Five fighters earned UFC contracts Tuesday night during a historic Week 5 of Dana White’s Contender Series, highlighted by two of the fastest knockouts in the promotion’s history and one fighter receiving a contract despite a loss.
Asplund Delivers 16-Second Knockout in Main Event
In the main event at the UFC APEX, heavyweight Steven Asplund secured a UFC contract with a devastating 16-second TKO win over Anthony Guarascio — the third-fastest finish in Contender Series history.
Asplund, once weighing over 500 pounds, promised chaos and delivered, dropping Guarascio with a quick shovel hook before sealing the finish with ground-and-pound. UFC CEO Dana White praised Asplund’s performance and presence, awarding him a UFC deal on the spot.
Douglas Scores 36-Second KO in Co-Main
In the featherweight co-main event, Lerryan Douglas knocked out Cam Teague just 36 seconds into the first round. Douglas landed a clean combination early and followed it up with a powerful left hook that ended the fight.
The knockout marked the seventh-fastest in series history and earned Douglas a UFC contract.
Vidal Wins, But Misses Weight
In a featured light heavyweight bout, Freddy Vidal pulled off a third-round submission upset over Felipe Franco with a rear-naked choke at 4:48. Franco controlled early with grappling, but Vidal reversed the momentum late.
However, Vidal missed weight after taking the fight on short notice and was not awarded a UFC contract. Instead, White offered him a return on the final episode of the season to earn his spot.
Sanches Stops Blair With Brutal Finish
Samuel Sanches delivered a knockout victory over Chasen Blair at 2:01 of Round 1 in their lightweight bout. After escaping a compromised position early, Sanches unloaded a combination against the fence to earn the stoppage and a UFC contract.
Foro, Dyer Impress in All-Out War
In the opening bout, Carol Foro defeated Shanelle Dyer via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) in a back-and-forth women’s flyweight battle that White called one of the best of the season.
Both fighters earned UFC contracts after an all-action bout filled with knockdowns, pressure, and resilience.
Contender Series Week 5 Results:
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Steven Asplund def. Anthony Guarascio via TKO (punches and elbows) — Round 1, 0:16
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Lerryan Douglas def. Cam Teague via KO (punches) — Round 1, 0:36
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Freddy Vidal def. Felipe Franco via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 3, 4:48
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Samuel Sanches def. Chasen Blair via KO (punches) — Round 1, 2:01
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Carol Foro def. Shanelle Dyer via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
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