Dana White's Contender Series Explained

Dana White's Contender Series, formerly named Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series, is an American mixed martial arts promotion. In May 2017, the UFC announced White would hold the competition weekly on UFC Fight Pass (It has since been moved to ESPN+).[1] As with the earlier web series Looking for a Fight, the goal of the series is for White to scout talent for the UFC.[2] [3] Similar to The Ultimate Fighter none of the fighters involved will have existing UFC contracts. Licensed separately from the UFC with Dana White applying for a promoter's license, it was stated ahead of the license being approved that “this is not the UFC, this is not the UFC brand, but instead a promotion that will allow up and coming fighters the chance to showcase their talents in hopes that one day they may compete in the UFC."[4]

The inaugural event took place on July 11, 2017. All events have been held at the UFC's home base of Las Vegas.[5] [6]

List of seasons

NameRefStart DateEnd Date
  1. of Contracts
  1. of Events
VenueLocation
Season 8 (67-76)[7] 4210UFC Apex CentreLas Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Season 7 (57-66)[8] 4610
Season 6 (47-56)[9] 4310
Season 5 (37-46)[10] 3910
Season 4 (27-36)[11] 3710
Season 3 (17-26)[12] 3010
Season Brazil[13] 113UFC Training Centre
Season 2 (9-16)[14] 238
Season 1 (1-8)[15] 168

List of contract winners

Season! colspan="20"
Episode Number
1Ref.2Ref.3Ref.4Ref.5Ref.6Ref.7Ref.8Ref.9Ref.10Ref.
Season 8
(2024)
  • Mansur Abdul-Malik
    *Bruno Lopes
    *Jose Delgado
    *Lone'er Kavanagh
[16]
  • Andreas Berg Gustafsson
    *Rizvan Kuniev
    *Cortavious Romious
    *Cody Haddon
[17]
  • Andrey Pulaev
    *Bogdan Grad
    *Marco Tulio
    *Malcolm Wellmaker
[18]
  • Ko Seok-hyun
    *Djorden Ribeiro dos Santos
    *Austin Bashi
    Yuneisy Duben
    *Quillan Salkilld
[19]
  • Navajo Sterling
    *Josias Musasa
    *Nicolle Caliari
[20]
  • Elijah Smith
    *Talison Teixeira
    *Ateba Abega Gautier
    *Ahmad Hassanzada
[21]
  • Danylo Voievodkin
    *Daniel Frunza
    *Kevin Christian
    *Kevin Vallejos
    *Alexia Thainara
[22]
  • Diyar Nurgozhay
    *Alberto Montes
    *David Martinez
    *Torrez Finney
    *Jacobe Smith
[23] [24]
  • Nick Klein
    *Luis Gurule
    *Yadier Del Valle
    *Jonathan Micallef
[25]
Season 7
(2023)		 [26]
  • Abdul-Kerim Al-Selwady
    *Ibo Aslan
    Hyder Amil
    *Eduarda Moura
    Charalampos Grigoriou
[27]
  • Zachary Reese
    *Oban Elliot
    Luis Pajuelo
[28]
  • Carlos Prates
    *Thomas Petersen
    *Bolaji Oki
[29]
  • Brendson Ribeiro
    *Serhiy Sidey
    *Dylan Budka
    *Jean Silva
    *Dione Barbosa
[30]
  • James Llontop
    Jhonata Diniz
    *Steven Nguyen
    *Julia Polastri
    *Jean Matsumoto
[31]
  • Shamil Gaziev
    *Stephanie Luciano
    *Kaynan Kruschewsky
    *Igor da Silva
[32]
  • Danny Barlow
    *Danny Silva
    *Angel Pacheco
    *Ernesta Kareckaitė
    *Carli Judice
    *Vinicius Oliveira
[33]
  • Rodolfo Bellato
    *Victor Hugo Silva
    *Magomed Gadzhiyasulov
    *José Daniel Medina
    *Maurício Ruffy
[34]
  • Ramon Taveras
    *André Lima
    *Connor Matthews
    *MarQuel Mederos
    *Lucas Rocha
[35]
Season 6
(2022)		 [36]
  • Chris Duncan
    *Vinicius Salvador
    *Francis Marshall
    *Waldo Cortes-Acosta
    Billy Goff
[37]
  • Jamal Pogues
    *Erik Silva
    *Clayton Carpenter
[38]
  • Esteban Ribovics
    *Claudio Ribeiro
    *Jose Johnson
    *Hailey Cowan
    *Nazim Sadykhov
[39]
  • Michael Parkin
    *Darrius Flowers
    *Jesús Santos Aguilar
    *Cameron Saaiman
    *Denise Gomes
[40]
  • Yusaku Kinoshita
    *Sedriques Dumas
    *Mateusz Rębecki
    *Viktoriya Dudakova
    *Blake Bilder
[41]
  • Vitor Petrino
    *Gabriel Bonfim
    *Karl Williams
    *Ismael Bonfim
[42] [43]
  • Brunno Ferreira
    *Raúl Rosas Jr.
