Tuesday nights are also now fight nights. But different kinds of fight nights. Tuesday night is Dana White’s Contender Series night, or DWCS as the hashtag says. Every time I see #DWCS written down I can’t help but think of #DWTS - Dancing with the Stars (the US version of Strictly Come Dancing). And it gets me thinking… I wonder if any of these contenders can dance?!
Anyway, I digress. DWCS is now in series 6. It’s like X-Factor for fighters. They even have the chair round at the end where the winners of each fight wait patiently, with sometimes bulging purple welts on their eyes, to be told by Dana White (Simon Cowell) if they have been given a UFC contract or not. It can be make or break for them, kinda.
Two weeks ago, on episode two, one such lucky ‘winner’ of a contract was Chris “The Problem” Duncan. Being from the local Stirling area, I had a vested interest in that episode with Chris. He trains not 5 miles from my home and with a few people who work at my gym I believe. Yet I hadn’t heard much about him. Shame on me. Chris had been on the Contender series the previous year but didn’t land a contract. His original fight got cancelled as the opponent pulled out due to sickness. But two weeks later he was back and two weight cuts in two weeks was not the optimal preparation. He went away, worked like a beast in some of the best gyms (most recently ATT), and came back for another shot at a contract. With a spectacular one punch knock-out which had everyone was talking about.
Admittedly, as I lay in bed watching on the iPad at around 2am in the UK, I thought it was touch and go for a minute. These guys were going at it. The whole card were after being read the riot act by Dana White who wasn’t happy at all with the performances from the episode 1 contenders. But, Chris was fighting last. The main event of the evening! His opponent the punchy Charlie Campbell fighting out of Ray Longo’s gym on Long Island, so a tough guy no doubt. They went at it from the start, and after 1 minute and 43 seconds, Duncan landed a right hand to the chin and it was all over.
You can see the money shot here. And the aftermath below!
I’m delighted for him. As I say I didn’t know much about him before, but we all certainly do now. The lightweight division top fifteen is stacked but I’m looking forward to going on that journey with Chris and his team. A few fights to ease his way in, then boom, an Apex card.
What? We’ve all got to start somewhere. :)
C’mon Chris!
Another great read, Angela! It's sooo funny because every time I see #DWCS I think of Dancing with the Stars as well. Hilarious.
👏👏👏👏✊✊😊😊💕💕🙏🏽🙏🏽👍🏽🙌🔥🔥👌😊👍🏽