Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series (DWTNCS, for short) has its lineup set for the first card. A previously reported main event between former Strikeforce and UFC fighter Kurt Holobaugh and CES MMA champion Matt Bessette is now official. The fight will be contested at 145 lbs, and unlike UFC main events, DWTNCS headliners will consist of three five-minute rounds.
There are two other ex-UFC competitors on this card. Justin Jones (9-2), who went 0-2 in his brief run inside the Octagon, will take on Legacy FC veteran Charles Byrd (7-4) in a middleweight bout. The third former UFC fighter is flyweight Joby Sanchez (9-2), cut after losing two of his three bouts, and he’ll face 11-2 Manny Vazquez, who appears to be making his debut at 125 lbs.
Rounding out DWTNCS 1 are heavyweights Greg Rebellos and Azunna Anwanyu, as well as bantamweights Boston Salmon and Ricky Turcios.
You can watch the inaugural Tuesday Night Contender Series show live on UFC Fight Pass at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, starting July 11th. It must be noted that these bouts do not guarantee automatic entry into the UFC for the winner. All of the contests are sanctioned by the Nevada Athletic Commission and will count towards the respective professional records of these fighters.
Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series full fight card:
Featherweights: Kurt Holobaugh vs. Matt Bessette
Heavyweights: Greg Rebellos vs. Azunna Anwanyu
Bantamweights: Boston Salmon vs. Ricky Turcios
Middleweights: Justin Jones vs. Charles Byrd
Flyweights: Joby Sanchez vs. Manny Vazquez
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