    *Austen Lane
    *Nurullo Aliev
    Jafel Filho
[44]
  • Bo Nickal
  • Sam Patterson
    *Jack Jenkins
    *Rafael Ramos Estevam
    *Mateus Mendonça
[45]
Season 5
(2021)		 [46] [47] [48] [49] [50]
  • Mike Malott
  • Carlos Hernandez
    *Fernie Garcia
    *Genaro Valdéz
[51]
  • Martin Buday
    *Jake Hadley
    *Slava Borshchev
[52] [53] [54]
  • Maheshate
    *Yohan Lainesse
[55]
[56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61] [62] [63] [64] [65]
[66] [67] [68] [69] [70] [71] [72] [73] [74] [75]
Season Brazil
(2018)		 [76] [77] [78]
[79] [80] [81] [82] [83] [84] [85] [86]
Season 1
(2017)		 [87] [88] [89] [90] [91] [92] [93] [94]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ESPN . Dana White's Contender Series: How to watch and stream, plus full analysis . ESPN. September 2020 .
  2. Web site: Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series Launches on Fight Pass. Ultimate Fighting Championship. Staff. 2017-06-22. 2017-05-12.
  3. Web site: 'Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series' debuts July 11 on UFC Fight Pass with 5 live fights a week. mmajunkie.com. Staff. 2017-05-13. 2017-05-13.
  4. Web site: Dana White receives promoter's license for new contender series separate from UFC - FOX Sports. 14 June 2017.
  5. Web site: 5-fight lineup revealed for 'Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series' premiere. mmajunkie.com. Staff. 2017-06-22. 2017-05-12.
  6. Web site: Tuesday Night Contender Series to premiere July 11. ufc.com. Thomas Gerbasi. 2017-06-22. 2017-06-22.
  7. Web site: 2024-04-23 . Dana White's Contender Series, Season 8 in the works with dates mapped out . 2024-08-27 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  8. Web site: 2023-08-11 . Dana White's Contender Series, Season 7 roster filling up for summer 2023 launch . 2024-08-27 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  9. Web site: 2022-07-28 . Dana White's Contender Series, Season 6 roster nearing finalization as more fights added . 2024-08-27 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2021-05-26 . Dana White's Contender Series takes on international theme, 10 fights added to upcoming season . 2024-08-27 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2020-10-19 . Dana White's Contender Series: Your complete guide to Season 4 . 2024-08-27 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  12. Web site: 2019-04-22 . Dana White's Contender Series launches third season on June 18 . 2024-08-27 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2021-05-27 . UFC inicia gravações do Contender Series Brasil nesta sexta-feira MMA Brasil . 2024-08-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210527002342/http://mmabrasil.com.br/ufc-inicia-gravacoes-do-contender-series-brasil-nesta-sexta-feira . 2021-05-27 .
  14. Web site: 2018-05-12 . Your Complete Guide To Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series 2 . 2024-08-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180512225653/https://mma-today.com/complete-guide-dana-whites-tuesday-night-contender-series-season-2 . 2018-05-12 .
  15. Web site: 2024-08-12 . Dana White's Contender Series: Season 8, Week 1 Preview & Fight Card . 2024-08-27 . MMA Knockout On SI . en-US.
  16. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series Season 8, Week 1 Results. cagesidepress.com. Staff. 2024-08-13. 2024-08-13.
  17. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series Season 8, Week 2 Results. cagesidepress.com. Staff. 2024-08-20. 2024-08-20.
  18. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series 69 results: Four contracts issued, plus a rare immediate rematch. mmajunkie.com. Mike Bohn. 2024-08-28. 2024-08-28.
