‘American Khabib’ Bo Nickal calls out Khamzat Chimaev and Logan Paul, Dana White responds
UFC super prospect Bo Nickal, who fans online have started called ‘The American Khabib’, blasted through his latest opponent on the Contender Series this week to earn a UFC contract. On Wednesday he tapped Donovan Beard in 52 seconds, following up on his one-minute submission win over Zachary Borrego in August. This week’s win moved […]
Full fight: Watch top prospect Bo Nickal get 52 second win in DWCS Finale to officially join UFC
Week 10 of Dana White’s Contender Series 2022 is in the books, which wraps up the 6th season of the show with five finishes across five fights, with five contracts being given out. Mateus Mendonca, Rafael Estevam, Jack Jenkins, Sam Patterson, and three time NCAA Div-1 national wrestling champion Bo Nickal have all signed with […]
‘I was blown away’ – Dana White hyped for 17-year-old UFC signing Raul Rosas
Over its five-year, six-season history Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) has quickly become the principal pipeline for getting new MMA talent out of the regionals and into the UFC. Fighters like Sean O’Malley, Taila Santos, Gregory Rodrigues, Jamahal Hill, and Kevin Holland all found their way onto the prospect-hunting platform before making their jump to […]
Teenage prospect Raul Rosas Jr. becomes youngest to sign with UFC — DWCS 2022, Week 9 results, video
The 9th week of the 2022 season of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) was highly entertaining with fantastic four finishes across five fights. As far as contracts go, all the victors from tonight got in. Jafel Filho, Nurullo Aliev, Austen Lane, Brunno Ferreira, and 17-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. all received deals from Dana White to […]
Contender Series 2022: Week 9 preview, weigh-in results
2022 continues to be a good year for UFC recruitment. This week, we have an honest-to-god interesting middleweight fight at the top, and some odd—and hopefully exciting—matchups to fill the rest of the DWCS (Dana White’s Contender Series) card. Leon Aliu (10-1) vs Brunno Ferreira (8-0) The main fight is the beauty here. Italy’s Leon […]
Video: Someone earned a UFC contract with a tombstone piledriver finish
The worlds of MMA and pro wrestling will forever be intertwined. Both attractions were developed by the ancients, transformed by carneys and culminated in mainstream mega-industries. We’ve seen lots of wrestlers and fighters switch between the ring and cage, including former UFC champions Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey. And many current UFC stars have expressed […]
Dana White’s Contender Series 2022: Week 5 preview, weigh-in results
Contender Series (DWCS) has been delivering hard this year, but this may be the most middle-of-the-road edition so far. Not that the fights themselves are bad (although there is some… odd stuff here), but they’re perhaps not quite as intriguing or have as many talents with a higher level of notoriety outside of the UFC […]
Dana White’s Contender Series 2022: Week 4 preview, weigh-in results
Contender Series (DWCS) has been giving us some prime action this year, and this week doesn’t appear to be much different. This week’s main event should be great. England’s Thomas Paull (11-3) meets Argentina’s Esteban Ribovics (10-0) at lightweight in an action bout. Paull is a punishing striker with excellent finishing instincts that works well […]
‘American Khabib’ Bo Nickal’s second Contender Series opponent revealed
Three time NCAA Division I champ Bo Nickal impressed in his Octagon debut last week, winning his Contender Series (DWCS) match-up in just 62 seconds. The quick victory moved him to 2-0 on his burgeoning MMA career. Despite the stellar showing, Nickal did not earn a UFC contract on the show. UFC President Dana White […]
Michael Bisping tells ‘American Khabib’ to ‘slow your roll’ after impressive Contender Series showing
Bo Nickal wowed at the UFC APEX the other night, dominating Zachary Borrego for all of 62 seconds before securing a submission victory. That was the second pro win for the 26-year-old wrestling phenom. Nickal demanded a UFC contract after the win, but had to settle for a second booking on The Contender Series (DWCS). […]
Video: Mega prospect Bo Nickal quickly wins on Dana White’s Contender Series, but no UFC deal yet
This week’s edition of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) had a major prospect in the main event, and he’s now one step closer to the UFC. Three-time NCAA national champion wrestler Bo Nickal made short work of opponent Zach Borrego, submitting his foe with a rear-naked choke a mere 62 seconds into the contest. To […]
Contender Series 2022: Week 2 preview & weigh-in results
‘Contender Series’ (DWCS) has worked out great for the UFC in terms of delivering exciting performances, filling programming blocks with broadcast partner ESPN, and snatching up some excellent prospects to round out divisions. Last week, middleweight standout, Joe Pyfer, became the first (and only) fighter to get a DWCS contract in 2022 so far, when […]
Dana White’s Contender Series 2022: Week 1 preview, weigh-in results
A lovely time of the year is upon us yet again, as Dana White’s Contender Series returns to your airwaves (shut up, we’re old) and blesses us with some fine prospect action. This year starts off great, with a pair of excellent middleweights in the main fight, and some excellent prospects rounding out the card. […]
Grappling Report: Three-time NCAA champ Bo Nickal set for UFC Contender Series debut
Bo Nickal has already achieved more in his combat sports career than the majority of athletes could ever dream of, but the three-time NCAA champion is about to make yet another huge step. With his incredible level of wrestling skill it was always a bit of a foregone conclusion that Nickal would do well when […]
The world is ‘insanely politically correct’ – Dana White won’t sanction fighter for ‘terrorist’ remark
