LAS VEGAS – Dusko Todorovic (9-0) was forced to go to the judges’ cards for the first time in his career, but he was able to stay perfect, picking up a decision win over Teddy Ash (14-5).

The matchup served as the featured contest of Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 26 event from the UFC Apex in and streamed on ESPN+.

Ash moved forward quickly to start, and Todorovic slipped a few big shots before looking for the clinch and pressing the action to the cage. Ash hung tight on the right arm, keeping the action tight, and though Todorovic was able to briefly lock his arms, he couldn’t get a takedown. Todorovic continued to press forward, using shoulder pressure and head positioning while sneaking in punches to the body and head when available. Ash seemed comfortable on the cage, but he was taking some damage, and his nose started leaking a bit.

Todorovic looked a bit to change levels late, but it wasn’t there, and Ash finally just swung away, landing a few quick strikes but nothing of real consequence before the bell.

Ash came out swinging in the second, but Todorovic dealt with it well and landed a few counters at range before again pressing into the clinch. Ash’s face was covered in blood from a cut under his right eye, and Todorovic continued to press forward in the clinch. The two broke away briefly, then went back to the clinch, at which point referee Jason Herzo called time to replace Todorovic’s mouthpiece, which had been out for a few minutes and laying on the canvas.

Todorovic was happy to work from the clinch as the round unfolded, peppering the body and keeping his opponent pinned, but Ash pulled free in the final minute and went on the attack. Todorovic moved well, but Ash tagged him with a big left hand a huge right shortly after. Todorovic stayed upright, but he was clearly hurt in the late exchanges.

Ash again pressed forward to star the third, but Todorovic was relatively calm as he slipped the big punches and looked to counter. Ash was swinging for the fences, but Todorovic showed slick movement and accuracy with his striking replies. Ash wanted to work from range, but Todorovic seemed content to just stay in tight and pummel in tight.

Ash had the occasional moment of space, but Todorovic simply slipped the big shots and then worked back in tight to deliver a bit more damage. To their credit, the two truly let it all go in the final seconds, but it was Todorovic who clearly controlled the fight and took home the decision, 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28, scoring a UFC deal in the process.

Impa Kasanganay (6-0) entered his middleweight bout with Kailan Hill (5-1) as a massive underdog, but despite just nine months as a professional fighter, remained undefeated and picked up a dominant decision win.

Hill came running forward to start the fight, but Kasanganay was ready and avoided any potential flying strikes. Kasanganay then caught the first kick that was thrown and took the fight to the floor, thought Hill was able to work almost immediately into a triangle choke. Kasanganay battled through it, but he wasn’t able to do any real damage before his opponent slipped back to the feet.

On the restart, Hill looked to strike, but Kasanganay wasn’t intimidated bu the flash, standing firm and returning fire while moving forward. Hill continued to rattle off creative striking combinations, but Kasanganay avoided them well and slipped in the occasional counter. Hill scored a takedown, but Kasanganay battled quickly back to his feet and reversed the position, firing in a few punches before they both went back to the center, finishing the round by trading a few kicks.

Hill continued to throw high kicks and leaping knees to start the second, but it wasn’t able to land clean. Meanwhile, Kasanganay was incredibly calm and confident on the feet, not unleashing a high output but certainly making it clear he wasn’t overmatched. Hill eventually shot forward with a takedown, but Kasanganay stuffed it with ease, controlling the neck briefly before slipping around to the back.

Hill was careful as he worked to escape and eventually turned to top position with a minute remaining. From there, he backed away and continued to try and fire off flying knees that looked acrobatic but didn’t score. Hill scored a late takedown, but he wasn’t able to get any offense before the bell.

Kasanganay took the center to start the third, and he was the man walking forward. However, Hill responded to the importance of the moment, turning to the aggressor and looking to strike. However, Hill decided to shoot forward, and Kasanganay again sprawled with ease and was able to take top position as the two settled on the floor.

Kasanganay briefly set up an arm-triangle, but he didn’t the hold full locked in. Still, he maintained clear control of the positioning and eventually slipped around to the back. Hill finally was able to work free with 90 seconds remaining, and his desperation was evident. Still, Kasanganay was up to the challenge, not exposing himself to any potential knockout blows. Hill then shot forward in the final minute, and he did get the action to the floor, but he did nothing with it, and Kasanganay crawled back to the feet, cruising to a decision win, 30-27 on all three cards.

In a lightweight contest, Peter Barrett (11-3) was nearly finished in the opening round but came back to score come-from-behind decision win over a very gritty Sang Hoon Yoo (5-1).

After a quick start from both, Yoo was able to catch a kick and trip Barrett to the floor, advancing to a crucifix position by stepping over the left arm and looking to rifle in right hands as quickly as possible. Barrett eventually extracted the limb, but Yoo maintained side control and continued to punch as quickly as possible. Referee Jason Herzog watched close, and Barrett exploded free, but he found himself trapped in a deep armbar. Barrett somehow gutted through it and escaped to the feet, bu the challenge wasn’t over.

