On an action packed Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series premier, both Kurt Holobaugh and Boston Salmon were awarded UFC contracts after both impressed in their respective bouts.
Young Hawaiian Salmon came into the fight against undefeated prospect Ricky Turcios as the underdog. Turcios, both eratic and unpredictable, decided to stand and trade with the 26-year-old but throughout the whole fight, the level of striking was evidently different.
Turcios, of who’s many attacks missed the target due to “Boom Boom”s excellent movement, was continually tagged by Salmon. Salmon picked his punches perfectly well and demonstrated frightening power alongside excellent timing and footwork.
The Hawaiian has had a rollercoaster of a year in terms of emotions, with his Dad reaching stage four cancer and the family seriously torn. However, his family, including his father were all in attendance as they witnessed their flesh and blood earn himself a UFC contract with a dominant unanimous decision victory.
In the main event of the evening, former UFC fighter Kurt Holobaugh dismantled Matt Bessette in the very first round.
Holobaugh attacked from the off, and whilst Bessette originally seemed happy to stand and trade with Holobaugh, he found himself getting rocked on numerous occasions.
Holobaugh finished the fight at the 2:59 mark of round one, when after landing a combination of punches, landed a brutal right hook, flush to the chin of his opponent, leaving John McCarthy no option but to stop the fight.
It was announced after the fight that despite other impressive performances such as Chris Byrd‘s impressive first round submission of Jamie Pickett and Azunna Anyanwu‘s knockout of Greg Rebello, that Salmon and Holobaugh would be the two fighters getting contracts.
