Ahmad Hassanzada showcased his grappling skills in an intense battle against Dylan Mantello at Dana White's Contender Series 72. The fight went back and forth, with both fighters displaying incredible resilience and determination. Ultimately, it was Hassanzada who secured a victory with a third-round submission via a rear-naked choke.

From the beginning of the fight, Hassanzada came out aggressively, unleashing a barrage of spinning attacks. Mantello weathered the storm and managed to avoid significant damage. However, Hassanzada quickly turned the tide in his favor with a well-executed takedown, threatening Mantello with a rear-naked choke. Although Mantello escaped the submission attempt, Hassanzada continued to dominate with relentless grappling pressure, closing out the round convincingly.

In round two, Mantello turned the tables with a devastating straight right hand that staggered Hassanzada. Despite being in trouble, Hassanzada displayed incredible determination, going after Mantello's legs while avoiding further damage. Pressing Mantello against the cage, Hassanzada worked for a takedown, although Mantello landed some effective strikes from close range. Finally, Mantello secured a takedown and gained side control, while Hassanzada attempted to hold on to his limbs from the bottom position. The referee intervened, suspecting Hassanzada of stalling, and the fight returned to the feet. With Hassanzada visibly fatigued, Mantello relentlessly pursued him and capitalized on a slip, landing powerful shots to finish the round strongly.

Entering the final round, Mantello continued his striking success, landing a clean spinning backfist. However, Hassanzada fought back, striking with determination but lacking power. He then attempted a pair of low takedowns, but Mantello managed to stay on his feet near the fence. Hassanzada, undeterred, scooped out Mantello's legs, securing his back with a body triangle. Controlling the position, Hassanzada locked in a tight rear-naked choke. Despite Mantello's efforts to resist, he ultimately chose to submit rather than risk passing out.

The victory marked a hard-fought win for Ahmad Hassanzada, but the big question remains: will this triumphant performance be enough to earn him a coveted UFC contract? The decision now lies in the hands of Dana White and the UFC matchmakers.

In other bouts of the evening, Ateba Gautier secured a second-round TKO victory against Yura Naito, displaying his striking prowess while Benjamin Bennett emerged victorious in a close split decision against Joey Hart in a welterweight showdown.

Dana White's Contender Series 72 delivered an exhilarating evening of fights, showcasing the incredible talent and determination of up-and-coming MMA fighters.