Dana White's Contender Series season 7

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
Season 7
Release
Original networkESPN+
Original releaseAugust 8 (2023-August-08) –
October 10, 2023 (2023-October-10)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 6
Next →
Season 8

Week 1 – August 8

Background

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.

Dana White's Contender Series 57
Information
PromotionDWCS
DateAugust 8, 2023
VenueUFC Apex Centre
CityLas Vegas, Nevada, United States
Main Card
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
MiddleweightCésar Almeidadef.Lucas FernandoDecision (unanimous) (30–26, 29–28, 29–27)35:00
LightweightTom Nolandef.Bogdan GradKO (punches)11:23
HeavyweightCaio Machadodef.Kevin SzaflarskiDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00
BantamweightPayton Talbottdef.Reyes CortezDecision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)35:00
FlyweightKevin Borjasdef.Victor DiasDecision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)35:00

Contract awards

The following fighters (all winners of the night) were awarded contracts with the UFC:[4]

Week 2 – August 15

Dana White's Contender Series 58
Information
PromotionDWCS
DateAugust 15, 2023
VenueUFC Apex Centre
CityLas Vegas, Nevada, United States
Main Card
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
LightweightAbdul-Kerim Al-Selwadydef.George HardwickDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00
Light HeavyweightIbo Aslandef.Paulo Renato Jr.TKO (punches)12:22
FeatherweightHyder Amildef.Emrah SonmezDecision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29-28)35:00[a]
Women's StrawweightEduarda Mouradef.Janaína SilvaSubmission (rear-naked choke)14:00
BantamweightCharalampos Grigorioudef.Cameron SmothermanTKO (punches)11:00

Contract awards

The following fighters (all winners of the night) were awarded contracts with the UFC:[5]

  • Charalampos Grigoriou, Eduarda Moura, Hyder Amil, Ibo Aslan, and Abdul-Kerim Al-Selwady

Week 3 – August 22

Background

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.[6] 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.[7]

Dana White's Contender Series 59
Information
PromotionDWCS
DateAugust 22, 2023
VenueUFC Apex Centre
CityLas Vegas, Nevada, United States
Main Card
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
MiddleweightZachary Reesedef.Eli AronovSubmission (armbar)11:14
WelterweightOban Elliottdef.Kaik BritoDecision (majority) (29–28, 29–28, 28–28)35:00
Women's StrawweightJosefine Lindgren Knutssondef.Isis VerbeekDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00
FeatherweightLuis Pajuelodef.Robbie RingTKO (knee to the body and punches)13:43

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:[8]

  • Luis Pajuelo, Oban Elliott, and Zachary Reese

Week 4 – August 29

Background

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.[9] He was replaced by Yousri Belgaroui.[10]

Dana White's Contender Series 60
Information
PromotionDWCS
DateAugust 29, 2023
VenueUFC Apex Centre
CityLas Vegas, Nevada, United States
Main Card
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
WelterweightCarlos Pratesdef.Mitch RamirezTKO (punch)21:14
MiddleweightMarco Tulio Silvadef.Yousri BelgarouiDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)35:00
FeatherweightTimothy Cuambadef.Mateo VogelDecision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)35:00
HeavyweightThomas Petersendef.Chandler ColeSubmission (keylock)21:08
LightweightBolaji Okidef.Dylan SalvadorTKO (punches)12:46

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:[11]

  • Bolaji Oki, Thomas Petersen, and Carlos Prates

Week 5 – September 5

Background

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.[12] Cam Rowston was expected to face Chad Hanekom in a middleweight bout but was replaced by Dylan Budka for unknown reasons.[citation needed]

Dana White's Contender Series 61
Information
PromotionDWCS
DateSeptember 5, 2023
VenueUFC Apex Centre
CityLas Vegas, Nevada, United States
Main Card
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
Light HeavyweightBrendson Ribeirodef.Bruno LopesKO (punches)13:47
BantamweightSerhiy Sideydef.Ramon TaverasTKO (punches)12:26
MiddleweightDylan Budkadef.Chad HanekomDecision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)35:00
FeatherweightJean Silvadef.Kevin VallejosDecision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)35:00
Women's FlyweightDione Barbosadef.Rainn GuerreroSubmission (armbar)14:35