  19. Web site: 2024-09-04 . Dana White's Contender Series 70 results: Five new UFC contracts, including massive KO upset for Yuneisy Duben . 2024-09-04 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  20. Web site: 2024-09-11 . Dana White's Contender Series 71 results: Three contracts awarded, one gets another DWCS bout . 2024-09-11 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  21. Web site: 2024-09-17 . Dana White's Contender Series 72 results: Four new contracts, including son of UFC veteran . 2024-09-17 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  22. Web site: 2024-09-25 . Dana White's Contender Series 73 results: Five contracts awarded, including +550 underdog . 2024-09-25 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  23. Web site: Bohn. Mike. 2024-10-01 . Dana White's Contender Series 74 results: Five winners get contracts, including Torrez Finney's 3rd chance . 2024-10-02 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  24. Web site: Staff . 2024-10-08 . Dana White's Contender Series Season 8, Week 9 Results . 2024-10-09 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  25. Web site: Staff . 2024-10-15 . Dana White's Contender Series Season 8, Week 10 Results . 2024-10-16 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  26. Web site: 2023-08-09 . Dana White's Contender Series 57 results: All winners get contracts, including 35-year-old kickboxing standout . 2023-08-11 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  27. Web site: Marrocco . Steven . 2023-08-15 . DWCS Season 7, Week 2 results: Another 5-contract night with 3 quick finishes . 2023-08-16 . MMA Fighting . en.
  28. Web site: Al-Shatti . Shaun . 2023-08-22 . DWCS Season 7, Week 3 results: Zach Reese's 74-second armbar headlines 3-contract night . 2023-08-23 . MMA Fighting . en.
  29. Web site: Staff . 2023-08-29 . Dana White's Contender Series Season 7, Week 4 Results . 2023-08-30 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  30. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series 61 results: Dana White gives loser second shot after 'one of the worst ref stoppages'. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King and Ken Hathaway. 2023-09-05. 2023-09-05.
  31. Web site: 2023-09-13 . Dana White's Contender Series 62 results: Five UFC contracts awarded on all-time episode . 2023-09-13 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  32. Web site: Al-Shatti . Shaun . 2023-09-19 . DWCS Season 7, Week 7 results: Unbeaten Dagestani heavyweight Shamil Gaziev headlines 4-contract night . 2023-09-20 . MMA Fighting . en.
  33. Web site: Staff . 2023-09-26 . Dana White's Contender Series Season 7, Week 8 Results . 2023-09-27 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  34. Web site: Staff . 2023-10-03 . Dana White's Contender Series Season 7, Week 9 Results . 2023-10-04 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  35. Web site: Marrocco . Steven . 2023-10-10 . DWCS Season 7, Week 10 results: 5 win contracts, record 46 win UFC deals at season's end . 2023-10-11 . MMA Fighting . en.
  36. Web site: Marrocco. Steven. 2022-07-26. DWCS Season 6, Week 1 results: Joe Pyfer closes show with knockout – and gets only UFC contract. 2022-07-27. MMA Fighting. en-US.
  37. Web site: Marrocco. Steven. DWCS Season 6, Week 2 results: Chris Duncan's insane knockout comeback caps 5-contract night. 3 August 2022. MMA Fighting. 2 August 2022. en-US.
  38. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series 49 results: Bo Nickal invited back for second fight, 3 others receive UFC contracts. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Matthew Wells. 2022-08-09. 2022-08-09.
  39. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series 49 results: Bo Nickal invited back for second fight, 3 others receive UFC contracts. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Matthew Wells. 2022-08-09. 2022-08-09.
  40. Web site: Esteban Ribovics Leads Parade of Five UFC Signees on Dana White's Contender Series. sherdog.com. Brian Knapp. 2022-08-16. 2022-08-16.
  41. News: Dana White's Contender Series 52 results: For third-straight week, all five winners earn UFC contracts . 31 August 2022 . MMA Junkie . 31 August 2022.
  42. News: Dana White's Contender Series - Season 6, Week 7 results . 14 September 2022 . FIGHTMAG . 6 September 2022.
  43. News: Marrocco . Steven . DWCS Season 6, Week 8 results: 5 more, including 'best female knockout' in DWCS history, headed to UFC . 14 September 2022 . MMA Fighting . 13 September 2022 . en.
