Oakdale’s Buddy Wallace competed in the new hit series, Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series on Tuesday, Aug. 15. Wallace, who trains out of Oakdale Mixed Martial Arts Academy, traveled to Las Vegas to take on Charles Byrd in front of Ultimate Fighting Championship owner Dana White and other UFC representatives. However, Wallace was caught off guard by Byrd in the second round, resulting in a loss via rear naked choke.

“It was a great experience overall. I took my girlfriend out there for her birthday. Professor Tom (Theofanopoulos) flew in and my manager Jason House was there for me as well,” Wallace said of the support he received in Las Vegas.

Prior to the fight Wallace did not lack confidence. He was calm and ready to go to battle.

“I felt like I belonged, I still feel like I belong there (UFC); I can compete at that level of competition. I just need to make a few adjustments for next time,” Wallace said.

Early in the fight, Wallace came out the aggressor and appeared to have Byrd where he wanted him. However in the second round, Byrd delivered heavy blows of his own that surprised Wallace.

“He came at me with some big hits and rocked me. I made some mistakes, I wasted a lot of my energy on a choke that I should not have done. In the second round I had him on the ground but I did not lock in my hold and Byrd reversed it and locked in that rear naked choke,” Wallace explained. “Honestly looking back I should have been more aggressive on the ground and pound but I did not.”

This loss will not slow down Wallace as he is already planning out his next move.

“I already reached out to see if I can compete at the next Global Knockout event,” he said.

Wallace is the second fighter from Oakdale to appear on the show in recent weeks. Last month Angel DeAnda also fought in Las Vegas.