Contract awards

The following fighters (all winners of the night) were awarded contracts with the UFC:[13]

  • Dione Barbosa, Jean Silva, Dylan Budka, Serhiy Sidey, and Brendson Ribeiro

Week 6 – September 12

Dana White's Contender Series 62
Information
PromotionDWCS
DateSeptember 12, 2023
VenueUFC Apex Centre
CityLas Vegas, Nevada, United States
Main Card
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
LightweightJames Llontopdef.Malik LewisDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–26, 30–26)35:00
HeavyweightJhonata Dinizdef.Eduardo NevesTKO (punches)13:15
FeatherweightSteven Nguyendef.A.J. CunninghamTKO (punches)24:06
Women's StrawweightJulia Polastridef.Patricia AlujasSubmission (rear-naked choke)24:05
BantamweightJean Matsumotodef.Kasey TannerDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)35:00

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:

Week 7 – September 19

Dana White's Contender Series 63
Information
PromotionDWCS
DateSeptember 19, 2023
VenueUFC Apex Centre
CityLas Vegas, Nevada, United States
Main Card
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
HeavyweightShamil Gazievdef.Greg VelascoSubmission (rear-naked choke)12:38
LightweightDaniel James Allendef.JaCobi JonesDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)35:00
Women's StrawweightTalita Alencarvs.Stephanie LucianoDraw (unanimous) (28–28, 28–28, 28–28)35:00
WelterweightKaynan Kruschewskydef.Dylan MantelloTechnical Submission (rear-naked choke)12:52
FlyweightIgor da Silvadef.Jhonata SilvaTKO (punches)22:37

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:

  • Igor da Silva, Kaynan Kruschewsky, Stephanie Luciano, and Shamil Gaziev[15]

Week 8 – September 26

Dana White's Contender Series 64
Information
PromotionDWCS
DateSeptember 26, 2023
VenueUFC Apex Centre
CityLas Vegas, Nevada, United States
Main Card
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
WelterweightDanny Barlowdef.Raheam ForestTKO (punches)11:19
HeavyweightMario Piazzondef.Alexander SoldatkinDQ (illegal knee)30:20
FeatherweightDanny Silvadef.Angel PachecoDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00
Women's FlyweightErnesta Kareckaitėdef.Carli JudiceDecision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)35:00
BantamweightVinicius Oliveiradef.Victor Hugo MadrigalKO (punch)13:02

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:[16]

  • Vinicius de Oliveira, Ernesta Kareckaitė, Carli Judice, Danny Silva, Angel Pacheco, and Danny Barlow

Week 9 – October 3

Dana White's Contender Series 65
Information
PromotionDWCS
DateOctober 3, 2023
VenueUFC Apex Centre
CityLas Vegas, Nevada, United States

Background

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
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
Light HeavyweightRodolfo Bellatodef.Murtaza TalhaTKO (punches)24:46
BantamweightVictor Hugo Silvadef.Eduardo Matias TorresSubmission (kneebar)22:16
Light HeavyweightMagomed Gadzhiyasulovdef.José Daniel MedinaDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00
WelterweightMaurício Ruffydef.Raimond MagomedalievTKO (punches)34:45

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:[17]

  • Maurício Ruffy, Magomed Gadzhiyasulov, José Daniel Medina, Victor Hugo Silva, and Rodolfo Bellato

Week 10 – October 10

Dana White's Contender Series 66
Information
PromotionDWCS
DateOctober 10, 2023
VenueUFC Apex Centre
CityLas Vegas, Nevada, United States
Main Card
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
BantamweightRamon Taverasdef.Cortavious RomiousKO (punch)10:29
FlyweightAndré Limadef.Rickson Thai ZenidimDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00
FeatherweightConnor Matthewsdef.Jair FariasDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)35:00
MiddleweightTorrez Finneydef.Yuri PanferovSubmission (rear-naked choke)22:43
LightweightMarQuel Mederosdef.Issa IsakovKO (knee)14:09
FlyweightLucas Rochadef.Davi BittencourtKO (knee)20:18

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:[18]

  • Lucas Rocha, MarQuel Mederos, Connor Matthews, André Lima, and Ramon Taveras

References