me my granddad with a pork chop. Let's go, baby. I got that pork chop
00:47:59And then my uncle
00:48:01Dante a TDD coach Larry of a snoop all those people man and so many people in my life my coaches
00:48:08Sterling Matt Larry as I said people back at home, you know for me when BAM
00:48:14Yeah, he gave you a window knockout, baby, you know, Johnny Jones Robert white, you know
00:48:18These people have been so beneficial to me in my life to help me get to this point in my life
00:48:22So I want to thank them all first obviously thinking my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ everybody
00:48:27I love you all but we got one more thing y'all already know about to do and that is
00:48:36What's arise is cooking another mic drop guys, I'll send it back to you
00:48:45Therese is
00:48:48Trademark
00:48:50And the interview Dana white
00:48:53You know, it looks like he's happy to be proven wrong and then, you know
00:48:57Just looked away when it got the dance got a little too intense right in front of him for Therese Finney
00:49:02I don't know 25 years old fighting out of Chattanooga
00:49:05Now we could take that vacation and later this month. He will celebrate his 26th birthday
00:49:11The US you fight past the invitational eight main event is set with the inaugural Craig Jones
00:49:15Invitational million-dollar winner Nikki Rodriguez taking on rising star
00:49:21Single greatest night of submission grappling returns on Thursday, October 10th streaming live and exclusively on UFC fight pass
00:49:28Follow at UFC fight pass for more announcements this week
00:49:35We're coming to you live on a beautiful Tuesday night in Las Vegas
00:49:41UFC was just in Paris, France. That's Las Vegas's version of Paris
00:49:46The fountains are going and the sports books are packed these days with football fans and fight fans alike
00:49:52Yanni the Greek
00:49:55What's your take on what's coming up next?
00:49:59This is a really good fight between these two and we've seen the line drop significantly
00:50:04In fact, Martinez opened as high as a three-to-one favorite and we're now looking at about a minus
00:50:08150 take back about minus 125 on
00:50:11Franklin and I think there's some value still on this dog
00:50:14I thought it was a coin flip to begin with and I thought it was just a lack of a big sample size of
00:50:20A record because since the no contest Franklin's done nothing but win and his opponents had won 71 percent of their fight
00:50:27So it's been against decent competition. He's gonna have the power in this one. He mixes the strikes
00:50:31Well, he's a BJJ purple belt well rounded as they come at plus money
00:50:36Close to 80% the dogs gotta start barking soon. We'll see Yanni. Thanks very much
00:50:41It's bantamweights up next and time to see how it goes down between
00:50:45What we expect to be a hotly contested bout at 135 pounds
00:50:51the brother of UFC veteran Melissa Martinez David Martinez
00:50:55We'll see how it goes down between
00:50:57What we expect to be a hotly contested bout at 135 pounds
00:51:01the brother of UFC veteran Melissa Martinez
00:51:03The brother of UFC veteran Melissa Martinez David Martinez plans on joining his sister on the roster
00:51:08But undefeated Xavier Franklin has something to say about that and is ready to play spoiler
00:51:17So I walk in the class the teachers telling us hey you got a right paper about if you weren't in college
00:51:22What do you really want to do and I start writing down everything right now?
00:51:26I'm gonna be a UFC champion. I'm gonna fight all these guys. So then I turn the paper in she's like Xavier
00:51:32I read your paper and I felt like this inspired me to want to go chase my dreams, you know
00:51:37If you feel like this is what you should do
00:51:39I don't think being here is gonna help you achieve that goal. So I kind of like teared up a little bit
00:51:45That's what I ran down the stairs and my friends like bro. Where are you going? And I was like, I'm going to chase my dream
00:51:50My name is Xavier Franklin. I'm 27 and my team is George Pawlowski with Muay Thai and boxing. I
00:51:57Just had a dream. I wrote it down that I wanted to be a champion
00:52:01Struggling financially just to get through life. So my bank accounts going negative
00:52:05I'm asking people bank accounts going negative my best friend
00:52:09auntie who gave me money to chase my dream ended up get shot a few weeks later and
00:52:15I'm struggling to deal with that
00:52:18It's like one of my best friends. He got shot in the head. He gave me money to start everything. He ends up surviving
00:52:23He's just missing a piece of his skull
00:52:26You know, I'll never forget what he did for me
00:52:28I don't know where I would be if he didn't give me that stuff is the stuff that I hold with me and when I go
00:52:35Fight, I take that out
00:52:37the ups and downs
00:52:39Still struggling with the money then now and then now I'm here on this scene
