Dana White’s Contender Series: Week 1 Results

Light heavyweights manned the final position on Tuesday night’s fight card as Elevation Fight Team prospect Ty Flores squared off with kickboxer and former UFC competitor Dustin Jacoby in the main event.

The experience disparity and difference in fluidity between these two was apparent immediately, as Jacoby pressed forward with measured, powerful shots as Flores looked to counter with somewhat labored, less effective strikes of his own. Surprisingly it was Jacoby who brought the fight to the floor first, briefly locking up a D’Arce choke and dragging Flores to his knees with it before releasing the hold and continuing to unload on the feet through to the horn.

Flores came out a little more aggressively to start the second, looking to press the action and close the distance, only for Jacoby to stuff his level change and start unloading with varied attacks that again sent Flores searching for a takedown. Back in space, the game, but busted up Flores got backed into the fence and beaten up some more. A straight left hand from Jacoby wobbled Flores and sent Jacoby in search of the finish, but referee Herb Dean allowed them to continue.

Late in the round with Jacoby showing signs of fatigue, it was Flores who landed a heavy knee up the middle to create some intrigue heading into the third frame.

After a profanity-laced pep talk from Sean Madden in his corner, Flores again came out swinging, bringing the fight to Jacoby to start the third. A minute into the round, the tired light heavyweights landed in the clinch along the fence, trading knees and short punches inside before separating into space. Jacoby once again looked at a D’Arce choke on the canvas before abandoning the hold, leading to the duo getting back to their feet and battling in close on the fence.

With just over a minute left in the round, Flores finally dumped Jacoby to the canvas, but he wasn’t able to keep him there, as the veteran got back to his feet, backing out in front along the cage, and out of danger.

The torrid pace of the first two rounds turned this into a slog down the stretch, but Jacoby showed his impressive striking early, while Flores’ toughness was on display throughout.

When the judges added up the eights, nines, and tens, the scores came out unanimously in favor of the UFC veteran Jacoby.

Official Result: Dustin Jacoby def. Ty Flores by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-27)