The big story line heading into tonight’s Dana White’s Contender Series event was whether Nick Newell could win a contract to get into the UFC.

For starters, though, Newell (14-2) had to get a win over Alex Munoz (5-0), and he couldn’t do that. Apart from a couple submission attempts from Newell, Team Alpha Male product Munoz stayed perfect with a unanimous decision sweep of the scorecards.

The fight was the featured bout of tonight’s Dana White’s Contender Series 14 event, which took place at The Ultimate Fighter Gym in Las Vegas and streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.

Munoz’s win wasn’t enough to get a UFC contract, though. Three deals were handed out by UFC President Dana White after the event. Heavyweight Jeff Hughes, a teammate of former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, got a deal for a first-round TKO of Josh Appelt. Light heavyweight Jim Crute got a deal for a first-round TKO of Chris Birchler. And despite not getting a finish, Sodiq Yusuff got a deal for a thrilling featherweight slugfest unanimous decision win over Mike Davis.

Additionally, White said Chase Hooper will get a developmental deal with the UFC. The 18-year-old won a unanimous decision against Canaan Kawaihae to open the card.

“The fights were incredible tonight – loved it,” White said. “Chase Hooper, we’re going to put him in the developmental program. We’re going to work with this kid for a little bit and put him in. Jeff Hughes looked very impressive tonight. He’s in. Yusuff is a well-rounded, talented kid, and he’s in. And I’m a big fan of Jim Crute. He’s in. I’m really happy with the guys we got tonight, and I’m looking forward to seeing them fight in the UFC.”

Jim Crute KOs Chris Birchler in first

For a minute, it looked like Jim Crute was trying a little too hard to get the knockout against Chris Birchler.

The Aussie bounded across the octagon and red-lined it with heavy hands and spinning attacks. Then Birchler fired back with a right hand, and it cracked him.

Undeterred, Crute kept firing heavy shots, going punch for punch with Birchler. In the end, though, he showed his power was more than just posturing with a left hook that visibly wobbled Birchler, prompting referee Mark Smith to wave off the bout at the 4:23 mark of the opening frame.

Crute’s (8-0) undefeated record is now extended to eight fights, while Birchler has dropped two straight.

Sodiq Yusuff brutalizes Mike Davis, wins decision

Sodiq Yusuff nearly knocked out Mike Davis in the first round. When that didn’t happen, he chopped down Davis’ leg.

After three rounds, Yusuff was limping from a first-round injury. But he also had a unanimous decision victory via scores of 30-27.

Yusuff and Davis came out throwing heavy leather and battering each other’s legs, daring the other to back down. Yusuff won that standoff. A right hand forced Davis backward, and a left hook put him down. He managed to survive the opening round, but he wasn’t quite the same afterward.

After an initial flurry of punches, Davis tried to snipe his way to victory. Yusuff did the same, and he was again the more effective fighter. By the end of the round, repeated kicks to the thigh and calf had Davis shooting in for the tie-up, only to be pushed away.

By the final round of the fight, Davis was hobbling and could barely walk. Yusuf tried to set up the highlight reel finish, using his jab to set up right hands and head kicks. Davis managed to survive again, but the outcome on scorecards wasn’t in doubt.

Yusuf (7-1) has won back-to-back fights while Davis (5-1) suffers the first lost of his professional career.

Stipe Miocic teammate Jeff Hughes lands thundering TKO

Jeff Hughes took advantage of opponent Josh Appelt’s defensive strategy and struck his way to a nose-crunching TKO.

Appelt hit the deck after an uppercut floored him at the 4:26 mark of the opening frame. Hughes got an impressive finish and a good argument for a UFC contract.

Hughes put Appelt on his heels early with combinations of punches and takedown attempts. Appelt tried to strike back, only to find himself on the canvas as Hughes scooped him up and took him down.

After a second takedown, Hughes pounded away with heavy shots as Appelt righted himself. The pressure didn’t end there, however, and Hughes’ uppercut made it through Appelt’s defense.

Hughes (10-1), a former LFA heavyweight champ, now has won four straight while Appelt (15-7), a Bellator veteran, sees a three-fight streak snapped.

18-year-old Chase Hooper rallies for decision win

Fresh-faced Chase Hooper had to take some major punishment to turn the tables against the heavy-handed Canaan Kawaihae. Once Kawaihae got tired, that job got a lot easier.

The 18-year-old Hooper came within seconds of stopping an exhausted Kawaihae only to see the final bell. Judges awarded him a pair of 29-26 scores and one 28-26 score.

Hooper ran a grappling clinic on Kawaihae, transitioning from mount to back control and punishing with elbows in between. At several points, referee Jason Herzog looked as though he would step in to stop the fight. Kawaihae refused to capitulate, however, and fought off multiple choke attempts.

The fight started on a completely different note. Kawaihae knocked Cooper off his feet in the opening frame. But the initial burst of power gave way to survival as the pace of grappling exchanges caught up to the 20-year-old Hawaiian. Although Cooper was bloodied, he was the fresher fighter from the second round on and pushed the fight until his opponent broke.

Hooper’s (5-0) current win streak stands at five fights, while Kawaihae (3-1) suffers his first pro setback after four wins.

Dana White’s Contender Series 14 results include:

• Alex Munoz def. Nick Newell via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jim Crute def. Chris Birchler via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:21
• Sodiq Yusuff def. Mike Davis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jeff Hughes def. Josh Appelt via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:26
• Chase Hooper def. Canaan Kawaihae via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-26, 28-26)

For more on Dana White’s Contender Series 14, check out the MMA Events section of the site.