00:52:44I just feel like this is my chance to to shine
00:52:47I feel like this is God giving my second chance to show who Xavier Franklin really is
00:52:58They can present an hour a los quinceaños mma
00:53:02Hasido me metal you gotta love FC de mis 10 peleas de ganas que tengo
00:53:06Nueve ancillo knockouts y el poder de esos knockouts. La verdad es que solo entro y hago lo que tengo que hacer en la jaula
00:53:14Mi nombre es David Martinez. Tengo 26 años y entreno en bombay
00:53:20Llevo entrenando toda mi vida este karate de ahí
00:53:24Desde los dos años porque mis papás son mis entrenadores
00:53:28Ellos son cintas negras de karate desde ahí empezó todo toda la historia
00:53:32Mi hermana es mi más grande inspiración
00:53:35Son nombres Melissa super meli martinez. Ella siempre ha logrado
00:53:39las cosas y yo siempre quiero
00:53:42seguir tras de ella entonces ella me inspira a
00:53:45Lograr este este contrato porque ella está firmada con la compañía y pelea dentro de tres semanas
00:53:52Tener a dos martinez dentro de la oficina sería mi más grande hecho realidad
00:53:58cuando salí de esquina con ella me puse la
00:54:02chamarra que decía martinez en la parte de atrás y dije ahora si puedo morir en paz pero
00:54:08ahora yo siento que falta mi nombre ponerlo en la parte de la chamarra
00:54:13Entonces no va a ser la persona que separe entre mí y mi sueño porque
00:54:17Yo se lo que tengo dentro de mí y yo sé que lo puedo lograr
00:54:21voy a salir a dar mi mi 100% y mi 100% radica en el 90% de mis
00:54:28peleas son finalizaciones entonces yo voy a hacerlo lo que se hace el mejor que es ir a terminar la pelea
00:54:34Y
00:54:43Well somebody turned in the script
00:54:45With Xavier Franklin story. I think a lot of people would just say no, it's too obvious and it's too unbelievable, right?
00:54:52You're not gonna go to the teacher and say oh
00:54:53We'll run down the stairs and chase your dreams to be a pro fighter and get to the UFC yet
00:54:58Here he is Xavier Franklin is on the cusp of the UFC
00:55:03Right
00:55:04Athletic fighter out of the Dallas area, Texas. Yeah, he was enamored by
00:55:09Conor McGregor and and all that he brought to
00:55:12MMA the spectacle that he brought and then in that moment when he was asked
00:55:16What would you be doing if you could be doing anything? He wrote it down
00:55:20he said it was just sort of like a stream of consciousness and I talked about wanting to be a UFC champion and
00:55:25Props to the professor. Yeah, who was willing to say, you know what?
00:55:29I don't think you're crazy because he actually thought he was gonna get a bad grade on that paper
00:55:33He thought he was gonna, you know
00:55:34Kind of get chided for just sort of writing a bunch of stuff down
00:55:37She pulled him aside said no go chase your dream and props to him for actually doing it walking out of college
00:55:43And here he is tonight on the precipice of taking the first big stuff and make it making that dream come true Paul
00:55:50Yeah, because we have heard the other side of that story where athletes have been told all what are you doing?
00:55:55You're crazy. You're never gonna make
00:55:57So it's refreshing to hear that somebody did say hey man go do what you want to do and this guy's exciting
00:56:03He's got dynamite in those hands. Very fast boxing good kicks. Just a real treat to watch
00:56:09It's gonna be a very fun matchup between these two pretty unique design on the dome. I like Xavier Franklin
00:56:16He's ready for David Martinez
00:56:18And here is a black Spartan David
00:56:21Martinez as Mexico builds is more of a hotbed for MMA and UFC talent
00:56:27David Martinez hoping to join his sister. They would become the first brother-sister tandem to be in the UFC. Some have come close
00:56:35Reyes Cortez has fought a couple of times on the contender series to join his sister Tracy, but a test hasn't happened yet
00:56:40Perhaps that changes tonight Paul
00:56:42Yeah
00:56:42And this is a you know a young man here with insane footwork and a pace that is just hard to match and that is
00:56:49What we're gonna see I think from the beginning of this fight moving on he non-stop moving. He's got great kicks
00:56:55especially to the legs and
00:56:57Cardio and gas tank for days to be able to move like that throughout the fight and you see in this feature
00:57:03They're a real good karate background, especially kill pushing karate. We see those guys. Those guys are hard man
00:57:08They're always attacking the body and legs in particular, even though it's karate
00:57:13Kill pushing karate is all about low leg kicks digging to the body and mental toughness. Yeah, it's a very
00:57:19Damaging traditional martial art and both of his parents were black belts and they really kind of raised him on the mat
00:57:25He said he started doing karate at the age of two
00:57:28So basically, you know right after he started walking
