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Tag: DWCS

  • Matchmaking The Winners: DWCS Season 9 Week 10

    Matchmaking The Winners: DWCS Season 9 Week 10

    In one of the best episodes of DWCS we have ever seen, week 10 on Tuesday, October 14th delivered the action and the contracts. 5 new fighters were added to the UFC roster, and here are some potential opponents they could face along with a recap of the nights action.

    Wesley ā€œParty Timeā€ Schultz – 8-2 Middleweight

    Wesley Schultz kicked off the evening with a fantastic submission over fellow ground specialist Mario Mingaj. Mingaj pulled guard against the fence early in the first round, which led to a few grappling exchanges. Schultz took this opportunity to jump on the back of Mingaj, but instead of going for the traditional rear naked choke, he hit the extremely rare Suloev Stretch submission, which attacks the groin muscle of the opponent. This was the first Suloev stretch in DWCS history, earning Schultz the contract on his second attempt on the show.

    Schultz was defeated by Mansur Abdul Malik in his first contender series appearance in 2024, but has bounced back with two impressive submission wins. ā€˜Party Timeā€™ is very unorthodox on the feet, yet effective with his strikes. On the ground he clearly had a deep bag of tricks, and it would be interesting to see him tested against fellow high level grapplers at 185 lbs.

    Matchup Prediction: Wesley Schultz (8-2) vs Jakob Malkoun (8-3) – February 2026

    Michael ā€œPQDā€ Oliveira – 9-0 Welterweight

    The 2023 LFA Fighter of the Year and Brazilian paratrooper Michael Oliveira delivered one of the cleanest performances of this season vs Victor Valenzuela. He showed fantastic striking, particularly with his powerful straight punches. After doing incredible damage with two knockdowns, on the third he put Valenzuela away with ground and pound and secured himself a UFC contract.

    Oliveira is extremely polished on the feet, stalking his opponents landing with seemingly effortless power. His grappling is a bit untested, and he tends to lean back and rely on his reach defensively as well. Both of these are very fixable holes of his game, and there is no doubt with the tools he currently has he will have success in the UFC. With a 78.5 inch reach, he has potential to be a true superstar out of Brazil.

    Matchup Prediction: Michael Oliveira (9-0) vs Rhys McKee (14-7-1) – February 2026

    Marwan Rahiki: 7-0 Featherweight

    In perhaps one of the fights of the year, Marwan Rahiki seemingly rose from the dead to deliver a stunning round two KO over Ananias Mulumba. He was seriously hurt on multiple occasions, but showed fantastic heart and resolve, and demonstrated his dangerous striking in the process.

    A diverse array of weapons on the feet and a good spinning back kick are the primary features of Rahikiā€™s game. He fights with his hands extremely low, hence why he was dropped multiple times in his DWCS fight. He showed decent submission defense on the ground, but what truly impressed was his powerful and accuracy even after taking damage. He is a very exciting fighter, but will need to be much more defensively sound if he wants to succeed in the shark pit that is the UFC featherweight division.

    Matchup prediction: Marwan Rahiki (7-0) vs Steven Nguyen (10-2) – March 2026

    Juan Diaz: 15-1-1 Bantamweight

    In a night filled with incredible performances, Peruvian fighter Juan Diaz stole the show with the first spinning elbow KO in DWCS history. He delivered this knockout to ONE Championship veteran Kwon Won Il, in a back and forth fight that could have gone either way. Diaz landed this devastating strike with just seconds remaining in the second round to secure the win and the contract.

    Diaz is a steady striker, with the propensity to be explosive as shown in his DWCS win. Also owning a brown belt in jiu jitsu, he is adept in multiple areas of MMA. Peru has been a rising region in terms of mixed martial arts talent, and Diaz is an exciting addition to the UFC roster, and in his post fight interview said he hopes to fight in December.

    Matchup prediction: Juan Diaz (15-1-1) vs Cody Haddon (8-1) – February 2026

    Levi Rodrigues Jr.: 6-0 Light Heavyweight

    In the final fight of the evening, powerful Brazilian Levi Rodrigues Jr. delivered a knockout over the returning Freddy Vidal. Vidal attempted to wrestle early, but Rodrigues broke away and delivered some massive punches. After dropping Vidal, he eventually found the finish with ground and pound.

    Rodrigues showed the least of any prospect tonight, simply due to the short nature of his fight. There is not much tape out there available on him, so he remains a relatively question mark despite his impressive power. He will have a chance to find success in a relatively shallow UFC Light Heavyweight division.

    Matchup prediction: Levi Rodrigues Jr. (6-0) vs Iwo Baraniewski (6-0) – February 2026

    All of these matchups are purely predictions and have not been announced nor scheduled as of the writing of this article.

    This writing was 100% human created. Dylan Knostman pledges to never use AI or AI assistance tools to create any writing or other media work. Creativity belongs to humans.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 10 Highlights As 5 Awarded UFC Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 10 Highlights As 5 Awarded UFC Contracts

    The latest season of Dana Whiteā€™s Contender Series concluded with one more highlight-filled night in Las Vegas.

    DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.

    Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode ten of season nine — the season finale — this week saw five prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.

    This brings this year’s total of UFC contracts handed out to 46, an increase of four from last season and tying the number handed out in 2023. This season also broke the record for finishes in a season with 36 of this season’s 51 fights ending in a finish, breaking the previous record of 32.

    The action opened up with DWCS veteran Wes Schultz finally getting the win he needed, defeating Mario Mingaj. Schultz seemed to get the better of exchanges with Mingaj before scoring a brief knockdown with a left hand before adding in a takedown. Mingaj tried to get to Schultz’s back, but Schultz got the better in grappling, too. Schultz executed a Suloev Stretch — the first in DWCS history — to get the first-round submission and score a UFC contract on his third opportunity.

    Michael Oliveira continued to bring the heat with a second-round finish of Victor Valenzuela. Oliveira looked to bring pressure early, trying to cut off the cage from Valenzuela with low kicks and his left hand. Valenzuela tried to counter with level changes and leans in his strikes, including a right hand that connected flush. The kickboxing battle continued into the second round, with Oliveira busting up Valenzuela’s face before dropping him with a hard right hand.

    Valenzuela tried to go back to his signature hook, but that only got him knocked down and rocked again. Oliveira continued to land before dropping Valenzuela a third time, which finished the fight and earned Oliveira the contract.

    Marwan Rahiki and Ananias Mulumba then put on a wild affair that saw Rahiki score a KO win. Rahiki seemed to get a strong start with a right hand, looking for spinning attacks. But Mulumba landed a right hand that dropped him, putting him in trouble as Mulumba countered his scrambles and threatened a choke. Rahiki worked his way out of it and got back to his feet. Mulumba took advantage of Rahiki’s hands being down, landing again, but Rahiki landed a combination that dropped Mulumba. Mulumba then reversed and got to the back before Rahiki returned the fight to the feet, only for Mulumba to score another knockdown in this wild opening round.

