Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series Week 3 Preview: Grocke breaks down all five fights

By Michael Grocke, MMATorch contributor

Week 3 of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series will air on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7 PM CT. In Week 1 Dana White chose Kurt Holobaugh and Boston Salman. In Week 2 it was Sean O’Malley earning a new UFC contract. Who will it be this week? Let’s take a look at the fighters.

Main Card

Ryan Spann (10-4) vs. Karl Roberson (4-0) – Light Heavyweight 205 lbs. 

Ryan Spann is an interesting choice for this competition considering he has lost three of his last five fights. He was on a two-fight losing streak until finally picking up a win in his last bout at WFC 72 where he subbed Roman Pizzolato with a guillotine choke in the first round. In his ten wins as a pro, one was by way of knockout with eight by submission. The twenty-five year old has fought for Vengeance Fighting Alliance, El Orgullo Del Valle (EODV), Hero Fighting Championship (Hero FC), Fury Fighting (FF), Legacy Fighting Championship – Texas (LFC), Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) and World Fighting Championships – Nevada (WFC).

Karl Roberson has yet to taste defeat in his MMA career. He started by going 2-0 as an amateur, and is now 4-0 as a professional fighter. In those four pro wins, one is by knockout to go along with two by way of submission. His most recent victory came against Derrick Brown via submission at CFFC 65. The twenty-six year old has fought for Ring of Combat (ROC), Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) and Shogun Fights (SF).

Jason Jackson (7-2) vs. Kyle Stewart (6-0) – Welterweight 170 lbs. 

Jason Jackson started his MMA career 0-3 as an amateur. As a professional fighter he has fared much better accumulating a 7-2 record. Jackson has a victory over Dhiego Lima whom you might remember from The Ultimate Fighter Redemption Finale where he lost to Jesse Taylor. Jackson has also shared the cage with Ultimate Fighter Season 21 and 25 alum Hayder Hassan, as well as current UFC fighter Colby Covington. Although he lost both of those fights, there’s no shame in losing to either fighter. In seven career pro wins, three are by knockout with two submissions. Five of Jackson’s regional fights were under the Fight Time Promotions banner. He also fought for Championship Fighting Alliance (CFA), Victory Fighting Championship (VFC) and Titan Fighting Championship (Titan FC).

After going 7-1 with six finishes as an amateur, Kyle Stewart is undefeated as a professional. His most recent fight took place at LFA 11 where he submitted Ty Freeman in the first round. The twenty-eight year old Arizona Combat Sports product has two wins by knockout, two by submission and two by decision in his six career pro wins. Stewart has fought under the World Fighting Federation (WFF) banner four times. He has also fought for Iron Boy MMA and Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA).

Chase Waldon (11-2) vs. Geoff Neal – Middleweight 185 lbs.

Chase Waldon was riding a nine-fight win streak until getting subbed by Gerald Meerschaert in the first round at RFA 45. There is no shame in losing to Meerschaert who is currently 2-1 in the UFC. Waldon returned to the win column in his most recent fight by beating Cully Butterfield by split decision at LFA 12. Waldon has fought for multiple organizations including Brutaal Fight Night, Sterling Entertainment Group, Driller Promotions, Sharkbite Fighting Championships (SFC), World War Fighting Championship (WWFC), Legacy Fighting Championship – Texas (LFC), Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) and Legacy Fighting Alliance. The thirty year old Spartan Martial Arts product has three KO/TKOs to go along with five submissions in eleven career wins.

Geoff Neal steps in to take on Waldon in place of Gabriel Checco. Neal is 1-1 in his last two fights. His most recent fight took place at LFA 16 where he finished Bilal Williams in the first round. The twenty-six year old has four knockouts and one submission in his pro victories. The promotions he has fought for include Xtreme Combat Productions, Back Alley Promotions, 24/7 Entertainment, Legacy Fighting Championship – Texas (LFC), Rumble Time Promotions (RTP) and Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA).

Daniel Jolly (5-2) vs. Alonzo Menifield (3-0) – Light Heavyweight – 205 lbs. 

Daniel Jolly started his MMA career winning his first five fights. He won those bouts while fighting for three different promotions, Kickass Productions (KP), Legacy Fighting Championship – Texas (LFC) and International Xtreme Fight Association (IXFA). Four out of the five wins came inside the distance. His next two fights were under the UFC banner. Unfortunately for Jolly he didn’t have the same success in the UFC as he did on the regional circuit. He went 0-2 while getting knocked out in the first round in both fights. His first loss was against Misha Cirkunov at UFC Fight Night 74 and then Khalil Rountree finished him at UFC Fight Night 104.

Alonzo Menifield is 3-0 with three KO/TKOs. His first very first fight was a thirty-eight second knockout of Zach Rosol while fighting on the undercard of Bellator 146. Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) and Legacy Fighting Alliance are the other two promotions the twenty-nine year old has fought for.

Dan Ige (7-1) vs. Luis Gomez (4-0) – Featherweight 145 lbs. 

Dan Ige comes into his fight against Luis Gomez riding a five-fight win streak. His most recent fight was at Titan FC 44 where he beat Ronildo Braga by unanimous decision. In seven career wins the twenty-five year old has two by knockout to go along with three via submission. The MMA Development product has fought in a number of different promotions including Star Elite Cage Fighting (SEC), Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA), Pancrase, Shogun Fights (SF), Legacy Fighting Championship – Texas (LFC), Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) and Titan Fighting Championship (Titan FC).

Luis Gomez has yet to taste defeat as a professional fighter. He has two KO/TKOs to go along with one submission in his four wins. The twenty-two year old has fought for Panama Fight League, House of Fame and Fight Time Promotions. His last fight was under the Fight Time Promotions umbrella where he beat Pedro Gomes by decision.

Enjoy the fights!


NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S PREVIEW: Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series Week 2 Preview: Grocke breaks down all five fights

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