The first run of Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil came to a close in rousing fashion, and four more fighters earned their way into the UFC.

Flyweight Raulian Paiva (18-1) was among the contract winners, earning a hard-fought split decision over Allan Nascimento (17-5) in the featured bout of Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil 3, which was taped in August at The Ultimate Fighter Gym in Las Vegas and aired today in Brazil. The show will soon be archived to UFC Fight Pass, as well.

Nascimento opened the fight with a few probing low kicks, while Paiva answered back with a powerful low strike of his own. When Nascimento continued with the kicks, Paiva countered well over the top. Nascimento retreated to the cage and then pushed forward with punches before dropping down to attack the leg. Paiva patiently worked his way free and then pulled back to the center of the cage to reset.

Paiva caught a kick shortly after but was unable to control his opponent on the floor following a nice takedown, and the action returned to the feet. Paiva seemed a little quicker to the punch, but Nascimento was able to send him toppling back to the canvas. However, Paiva again worked his way free and resumed his superior work on the feet. Nascimento was no slouch in the exchanges, but Paiva seemed to get the best of the strikes with quick combinations.

Paiva continued to work long, straight punches to open the second. Nascimento’s constant threat of a takedown proved problematic, and he had no problem returning fire. Nascimento quickly held a leg, but Paiva pulled away with relative ease and went back to slugging on the feet. Paiva was eating his share of punches, but he started to daze his opponent, as well. Nascimento desperately shot inside after eating a clean hook, but Paiva swept through and took the dominant position, working a modified crucifix briefly and landing a few elbows before the pair scrambled back to the feet.

Both men came out swinging hard in the third, and both landed clean. Paiva was still holding the center, but the action was coming from both sides. Nascimento shot inside and got a takedown, using wrist control to flatten his opponent, but Paiva would not be denied in escaping and moving to the top. Nascimento tried to step back over with a beautiful armbar attempt, but Paiva felt it coming and worked his way free. When they returned to the feet, it was Paiva who changed levels and brought the fight into the grappling realm, slipping immediately to the back. Nascimento refused to give up the position, turning inside and trying to escape, but Paiva continued to get himself reset on the back.

Nascimento countered by looking for a straight armbar, but Paiva battled his way though it. Eventually, judges were forced to declare a winner, and two of the three scoring leaned toward Paiva, awarding him the split with scores of 29-28, 28-29 and 29-28.

Moreira triangle deemed UFC worthy

Vinicius Moreira

Light heavyweight Vinicius Moreira (9-1) impressed in a submission win over John Allan (12-5), netting a UFC deal with the result.

Moreira moved quickly into the clinch at the open, pressing his opponent to the fence. Allan defended well to start, and while he was eventually brought to the canvas, he scrambled quickly back to his feet. Once there, Allan started to tee off. A crisp uppercut snapped his opponent’s head back, and a few big hooks landed clean, as well. Moreira tried to move inside and slow things down, and he did get the fight to the canvas once again. Allan tried to scramble back up, constantly shifting from side to side and looking to rise, but Moreira was able to work himself to mount and then the back when Allan looked to roll. Moreira turned out for an armbar on the final seconds of the round but couldn’t get the finish before the bell.

Moreira was still bloodied from the first round’s action when he walked out for the second, shooting immediately inside and again getting a takedown. Working again from the dominant position, Moreira rolled out for an armbar that looked certain to finish the fight. Allan somehow gutted thorough and then showed real heart in not only escaping but actually slipping out to top position. Unfortunately for him, Moreira immediately transitioned to a triangle choke, and this one proved true. Allan was unable to escape and was forced to tap out at the 3:40 mark of the round.

Souza takes home decision, UFC deal

Luana Souza

In women’s bantamweight action, Luana Souza (5-1) picked up a one-sided decision win over a previously undefeated Mabelly Lima (7-1), securing a UFC contract in the process.

In the second, Souza looked to utilize her range, though Lima did a fine job of darting in and out of space, getting tight enough to strike and then quickly slipping away from her opponent’s counters. Lima then punched her way into a clinch, immediately looking to change levels and bring the fight to the floor. After ducking under an arm, she did get her opponent off-balance and to the floor, though she found herself trapped in a guillotine. Souza held the neck for quite some time, adjusting her grip and tightening the guard, but she simply couldn’t elicit a tap, eventually letting go and ensuring she didn’t burn out her arms.

Lima was rather passive on top, getting a warning from referee Herb Dean, and when she tried to open up, Souza was able to scramble to her feet, sneaking in a few strikes before the bell.

Souza tried to keep her range in the third, but Lima wasted little time in moving inside. Still, Souza was able to remain upright and created enough space to strike again. When she fired off a low kick, Lima immediately grabbed hold and pressed for the takedown, though Souza alertly rolled through and maneuvered herself to top position before scrambling back to her feet.

Lima was relentless with her takedown efforts, getting the fight to the floor but was unable to secure the dominant position, and Souza again moved to her feet and looked to strike. Lima worked inside again in the final minute but didn’t have the energy to finish the takedown, and Souza pusher forward and continued to strike. In the end, judges gave her the contest, 30-27, 29-28 and 30-27.

Moreira takes split from Silva

Gisele Moreira

In women’s bantamweight action Gisele Moreira (8-3) edged out Dayana Silva (7-4) on the judges’ cards but was not rewarded with a UFC deal.

Moreira was visibly the bigger and more naturally powerful fighter. The leaner Silva had to counter with speed and movement, looking to slip her opponent’s strikes and counter with flurries of her own. Both women had success in moments, with Moreira’s blows coming full force and Silva trying to string combinations together.

Moreira began hunting for the takedown in the second. Silva was initially up to the challenge, though Moreira’s continued efforts did get her opponent to the floor. Moreira was then able to slip around to the back as Silva looked to stand and break free. While she was able to rise, Moreira kept hold of the body and tripped her opponent back to the floor, where she took top position and looked to strike until the bell.

Moreira again took the fight to the floor early in the third, but Silva was able to work herself back to the feet. Both women appeared a but drained, but Silva had a little more zip left in her punches, and proved to be a little more mobile, as well. Moreira got inside on a late takedown, earning top position with 90 seconds remaining and finishing the fight in top position, where judges gave her the split nod with scores of 28-29, 29-28 and 29-28.

Moises tears through overweight Cutis

Thiago Moises

Lightweight Thiago Moises (11-2) had no problem accepting a catchweight contest against opponent Gleidson Cutis (7-4), who weighed in at 160.5 pounds, and the decision paid off.

Moises took the center to start and immediately started to pick his shots on the outside, with quick punches and top and stinging kicks to the legs, as well. Cutis stood firm in the face of the attack and returned fire on the outside, but Moises was certainly the one setting the tone. A Moises right eventually snuck through the guard and sent Cutis to the floor, but he recovered quickly and returned to his feet.

Seconds later, a Moises high kick was partially blocked but still sent his opponent to the canvas. Cutis tried his best to recover, but Moises was unrelenting with his attack and continued to unleash punches on the floor until the fight was waved off at the 4:21 mark of the first round, securing Moises a UFC deal.

Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil 3 results include:

• Raulian Paiva def. Allan Nascimento via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Vinicius Moreira def. John Allan via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:40
• Luana Souza def. Mabelly Lima via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
• Gisele Moreira def. Dayana Silva via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
• Thiago Moises def. Gleidson Cutis via TKO (kick and punches) – Round 1, 4:21

For more on Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil 3, check out the MMA Events section of the site.