    Rahiki opened the second round by threatening a ninja choke, and while Mulumba survived that, Rahiki landed a head kick to wobble him before a combination of vicious elbows and an uppercut dropped Mulumba out cold for the exciting, contract-earning win.

    Juan Diaz then brought one of the most exciting finishes of the season in the co-main event, scoring a highlight knockout of Won Il Kwon. Kwon looked to use his speed to his advantage, but Diaz brought forward pressure and connected on several powerful punches during the fight. Diaz also made use of his grappling, pressuring Kwon to the fence and scoring a key takedown during the fight’s second round. Kwon looked to turn things up in that second frame, increasing his boxing output and landing a strong elbow, but Diaz continued to make him eat shots. Diaz took advantage of a leaning Kwan, landing a spinning back elbow that knocked Kwan out cold — the first such knockout in DWCS history — with mere seconds left in the second round to earn the win and a contract.

    The main event saw Freddy Vidal fall short in his second chance opportunity this season, falling to the undefeated Levi Rodrigues Jr. Vidal pressured Rodrigues to the fence early on, trapping him against the fence. Vidal landed a series of short shots and knees to the body as the two battled within close range. Rodrigues clipped Vidal and appeared to rock him as Vidal continued to look for the takedown. Rodrigues would land a solid pair of knees to the head that dropped Vidal, quickly finishing him off to earn the first-round finish and a UFC contract.

    The night also featured Jovan Leka defeating Azamat Nuftillaev. Nuftillaev scored an early takedown and tried to smother Leka with top pressure. In spite of referee Marc Smith giving a pair of warnings for stalling and Leka getting back to his feet, Nuftillaev scored a brief mat return and locked Leka up in a body lock from the back, completing controlling the opening frame. Nuftillaev appeared to gas, however, as Leka easily took him down and took control in round two, landing several punches and elbows upstairs and threatening chokes.

    Leka looked to use his striking, but Nuftillaev caught a kick and dumped Leka to the mat. Leka would endure for a couple of minutes before working his way back to his feet, landing his strikes and getting back in top control after stuffing a Nuftillaev takedown attempt. Despite nearing finishes a couple of times, Leka settled for a decision win, but it was far from enough to earn a UFC deal.

    Mario Mingaj vs Wes Schultz

    Azamat Nuftillaev vs Jovan Leka

    Michael Oliveira vs Victor Valenzuela

    Marwan Rahiki vs Ananias Mulumba

    https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1978271545144258586

    Wonil Kwon vs Juan Diaz

    Freddy Vidal vs Levi Rodrigues Jr.

    https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1978285591956472128

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 9 Highlights As 6 Awarded UFC Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 9 Highlights As 6 Awarded UFC Contracts

    The latest season ofĀ Dana Whiteā€™s Contender SeriesĀ continued with one of the best episodes in the show’s history tonight in Las Vegas.

    DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.

    Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode nine of season nine this week saw six prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.

    Luke Fernandez made a statement to open the action, scoring one of the fastest knockouts in the history of Dana White’s Contender Series. In mere seconds, he landed a left jab and a right hand that cracked Rafael Pergentino on the jaw. A few follow-up shots later, and Fernandez earned the win and a UFC contract.

    Luis Felipe Dias continued the finishes with a submission win over Donavon Hedrick. Dias quickly worked his way to Hedrick’s back to start the fight and seemed to get the better of the striking exchanges early in the first round. Hedrick worked his way back in, but Dias appeared to briefly stun him late in the round. Hedrick scored a takedown during the second round, and did some damage with ground-and-pound. But Dias scored his own takedown and controlled the action in a dominant position, landing ground-and-pound and threatening a couple of chokes.

    Dias would finally sink in a rear-naked choke with less than 30 seconds left in the second round to score the tapout win and a UFC deal.

    The Ultimate Fighter season 33 participant Imanol Rodriguez then made the most of his second opportunity at a UFC contract, scoring a first-round finish of Roque Conceicao. Rodriguez had a wrestling-based focus, but it was his striking that got the job done. After surviving a knockdown on a right hand by Conceicao, Rodriguez tagged Conceicao multiple times, starting with a right hand after blocking a high kick attempt. Rodriguez then rocked Conceicao with a knee and scored a couple of knockdowns and unleashed flurries, ending with a left-right combo that slept Conceicao.

    In the evening’s co-main event Adrian Luna Martinetti and Mark Vologdin produced one of the greatest fights of 2025, let alone of the greatest fights in the history of Dana White’s Contender Series, both earning contracts as well as — in a Dana White first — $25,000 bonuses. Vologdin stayed on the outside, but Martinetti managed to work his reach advantage by tagging him and putting him to the fence. But Vologdin not only fought out of it, but he proceeded to trade with Martinetti blow for blow, creating a violent, all-out action fight. In the second round, however, Martinetti’s pressure and clinch knees seemed to get the better of Vologdin, but again, he managed to clip Martinetti and get back right into things.

    Martinetti had already broken the DWCS bantamweight record for most significant strikes in a fight in just two rounds; he landed 213 in total by the fight’s end. But Vologdin rushed Martinetti, appearing to hurt him in the first minute of the final round, before Martinetti scored a takedown. After another action packed war, Martinetti scored the decision win 29-28 on all three scorecards.

    In the main event, Magomed Zaynukov made a statement with a one-sided beatdown of Lucas Caldas. Zaynukov had to endure an early knockdown and multiple eye pokes in the fight, resulting in a one-point deduction for Caldas. But Zaynukov poured on the pressure and striking, setting a new DWCS lightweight record for significant strikes (making it two straight fights on the night to set division DWCS records in significant strikes) with 248. In fact, if the fight had taken place in the UFC, it would have set the record there, too.

    Zaynukov scored the unanimous decision 30-26 on all three cards.

    Luke Fernandez vs Rafael Pergentino

    Luis Felipe Dias vs Donavon Hedrick

    Imanol Rodriguez vs Roque Conceicao

    Adrian Luna Martinetti vs Mark Vologdin

    Lucas Caldas vs Magomed Zaynukov

  • “DWCS Version Of Lawler vs. MacDonald 2” – Fans & Fighters React As Adrian Luna Martinetti And Mark Vologdin Earn UFC Contracts, $25K In Fight Of The Year Contender On Dana White’s Contender Series

    “DWCS Version Of Lawler vs. MacDonald 2” – Fans & Fighters React As Adrian Luna Martinetti And Mark Vologdin Earn UFC Contracts, $25K In Fight Of The Year Contender On Dana White’s Contender Series

    In what will go down as one of the greatest fights in MMA — let alone of the greatest fights of 2025 and perhaps the greatest fight to ever happen on Dana White’s Contender Series — Adrian Luna Martinetti and Mark Vologdin both earned UFC contracts and $25,000 bonuses from UFC CEO and President Dana White.

    Vologdin took early control in the opening round, landing some crisp boxing and working combinations on Martinetti, including a counter shot that dropped Martinetti. Martinetti would not be deterred, however, landing his own combinations, and he stormed back in the second round with barrages of blows. In fact, through two rounds, Martinetti set a new record for significant strikes by a bantamweight in DWCS history.

