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LAS VEGAS – After previously earning a decision win in the Brazilian version of the series, Antonio Arroyo (9-2) picked up an impressive stoppage win over Stephen Regman (9-4) in his first appearance on the original version of Dana White’s Contender Series.

The bout served as the featured contest of Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 20 event, which took place at UFC Apex and streamed live on ESPN+.

Arroyo opened the contest with several heavy kicks to the body and legs, taking a clear toll early. Regman appeared to take the shots well, but he also didn’t check any of them. Arroyo held the center and continued to chop at the legs, and while Regman struggled to break the rhythm, he did eventually grab the leg and take the fight to the canvas. Once there, Regman grabbed control of the neck, but he wasn’t able to secure any real submission attempt before Arroyo returned to the feet, where the round finished.

Regman opened with a low kick to start the second and then slipped under Arroyo’s spinning heel kick and drove him to the floor. Arroyo was able to get butterfly guard as they scrambled, eventually creating enough room to get back to the feet. Once there, a big high kick landed clean for Arroyo, sending Regman to the floor. As Arroyo pounced to finish, he was surprised by a Regman armbar attempt that forced some real attention. Once free, Arroyo dove forward with a few big punches that just missed before eventually settling down on top.

Regman did his best to scramble on his back, but Arroyo was able to land a few big punches and work his way to mount, eventually locking in an arm-triangle choke and pressing his foot off the cage to create enough angle to get the tap at the 3:31 mark of the second. The win was good enough to score Arroyo a UFC deal.

Ode Osbourne (8-2) came in with big promises, but the bantamweight prospect delivered, earning a first-round submission over a gritty Armando Villarreal (5-2).

Villarreal looked to change levels at the start of the contest, but Osbourne was prepared, using slick movement and quickness to stay upright. Undaunted, Villarreal continued to press forward, trying to get tight, but Osbourne was up to the challenge, shucking his opponent’s attacks to the side while delivering precision strikes on the feet.

Osbourne’s fancy techniques were effective, but Villarreal refused to back down, and he was eventually able to get hold of his foe and slam him to the floor, later settling into his guard and trying to attack from the top. While it looked like the momentum was shifting, Osbourne slipped in an armbar late in the frame and was able to turn belly down and earn the verbal submission at the 4:39 mark of the first, taking home a UFC contract in the process.

In his third appearance under the Dana White’s Contender Series banner, Don’Tale Mayes (7-2) turned in his best performance, using capable takedown defense and incredible power to secure a highlight-reel finish of Ricardo Prasel (10-2).

Mayes stalked at the start, but Prasel wisely countered with leg kicks and then pushed into the clinch. Mayed defended well against the cage, punching as he created space, eventually returning to the center. Prasel continued to look for the takedown, briefly dragging the action to the canvas, but Mayes was able to move quickly back to his feet, visibly frustrating his opponent.

As the round carried on, Mayes showed capable takedown defense, allowing him the chance to punch both at range and in tight. Prasel relied on his kicks while on the feet, but he was in constant danger of his opponent’s big punches – a fact proved at the close of the frame, when Mayes landed a huge left hand that sent his opponent crashing to the floor. With the clock ticking, Mayes unleashed a barrage of punches on the ground, ending the fight with just one second left in the opening round and getting Mayes a UFC invitation.

In a bout that was scheduled for the featherweight division, Kevin Syler (9-0) turned in an incredible performance that was marred only by missing weight by six-and-a-half pounds, putting a blemish on a one-sided decision win over Lance Lawrence (5-1).

Lawrence was the aggressor from the start, walking forward and looking to strike. With Syler retreating and looking to counter, Lawrence was forced to be cautious with the range. The taller Lawrence tried his best to clinch and knee, but Syler was able to pull free and launch heavy punches to all levels. Lawrence continued to press forward, even as he was taking damage and his face showed evidence of his opponent’s work. Lawrence did his best to turn the tide, showing impressive will to stand and trade, but Syler was clearly the more powerful man, landing a steady stream of power punches.

In the final minutes, Syler took the fight to the floor with relative ease and then slipped to the back, but Lawrence scrambled and worked to his feet before the bell.

Lawrence continued to walk forward to start the second, but Syler simply changed levels and wrapped the leg, bringing the action to the canvas. Lawrence worked to guard and did his best to threaten from his back, but Syler’s top game was vicious, landing several big elbows and punches from the top. With Lawrence’s head trapped against the fence, Syler grinded away from the top, eventually stepping over to mount.

Lawrence continued to show his durability, scrambling free from a rear-naked choke that threatened to end the fight. He also landed an illegal upkick that did receive a warning but didn’t stop the continued offense. Syler turned to attack the legs in the final seconds, and it gave Lawrence a very brief opportunity to enjoy some offense once he escaped, but the bell sounded before he could do much damage.

A huge hematoma developed quickly on Lawrence’s head, and the doctor came in to take a look before the start of the final frame, but he was allowed to continue. Lawrence somehow found the energy to again be the man pushing the pace. Syler was there to meet him, banging away to both the head and body, and Lawrence responded by changing levels and driving the action to the canvas. As Syler tried to rise, Lawrence was able to slip around to the back and work in his hooks, but he was unable to keep control of the body.

Halfway through the frame, Syler was able to reverse position and move to the back, where he locked in a body triangle and squeezed on the jaw. The arm eventually slipped under the chin, but the gritty Lawrence refused to go away, peeling the arm away and continuing to battle. Syler adjusted and worked again for the choke, but Lawrence somehow survived until the final bell. Syler took him the clear decision win – 30-27, 30-26 and 30-26 – but it was Lawrence’s heart that impressed just as much.

In the night’s first contest, LFA middleweight champion Brendan Allen (12-3) scored an impressive first-round finish of Canadian contender Aaron Jeffery (6-2).

Allen took the center of the cage to start, walking forward and throwing punches while taunting his opponent a bit and asking him to engage. Jeffery responding by changing levels, though Allen was able to defend, and they went to work in the clinch. Allen took control of the position, first locking in a standing arm-triangle that briefly looked threatening before sliding over to the back and looking for options there. Jeffery wisely turned things in and briefly rifled off a series of punches, but Allen was happy to answer in kind.

As they exchanged in tight, an Allen knee up the middle landed to the chin, sending Jeffery crashing to the floor. Allen hopped on top and patiently looked for options from the top. Jeffery eventually turned his back, and Allen took the neck and locked in the rear-naked choke, scoring the tap at the 3:23 mark of the first frame and walking away with a UFC deal.

Dana White’s Contender Series 20 results include:

• Antonio Arroyo def. Stephen Regman via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:31
• Ode Osbourne def. Armando Villarreal via verbal submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:39
• Don’Tale Mayes def. Ricardo Prasel via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:59
• Kevin Syler def. Lance Lawrence via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
• Brendan Allen def. Aaron Jeffery via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:23

For complete coverage of Dana White’s Contender Series 20, check out the MMA results.