Yoo shrugged off the escape and then looked to strike, firing punches and kicks and found their mark. Barrett battled through it, moving into the clinch and looking for a takedownHe briefly got one, but Yoo went straight back to his feet and landed a leaping knee. Barrett showed incredible heart, but Yoo was racking up strikes. Barrett did his best to slow things with a clinch, but Yoo was clearly the round winner.

Quick strikes started the second, but Barrett moved quickly to the clinch. Yoo defended well against the fence, but it was Barrett who was controlling the positioning. Yoo eventually pulled free and slipped on a big knee, and while he popped back up, Barrett charged forward and looked to control. It didn’t work, and the two traded strikes in a dizzying barrage of blows in the center.

Both men clearly felt the pace as the round wore on, but they both fired heavy punches in the pocket. Barrett got a quick takedown against the cage but couldn’t keep the fight there, and they resumed the work on the feet. Huge punches were traded until the bell, where Barrett scored another pair of late takedowns.

The action started quickly again in the third, but Barrett earned a timeout after taking a kick to the groin. The rest was only brief, and they continued to tee off on the restart. Barrett was getting the best of the exchanges. A Yoo knee was answered with a Barrett spinning elbow, and the two were praying for the finishing blow as they continued grinding in the fast-paced affair.

It was an absolute dogfight in the closing stages of the frame. A scramble saw Yoo try to switch to an armbar, but Barrett pulled free and wanted to take the back. Yoo realizes the importance of the moment and got to his feet, where he turned inside and looked to defend the takedown. Barrett got it briefly to the floor, but Yoo stood quickly, and they backed to the center and traded to the bell. In the end, Barrett took home a hard-fought decision win, 29-28 on all three cards and getting a UFC contract.

In a heavyweight matchup, Ben Sosoli (7-2) and Dustin Joynson (5-0) appeared to be destined for fireworks before a freak accident resulted in an unfortunate stoppage.

Sosoli took the center to start, but Joynson did his best to keep range on the outside, circling and trying to use kicks to stay away. Sosoli used big left hands from the southpaw stance to let his intentions be known. Sosoli swung back, but it was clear who had the power advantage.

As the two continued trading punches, Joynson pulled back and complained of his vision, indicating that he couldn’t see. Referee Chris Tognoni brought in the doctor, who spoke with Joynson and ultimately waved off the bout.

Tognoni was able to utilize replays in the building and determined that while the punch looked clean, an errant thumb may have caused the damage, resulting in a no contest.

In the night’s first contest, featherweight T.J. Brown (14-6) nearly got himself disqualified but wound up taking home a hard-fought third-round submission win over Dylan Lockard (6-2).

Both men came out aggressively, and it didn’t take long for them each to land clean. Lockard was able to score an early takedown, but Brown showed great durability in popping back up and instantly looking for some offense of his own. Brown wanted the takedown, but Lockard countered well as the action hit the canvas.

Lockard immediately turned to the right arm and gave a real effort at an omo plata, but Brown was able to patiently spin through it and pull away. Lockard had no hesitation at getting back to his feet, shooting in for another takedown and briefly threatening the back. Brown swept free and countered by moving to his opponent’s back, and the action remained just as high-paced on the floor.

The two continued to trade submission attempts for Brown pulled away and landed a clear knee to the head of Lockard while he was still in a grounded position. Brown immediately recoiled, realizing his mistake. Lockard was ultimately able to continue, and Brown lost a point for the infraction, but the action carried on until the bell.

The action remained fast-paced in the second. Brown threw big shots before taking the action to the floor, battling through a quick submission attempt to take top position. Lockard looked for every opportunity to escape, but Brown was able to keep his advantage with critical adjustments. Lockard kept at it, though, and he did finally crawl to his feet and slip away with a little less than two minutes remaining. It didn’t matter.

Brown continued pushing forward, and he again took the dominant spot as the action hit the canvas. Lockard did his best to work free, but Brown fired in short punches at every opportunity, pushing until the bell.

Brown appeared the fresher man in the final round, but Lockard stood firm in the pocket and fired back. Lockard changed levels and looked for the takedown, but Brown sprawled well and kept him away. Lockard eventually backed to the center and tried again, and this time he was able to get the fight to the floor. Brown wasn’t about to be defensive, though, and he immediately turned to attack the right arm. It wasn’t there, but it forced Lockard to move, and Brown slipped around to his back. Lockard tried to roll free, but Brown worked expertly into an arm-triangle position on the transition, dismounted and earned a quick squeeze at the 2:59 mark of the final frame, taking home a UFC deal in the process.

Dana White’s Contender Series 26 results include:

• Dusko Todorovic def. Teddy Ash via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Impa Kasanganay def. Kailan Hill via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Peter Barrett def. Sang Hoon Yoo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Ben Sosoli vs. Dustin Joynson ruled a no contest (accidental eyepoke) – Round 1, 2:08
• T.J. Brown def. Dylan Lockard via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 3, 2:59