    Martinetti seemed to trouble Vologdin in the second round with plenty of clinch knees, leaving his mark literally on Vologdin, but the Russian battled back and produced more trading between the two. Martinetti then scored a takedown in round three and did plenty of damage with ground-and-pound to bring a fantastic slugfest to an epic conclusion.

    Martinetti won the fight with 29-28 scores on all three judges’ scorecards.

    DWCS Fighters Earn UFC Contracts And $25K Bonus After Critically Acclaimed Slugfest

    Martinetti, a former champion on the regional circuit, has now won 15 straight fights, with his sole loss coming in the third pro bout of his career.

    Vologdin sees a seven-fight win streak snapped with this loss — though the contract and financial bonus certainly have to make up for it.

  • Dana Whiteā€™s Contender Series Week 8: Matchmaking the Winners

    Dana Whiteā€™s Contender Series Week 8: Matchmaking the Winners

    DWCS rolled on with Episode 8 of Season 9 on Tuesday, September 30th. Five fights took place at the UFC Apex, with four of the winners walking away with UFC contracts. The UFC will officially be adding the following fighters to the UFC roster:

    • Kurtis ā€œPink Pantherā€ Campbell – 8-0 Featherweight
    • Louis ā€œMad Princeā€ Jourdain – 9-3 Bantamweight (brother of current UFC fighter Charles Jourdain)
    • Chris ā€œThe Newbornā€ Alvidrez – 7-1 Welterweight
    • Damian ā€œBaba Yagaā€ Pinas – 8-1 Middleweight

    All four of these fighters secured their victory via finish, proving this weekā€™s roster is ready for the big show. Although winning on the contender series is the first step, we will be looking forward and predicting some potential matchups that could fit well for these fighters UFC debuts.

    Kurtis ā€œThe Pink Pantherā€ Campbell – 8-1 Featherweight

    Kurtis ā€œThe Pink Pantherā€ Campbell secured perhaps the most viral finish of the evening, annihilating his opponent Demba Seck with massive elbows from top position. Following his performance, Campbell walked out of the cage to The Pink Panther theme, showing that the UFC brass is already getting behind the 23 year old scouser.

    Kurtis Campbell is an excellent prospect, very similar to Paddy Pimblett in his size and skill set. The Liverpool native is a former champion of Englandā€™s FCC promotion, and has a variety of finishes on his record. Long kicks, powerful punches, and an awkward yet effectively wrestling game make up his primary skillset on the feet, but where he is truly dangerous is in on the ground. When Campbell gets top position, he is brutal with his ground and pound and showcased in his contender series bout.

    This fight was quick work, and there is no doubt Campbell will be looking for fast turnaround for his first fight in the big show. He seems to be on UFC matchmakers good side thus far, so I anticipate a favorable matchup for Campbellā€™s UFC debut.

    Prediction: Kurtis Campbell (8-0) vs Francis Marshall (8-3) – December 2025/January 2026

    Louis ā€œMad Princeā€ Jourdain – 9-3 Bantamweight

    Louis Jourdain had the cleanest and most well rounded performance of the evening. The Canadian bantamweight and younger brother of UFC fighter Charles Jourdain, showcased all of his skills en route to a third round submission of Magno Dias. Jourdain utilizing his lead hand, calf kicks, and excellent grappling game to dominate all phases of the fight. A Jiu Jitsu brown belt with four pro boxing matches, Jourdain is about as well rounded as they come. Not only did he secure a contract, but he also made history as Charles and Louis became the first Canadian siblings in UFC history to be on the roster.

    Louis Jourdainā€™s biggest setbacks have not been losses inside the cage, but rather injuries and lost time. Now that he is back in the metaphorical saddle, there is no doubt he knows the time is now for his career. On the broadcast, he could be seen pleading with Dana White to book him for UFC Vancouver (despite the fact Dana White hasnā€™t booked a single fight for the UFC in years, thatā€™s all Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard). While it would be a quick turnaround in just two weeks, we can certainly hope the UFC honors his wishes and allows him to share a card with his brother.

    Prediction: Louis Jourdain (9-3) vs Kris Moutinho (14-7) – UFC Vancouver – October 18th

    Christopher ā€œThe Newbornā€ Alvidrez – 7-1 Welterweight

    The only betting underdog of the evening to win his fight, Christopher Avidrez showed excellent heart and desire in his fight, knocking out the unorthodox Eliezer Kubanza in the first round. A former football player who turned his life around through MMA, Alvidrez has overcome a lot to make it to this moment. He relocated to Miami after a brutal car accident ended his football career, and fully committed himself to combat sports while training at The GoatShed.

    Alvidrez is the least polished of all the winners of this episode. His toughness and strength are no question, and he utilized outstanding elbows in the clinch, he still has questions that need to be answered in terms of his overall game. We could see Alvidrez being thrown into a tough matchup right away, but his mentality wonā€™t stop him from taking a challenge head on. It should also be noted he was seen with a large wrap around his right knee, so it could be some time before we see him make his debut.

    Prediction: Christopher Alvidrez (7-1) vs Daniil Donchenko (12-2) – February 2026

    Damian ā€œBaba Yagaā€ Pinas – 8-1 Middleweight

    In the main event of the evening, Damian Pinas made quick work of his opponent, flatlining Vitor Costa with a brutal right hand in the first round. This contract was long overdue, as Pinas was scheduled to be on episode one of this season, but due to visa issues was not able to travel for the fight. Luckily he was rebooked, and now can look forward to being booked in the UFC.

    Pinas is a fantastic kickboxer with excellent power in his hands and feet. He will become the second Surinamese fighter in UFC history, following Jair Rozenstruik. Similar to Bigi Boy, Baba Yaga has the kickboxing skill and power to dispatch anyone inside the cage. Now that the visa issues are fully cleared, we can hope to see the young fighter pick up another fight soon. At just 23 years old, time is on Pinasā€™ side, but it would be advantageous to keep his momentum going. Between his performances and the unique national heritage, I expect Pinas to find early success in the middleweight division, similar to Ateba Gautier who fights this weekend.

    Prediction: Damian Pinas (8-1) vs Jackson McVey (6-1) – January 2026

    While none of these fights are official nor even rumored, they all are potential interesting first matchups for this weekā€™s winners of DWCS. Stay tuned for next weekā€™s edition following episode 9 of DWCS.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 8 Highlights As 4 Awarded UFC Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 8 Highlights As 4 Awarded UFC Contracts

    The latest season of Dana Whiteā€™s Contender Series continued with a highlight, finished-filled night in Las Vegas.

    DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.

    Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode eight of season nine this week saw four prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.

    Kurtis Campbell provided the first highlight of the night, scoring a first-round finish of Demba Seck. Campbell laid in a solid head kick in the opening seconds before Seck tried to fire back with a kick-based offense of his own. Campbell scored a takedown to try and nullify Seck’s offense. Seck was able to work his way to his feet, but Campbell landed a solid knee that put him back down. Some follow-up shots later, and Campbell had done enough for the win and a UFC contract.

