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Dana White’s Contender Series 16 results: Greg Hardy smashes way to 17-second win; three earn deals

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LAS VEGAS – Say what you will about Greg Hardy’s moral character, the heavyweight prospect is quickly developing into a scary slugger.

Hardy (2-0) needed just 17 seconds to score a TKO win over an outmatched Tebaris Gordon (3-1) in the main event of Dana White’s Contender Series 16 event Tuesday, which took place at The Ultimate Fighter Gym in Las Vegas and streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.

Hardy came out with incredible intensity, scowling in the corner before the start of the fight. It translated to his performance, as he rushed forward and began throwing bombs from all angles.

Gordon did his best to cover and counter, but Hardy avoided the haymakers and delivered rapid-fire combinations. Eventually, a big right landed on the mark, and Gordon slumped to the floor, earning a quick stoppage from referee Herb Dean.

While Hardy already has a developmental deal under his belt, UFC President Dana White handed out three more contracts – Devonte Smith, Kennedy Nzechukwu and Bobby Moffett.

DWCS 16 wraps up Season 2 of the show. You can read individual recaps below.

Smith capitalizes on takedown attempt to score finish

Lightweight Devonte Smith (8-1) impressed in the night’s co-feature, earning a quick stoppage of Joe Lowry (8-1).

Both men looked comfortable on the feet to start, trading sharp jabs in the pocket. Smith chopped the legs a bit, as well, while Lowry found some success bringing a right hand behind the jab. Smith’s pinpoint accuracy marked his opponent up early.

With Smith’s strikes adding up, Lowry looked to shoot in and seize some momentum. It backfired, with Smith stuffing the attempt and rapid-firing elbows to the head that left his opponent limp at the 2:52 mark of the first round.

Nzechukwu dominates in return to DWCS

In light heavyweight action Kennedy Nzechukwu (6-0) picked his second Dana White’s Contender Series win, remaining undefeated in the process, with a first-round TKO finish of Dennis Bryant (5-2).

The taller Nzechukwu set the tone early with a sharp jab while his corner yelled for him to be first. Brant did his best to slip and counter, unsuccessfully grabbing on to a leg and trying to get the action to the canvas. Nzechukwu was patient and found a home for the straight, as well, visibly hurting his opponent and sending him crashing to the canvas. Once there, Nzechukwu was again patient as he picked his finishing blows, hammerfisting through his opponent’s guard to get the TKO win at the 1:48 mark of the frame.

Moffett’s grappling attack leads to submission

In featherweight action Bobby Moffett (13-3) used a dominant grappling attack to score a submission win over Jacob Kilburn (6-2) in the second frame.

Moffett landed a huge right hand in the opening seconds of the fight and then drove forward shortly after and took the action to the floor. Taking top position and listening to the coaching of Benson Henderson, Moffett patiently looked to advance position while pulling his opponent away from the cage. Initially hunting an arm-triangle choke, Moffett, eventually turned to striking to soften things up before focusing on the choke again. When it still wasn’t there, Moffett advanced to mount and continued striking from the dominant position until the end.

Kilburn came out swinging in the second, but Moffett largely evaded the blows before slipping under and again taking the action to the canvas. Once there, Moffett was faster and more successful in his attacks this time, earning a tapout via D’Arce choke at the 1:02 mark of the frame.

Gilpin gets submission with D’Arce

In a featherweight matchup, Alex Gilpin (12-1) battled through some early adversity to score a second-round submission win over J.R. Coughran (6-1).

The two men engaged quickly at the start, flashing out punches and kicks in the pocket in the early going,, though it seemed it was Coughran who was getting the best of the exchanges. Gilpin moved well about the cage and tried to return fire, but Coughran’s left hand found the mark over and over, busting up his opponent’s right eye and drawing blood. For his part, Gilpin refused to back down, and he started to land clean late in the frame, visibly frustrating his opponent and slowing the attack.

The two continued to bang it out in the second, with Coughran’s left hand causing all sorts of problems. Gilpin turned to his wrestling one minute into the round, getting the fight to the floor and immediately attacking the neck. Coughran did his best to resist, but the adjustments on the D’Arce choke earned Gilpin a submission win at the 1:55 mark of the frame.

Complete DWCS 16 results include:

  • Greg Hardy def. Tebaris Gordon via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:17
  • Devonte Smith def. Joe Lowry via knockout (elbows) – Round 1, 2:52
  • Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Dennis Bryant via TKO (pumches) – Round 1, 1:48
  • Bobby Moffett def. Jacob Kilburn via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 2, 1:02
  • Alex Gilpin def. J.R. Coughran via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 2, 1:55

For more on Dana White’s Contender Series 16, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

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