UFC’s Mason Jones on win over Des Moines native Jeremy Stephens
Des Moines native Jeremy Stephens dropped a unanimous decision loss to fellow UFC lightweight Mason Jones at Wells Fargo Arena on May 3.
Two Iowa mixed martial arts fighters recently appeared on an ESPN program with the opportunity to make it to the pinnacle of the sport — the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Iowa natives Alik Lorenz and Darion Abbey appeared on the Tuesday, Aug. 26 broadcast of “Dana White’s Contender Series,” a weekly fight show on ESPN+ where up-and-coming MMA fighters compete for a chance to impress UFC president Dana White and earn a contract with the promotion.
Here’s how Lorenz and Abbey fared in their bouts on “Dana White’s Contender Series,” and if they were able to make it in the UFC.
Did Iowa native Alik Lorenz earn a contract on ‘Dana White’s Contender Series’?
Lorenz suffered his second career loss as a professional MMA fighter after being TKO’d by Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev in 29 seconds into the first round. His professional record now is 6-2.
Lorenz, originally from Durant, Iowa, came out and showed some solid ideas opposite a southpaw, even scoring a takedown after catching his opponent’s kick. However, the American would let Yakhyaev back up to his feet, who quickly blitzed Lorenz with punches that hurt him.
Despite the defeat, the 28-year-old received praise from UFC veterans and fellow training partners Jose Delgado and Jared Cannonier in the promo video before his fight.
“Alik is one of the best training partners because of his control,” Delgado said. “He’s incredible to watch.
Did Iowa native Darion Abbey earn a contract on ‘Dana White’s Contender Series’?
The Fort Madison native also came up short in his Dana White’s Contender Series debut when he was TKO’d by Donte Jackson roughly one minute into the first round of a three-round heavyweight fight. Following Tuesday’s loss, Abbey’s record as a professional sits at 9-5.
In a promo video, Abbey, 32, shared how MMA helped him escape a life of substance abuse and crime, including daily drug use that led to a seizure.
“The moment I [started MMA], everything I did in the past stopped, and I’m fortunate enough that it led me here,” Abbey said.
Abbey and Lorenz actually fought earlier in their professional careers during a bout in October 2021, with the former winning via a first-round KO/TKO, according to Tapology.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