00:57:30He started kicking and you see that that movement that you talked about Paul this speed
00:57:35it's gonna be a matter of if
00:57:37Xavier Franklin can find him and land the power or if Martinez's footwork is just gonna be his undoing
00:57:43He was in the corner of his sister Melissa's UFC debut. That was all the way back in 2022
00:57:48She fights again in a couple of weeks right here at the UFC Apex, but it's David's turn tonight
00:57:53He's a small betting favorite one year younger than Xavier Franklin
00:57:57Frank than one inch taller at five six inch and a half edge and reach eyes with Martinez
00:58:03Mark Smith the veteran referee back in the octagon for fight number three tonight
00:58:08All right, Xavier ready David ready fights on
00:58:13Red de la Cruz on hand with us again on a Tuesday night. Happy you are to here on ESPN plus
00:58:19Xavier Franklin's in blue
00:58:21David Martinez in red
00:58:24I
00:58:27Martinez has finished nine of his ten victories seven coming in the first round and all nine of those by knockout
00:58:39Kicks on display early
00:58:42Martinez
00:58:43That's something that we've seen Xavier Franklin struggle with consistently in his fights in particular his last fight against Isaiah Gutierrez
00:58:51It was a big factor. He did win the fight, but it's certainly something to look out for coming from David Martinez fingers
00:59:13There's that movement he's just so incredibly fast laterally in and out his range awareness
00:59:22You see Franklin trying to stalker trying to get a read on but he doesn't stop
00:59:27Well, that's right fake you do exactly that's Franklin style
00:59:30This is exactly what he likes to do is try to pressure but right now he's pressuring at a distance
00:59:35It's just a little bit too far away for him to be able to box
00:59:38Martinez up and Martinez could still land those leg. That's three really solid leg kicks landed from Martinez so far
00:59:51Time a power shot with the right Martinez able to dip and escape
01:00:15On the way in by Martinez, yeah, I tried to step in with that left kick to the body of Martinez
01:00:21nicely with that right hand
01:00:26Another heavy leg kick and he opened himself up
01:00:51Take it off
01:01:08See those faints from Martinez
01:01:10Oh
01:01:19Under two minutes round number one
01:01:27Franklin trying to close Martinez down
01:01:30Stop you guys stop time
01:01:33That one got low on the push kick from Martinez with just over 90 seconds to go in the round
01:01:42Stay over here stay over here
01:01:46Oh, we almost got a show hey accidental keep it up stay away, okay
01:01:51Are you ready? Yeah, are you ready? Yeah. All right careful
01:01:55Time it fight compelled strong. Yes, it did got that got that straying time
01:02:08See if Franklin can make some adjustments to kind of wrangle I think a leg kick for him would have been a good idea
01:02:13I don't think so. I don't think so. I don't think so. I don't think he's gonna be able to do that
01:02:16I don't think he's gonna be able to do that. I don't think he's gonna be able to do that
01:02:19Adjustments kind of wrangle I think a leg kick for him
01:02:32Franklin is used to being
01:02:48I
01:02:52Look at the face on Martinez he is
01:02:58Nice counter, right
01:03:01Big things starting to heat up the final minute as Martinez is turning it on a little bit of that traditional martial arts coming out
01:03:07There with that wheel kick won his last fight that way it was a nasty wheel kick knockout
01:03:18I
01:03:31Might make his punches
01:03:41The circus act in the final seconds
01:03:49I
01:03:52So listen when he when you pulling it out, he's gonna throw that kid shoot the two down the middle
01:03:58Anytime you pull the shit out. He gonna throw that kid. Okay, so you pull I'll be ready to shoot the two down the middle
01:04:04Use your jab more. Yeah
01:04:06Okay, get closer distance, okay, you know you get stuff that shit if you're closer, yeah
01:04:16Take a look
01:04:17I mean the damage from these leg kicks
01:04:19Although we're not seeing it yet in the gate of Franklin and Martinez clearly watch the same film
01:04:25I did and saw that as a big opportunity lands the right hand there as well
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01:05:02Martinez is providing a soundtrack of these leg kicks on Xavier Franklin
01:05:10Damage and piling up on that left leg
01:05:12I
01:05:19Mean that's that karate back. I mean the speed of that lead hook kick was crazy
01:05:24All right
01:05:38All right, don't do it again
01:05:41Yeah, all right
01:05:48Stoppage there
01:05:50another thudding leg kick
01:05:52I'm interested to see if he starts to go upstairs with these kicks once he could get Franklin really
01:05:57Thinking about that calf kick so focused on that calf
01:06:02Second shot for a takedown for Franklin. He tried one from way far out. It was easily defended in round number one and Martinez
01:06:09Able to shuck him there as well
01:06:19Martinez momentarily
