Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 3, Week 2 Full Fight Card, Date & Details
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 3, Week 2
United States
Main Card • Final
R3, 5:00
R3, 5:00
R3, 5:00
R3, 5:00
UFC Contract Awarded
R3, 5:00
UFC Contract Awarded
Official Event Results
Contract Won
Contract Won
Official UFC Contract Awards
UFC Promotional Contract Recipients
UFC Contract: Miles Johns was awarded an official UFC contract after putting on a striking and wrestling clinic over Richie Santiago.
UFC Contract: Miguel Baeza earned an official UFC contract by scoring two knockdowns and battling through a seven-pound weight deficit against Victor Reyna.
Note: Standard performance bonuses ($50,000) are not officially distributed on Contender Series events; promotional contracts serve as the marquee prize.
Reported Payouts & Disclosed Purses
Fighter Purses & Contract Distributions
| Fighter | Result | Base Purse | Win / Finish Bonus | Performance Bonus | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $6,000* | — | $11,000 | |
| LOSS | $4,000* | — | — | $4,000 |
*Purses reflect standard Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) athlete purses for Dana White’s Contender Series ($5,000 to show / $5,000 to win). Victor Reyna missed the welterweight limit by seven pounds (weighed in at 178 lb) and was fined 20% ($1,000) of his base purse, which was awarded directly to Miguel Baeza.
Historic UFC & DWCS Records Set
Promotional Records Established at DWCS Season 3, Week 2
Justin Gonzales completed 14 takedowns against Zach Zane, establishing the all-time single-fight takedown record in Dana White’s Contender Series history.
All five bouts on the card went the full three-round distance, producing an uncommon 100% decision rate on a series renowned for rapid stoppage finishes.
Despite zero finishes on the card, Dana White awarded two full UFC contracts to Miles Johns and Miguel Baeza based on their dominant offensive displays.
LFA bantamweight champion Miles Johns improved to 9-0 with a lopsided unanimous decision, earning a UFC roster spot as a top 135-pound prospect.
Florida’s Miguel “Caramel Thunder” Baeza overcame a seven-pound opponent weight deficit to score two knockdowns and secure a UFC contract.
Tony Johnson entered the light heavyweight headliner as a +275 underdog and defeated 2-time Contender Series participant Alton Cunningham via unanimous decision.
Alton Cunningham logged 12 minutes and 32 seconds of ground control time but lost a 29-28 decision to Tony Johnson due to striking and damage criteria.
Future UFC middleweight Kyle Daukaus threatened four submission finishes and controlled Michael Lombardo for 6:28 to secure a dominant 30-25 decision victory.
Victor Reyna weighed in at 178 pounds for a 171-pound non-title welterweight fight, registering the heaviest weight miss of DWCS Season 3.
Miles Johns closed as one of the heaviest betting favorites in Contender Series history at -1100, outstriking Richie Santiago 73 to 58 in significant strikes.
Dana White’s Contender Series Season 3, Week 2 was only the second live event ever hosted inside the UFC APEX production facility in Las Vegas.
Three of the five fights featured dominant 10-8 rounds from judges, highlighted by Daukaus’ 30-25 scorecard and Gonzales’ unanimous 30-26 sweep.
When and where did Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 3, Week 2 take place?
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 3, Week 2 took place on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Who won the main event between Tony Johnson and Alton Cunningham?
Tony Johnson defeated Alton Cunningham via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) in their three-round light heavyweight headliner.
Which fighters earned UFC contracts on this episode?
UFC President Dana White awarded promotional contracts to two athletes: bantamweight Miles Johns and welterweight Miguel Baeza.
What Contender Series record did Justin Gonzales set?
Justin Gonzales completed 14 takedowns against Zach Zane, setting the all-time single-bout takedown record in Dana White’s Contender Series history while sweeping all scorecards 30-26.
Did Victor Reyna miss weight for his bout with Miguel Baeza?
Yes. Victor Reyna came in at 178 pounds (seven pounds over the 171-pound non-title welterweight limit). The fight proceeded at catchweight, and Reyna was fined 20% of his purse, which went to Baeza.
Were there any stoppage finishes at DWCS Season 3, Week 2?
No. All five bouts on the card went the full three rounds and were decided by unanimous decision, making it a rare all-decision event in Contender Series history.
How did Miles Johns defeat Richie Santiago?
Miles Johns used dominant wrestling, one knockdown, and over 11 minutes of control time to defeat Richie Santiago via unanimous decision (30–26, 30–27, 30–27).
Who won the middleweight bout between Kyle Daukaus and Michael Lombardo?
Kyle Daukaus defeated Michael Lombardo via unanimous decision (30–25, 30–26, 29–27), threatening with multiple submission attempts across fifteen minutes.
Why did Alton Cunningham lose despite 12+ minutes of control time?
Under unified MMA judging rules, effective striking and damage take precedence over ground control. Tony Johnson rocked Cunningham early in rounds and landed the heavier strikes to take rounds one and two on all judges’ scorecards.
Why did Dana White sign Miguel Baeza despite a decision outcome?
Dana White praised Baeza’s willingness to fight an opponent who missed weight by seven pounds, as well as his aggressive striking that produced two knockdowns in the second round.
Who was the biggest betting favorite at DWCS Season 3, Week 2?
Miles Johns was the biggest favorite of the night, closing at an overwhelming -1100 before securing his unanimous decision victory over Richie Santiago (+650).
How was Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 3, Week 2 broadcast?
The event streamed live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States and on UFC Fight Pass internationally.
What was the live gate and attendance for this event?
DWCS events at the UFC APEX are filmed in an intimate studio soundstage for invited guests and cornermen, resulting in 0 public ticket sales and a $0 live gate.
Who were the commentators and announcer for this episode?
The broadcast was called by play-by-play announcer Dan Hellie and UFC lightweight contender Paul Felder, with Joe Martinez serving as the official cage announcer and Laura Sanko conducting post-fight interviews.
How did the contract winners fare in the UFC?
Both Miles Johns and Miguel Baeza went on to build successful careers inside the Octagon, with Johns becoming a bantamweight contender and Baeza earning three consecutive UFC Performance of the Night bonuses in his first three promotional bouts.
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