A Contender Series fight is one that has stakes like none other, where fighters must showcase their skills to impress the UFC president enough for a contract with the promotional giant. Holding the Contender Series with a smaller cage inside the UFC Apex venue makes for a tense atmosphere, and with only close friends and family of the competing fighters in attendance as spectators.
The Big Apple gets two massive title fights for UFC 322 on Nov. 15 at Madison Square Garden as Jack Della Maddalena defends his welterweight title against Islam Makhachev in the main event. The co-main event will see Valentina Shevchenko defend her flyweight title against Weili Zhang in New York. UFC CEO Dana White made the announcement on social media on Thursday.
Kavanagh started with an low leg kick early that got Johnson's attention. Johnson seemed considerably bigger in the cage but the lightning fast kicks of Kavanagh were finding a home. A short left hook by Kavanagh landed right on the eye of Johnson. Starting to retreat, Johnson seemed visibly affected by the shot. Midway through the round, Johnson entered the clinch but was pushed off by Kavanagh seconds later. The speed of Kavanagh was very impressive
"We got boosted up to the main card cause of Joshua Van... three weeks ago, it was Joshua Van's fight week and me and the boys were ready to watch. Now I gotta go fight him and be a part of it."