  44. News: Dana White's Contender Series 55 results: 17-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. among five to get contracts . MMA Junkie . 20 September 2022.
  45. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series 56 results: Bo Nickal among five UFC contract earners. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Matthew Wells. 2022-09-27. 2022-09-27.
  46. Web site: 2021-09-01. Dana White's Contender Series 37 results: Five contracts awarded, including one fighter who suffered a loss. 2021-09-01. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  47. Web site: 2021-10-20. NAC overturns DWCS winner Josh Quinlan's UFC contract-earning victory after positive drug test. 2021-10-20. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  48. Web site: Morgan. John. 2021-09-15. Dana White's Contender Series 39 results: Five more fighters secure UFC deals. live. 2021-09-15. MMA Junkie. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210915032755/https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/dana-whites-contender-series-39-live-results . 2021-09-15 .
  49. Web site: 2021-09-22. Dana White's Contender Series 40 results: Four more fighters score UFC deals. 2021-09-22. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  50. Web site: 2021-09-29. Dana White's Contender Series 41 results: Two fighters earn contracts. 2021-10-06. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  51. Web site: 2021-10-06. Dana White's Contender Series 42 results: Four fighters signed to UFC, one heads to 'Lookin' for a Fight'. 2021-10-06. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  52. Web site: 2021-10-13. Dana White's Contender Series 43 results: Three more secure UFC deals, including one who missed weight. 2021-10-13. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  53. Web site: Staff. 2021-10-19. Dana White's Contender Series Season 5, Week 8 Results. 2021-10-20. Cageside Press. en-US.
  54. Web site: Staff. 2021-10-26. Dana White's Contender Series Season 5, Week 9 Results. 2021-10-27. Cageside Press. en-US.
  55. Web site: Staff. 2021-11-02. Dana White's Contender Series Season 5, Week 10 Results. 2021-11-03. Cageside Press. en-US.
  56. Web site: Jordan Leavitt, Uros Medic and Dustin Jacoby win contracts at Contender Series Season 4: Week 1. 2020-08-04. MMA Fighting. 2020-08-04.
  57. Web site: All 5 winners earn UFC contracts at DWCS Season 4: Week 2. 2020-08-11. MMA Fighting. 2020-08-11.
  58. Web site: 2020-08-19. Dana White's Contender Series 29 results: Both Cosce brothers, two other fighters earn UFC contracts. 2020-08-19. MMA Junkie. en.
  59. Web site: 2020-08-25. Dana White's Contender Series 30 results: Four more fighters score UFC deals. 2020-08-25. MMA Junkie. en.
  60. Web site: 2020-09-01. Dana White's Contender Series 31 results: William Knight, two more get UFC contracts. 2020-09-01. MMA Junkie. en.
  61. Web site: Staff. 2020-09-08. Dana White's Contender Series Season 4, Week 6 Results. 2020-09-09. Cageside Press. en-US.
  62. Web site: Sherdog.com. Jordan Williams Knockout Highlights Week 7 of DWCS; Three UFC Contracts Awarded. 2020-09-16. Sherdog.
  63. Web site: Staff. 2020-11-04. Dana White's Contender Series Season 4, Week 8 Results. 2020-11-04. Cageside Press. en-US.
  64. Web site: Staff. 2020-11-10. DWCS Season 4: Week 9 results: Three win contracts with Natan Levy earning high praise. 2020-11-10. MMA Fighting. en-US.
  65. Web site: Staff. 2020-11-17. DWCS Season 4: Week 10 results: Final 4 contracts awarded for 2020 season. 2020-11-17. MMA Fighting. en-US.
  66. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series 17 Results: Two Fighters Earn Contracts. MMA. LowKick. 2019-06-19. LowKickMMA.com. en-US. 2019-06-19.
  67. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series Season 3, Week 2 results: Miles Johns, Miguel Baeza earn contracts on decision-filled night. Lee. Alexander K.. 2019-06-25. MMA Fighting. 2019-06-26.
  68. Web site: Contender's Series results: All five winners earn UFC contracts. Martin. Damon. 2019-07-09. MMA Fighting. 2019-07-09.
  69. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series Season 3, Week 4 results: Four fighters ride finishes to UFC contracts. Lee. Alexander K.. 2019-07-16. MMA Fighting. 2019-07-16.
