Dana White Awards 3 New Fighters UFC Contracts

Another week of Dana White’s Contender Series (DCWS) in the books. The show entered this week on the back of a historic 30 fighters earning UFC contracts this season. Episode 9 of Season 4 took place on Tuesday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Dana White first started the hit series back in 2017 at the same venue. The show puts together cards of upcoming talent outside the UFC as they look to showcase their skill in front of the UFC President himself.

At the end of every card, based on the performances, White chooses who will get the coveted UFC contracts. DCWS has produced the likes of Sean O’Malley, Geoff Neal, and Edmen Shabazyan who have now made a name for themselves in the promotion.

This Tuesday saw the likes of Natan Levy, Nikolas Motta, and Luana Pinheiro all winning their UFC contracts.

Dana White Contender Series Results: Season 4 Episode 9

Mario Sousa def. Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz

Brazilian Mario Sousa recorded a unanimous decision win over Poland’s Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz. A high paced opening 10 minutes saw Ksiazkiewicz land takedowns while Sousa made several submission attempts on the ground. The judges would however give the win to Sousa, but his performance failed to convince the UFC President.

Natan Levy def. Shaheen Santana 

Late replacement Natan Levy put on an impressive performance after accepting the fight on just two days’ notice. The Israeli born fighter choked out Shaheen Santana in the third round to earn himself a UFC contract. The fight was set at a 160-pound catchweight.

Nikolas Motta def. Joe Lowry

“The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4” cast member Nikolas Motta recorded an impressive performance over USA’s Joe Lowry. The majority of the fight was on the feet, with both showcasing their striking. The judges felt Motta had done enough to get the win, as he was scored 30-27 on all three cards. Furthermore, he claimed a UFC contract.

Luana Pinheiro def. Stephanie Frausto

Brazilian Luana Pinheiro showcased her heavy hands, as she recorded a vicious first-round knockout over Stephanie Frausto. Pinheiro would land a clean left hook with a right following behind. She sent Frausto to the canvas to earn herself a contract from Dana White.

Danny Sabatello def. Taylor Moore

A bantamweight bout opened the card. Danny Sabatello controlled Taylor Moore for nearly the entirety of the fight to record a dominant decision win. However, this was not enough to secure him a UFC contract in a stacked 135-pounds division.

Read : UFC Fight Island: Dana White Reveals Massive News for Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier