For the final time in 2026. The Dana White Contender Series returned last night, giving the last round of this year’s prospects a chance to put on the performance of their lifetime and earn that all-important contract to the UFC. With 42 contracts earned in the first 9 weeks. The last night needed 4 new contracts to tie the record for most contracts handed out in a season, and of course 5 to beat it.
Embed from Getty ImagesFight 1: Jason Asher vs Greg Foster
It was an explosive start to the final night of season 10 as lightweights Jason Asher and Greg Foster put on an absolute war which left Dana White applauding by the end of the bout. The fight started with very high intensity, which was maintained throughout the fight. Foster started to take control of the octagon, always moving forward and landing a rapid flurry of punches.
Asher landed a strong hit, dropping Foster to the floor, but Foster quickly got back up. Near the end of round 1, there was an accidental headbutt, which left blood leaking from Foster’s head. Soon after, Foster scored a takedown, but the fight quickly made its way back to the feet. Round 1 ended with Asher throwing multiple head kicks, all of which were blocked.
Foster continued to put the pedal to the metal at the start of round 2, continuing to move forward, giving Asher very little space to work with. Foster showed amazing cardio to keep the pace up, landing more stiff right hands, causing more damage to his opponent. Asher seemingly started to slow Foster down, with some strong knees up the middle and to the body of Foster.
Asher would land a good hit now and again, but Foster would reply with a flurry of 5 or 6 punches to counter. Going into the 3rd round, Foster continued the pace, but Asher was beginning to find more success in his counters, landing a huge spinning elbow and multiple straight rights. With 2 minutes left in the fight, Asher landed a much-needed takedown. He followed by hunting the submission, but he could not find it, and the fight ended with both fighters getting up off the canvas. The fight went to the judges’ scorecards, with Greg Foster winning via unanimous decision! (29-28)
Embed from Getty ImagesFight 2: Douglas da Lapa vs Davi Cabral
The second fight of the night was an all-Brazilian affair as middleweights Douglas da Lapa. Davi Cabral were looking to keep up with the pace that the previous fight set for the night. There was a huge fight difference in this fight, as da Lapa 6’3 frame towered over Cabral’s 5’9. Da Lapa used this to his advantage to start the fight, landing strong leg kicks and keeping his distance. Da Lapa used this to up his momentum, landing dangerous combos to force Cabral backwards.
Da Lapa continued with strong work to his opponent’s body before going back towards the head. Cabral had to be patient and finally got a chance, landing a flurry of punches of his own which momentarily dropped da Lapa. With 30 seconds left in the round, Cabral landed a clean left hook, causing Da Lapa to drop once more. Da Lapa still had wobbly legs at the end of the round, but did enough to survive the round.
Douglas Da Lapa recovered well between rounds, starting round 2 just as he did in round 1, continuing his work to the body and landing heavy combos to the head. It was obvious both fighters lacked the stamina of the previous fights, as the bout started to slow down with both fighters breathing heavy.
Da Lapa ended the round with continuous punches for 10 seconds straight. If there were 5 more seconds in the fight, it would have been over, but Cabral did just enough to reach the stool. Both fighters started the final round with a hug, but it wasn’t to last long. Soon after, da Lapa landed a huge right hook, dropping Cabral to the floor to finish the fight. Douglas da Lapa wins via TKO!
Embed from Getty ImagesFight 3: Will Rentz vs Luis Francischinelli
The third fight of the night was between the American Will Rentz and Brazilian Luis Francischinelli in the welterweight division. A similarity between this fight and the last is the difference in height, with 6’6 Francischinelli towering over Will Rentz. The fight yet again kept up with the pace of the night but in a different way. Rentz knew his best chance of a win was on the ground, and immediately shot the takedown, which got the fight to the floor.
Francischinelli landed some big shots from the bottom position before managing to get back to his feet. Rentz again shot for a takedown, but it didn’t materialise. Francischinelli then caught Rentz with a shot that didn’t seem to land properly. But it did enough to drop the American to the mat, and after some ground and pound, the fight was finished. Luis Francischinelli wins via TKO!
Embed from Getty ImagesFight 4: Smilla Sundell vs Aline Pereira
The penultimate fight of season 10 of the Contender Series was in the women’s bantamweight division between Aline Pereira and Smilla Sundell. In the corner of Aline Pereira was her brother and 2x division UFC champion Alex Pereira.