    Christopher Alvidrez followed that up with a solid performance over Eliezer Kubanza. Alvidrez dictated the pace, mixing up his strikes and nearly scoring a takedown on Kubanza in the first. While Kubanza landed some power shots, Alvidrez landed a solid one-two that caught Kubanza’s attention. Kubanza, however, landed a damaging body kick and caught Alvidrez coming in, briefly using his grappling to pin him to the fence.

    Alvidrez turned things into his favor for good with a right hand, followed by a left, to drop Kubanza. Alvidrez then unleashed a flurry on the ground, and despite a long leash from referee Herb Dean, the fight was stopped, giving Alvidrez a late first-round finish and a UFC contract.

    In the co-main event, Louis Jourdain, the brother of UFC fighter Charles Jourdain, pulled off a third-round submission of Magno Dias. Jourdain came out with some speed in his strikes, looking to take control early, while Dias looked to pressure him toward the fence. Jourdain briefly dropped Dias with an elbow, but Dias got back to his feet and managed to score a takedown. Dias locked in a neck crank, but Jourdain managed to scramble out and get top position, working his way back to the feet.

    Jourdain troubled Dias with a calf kick and a solid knee in the second round until Dias pushed Jourdain to the fence. Dias looked to take back control with the fight back on the ground, but Jourdain got the fight standing, landing more leg kicks and troubling Dias’ movement. Jourdain laid in a couple of more knees in the third round before working around Dias’ guard attempt to score a rear-naked choke and UFC contract via submission.

    In the main event, Damian Pinas managed to land a devastating blow to score a big knockout of Vitor Costa. Pinas landed an uppercut that split Costa’s guard, landing a strong flurry in the first minute of the fight. Costa landed some low kicks and tried to get on the inside before taking Pinas to the fence briefly. A short time later, however, Pinas cracked Costa with a right hand, dropping Costa out cold for the highlight knockout and UFC contract.

    The night opened with Rashid Vagabov sweeping the cards against Paulo Henrique. Vagabov landed from the outside despite Henrique’s pressure, landing low kicks and working combinations. The two had their exchanges of power shots during the opening round, but Vagabov controlled the last portion of the first round, pinning Henrique against the fence before scoring a takedown. Henrique brought the grappling pressure in the second round, pressing Vagabov into the fence. A takedown attempt was reversed, however, and Vagabov quickly brought the action back to the feet, controlling the action there.

    Vagabov then dominated the third round with grappling, scoring a takedown and being unrelenting with his pressure, nearly scoring a submission on a couple of occasions before earning a decision win. It wasn’t, however, enough to earn a contract.

    Rashid Vagabov vs. Paulo Henrique

    Kurtis Campbell vs. Demba Seck

    Eliezer Kubanza vs. Christopher Alvidrez

    Louis Jourdain vs. Magno Dias

    Vitor Costa vs. Damian Pinas

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 7 Highlights As 6 Awarded UFC Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 7 Highlights As 6 Awarded UFC Contracts

    The latest season ofĀ Dana Whiteā€™s Contender SeriesĀ continued with a highlight, finished-filled night in Las Vegas.

    DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.

    Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode seven of season nine this week saw six prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.

    The night had a strong start, courtesy of Rafael Tobias scoring a win over Jair de Oliveira. Tobias landed a counter shot in the opening minute of the fight, appearing to hurt de Oliveira and forcing him to use the clinch to recover. Tobias did not let up on the pressure and power, however, cutting off the cage on a constant basis. Tobias was able to score a takedown after a body kick, and he locked in a rear-naked choke on de Oliveira, scoring a first-round submission and earning a UFC deal.

    Things only got better with Javier Torres pulling off a comeback finish of Justice Torres. Torres looked to bring pressure to Reyes early and get him toward the fence with his striking. But Reyes was able to find an opening and land a right hook to the body, starting up a sequence of power that overwhelmed Torres. The shots would bring Torres down to the mat covering up, giving Reyes the first-round finish and a UFC contract.

    In what will go down as one of the best fights DWCS has ever seen, Jeisla Chaves came out on top in a war with Sofia Montenegro. Chaves and Montenegro came out with striking exchanges right away, with both ladies sporting blood on the sides of their faces within the first minute. Montenegro’s straight shots were finding their mark, but Chaves’ combinations and hooks were also leaving an impact. After a violent first round that earned praises for both women, Montenegro’s striking dropped Chaves in the first minute of round two. Chaves was able to get to her feet and landed some strong shots in the round’s final minute, but most of the round saw her pinned to the ground and fence by Montenegro.

    The bloody war continued into a solid third round, with Chaves earning the split decision victory in a fight that could have fallen either way. It truly was one of the best fights of the DWCS season, and White displayed that by giving both women contracts. This makes both women’s fights this season the two fights so far to have both the winner and loser earn contracts.

    Finishes returned in the co-main event, as Murtazali Magomedov pulled off a victory over Brahyan Zurcher. As the two seemed to get their striking going in the opening frame, Magomedov landed a jab that appeared to stumble Zurcher, getting through his guard and wobbling him. Magomedov then pressed and scored the finish seconds later, earning a victory and a UFC contract in quick fashion.

    And one more strong performance came courtesy of the main event, as Mantas Kondratavicius put away Dani Barbir. Kondratavicius pressured right away, intending to get the fight to the ground quickly. He was able to do so, but Barbir scambled up and pressed himself. After a minute, Kondratavicius landed a one-two with a right hand that put Barbir’s lights out, giving him a UFC contract and capping off one of the best DWCS nights of the season.

    Rafael Tobias vs. Jair de Oliveira

    Javier Reyes vs. Justice Torres

    Sofia Montenegro vs. Jeisla Chaves

    Brahyan Zurcher vs. Murtazali Magomedov

    Dani Barbir vs. Mantas Kondratavicius

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 6 Highlights As 4 Awarded UFC Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 6 Highlights As 4 Awarded UFC Contracts

    The latest season of Dana Whiteā€™s Contender Series continued with another night of memorable action in Las Vegas.

    DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.

    Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode six of season nine this week saw four prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.

    Cody Chovancek got the night off with a finish, taking out Raphael Uchegbu. Despite a fence grab while defending Uchegbu’s grappling attempts, Chovancek rocked and dropped Uchegbu with an elbow. Uchegbu would not be deterred, however, using a triangle to threaten a submission and try to limit Chovancek’s movement on the ground. After Uchegbu’s grappling was fended off again in the second, Chovancek landed a combination just seconds into the final round to earn the finish.

    Thomas Gantt earned a strong performance in his own right, defeating Adam Livingston. A protegee of Daniel Cormier, Gantt pressured Livingston to the fence in a clinching battle. In spite of fence grabs by Livingston, earning him a point deduction, Gantt scored a strong takedown and didn’t take back, completely overwhelming Livingston with his grappling strength. Gantt locked up a guillotine for the first-round submission victory and a UFC contract.

