Season 7 of Dana White's Contender Series commences in August 2023 and in the US is exclusive to ESPN+, ESPN's new over-the-top subscription package.[1]
Dana White's Contender Series |
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Season 7 |
Release |
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Original network | ESPN+ |
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Original release | August 8 – October 10, 2023 |
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Season chronology |
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Joshua Van was expected to face Kevin Borjas in a flyweight bout at the event, but he was pulled in order to face Zhalgas Zhumagulov at UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria.[2] He was replaced by Rickson Zenidim.[3] However, Zenidim had visa issues and was replaced by Victor Dias.
Main Card
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Weight class
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Method
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Round
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Time
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Notes
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Middleweight
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César Almeida
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def.
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Lucas Fernando
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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Lightweight
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Tom Nolan
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def.
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Bogdan Grad
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KO (punches)
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1
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1:23
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Heavyweight
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Caio Machado
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def.
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Kevin Szaflarski
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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Bantamweight
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Payton Talbott
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def.
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Reyes Cortez
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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Flyweight
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Kevin Borjas
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def.
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Victor Dias
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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[4]
The following fighters (all winners of the night) were awarded contracts with the UFC:[5]
Main Card
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Weight class
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Method
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Round
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Time
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Notes
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Lightweight
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Abdul-Kerim Al-Selwady
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def.
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George Hardwick
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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Light Heavyweight
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Ibo Aslan
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def.
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Paulo Renato Jr.
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TKO (punches)
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1
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2:22
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Featherweight
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Hyder Amil
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def.
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Emrah Sonmez
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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[a]
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Women's Strawweight
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Eduarda Moura
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def.
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Janaína Silva
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Submission (rear-naked choke)
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1
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4:00
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Bantamweight
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Charalampos Grigoriou
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def.
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Cameron Smotherman
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TKO (punches)
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1
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1:00
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- ^ Sonmez missed weight (147 lbs)
[6]
The following fighters (all winners of the night) were awarded contracts with the UFC:[7]
- Charalampos Grigoriou, Eduarda Moura, Hyder Amil, Ibo Aslan, and Abdul-Kerim Al-Selwady
Edgar Chairez was expected to face Felipe dos Santos in a flyweight bout at the event, but he was pulled in order to face Tatsuro Taira at UFC 290.[8] He was briefly replaced by Luciano Pereira. At the weigh-ins, Pereira did not step onto the scale due to a medical issue and the bout was scrapped entirely.[9]
Main Card
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Weight class
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Method
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Round
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Time
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Notes
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Middleweight
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Zachary Reese
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def.
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Eli Aronov
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Submission (armbar)
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1
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1:14
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Welterweight
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Oban Elliott
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def.
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Kaik Brito
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Decision (majority)
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3
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5:00
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Women's Strawweight
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Josefine Lindgren Knutsson
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def.
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Isis Verbeek
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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Featherweight
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Luis Pajuelo
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def.
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Robbie Ring
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TKO (knee to the body and punches)
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1
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3:43
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[10]
The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:[11]
- Luis Pajuelo, Oban Elliott, and Zachary Reese
Val Woodburn was expected to face Marco Tulio Silva in a middleweight bout at the event, but he was pulled in order to face Bo Nickal at UFC 290.[12] He was replaced by Yousri Belgaroui.[13]
Main Card
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Weight class
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Method
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Round
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Time
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Notes
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Welterweight
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Carlos Prates
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def.
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Mitch Ramirez
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TKO (punch)
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2
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1:14
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Middleweight
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Marco Tulio Silva
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def.
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Yousri Belgaroui
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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Featherweight
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Timothy Cuamba
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def.
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Mateo Vogel
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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Heavyweight
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Thomas Petersen
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def.
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Chandler Cole
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Submission (keylock)
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2
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1:08
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Lightweight
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Bolaji Oki
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def.
