There are wars inside the cage, and then there are fights that make the UFC boss stop mid-show to sign both men on the spot. One such scene unfolded during Week 9 of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) Season 9, when Adrian Luna Martinetti and Mark Vologdin delivered what many are calling the greatest fight in Contender Series history.

It wasn’t just blood and grit; it was two men refusing to surrender, even as both ended up being taken straight to the hospital after the final horn. The fight was so violent, so raw, that Dana White couldn’t even wait for the post-show meeting. Right after the decision, he told commentator Laura Sanko that both fighters were not only being signed to the UFC but would also be receiving $25,000 each, making it a $50K total bonus for a fight that defined the night!

Dana White offers bonuses and contracts to Adrian Luna Martinetti and Mark Vologdin as they impress ESPN executives

Speaking with Sanko after the show, White couldn’t hide his excitement as he stated, “Yeah, you know, the kid Mark ate, I don’t know how many knees to the face and knees to the body, and he kept coming forward even when he was down and just getting smashed. He was trying to throw elbows at him from behind. Neither guy had any quit in him. You know, it’s one of those fights that you don’t want to see a loser.”

For White, this wasn’t just another good scrap; it was special, as he further shared after the show, “And when the fight ended, there was no loser. I mean, both guys gave it everything they had, and I’m honored to have two guys like this fight in the UFC. So, I don’t know what point I said it, but we were sitting there, I was just saying, this is the greatest fight I have ever seen.”

In fact, the UFC head honcho even revealed that ESPN executives were texting him mid-show about the bout. That’s how electric it was! Inside the Octagon, the chaos lived up to the hype. Martinetti, known for his relentless pace, found himself in early trouble as Vologdin’s karate-style attacks lit him up. But once Martinetti bit down on his mouthpiece and started pressing forward, the fight turned into an all-out war.

For 15 minutes, both men traded everything they had. Vologdin landed counters that snapped heads back. Martinetti answered with pressure that wouldn’t stop. At one point, a doctor nearly called it off due to a gruesome cut over Vologdin’s eye, but the Allstars Training Center fighter waved him off. By the third round, Martinetti began mixing in takedowns, grinding his opponent against the cage, even driving his head into that nasty gash to keep the pressure on. Still, Vologdin found moments of defiance, landing bombs while barely standing. It was chaos, courage, and carnage all in one.

When the final bell rang, both men had to be helped out of the cage and were taken to the hospital, as per reports. Adrian Luna Martinetti won by unanimous decision (29–28 across all scorecards), but as Dana White said, there was “no loser.”

The announcement marked the first time in Contender Series history that two fighters from the same bout were awarded immediate UFC deals and simultaneous cash bonuses. And they weren’t the only ones who impressed that night. Here’s the full list of results from the DWCS Week 9 card:

Magomed Zaynukov def. Lucas Caldas via unanimous decision (30–26)

Adrian Luna Martinetti def. Mark Vologdin via unanimous decision (29–28 x3)

Imanol Rodríguez def. Roque Conceicao via KO (punch) — 2:12, Round 1

Luis Felipe Dias def. Donavon Hedrick via submission (rear-naked choke) — 4:37, Round 2

Luke Fernandez def. Rafael Pergentino via TKO (punches) — 0:15, Round 1

In total, six new fighters earned UFC contracts, but Martinetti and Vologdin’s performance will go down as the night’s unforgettable masterpiece, a 15-minute brawl that blurred the line between bravery and madness. In fact, it stands in stark contrast to what happened last week when one fighter, despite a victory, walked away empty-handed!

Despite training under Khabib Nurmagomedov, White refused to sign a Contender Series winner

In the Contender Series, victory doesn’t guarantee a contract. It’s not just about the scorecards, it’s about the story you tell in the cage. And last week, Rashid Vagabov learned that lesson the hard way. The Russian flyweight entered Week 8 of the Contender Series as a heavy favorite. With a 13-2 record, training under Khabib Nurmagomedov’s camp, and a reputation as one of the most polished prospects out of Dagestan, the expectations were sky-high.

On paper, his unanimous decision win over Brazil’s Paulo Henrique da Silva should’ve sealed the deal. The judges saw it 30-27 across the board. But when Dana White’s post-fight contract announcements began, Vagabov’s name never came up, and the UFC boss didn’t mince words explaining why.

According to the boss, “Let’s start with Rashid, 7-1 favorite, talking to me during the fight, telling me you’re going to be a world champion while you’re having a tough time beating the guy who was a 7-1 underdog. Not tonight, my friend, maybe again. You’re obviously a talented guy. Get back in the gym, and maybe we’ll see you again. You’re young.”

White even summed up his frustration, saying, “And I don’t care if you talk to me, I don’t care if you talk, I don’t care what you do. But if you’re going to come in, and you’re going to be yelling at me, telling me that you’re the next world champion, while you’re having trouble fighting a guy that the odds makers made 7-1, I’m not too excited about it.”

Although Team Khabib is back in the spotlight with the contract win for Magomed Zaynukov this week, Vagabov’s performance is a reminder. And that’s what separated Week 9 from Week 8. Martinetti and Vologdin fought like men possessed, willing to risk everything for a shot at glory. Vagabov, though flawless on paper, fought to win, not to prove anything more. In the Contender Series, that’s the difference between a paycheck and a legacy!