    The biggest underdog of the night, Iwo Baraniewski, pulled off a stunner in the co-main event, taking out Mahamed Aly in only 20 seconds. Baraniewski took a leg kick from Aly but needed just one strong right hand to put him to the canvas. Despite protests not long after the stoppage, referee Mike Beltran called it one second after Aly’s head hit the canvas. Needless to say, Baraniewski earned a UFC deal.

    In the main event, Hecher Sosa came away with an easy decision win over Mackson Lee. Sosa pressured Lee almost immediately, bringing him to the fence and overwhelming him with striking attacks. Lee only landed two strikes the entire first round, however, he nearly scored a guillotine choke submission. Sosa went back to overwhelming pressure in the second round, and despite a brief slowdown towards the later stage of that round, it was a dominating performance for Sosa, who swept the scorecards and earned a contract.

    TUF 32 alumnus Paddy McCorry was in action this evening as well, taking on Hwang In-su. In-su was able to pressure McCorry during the first two rounds but found himself unable to pull the trigger. McCorry was able to land leg kicks and counter strikes, trying to show off his power. In spite of McCorry’s aggressive approach, neither man really pulled the trigger much in the later stages of the fight. Despite his win, McCorry was not awarded a contract.

    Raphael Uchegbu vs. Cody Chovancek

    Hwang In-su vs. Paddy McCorry

    Adam Livingston vs. Thomas Gantt

    Iwo Baraniewski vs. Mahamed Aly

    Hecher Sosa vs. Mackson Lee

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 5 Highlights As 5 Awarded UFC Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 5 Highlights As 5 Awarded UFC Contracts

    The latest season of Dana Whiteā€™s Contender Series continued with another night of memorable action in Las Vegas.

    DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.

    Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode five of season nine this week saw five prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.

    The night started with a banger, as Carol Foro pulled off a victory over Shanelle Dyer. Foro’s fists got going in the opening round, dropping Dyer twice and opening up a bad cut around one of her eyes. Dyer tried to get more volume with her strikes during the second round, but she was knocked down by Foro once again. Dyer picked things up in the third round but was unable to get the finish, as Foro took the decision in an action-packed battle. The fight impressed White so much that he awarded both women a UFC contract.

    Samuel Sanches followed that up with a brutal first-round knockout of Chasen Blair. Blair attempted to bring the pressure to Sanches with power and pressing him up against the fence. After some in close fighting, Sanches landed a hard-hitting boxing combination, which ended with a left hook that slumped Blair out cold against the cage for the victory and the UFC contract.

    Lerryann Douglas would pull off what White considered one of the best knockouts he’s seen in the evening’s co-main event, defeating Cam Teague in under a minute. Douglas did a number on Teague with leg kicks in the opening 25 seconds before connecting on a right hand that wobbled Teague. As Teague scrambled, Douglas nailed him with a left hand that faceplanted him, earning Douglas a UFC contract.

    The heavyweight main event saw another sub-minute finish, as Steven Asplund took care of business against Anthony Guarascio. The two brought out their power right away, with Vasplund quickly dropping Guarascio with an uppercut, followed by some brief ground-and-pound before the referee stopped the match. In less than 20 seconds, Vasplund had a performance worthy of a UFC contract.

    The evening also featured a light heavyweight bout that saw Freddy Vidal score a comeback victory over Felipe Franco. Franco looked to control the action early with grappling, but Vidal made him pay with strikes. On the ground, Vidal landed some strong ground-and-pound to trouble Franco. Franco would turn things around in the second, using his positioning to pin and pressure Vidal while matching him in striking this time around.

    Vidal’s energy appeared drained in the third round and Franco controlled him with his pressuring. The fight would go to the ground, however, and Vidal managed to turn things around, looking for submissions. Vidal would get to the back and under the neck for a choke, and Franco went out, scoring the submission with just 12 seconds remaining.

    While the fight was considered “horrible” by White, combined with Vidal missing weight, the finish and circumstances (Vidal taking the fight on six days’ notice) allowed White and the matchmakers to give him a fight on the final episode of the season to give him another shot at a contract.

    Shanelle Dyer vs. Carol Foro

    Chasen Blair vs. Samuel Sanches

    Felipe Franco vs. Freddy Vidal

    Cam Teague vs. Lerryan Douglas

    Anthony Guarascio vs. Steven Asplund

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 4 Highlights As 4 Awarded UFC Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 4 Highlights As 4 Awarded UFC Contracts

    The latest season ofĀ Dana Whiteā€™s Contender SeriesĀ continued with another night of memorable action in Las Vegas.

    DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.

    Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode three of season nine this week saw four prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.

    The night got underway with a close, wild encounter that saw Tommy McMillen narrowly, controversially edge out a majority decision win over David Mgoyan. McMillen seemed to be in control of the grappling exchanges early on and had decent counters, but Mgoyan rocked him with a counter of his own. Mgoyan then knocked McMillen down a second time with a spinning elbow. Mgoyan scored a flash knockdown and tried to finish McMillen against the fence, but McMillen countered. The fight went to the ground, but Mgoyan remained in control, locking in a tight guillotine and landing strong elbows before the end of the first round.

    McMillen battled back into the fight, stuffing a takedown and controlling the action before getting his striking going, opening cut a nasty cut around one of Mgoyan’s eyes. The two traded plenty in the third round, and though it seemed like Mgoyan had more in the tank, the judges felt McMillen’s striking was more effective, giving him the decision — and subsequently the UFC contract (though Mgoyan would also receive his win money).

    Mandel Nallo also produced a highlight on the night, scoring a first-round knockout of Samuel Silva. Nallo got off to a hot start with his kicks before getting his striking going, landing a perfect right hand on the button to drop Silva out cold, earning himself a UFC contract.

    Cezary Oleksiejczuk, brother of UFC light heavyweight Michal Oleksiejczuk, now joins his brother on the UFC roster after a dominant, but bizarre, first-round finish of Theo Haig. Haig tried to pressure with his grappling but struggled with Oleksiejczuk. Oleksiejczuk managed to get the fight to the mat and laid in some heavy ground-and-referee. Referee Gary Copeland initially called a time-out due to strikes to the back of the head; however, replay review showed the strikes to be legal, and with Haig deemed knocked out by them, the fight was called in Oleksiejczuk’s favor in the first round. The win earned him a UFC contract as well.

    In the main event, Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani closed the night with impact, scoring a knockout of Jack Congdon in just 68 seconds. With the physical disadvantage, Lebosnoyani looked to get inside to work his striking. It would help to land a devastating head kick that put Congdon out on his feet before dropping him with a right hand to seal the deal — and seal himself a contract.

    In a battle of alumni, TUF 33 alumnus Eduardo “Chapolin” Henrique, fighting on less than two weeks’ notice, defeated DWCS alumnus An Tuan Ho. Chapolin seemed to get the better of Ho in the opening round, but he may have been helped by a controversial knee that was not called a foul despite Ho being grounded. Chapolin only received a warning after the fact. Though Ho tried to get back into the fight, Chapolin dominated him with wrestling and damage on the ground over the next two rounds to sweep the scorecards. It, however, was not enough to earn him a UFC contract.

    Tommy McMillen vs. David Mgoyan

    Eduardo “Chapolin” Henrique vs. An Tuan Ho

    https://twitter.com/TakeruCigarra/status/1963042823906754842

    Mandel Nallo vs. Samuel Silva

    Theo Haig vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk

    Jack Congdon vs. Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 3 Highlights As 5 Awarded UFC Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 3 Highlights As 5 Awarded UFC Contracts

    The latest season ofĀ Dana Whiteā€™s Contender SeriesĀ continued with another night of knockout action — namely of the first-round variety — and plenty of highlights in Las Vegas.

    DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.

    Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode three of season nine this week saw five prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.

    The night’s action got off to a hot start from Donte Johnson, who scored a quick finish of Darion Abbey. Johnson brought his power out early, and a barrage of punches from Johnson forced the fight to be halted just over a minute into the fight.

    Manouel Sousa then brought out another big finish with his comeback victory over Cristian Perez in a wild, skilled battle. Perez’s grappling caused some issues for Sousa early on in the fight, including threatening a choke in the first and a leg lock attempt in the second. But Perez appeared to tire out, and Sousa took advantage. Sousa pounded away on Perez in the third, fending off all takedown attempts and forcing him to fight on the feet. Sousa’s battering was too much for Perez to handle, and “Manumiuto” managed to get the TKO in the third.

    Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev then one-upped everyone so far by demolishing Alik Lorenz in 30 mere seconds. After landing a low kick, Yakhyaev pressured Lorenz, landing a knee and a barrage of punches until Lorenz was a crumbled mess laying up against the fence.

    Marcio Barbosa added to the fun with his own first-round finish, putting away Damon Wilson. Barbosa cracked Wilson with a right hand, sending him face first to the mat. Wilson, however, bounced right back up and tried to get in the fight. Barbosa landed more power shots, however, and the fight was soon stopped in his favor.

    The main event of the evening saw Ryan Gandra make quick work of Trent Miller, who took this fight on about a week’s notice. Gandra brought power right away in the opening minute, landing and pressuring Miller with huge shots. A barrage of shots nearly brought the end of the fight, only for it to be finished seconds later with a right hand that dropped Miller.

    The result to all this? A second straight week where all five winners received UFC contracts.

    Donte Johnson vs. Darion Abbey

    Cristian Perez vs. Manoel Sousa

    Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs. Alik Lorenz

    Damon Wilson vs. Marcio Barbosa

    Trent Miller vs. Ryan Gandra

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 2 Highlights As 5 Awarded UFC Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 2 Highlights As 5 Awarded UFC Contracts

    The latest season ofĀ Dana Whiteā€™s Contender SeriesĀ continued with a memorable night of action filled with highlights in Las Vegas.

    DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.

    Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode two of season nine this week saw five prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.

    The night got started with a strong performance from Ramiro Jimenez, who scored a first-round finish of Tommy Cuozzi Jr. Jimenez worked over Cuozzi’s body early, especially with the left hand, before a one-two scored a knockdown of Cuozzi. Jimenez continued to target the body and do damage with powerful shots, ending things by grabbing Cuozzi and landing a pair of elbows. That dominant performance earned him the nod from Dana White for a UFC contract.

    Former NFL player and collegiate wrestler Josh Hokit looked to make a statement with his victory over Guilherme Uriel. Hokit completely controlled the action with wrestling, attempting nine takedowns during the first round and scoring on most of them. Though Uriel started to defend takedowns during the later part of the round, it was clear he was worn down. Hokit then scored an easy takedown seconds into the second round, dominating on the ground before finishing things with elbows.

    Hokit then delivered a Colby Covington-esque promo after his win, claiming himself to be the savior of the heavyweight division.

    Louis Lee Scott was also in action on the night, defeating Kaushik Saikumar, the first Indian fighter to compete on DWCS. Despite his weight miss, Lee Scott shook off Saikumar’s grappling, including a pair of leg lock attempts, and put on a fairly strong striking performance. Lee Scott would overwhelm Saikumar with strikes to score a third-round TKO. And despite the weight miss, White gave him a contract as well.

    Cam Rowston and Brandon Holmes’ co-main fight was a violent affair for how long it lasted, but it was Rowston who scored the win after an elbow rocked Holmes, leading eventually to a flurry of strikes that’d result in not only another first-round finish and contract — but also Rowston earning a spot on the UFC Perth card next month.

    The main event of the evening saw Jose Delano put up a dominant performance over a durable Manuel Exposito. Despite Exposito trying to get to a strong start early, Delano seemed to land at will on Exposito, busting him open and putting on a beating for a full 15 minutes. In spite of not getting the finish, his performance was enough to earn the nod from White, giving all five winners on the night UFC contracts.

    Ramiro Jimenez def. Tommy Cuozzi Jr. via TKO (R1, 2:53)

    Josh Hokit def. Guilherme Uriel via TKO (R2, 1:06)

    Louis Lee Scott def. Kaushik Saikumar via TKO (R3, 2:20)

    Cam Rowston def. Brandon Holmes via TKO (R1, 2:58)

    Jose Delano def. Manuel Exposito via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

  • Baysangur Susurkaev To Make UFC Debut At UFC 319, Four Days After DWCS Appearance

    Baysangur Susurkaev To Make UFC Debut At UFC 319, Four Days After DWCS Appearance

    When he was awarded his new UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, Baysangur Susurkaev held up four fingers. The message was he wanted a quick turnaround — he wanted to fight at UFC 319 this coming weekend to be on the same card as his teammate, UFC middleweight title challenger Khamzat Chimaev.

    And now, it appears Susurkaev is going to be getting his wish.

    As initially reported on social media by Zac Coffman, host of the 4oz to Freedom podcast, Susurkaev will be competing in a short-notice bout for this weekend’s pay-per-view card, taking on Eric Nolan.

    Baysangur Susurkaev vs. Eric Nolan Booked For This Weekend’s UFC 319 On Three Days’ Notice

    Susurkaev was arguably the only standout performer of the premiere for season nine of Dana White’s Contender Series, which took place yesterday, August 12. Susurkaev scored a body-kick KO of Murtaza Talha in the night’s sole finish, leading to the UFC CEO and President to say he loved everything about him and told him to stand by for a major opportunity.

    The opportunity for Susurkaev mirrors that of Chimaev’s first appearances with the UFC. After Chimaev quickly submitted John Phillips at UFC Fight Island 1 in July 2020, Chimaev turned around 10 days later for a short-notice fight with Rhys McKee at UFC Fight Island 3, scoring a first-round finish.

    Prior to the DWCS appearance, which improved him to 9-0, Susurkaev had most recently fought in February, finishing Irakli Kuchukhidze at Fury FC 102.

    Nolan, who is 8-3, won the CFFC welterweight title in May with a three-minute knockout of Blayne Richards at CFFC 142.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 1 Highlights As 2 Awarded UFC Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 1 Highlights As 2 Awarded UFC Contracts

    The latest season of Dana Whiteā€™s Contender Series kicked off with a bizarre, and downright disappointing, night on in Las Vegas.

    DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.

    Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode one of season nine this week saw 2 prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.

    The big moments for season nine kicked off (literally and figuratively) with a bang courtesy of Baysangur Susurkaev. Susurkaev delivered an impressive body kick that dropped Murtaza Talha, scoring a walk-off KO just three minutes into the bout.

    Ty Miller would then follow up with a strong performance, thanks to his advanced boxing skills, to sweep the scorecards against Jimmy Drago and earn his own Octagon deal.

    The featured fight of the evening at middleweight saw Ilian Bouafia defeat Neemias Santana via a controversial decision. Bouafia was hit with an intentional headbutt early on in the fight, resulting in a timeout and what could have been a DQ finish. Bouafia fought on, with Santana receiving a one-point deduction, but the fight was lackluster. Though commentary (among pundits), as well as White himself, believed the fight was a draw, Bouafia came away with a unanimous decision.

    Needless to say, Bouafia did not earn a contract.

    The night began with Yuri Panferov besting Chris Ewert by decision. Panferov managed to outwork Ewert with powerful strikes and eight minutes of control time on the ground, but it wasn’t enough for a deal.

    Radley Da Silva followed up with a grappling-heavy victory over George Mangos, but it also wasn’t enough to impress the UFC boss.

    Yuri Panferov def. Chris Ewert via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Radley Da Silva def. George Mangos via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Baysangur Susurkaev def. Murtaza Talha via KO (R1, 3:04)

    Ty Miller def. Jimmy Drago via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Ilian Bouafia def. Neemias Santana via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27 x2)

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Not Part Of UFC-Paramount Deal, Broadcast Rights TBD

    Dana White’s Contender Series Not Part Of UFC-Paramount Deal, Broadcast Rights TBD

    UPDATE: The New York Post’s Erich Richter has confirmed that Dana White’s Contender Series, The Ultimate Fighter, and Road to UFC are all not part of the UFC-Paramount package, and that the UFC is still shopping homes for these platforms.

    The major seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. broadcasting deal between the UFC and Paramount may not include Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS), the UFC CEO and President confirmed to Sports Business Journal.

    One of the notable things to come out of the new UFC deal was what the press release to announce it did not make mention of UFC properties outside of the events that include the likes of DWCS, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), Road to UFC, etc.

    White confirmed an interview that while the UFC and all of its numbered and Fight Night events are part of the Paramount package, which begins in January, the U.S. rights to air DWCS are still to be determined.

    “Yeah. That could be split up,” White said. “We’ll see how that plays out.”

    UFC Properties May Be Split Up After All, As DWCS Not Part Of UFC-Paramount Deal

    While the interview did not mention TUF or Road to UFC, it may be assumed that those rights are also still up in the air.

    TUF was created by the UFC when it first partnered up with Paramount Network (then known as Spike) in 2005, the same year it started airing Fight Night events on the cable channel. TUF has since followed the UFC throughout its times with FOX and ESPN as well.

    Road to UFC has aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass since its inception and may likely remain there.

    DWCS first premiered on UFC Fight Pass in 2017 before moving over to ESPN+ as part of the UFC’s deal with ESPN that began in 2019. The UFC’s U.S. broadcasting rights with ESPN ends at the end of the year. DWCS not being part of the Paramount deal keeps the possibility that ESPN could have some piece of the UFC umbrella.

    White added that he doesn’t see ESPN shying away from UFC coverage after the deal.

    “When we first started out over there, you’re going to have some rockiness when youā€™re figuring how you’re going to work with each other and who’s who, what’s what, and, ‘How are we going to do this?’ and we had some of that with ESPN,” White said. “Let me tell you what, over the last seven years, we have created an unbelievable relationship with that company and the people that work there.

    “I donā€™t see [ESPN promoting UFC less after 2025] happening. I see the exact opposite of that happening. We wouldn’t be where we are today without ESPN and I plan on continuing that relationship for the rest of my career.”

    This deal between the UFC and Paramount calls for 43 UFC cards, featuring 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Night cards, to be broadcasted on Paramount+. A select number of the numbered events (White has said four, while TKO executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro claim all) will air on the lineal CBS network in the U.S.

    When current international broadcasting deals for the UFC expire, Paramount will also have a 30-day exclusive negotiating window to lock up rights in those countries as well.

  • Former Alex Pereira Rival Explains Turning Down UFC Contract Despite DWCS Win

    Former Alex Pereira Rival Explains Turning Down UFC Contract Despite DWCS Win

    Earning a spot in the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) is a dream for many fighters, but one contract winner recently made the surprising decision to walk away from it.

    Former GLORY light heavyweight champion Artem Vakhitov punched his ticket to the UFC in October with a statement-making knockout victory over Islem Masraf during Season 8, Week 9 of DWCS.

    Vakhitovā€™s arrival in the UFC was highly anticipated, as he holds the distinction of being the last man to defeat former two-division titleholder Alex Pereira in a kickboxing contest back in September 2021 ā€” just before “Poatan” made his full-time transition to MMA.

    However, on Tuesday, the 33-year-old Russian announced on The Ariel Helwani Show that he had decided to forgo the opportunity to sign with the UFC and will instead face reigning GLORY heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven in the main event of GLORY 100 on June 14.

    “Unfortunately, we couldnā€™t reach an agreement with UFC,” Vakhitov said through a translator. “Because they have their own protocol, but we still have good relations with them, so thatā€™s it. Now weā€™re announcing a big fight against Rico Verhoeven. I think Rico doesnā€™t need to be [explained as an opponent] because heā€™s well known and, for sure, we wanted this fight a long time ago. For me, itā€™s a good opportunity to become a double champion, and it was in my mind a very long time ago.ā€

    Vakhitov further weighed in on his decision, revealing that his choice to decline a potential UFC run was largely influenced by dissatisfaction with the promotionā€™s financial structure and strict contractual obligations.

    “UFC always works off a standard contract after Dana Whiteā€™s Contender Series. Unfortunately, we could not reach an agreement, or [there were] some things couldnā€™t agree [on]. When we got an offer [from GLORY] and we saw the news that all the Russian fighters are coming back to GLORY, we got an offer to fight against Rico and probably the possibility to become a double champion, we agreed very easily. And for sure, for good money, why not?”

    Reports suggest that a standard DWCS contract includes a clause granting the UFC the power to lock a chosen fighter into a 20-month commitment spanning four bouts.

    Vakhitov’s most recent kickboxing bout took place under the Muaythai Factory banner in February 2022, where he secured a unanimous decision victory over Pascal TourĆ©.

  • DWCS Contract Winner Handed Two-Year Suspension Before Making UFC Debut

    DWCS Contract Winner Handed Two-Year Suspension Before Making UFC Debut

    A rising heavyweight hopeful recently got himself into a world of trouble before making his UFC debut.