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Dylan Salvador
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TKO (punches)
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1
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2:46
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[14]
The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:[15]
- Bolaji Oki, Thomas Petersen, and Carlos Prates
Week 5 – September 5
edit
Corinne Laframboise was expected to face Rainn Guerrero in a women's flyweight bout at the event, but she was pulled after discovering she was pregnant during pre-fight medical screenings. She was replaced by Dione Barbosa.[16] Cam Rowston was expected to face Chad Hanekom in a middleweight bout but was replaced by Dylan Budka for unknown reasons.[citation needed]
Main Card
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Weight class
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Method
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Round
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Time
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Notes
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Light Heavyweight
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Brendson Ribeiro
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def.
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Bruno Lopes
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KO (punches)
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1
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3:47
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Bantamweight
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Serhiy Sidey
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def.
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Ramon Taveras
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TKO (punches)
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1
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2:26
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Middleweight
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Dylan Budka
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def.
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Chad Hanekom
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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Featherweight
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Jean Silva
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def.
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Kevin Vallejos
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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Women's Flyweight
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Dione Barbosa
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def.
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Rainn Guerrero
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Submission (armbar)
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1
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4:35
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[17]
The following fighters (all winners of the night) were awarded contracts with the UFC:[18]
- Dione Barbosa, Jean Silva, Dylan Budka, Serhiy Sidey, and Brendson Ribeiro
Week 6 – September 12
edit
Main Card
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Weight class
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Method
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Round
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Time
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Notes
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Lightweight
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James Llontop
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def.
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Malik Lewis
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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Heavyweight
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Jhonata Diniz
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def.
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Eduardo Neves
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TKO (punches)
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1
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3:15
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Featherweight
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Steven Nguyen
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def.
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A.J. Cunningham
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TKO (punches)
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2
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4:06
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Women's Strawweight
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Julia Polastri
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def.
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Patricia Alujas
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Submission (rear-naked choke)
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2
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4:05
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Bantamweight
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Jean Matsumoto
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def.
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Kasey Tanner
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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[19]
The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:
Week 7 – September 19
edit
Main Card
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Weight class
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Method
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Round
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Time
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Notes
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Heavyweight
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Shamil Gaziev
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def.
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Greg Velasco
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Submission (rear-naked choke)
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1
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2:38
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Lightweight
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Daniel James Allen
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def.
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JaCobi Jones
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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Women's Strawweight
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Talita Alencar
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vs.
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Stephanie Luciano
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Draw (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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Welterweight
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Kaynan Kruschewsky
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def.
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Dylan Mantello
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Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)
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1
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2:52
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Flyweight
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Igor da Silva
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def.
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Jhonata Silva
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TKO (punches)
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2
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2:37
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[21]
The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:
- Igor da Silva, Kaynan Kruschewsky, Stephanie Luciano, and Shamil Gaziev[22]
Week 8 – September 26
edit
Main Card
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Weight class
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|
|
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Method
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Round
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Time
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Notes
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Welterweight
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Danny Barlow
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def.
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Raheam Forest
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TKO (punches)
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1
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1:19
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Heavyweight
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Mario Piazzon
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def.
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Alexander Soldatkin
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DQ (illegal knee)
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3
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0:20
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Featherweight
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Danny Silva
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def.
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Angel Pacheco
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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Women's Flyweight
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Ernesta Kareckaitė
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def.
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Carli Judice
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Decision (split)
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3
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5:00
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Bantamweight
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Vinicius Oliveira
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def.
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Victor Hugo Madrigal
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KO (punch)
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1
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3:02
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[23]
The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:[24]
- Vinicius de Oliveira, Ernesta Kareckaitė, Carli Judice, Danny Silva, Angel Pacheco, and Danny Barlow
Lucas Rocha and Davi Bittencourt were scheduled to fight on this card in a flyweight bout. However, Rocha missed weight by five pounds and the bout was cancelled. The bout was rebooked for the following week.
Main Card
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Weight class
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|
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Method
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Round
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Time
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Notes
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Light Heavyweight
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Rodolfo Bellato
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def.
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Murtaza Talha
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TKO (punches)
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2
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4:46
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Bantamweight
|
Victor Hugo Silva
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def.
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Eduardo Matias Torres
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Submission (kneebar)
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2
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2:16
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Light Heavyweight
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Magomed Gadzhiyasulov
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def.
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José Daniel Medina
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Decision (unanimous)
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3
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5:00
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Welterweight
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Maurício Ruffy
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def.
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Raimond Magomedaliev
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TKO (punches)
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3
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4:45
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[25]
The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:[26]
- Maurício Ruffy, Magomed Gadzhiyasulov, José Daniel Medina, Victor Hugo Silva, and Rodolfo Bellato
Week 10 – October 10
edit
Main Card
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Weight class
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|
|
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Method
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Round
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Time
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Notes
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Bantamweight
|
Ramon Taveras
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def.
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Cortavious Romious
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KO (punch)
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1
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0:29
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Flyweight
|
André Lima
|
def.
|
Rickson Thai Zenidim
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Decision (unanimous)
|
3
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5:00
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Featherweight
|
Connor Matthews
|
def.
|
Jair Farias
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Decision (unanimous)
|
3
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5:00
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Middleweight
|
Torrez Finney
|
def.
|
Yuri Panferov
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Submission (rear-naked choke)
|
2
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2:43
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|
Lightweight
|
MarQuel Mederos
|
def.
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Issa Isakov
|
KO (knee)
|
1
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4:09
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|
Flyweight
|
Lucas Rocha
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def.
|
Davi Bittencourt
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KO (knee)
|
2
|
0:18
|
|
[27]
The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:[28]
- Lucas Rocha, MarQuel Mederos, Connor Matthews, André Lima, and Ramon Taveras
- ^ "Dana White's Contender Series, Season 7 roster filling up for summer 2023 launch". MMA Junkie. 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
- ^ Alexander K. Lee (2023-06-15). "Zhalgas Zhumagulov vs. Felipe Bunes off UFC Vegas 75, Zhumagulov to fight Joshua Van at UFC Jacksonville". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ^ Staff (2023-06-19). "MMA fighter from Ponta Grossa represents Brazil in the UFC, in the United States". dpontanews.com.br. Retrieved 2023-06-19.(in Brazilian Portuguese)
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 1". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ "Dana White's Contender Series 57 results: All winners get contracts, including 35-year-old kickboxing standout". MMA Junkie. 2023-08-09. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 2". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Marrocco, Steven (2023-08-15). "DWCS Season 7, Week 2 results: Another 5-contract night with 3 quick finishes". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ Nolan King (2023-06-27). "Tatsuro Taira quickly rebooked for UFC 290 after recent last-minute cancellation". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
- ^ Damon Martin (2023-08-21). "Dana White's Contender Series Week 3 down to 4 fights after one bout scrapped at weigh-ins". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 3". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Al-Shatti, Shaun (2023-08-22). "DWCS Season 7, Week 3 results: Zach Reese's 74-second armbar headlines 3-contract night". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
- ^ Nolan King (2023-07-04). "Bo Nickal gets newcomer Val Woodburn at UFC 290 as late replacement". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ Nolan King (2023-07-13). "Yousri Belgaroui, common kickboxing foe of Adesanya and Pereira, heads to Dana White's Contender Series". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 4". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Staff (2023-08-29). "Dana White's Contender Series Season 7, Week 4 Results". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ^ Dan Hiergesell (2023-09-02). "'Surprise, surprise!' Contender Series hopeful hastily removed from Dana White's show after test reveals she's three months pregnant". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 5". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Nolan King and Ken Hathaway (2023-09-05). "Dana White's Contender Series 61 results: Dana White gives loser second shot after 'one of the worst ref stoppages'". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 6". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ "Dana White's Contender Series 62 results: Five UFC contracts awarded on all-time episode". MMA Junkie. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 7". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Al-Shatti, Shaun (2023-09-19). "DWCS Season 7, Week 7 results: Unbeaten Dagestani heavyweight Shamil Gaziev headlines 4-contract night". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 8". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Staff (2023-09-26). "Dana White's Contender Series Season 7, Week 8 Results". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 9". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Staff (2023-10-03). "Dana White's Contender Series Season 7, Week 9 Results". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 10". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Marrocco, Steven (2023-10-10). "DWCS Season 7, Week 10 results: 5 win contracts, record 46 win UFC deals at season's end". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-10-11.