In her way was 21-year-old Smilla Sundell, who became the One Championship Muay Thai world champion at only 17 years old.
The fight had a very pedestrian start, with both fighters trying to figure each other out and throwing strikes to test the waters. Sundell quickly got control of the centre of the octagon, continuously going forward and landing some strikes. Pereira had some late success in the round, countering with her left hook. Sundell continued her pressure in the second round, looking to initiate a clinch to throw some more of her trademark knees to the body of her opponent. Aline Pereira again began to land some strikes of her own, but again was getting flooded out by Sundell’s pressure.
Sundell began to build some momentum, but the horn to announce the end of round 2 sounded before she could do anything with it. Sundell looked fresh going into the final round, while Pereira was beginning to breathe heavily. The way Sundell takes control of the octagon makes you forget that she is only 21 years of age.
Pereira began backing off a lot during the final round, but surprised everyone by landing a takedown and gaining top position on her opponent. Sundell began landing some elbows from the bottom before getting back to her feet. Near the end of the fight, Sundell started throwing some huge combos and landed a strong left hook, causing Pereira to stumble back and get wobbly legs. But the final horn ended as the fight went to the judges’ scorecard. Smilla Sundell wins via unanimous decision! (29-28).
Embed from Getty ImagesFight 5: Ilias Bulaid vs Erick Visconde
The final fight of season 10 of the Contender Series was a featherweight bout between Ilias Bulaid and Erick Visconde. Bulaid quickly shot out of the blocks, taking control of the centre of the octagon, and throwing multiple harsh body kicks to his opponent. However, Visconde quickly shot and landed a takedown within the first minute. It was clear to Visconde that his experience as a BJJ black belt was what was going to win him the fight. Visconde was constantly looking for the choke, while having the back of Bulaid. Apart from occasionally leaning up to land some shots, not much else happened in the round.
As round 2 started, boos started echoing around the Meta Apex Arena as Visconde again shot for a takedown to start the round. Bulaid started giving up his back to try to get to his feet. But Visconde was always a step ahead, leaning all of his weight on his opponent, wearing him out. For the best part of 2 rounds, Bulaid not only had to carry his own body weight but also Visconde’s. Visconde started to attempt an arm triangle but could not get it in time as round 2 came to a close. The boos of the crowd became more prevalent in round 3, but this time the fight stayed on the feet for the most part.
Since Bulaid used up most of his energy in the first 2 rounds, he was still throwing those body kicks, but they obviously had less power behind them. Later on, Bulaid threw a question mark kick and landed, but Visconde also caught it and threw him to the ground. The fight went back to the ground with 30 seconds left, and neither fighter could manage to get a finish as it went to the scorecards. All 3 judges scored it 30-27 in favour of Erick Visconde, who wins by unanimous decision. Visconde clearly dominated the fight, but was it enough to get a contract?
Embed from Getty ImagesWho gets a contract?
For the final time of the year, the mic is given to Dana White, who reveals which of this week’s fighters have done enough to earn a contract!
Embed from Getty ImagesFirstly, it was Jason Asher vs Greg Foster – “Greg, the pace you set, the shots you landed. The shots you took, I’ve never been so excited to see a 34-year-old come into the UFC!’
Secondly, it was Douglas Da Lapa vs Davi Cabral – “Da Lapa, what an incredible fight. Cabral is a tank; I didn’t think he was human until you got him in the 3rd. The second most exciting 34-year-old coming into the UFC, welcome to the UFC!
Then it was Will Rentz vs Luis Francischinelli – “Luis, You’re 10 feet tall and another fun guy I’m excited to see in the UFC!”
After that was Smilla Sundell vs Aline Pereira – “Smilla, so I thought you had a great fight, and you obviously dominated, but you’re young, and you have time. I think you need more experience, but I’ve been outvoted; welcome to the UFC!
Finally, it was Ilias Bulaid vs Erick Visconde – Erick, you put on a grappling masterclass tonight. But that’s not what I wanted to see in the final fight of the 10th season, sorry, but not tonight”.
How did you rate night 10 and season 10 as a whole of the Contender Series? Leave a comment below and join the discussion!
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