    On Thursday, the UFC announced via press release that Danylo Voievodkin had been handed a 24-month suspension by the Combat Sports Anti-Doping Commission (CSAD), which began on Nov. 10, 2024, after breaching the promotionā€™s anti-doping policy.

    Voievodkin’s October 2024 sample tested positive for Meldonium, a banned substance classified under Hormone and Metabolic Modulators. Recognized for its ability to boost cardiovascular function and endurance, the drug provides an unfair competitive edge.

    The 24-year-old undefeated Ukrainian competed on the seventh week of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) last September, securing a first-round submission victory over Bailey Schoenfelder to earn his UFC contract. However, following the violation, the MMA promotion abruptly terminated his deal.

    Now serving a two-year suspension, Voievodkin faces a chancy road ahead in his professional career.

    Recently, he took to his Instagram Stories to voice his frustration, asserting that a later test came back negative. He also blamed his managementā€™s negligence, claiming he had been unfairly framed in the doping scandal.

    “Many questions about this. I’ll say the test taken a month and a half later was negative. Meldonium is taken for almost a year. They offered me to confess, and then they would cut it to half a year. I stood my ground. But my management did nothing in this situation. I understand that a manager you haven’t seen in your life doesn’t care about you as a fighter. I’ll come to a conclusion: you only need to work with people you trust with everything,” Voievodkin wrote.

    Voievodkin boasts a flawless 7-0 professional record, with all his victories ending in the first round ā€” five by knockout and two by submission.

  • Latest UFC Star Talks Environment Of ‘Weakness’ Backstage At DWCS

    Latest UFC Star Talks Environment Of ‘Weakness’ Backstage At DWCS

    Navajo Stirling recently spoke about the palpable nervousness among fellow aspiring fighters at Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).

    Stirling punched his ticket to the UFC with a brutal second-round, one-punch knockout of Phillip Latu during the main event of Week 5 of DWCS. In a surprising turn of events, the 26-year-old Kiwi has already secured his promotional debut matchup. Heā€™s set to step into the Octagon on December 15 at a UFC Fight Night in Tampa, Florida, where heā€™ll face Tuco Tokkos in a light heavyweight showdown.

    Stirling, a highly skilled kickboxer, hones his craft at the prestigious City Kickboxing gym in Auckland, training alongside former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and seasoned lightweight Dan Hooker. He transitioned to MMA in September 2022, making his professional debut against James Craughwell under the banner of the Shuriken Fight Series promotion.

    Although the MMA community has yet to witness much of Stirlingā€™s talents, the City Kickboxing prodigy turned heads with his recent performance, proving he possesses all the makings of a future star in the sport.

    Stirling Asserts Mental Edge Over Other Fighters At DWCS

    During a recent interview with Sky Sports NZ, Stirling reflected on his experience competing on the grand stage of DWCS. The UFC newcomer noted that many of the other contenders seemed overly anxious about their performances. He confidently expressed his belief that he could outshine the rest with his composure and skill.

    “It was just like, so many were looking around and seeing how nervous all the other fighters were,” Stirling said. “Just seeing them go through their rituals and mantras, it was like I could just seeā€” I don’t know if it’s weakness or somethingā€” but I just know if I was fighting guys like this, I would run through them 100 times over. And I think the UFC staff could see in my presence that I was meant to be there and that I was really going to own the moment.”

    Stirling went on to say that the earlier matchups on the card lacked excitement, which motivated him to give his best performance. He added that the pressure of representing his country fueled his determination even more.

    “It was a very lackluster card, and I feel like I did that. It was even so bad that there was one guy who didn’t even show up. When I saw a guy who had the opportunity of a lifetime not put his foot forward by even entering the Octagon, it made me think to myself: if I had the weight of my nation on my shoulders, I would go out 100 times over, even knowing I was going to get knocked out within 10 seconds. I would rather do that than not show face at all.”

    Stirling boasts an undefeated professional record of 5-0, displaying impressive strength along the way. However, the path ahead in the UFCā€™s highly competitive light heavyweight division will be far from smooth. Before he can think about climbing the ranks, the rising star must first overcome fellow newcomer Tokkos, a dangerous opponent known for his devastating knockout power and slick grappling skills.

  • Torrez Finney Shares How Third Contender Series Call-Up Stopped Him From Signing Elsewhere

    Torrez Finney Shares How Third Contender Series Call-Up Stopped Him From Signing Elsewhere

    Torrez Finney recently disclosed that his third opportunity to join the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series ultimately stopped him from committing to another promotion.

    Despite securing a unanimous decision victory over Cam Rowston at DWCS 68 on August 20, Finney found himself overlooked for a UFC contract by Dana White for the second time. The UFC CEO harshly criticized “The Punisher” in a segment that swiftly made headlines for its blunt severity.

    Additionally, White expressed disappointment that Finney had only taken one fight since his initial DWCS appearance last October, where he secured a second-round submission against Yuri Panferov. However, the door hasnā€™t closed on Finney just yet. Heā€™s set to make his comeback on October 1, facing Abdellah Er-Remy in episode eight.

    Finney will have a rare third chance to clinch a UFC contractā€”an opportunity granted to only a select few fighters. However, this chance comes at a cost, as he had to forgo a more lucrative deal to chase his UFC dreams…

    Finney On His Third DWCS Spot: ‘I Didn’t Think Twice About It Too Much’

    During a recent interview with Inside Fighting, Finney revealed that just before receiving a call from his manager for the DWCS fight, he was on the verge of finalizing a deal with another promotion. However, he decided to walk away from it, choosing instead to chase his ultimate dream of fighting in the UFC.

    “Not going to point them out, but I was actually almost in the process of signing with another promotion,” Finney said. “Big deal, great pay. I was actually getting close to making that announcement, and then I get a phone call from Malki [Kawa] from First Round Management, and he’s like, ‘Have you signed that contract yet?’ I said, ‘No, not yet.’ He’s like, ‘Well, hold on,’ and I was like, ‘All right, what is it?’ ‘Cause thereā€™s only one thing, there could only be one possible promotion that could hold me off from that. And I said, ‘What?’ And there was the opportunity. He told me all the details behind it, and I talked with my team. You know, I’m gonna be honest, I was happy.”

    “The Punisher” went on to express his excitement for the upcoming fight but admitted that his family is no longer supporting his pursuit of the UFC dream, especially after Whiteā€™s harsh criticism.

    “My team was behind me, but my familyā€”they are not the biggest Dana White fansā€”and they were no longer on the side of me ever pursuing the UFC. Necessarily, like, obviously, they would support wherever I fight, but with the UFC, it was like, ‘Man, forget that,’ based off his comments. But I didn’t feel that way; I never have any personal issues with Danaā€¦ If you look at the opportunity, based off of what you seeā€”an opportunity to be the first guy ever to go 3-0 in the Contender Seriesā€”the story, it hit so big. Right now, I’m 25, so let’s go for it. I didn’t think twice about it.”

    Finney boasts an undefeated 9-0 record in his MMA career, with seven of those victories coming by way of stoppage. He made his professional debut in February 2022, taking on Wesley McCracken under the Conflict MMA banner.