01:06:25He's trying to catch him coming in
01:06:31Or at least try to count
01:06:34It doesn't like kicks landed for David Martinez
01:06:38right top group and Franklin
01:06:41Starting to find his timing with his boxing now, but he's still eating a lot of leg kicks
01:06:52Franklin yelling you gotta let your hands go
01:06:56Now the damage is starting to pile up you can see it he was wearing it well around number one
01:07:00You couldn't see a bruiser much of a lift, but now the damage is evident on the left calf of Franklin perhaps
01:07:06That's why he's turning up the urgency here
01:07:16Really different styles here now Franklin get himself back into this fight here
01:07:23Punches he's finding his time
01:07:26Oh
01:07:27draws the attack out of
01:07:29Martinez which got
01:07:31Dangerously sloppy there for a moment. Well, I'd like Laura talked about he's usually the counter striker and the more he can faint and draw
01:07:37the boxing of
01:07:39Martinez
01:07:49This is the closest one he's got to like to be switches to the single he didn't have the double there
01:07:54Let's see if you can start to change something together here
01:07:57Go for the high crotch. I don't know if he's gonna be able to pull that off
01:08:01Martinez has this deep wizard and he's pulling on the front the other elbow as well
01:08:14Martinez swinging a miss on both sides they went simultaneously and then another big
01:08:25I'd be seconds to go in an action-packed round, too
01:08:31I
01:08:54Trade right hands there
01:09:01I
01:09:14Was just about to say it had been a minute since Martinez had attacked that leg again
01:09:23Punching his way all the way across the octagon as we show you the striking numbers at different levels make it 17 light kicks now
01:09:30Tell you after round one and now round two Martinez has a great ability to turn it on in the final minute of the round
01:09:37To really try to put a stamp on it in what's been a close fight and a ridiculous pace both of these guys
01:09:45We knew that from Martinez coming in this is how he fights moves all around the cage big kicks
01:09:55Decent boxing
01:10:00Action to the bell. We'll see a third round between these 135
01:10:10That was better baby
01:10:12You see he getting tired. He's shooting. He's getting desperate. I want more punches and bunches, but you gotta start letting it from home
01:10:17When he gets too hot
01:10:20Deep breath deep breath
01:10:24And slow out slow
01:10:26And slow out slow now the punches is landing
01:10:29You know I'm saying and he's trying to he's getting his hands on heat. He's trying to throw the two
01:10:33He's throwing wide-ass hooks. Yeah, I want straight down the middle
01:10:37And stay light on your feet
01:10:41Here's another big leg kick landed from Martinez and another one he's been consistent throughout the fight
01:10:47But then that right hand got Franklin back into this second round started to find his timing
01:10:53Landing some significant shots to the face of Martinez
01:11:00Watch your hands, okay
01:11:02Move back steps in and is warning them
01:11:06They are thrown such aggression a couple of times
01:11:14These guys seems to be breathing hard either
01:11:21Gotta be the left leg of Xavier Franklin that's feeling at the worst
01:11:29Damage right now
01:11:4122 and counting in the leg kick department registered
01:11:45Martinez in the 23rd brings them off his feet. Yeah, and he is officially feeling it now
01:11:50You can tell his stance staggered there. He almost fell down
01:11:54And then shot for a takedown
01:11:59I
01:12:01Was at 22 23 now 23, that's a lot of their powerful
01:12:08Weight behind those hurt little claps. Yeah, they're not little feeler out kicks to the leg
01:12:22Another one
01:12:29I
01:12:39Loved it. He's getting busier with them as the fight is going on here the third
01:12:53Franklin's we're asking him to mix in some body shots here. They want him prone to the body then coming back upstairs
01:13:00Okay
01:13:11Despite the fact that Franklin continues to push forward. I do think he's compromised just enough. Oh, yeah to wear Martinez
01:13:18It's starting to pull ahead in these boxing combinations
01:13:22He just doesn't have quite the mobility that he did earlier in the fight. You can't chase as much
01:13:27And even when he does
01:13:32Just the fear that maybe a big leg kickers coming right behind as soon as I put my weight on it to try to get
01:13:38Loaded up for a big shot
01:13:49I don't know what happened there
01:13:52Good are you good? All right. Hey, be careful. All right, Tom, it's like it's all like
01:14:17I
01:14:21Have the leg kick was one of his favorites
01:14:37Mr. Panama stand right in the center
01:14:42Back and forth fight David Martinez
01:14:45Using that movement to his advantage later in the fight
01:14:48Not as much sting to these strikes
01:15:00Starting to check the leg kicks, but you still can't feel good as he is now
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