Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series 5 emanates from The Ultimate Fighter Gym this Tuesday (August 8, 2017) at 8 p.m. (ET) live on UFC Fight Pass. In the main event, CES MMA standout Mike Rodriguez battles TUF 23’s Jamelle Jones.
Rodriguez (8-2) has gone 3-1 since moving up to the light heavyweight division last year, including a first-round TKO victory over Alec Hooben at CES 44 back in May. The Lauzon MMA product has only gone the distance once in his 10-fight career. Jones (7-4) heads into this matchup off a TKO loss to Anton Berzin at CFFC 65 in May. The 29-year-old was featured on Season 23 of The Ultimate Fighter, where he was eliminated from the show after being knocked out by Myron Dennis. He’s lost two of his last three fights.
In the co-main event, Tiger Schulmann featherweight product Julio Arce locks horns with Titan FC veteran Peter Petties. Arce (13-2) heads into this matchup on a four-fight win streak, including a unanimous-decision win over Tim Dooling at Ring of Combat 59, where he defended his featherweight title. The 27-year-old’s two career losses were to UFC bantamweight Brian Kelleher. Petties (5-2) is 2-2 in his last four fights, but he is coming off a unanimous-decision victory over Jonathan Pearce at Shogun Fights 16 in April. The 26-year-old has won three of his five career fights by knockout.
Flyweight Kevin Gray also looks to push his winning streak to three straight when he takes on Alex Perez. Gray (9-3) has won four of his last five fights including a second-round submission victory over Bellator veteran Nick Mamalis at Victory FC 57 in May. The 32-year-old boasts five career wins by submission. Perez (17-4) is currently riding a four-fight win streak, including a unanimous-decision victory over Tyler Bialecki at CFFC 64. The Team Oyama standout drops back down to flyweight for the first time in his last three fights.
In the bantamweight division, former Titan FC title challenger Ricky Simon battles Wand Fight Team standout Donavon Frelow. Simon (9-1) has had a difficult time getting fights and is coming off two straight wins in the featherweight division. The 24-year-old drops back down to his natural weight class of 135 pounds and has won nine of his last 10 fights. Frelow (6-2) heads into this fight off a unanimous-decision setback to Bekbulat Magomedov at WSOF 35 in March. After winning his first six fights, the 32-year-old has lost two of his last three.
Rounding out the card is undefeated heavyweight Everett Sims squaring off against Shelton Graves. Sims (4-0) has won all of his fights by stoppage, including a first-round TKO victory over Frank Tate at Fight Time 36 in April. The American Top Team student will be fighting just his second opponent with a winning record. Graves (6-3) has turned things around in his career after a 2-3 start, winning his last four fights. The 31-year-old is coming off a submission victory over Brendan Barrett at Ring of Combat 69 in June.
MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the betting odds for the following bouts on the Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series 5 card today at Several Bookmakers…
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Main Event | Light Heavyweight | 205 lbs
Jamelle Jones +150
Mike Rodriguez -190
Over 1.5 -130
Under 1.5 -110
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Co-Main Event |Featherweight | 145 lbs
Peter Petties +140
Julio Arce -180
Over 2.5 -190
Under 2.5 +150
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Here’s my interview with Peter Petties:
Here’s my interview with Julio Arce:
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Main Card | Flyweight| 125 lbs
Kevin Gray +160
Alex Perez -210
Over 2.5 -180
Under 2.5 +140
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Main Card | Bantamweight | 135 lbs
Donavon Frelow +325
Ricky Simon -475
Over 2.5 -185
Under 2.5 +145
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Main Card |Heavyweight | 265 lbs
Everett Sims +130
Shelton Graves -170
Over 1.5 +140
Under 1.5 -180
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Click below to bet on the fights!