  70. Web site: Contender Series results: Three fighters earn UFC deals. Cruz. Guilherme. 2019-07-23. MMA Fighting. 2019-07-23.
  71. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series results season 3, week 6: Flying knee KO's highlight latest episode. Martin. Damon. 2019-07-30. MMA Fighting. 2019-07-30.
  72. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series: Season 3, Week 7 Results: 3 fighters awarded UFC contracts. Martin. Damon. 2019-08-06. MMA Fighting. 2019-08-06.
  73. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series results: Four receive contracts on night of third-round stoppages. Lee. Alexander K.. 2019-08-13. MMA Fighting. 2019-08-13.
  74. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series results: Philip Rowe lone contract winner after thrilling main event. Lee. Alexander K.. 2019-08-20. MMA Fighting. 2019-08-20.
  75. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series results: TJ Brown, Peter Barrett, Dusko Todorovic signed on season finale. Lee. Alexander K.. 2019-08-27. MMA Fighting. 2019-08-27.
  76. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 1 results: Four fighters score deals in series debut. mmajunkie.com. John Morgan. 2018-08-24. 2018-08-27.
  77. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 2 results: Three more contracts awarded. mmajunkie.com. John Morgan. 2018-08-31. 2018-09-02.
  78. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 3 results: Four fighters get UFC deals. mmajunkie.com. John Morgan. 2018-09-07. 2018-09-08.
  79. Web site: DWTNCS results: Greg Hardy signed by UFC after 57-second KO win in pro debut. mmafighting.com . Shaun Al-Shatti. 2018-06-12. 2018-06-12.
  80. Web site: DWTNCS results: Four fighters earn UFC contracts. mmafighting.com . Alexander K. Lee. 2018-06-19. 2018-06-19.
  81. Web site: DWTNCS results: Antonina Shevchenko joins sister Valentina in UFC after TKO win. mmafighting.com . Dave Doyle. 2018-06-26. 2018-06-26.
  82. Web site: DWTNCS results: Bevon Lewis, Jordan Espinosa land UFC contracts. mmafighting.com . Dave Doyle. 2018-07-10. 2018-07-10.
  83. Web site: DWTNCS results: 20-year-olds Maycee Barber, Edmen Shahbazyan among three fighters to earn contracts. mmafighting.com . Alexander K. Lee. 2018-07-17. 2018-07-17.
  84. Web site: DWTNCS results: Nick Newell comes up short in UFC bid, loses to Alex Munoz. mmafighting.com . Dave Doyle. 2018-07-24. 2018-07-24.
  85. Web site: DWTNCS results: Four contracts handed out in action-packed night. mmafighting.com . Shaun Al-Shatti. 2018-07-31. 2018-07-31.
  86. Web site: DWTNCS results: Greg Hardy scores 17-second knockout of Taboris Gordon. mmafighting.com . Dave Doyle. 2018-08-07. 2018-08-07.
  87. Web site: DWCS winner Zu Anyanwu gets short-notice fill-in spot at Saturday's UFC Fight Night 116. 11 September 2017.
  88. Web site: Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series 2 results: Sean O'Malley earns UFC contract with first-round KO. mmafighting.com . Jed Meshew. 2017-07-18. 2017-07-18.
  89. Web site: Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series 3 results: Karl Roberson, Geoffrey Neal earn UFC contracts after quick finishes. mmafighting.com . Danny Segura. 2017-07-25. 2017-07-25.
  90. Web site: Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series 4 results: Julian Marquez, Brandon Davis earn UFC contracts. mmafighting.com . Danny Segura. 2017-08-01. 2017-08-01.
  91. Web site: Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series 5 results: Mike Rodriguez, Alex Perez latest UFC signees. mmafighting.com . Alexander K. Lee. 2017-08-08. 2017-08-09.
  92. Web site: Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series 6 results: Grant Dawson, Charles Byrd earn UFC contracts. mmafighting.com . Danny Segura. 2017-08-15. 2017-08-16.
  93. Web site: Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series 7 results: Joby Sanchez, Benito Lopez earn UFC contracts. mmafighting.com . Danny Segura. 2017-08-22. 2017-08-22.
  94. Web site: Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series 8 results: Allen Crowder, Lauren Mueller, Matt Frevola earn UFC contracts. mmafighting.com . Danny Segura. 2017-08-29. 2017-08-29.

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