During their weigh-ins for Tuesday’s Dana White Contender Series matchup, Israeli fighter Oron Kahlon called Afghan opponent Javid Basharat a “terrorist.” That little incident was caught on video and spread around online. Such exchanges can be deemed too harsh or below the belt. But if you ask UFC president Dana White, it’s all part of […]
‘Pissed’ matchmakers stormed out after Dana White signed ‘special’ Contender Series fighter
Dana White took a chance on Jake Hadley and signed him to the UFC on Tuesday night, even though the Cage Warriors flyweight champion broke a set of rules the UFC president follows when adding a fighter to the roster. Hadley defeated Mitch Raposo via a second-round rear-naked choke on the most recent episode of […]
Contender Series 2021: Week 7 preview, weigh-in results
Under different circumstances, this would be a guaranteed banger of a card. Unfortunately, the unpleasant news of two fighters missing weight has somewhat marred this particular set of matchups, and as usual begins to cast some doubts as to how they may perform. It’s a shame, really. The fights will take place as scheduled, but […]
Dana White’s Contender Series: Week 5 preview, weigh-in results
Another week, another edition of Contender Series. You already know what the game is, fighters vie for a spot on the UFC roster and one singular performance can alter their careers forever. So this week, we’re starting off with some interesting light heavyweights that are part of the newer crop from the Euro scene. Lucasz […]
Contender Series 2021: Week 4 preview, weigh-in results
The Tuesday night fight train is arriving at the station again, with some fine prospects and some odd but good matchups lined up. Jordan’s Hashem Arkhaga (6-0) is a middleweight to keep your eyes on. He’s got a thundering overhand right, patiently draws out counters and works a good pace to set up his finishing […]
Contender Series 2021: Week 3 preview, weigh-ins results
More contestants this week will battle it out in what could be a life-altering fight for their futures, and it’s another great set of fights. First up, Brazil’s Jailton Almeida (13-2). Primarily a submission specialist, he’s shown a lot of promise with thudding leg kicks and a hulking frame. A certified finisher, he’s seen the […]
Video: A.J. Fletcher earns UFC contract with a flying knee KO on Dana White’s Contender Series
Knocking your opponent out with a flying knee is a guaranteed way to earn a UFC contract. Just ask A.J. Fletcher, who did exactly that on the Season 5 premiere episode of Dana White’s Contender Series on Tuesday night. The undefeated welterweight met Leonardo Damiani in the first fight of the night and went straight […]
Dana White’s Contender Series 2021 – Week 1 preview, weigh-in results
Now that The Ultimate Fighter is over, it’s time for another crop of fighters to make their way into the UFC. And for the premiere episode, they’ve got some great talent lined up. They made sure to start out with some impressive talents to get things going. Top billing goes to the light heavyweights, a […]
Season Five of Dana White’s Contender Series premieres on Aug. 31
The popular show where Dana White and co. scout new talent for the UFC has a summer return date. The promotion announced on Saturday evening that the fifth season of Dana White’s Contender Series premieres on Aug. 31 and features a heavyweight fight between Matheus Buffa and Azamat Murzakanov. Dates and fights for another four […]
Report: Jimmy Crute vs. Johnny Walker targeted for UFC event in March
Two light heavyweight prospects have agreed to fight at a UFC Fight Night event on March 27th, as Jimmy Crute is expected to meet Johnny Walker. LIVE! WATCH ‘UFC FIGHT NIGHT: ‘Jimmy Crute vs. Johnny Walker’ — March 27th., 2021! Stream all the fights broadcast LIVE RIGHT HERE — don’t miss a single second of […]
Crooklyn’s Corner 08: Victor Rodriguez talks Contender Series issues and promising stars
Welcome to Crooklyn’s Corner, the podcast that’s basically a hodgepodge of topics focused on the combat sports and entertainment community. The show will feature special interviews, fantasy matchmaking/analysis and whatever else we can come up with to keep our listeners steeped in fresh and engaging content. The show is hosted by Stephie Haynes and airs […]
Dana White’s Contender Series 2020, Week 10 live results and discussion
Tonight (November 17th) is Week 10 and the finale of season four of Dana White’s Contender Series, which highlights up-and-coming talent as well as some former UFC fighters looking for a second crack at the big time. Winners aren’t guaranteed a UFC contract, but it certainly helps to both win and impress at the same […]
Dana White’s Contender Series 2020, Week 9 live results and discussion
Tonight (November 10th) is Week 9 of season four of Dana White’s Contender Series, which highlights up-and-coming talent as well as some former UFC fighters looking for a second crack at the big time. Winners aren’t guaranteed a UFC contract, but it certainly helps to both win and impress at the same time. Today’s show […]
Dana White’s Contender Series 2020, Week 8 live results and discussion
Tonight (November 4th) is Week 8 of season four of Dana White’s Contender Series, which highlights up-and-coming talent as well as some former UFC fighters looking for a second crack at the big time. Winners aren’t guaranteed a UFC contract, but it certainly helps to both win and impress at the same time. Today’s show […]
Dana White’s Contender Series 2020, Week 7 live results and discussion
Tonight (September 15th) is Week 6 of season four of Dana White’s Contender Series, which highlights up-and-coming talent as well as some former UFC fighters looking for a second crack at the big time. Winners aren’t guaranteed a UFC contract, but it certainly helps to both win and impress at the same time. This is […]
Dana White’s Contender Series 2020, Week 6 live results and discussion
Tonight (September 8th) is Week 6 of season four of Dana White’s Contender Series, which highlights up-and-coming talent as well as some former UFC fighters looking for a second crack at the big time. Winners aren’t guaranteed a UFC contract, but it certainly helps to both win and impress at the same time. This season […]