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LAS VEGAS – Venezuelan lightweight Omar Morales (8-0) kept his career record perfect, scoring an impressive second-round TKO over Harvey Park (12-3).

The bout served as the featured contest of Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 23 event, which streamed on ESPN+ from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Morales was light on his feet to start, spinning his opponent with a low kick and then following with a big shot up top. Park was a bit more stationary in his approach and then elected to move to the clinch, driving a few attacks to the body before accidentally landing a knee to the groin. The two went back to work quickly, and Park moved immediately back to the clinch, driving the action to the fence. However, Morales refused to stay there, turning off the cage and moving back to the center.

Morales continued to chop the leg whenever possible, while Park continued to seek the clinch. While he gained the position on occasion, he couldn’t capitalize once there. Another Park low blow forced a brief restart, but when they went back to action, the strategies remained the same. Park was insistent on the clinch, but he couldn’t do much one there. The two finally elected to just trade punches in the closing seconds, and both men had their moments.

Morales remained the more mobile fighter to start the second, and his low kicks continued to rack up damage. Park’s left leg was clearly compromised, and he tried to simply to back up to the fence and swing from there. Morales saw his chance to finish and delivered a crisp combination down the middle that sent Park to his knees, and referee Herb Dean stepped in at the 1:06 mark of the frame.

In women’s flyweight action Lucrezia Ria (8-2) earned a hard-fought split-decision win over an incredibly durable Marilia Santos (10-3), although the scores certainly weren’t without controversy.

Santos walked forward to start the contest, but Ria didn’t hesitate to unleash straight punches from range as they moved about the cage. Santos was happy to return the favor, though it appeared that Ria’ strikes had a bit more zip on them. Santos moved her way into the clinch, and she tripped the fight to the floor and moved around to the back. However, Ria escaped with textbook transitions, getting to top position and landing a few big punches before pulling back to the feet.

Santos stalked on the restart, and both women rattled off big punches. Santos eventually slipped to the floor on a missed kick, and Ria was happy to jump on top. She found herself on defense though, forced to last through an armbar attempt. Santos couldn’t quite get the hold in place, but she held on until the bell.

Santos took the center to start the second and she again pressed into the clinch. Ria was able to work free and tried to use her length on the feet. Ria caught a kick and tipped her opponent to the floor, kicking the elgs a bit before finally backing away. Once on the feet, the two women just teed off in the pocket, bringing the crowd to their feet. Santos seemed to get the best of it, and Ria grabbed the body and took the fight to the floor. Santos turned quickly to an armbar, but Ria was able to turn and kick herself free. Ria scrambled back to top position, though it was clear Santos was happy to take guard.

Ria was happy to ride out the frame, smothering Santos’ face while punching when the opportunity presented itself. It was clear both women were tiring, but Ria finished the round in the dominant position.

Santos again walked forward to start the third, and the two women immediately teed off in the pocket. Ria was clearly exhausted, and Santos made her pay with big punches to the face. To her credit, Ria retreated but constantly looked to punch back. Santos was able to take the fight to the floor with three minutes remaining, but Ria wrapped the neck as she fell back. However, she couldn’t get to guard, and while she was holding on for dear life with the left arm, there was no pressure on the neck.

Santos moved to mount and eventually popped her head free, and as they scrambled for position, she gave another attempt at taking the arm. Ria couldn’t get her limb free before the bell, though Santos couldn’t get enough pressure to force a tap. In the end, judges were forced to render a decision, and two of the three leaned toward Ria, 29-28, even though the dissenting judge had it 30-27 for Santos.

In featherweight action, Herbert Burns (9-2) was aggressive from the start and battled through some very real threats from Darrick Minner (22-10) before scoring a first-round submission.

Burns rushed forward quickly to start the fight, looking to strike, but Minner stood firm in the first, forcing Burns to switch his strategy. Burns countered by pulling guard, but Minner was able to keep himself free and slip around to his opponent’s back in a standing position. Burns defended well, patiently waiting through the attack and pulling himself free. Minner immediately teed off with strikes, and a seemingly stunned Burns looked to attack the neck. The hold wasn’t there, so Minner countered by looking to move to the back. However, Burns was too slick, getting his back to the floor and then quickly locking in a beautiful triangle-armbar submission, earning an instant tap at the 2:29 mark of the first.

In middleweight action, Brazilian Andre Muniz (18-4) stood firm in the face of a hard-charging Taylor Johnson (5-1) and was able to score a first-round submission win.

Johnson rushed forward to start the fight, though he actullly walked into a big right hand that sent him to the floor. Johnson popped right back to his feet and turned instead to a takedown, driving Muniz to the floor. Muniz quickly threatened with an armbar, but Johnson slammed his way free from the hold. As they scrambled for position, Muniz was able to slip to the back, where he was able to work in a hook and start hunting for the choke. Johnson tried to keep his chin tucked, but Muniz squeezed anyway, and he was able to earn the tap at the 1:46 mark of the opening round.

In the night’s first contest, Team Alpha Male’s Dwight Joseph (10-1) picked up a decision win over Jay Perrin (8-4) in a hard-fought and closely contested affair.

Joseph started the contest quickly, chopping at the legs, but Perrin countered with a takedown, getting dominant position in the opening minute. However, he couldn’t keep the fight there, with Joseph powering back to his feet and eventually resetting in the center.

Joseph landed a few big shots on the feet, but Perrin countered well, looking to get in tight and battle from the clinch. Joseph did his best to retreat and work from range, but Perrin continued to dictate the positioning. Late in the frame, Joseph changed course, dropping levels and driving the action to the canvas. However, Perrin was quick to escape back to his feet, as well, and they traded strikes until the end.

The pace remained high in the second, and after Joseph landed a few big strikes on the feet, Perrin shot inside for the takedown. Joseph was able to latch in a guillotine on the way down, though Joseph’s arm was inside the hold. Joseph worked to full guard and looked for the squeeze, anyway, and while it appeared tight, Perrin patiently waited through until his opponent was forced to let go.

Joseph quickly worked back to his feet, and the two went back to work in the center. It was Joseph who seemed to be landing the bigger blows, but Perrin never seemed overwhelmed by the onslaught and was always game in reply.

Both men appeared fresh enough to enter the third, but it was Perrin who struck first lifting Joseph high in the air and slamming him to the canvas. Joseph again refused to stay on the floor, scrambling up and resetting once again. However, Perrin wouldn’t be denied, walking through punches and getting the fight to the floor once again, this time switching around to the back and gaining some real control. However, Joseph seemed comfortable there, turning inside to take top position.

Perrin was able to escape back to his feet, and they reset with a little more than a minute remaining. Joseph teed off for a bit, then shot forward late. Perrin pushed him away, and the two exhausted fighters swing freely in the final seconds but largely came up short. In the end. Joseph was awarded the win, 29-28 on all three cards.

Dana White’s Contender Series 23 results include:

• Omar Morales def. Harvey Park via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:06
• Lucrezia Ria def. Marilia Santos via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
• Herbert Burns def. Darrick Minner via submission (triangle-armbar) – Round 1, 2:29
• Andre Muniz def. Taylor Johnson via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:46
• Dwight Joseph def. Jay Perrin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)