Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 7, Week 1 Results
Dana White’s Contender Series is back tonight with the shows seventh season.
As always, the live Tuesday night action will be taking place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas for the whole season.
So far in the shows first six seasons, 199 fighters have been awarded a UFC contract by UFC president Dana White.
In last year’s season, Joe Pyfer kicked things off with a great performance that received praised from White who told the rest of the fighters for the season to “Be Joe Pyfer.”
Following White’s speech, the season would end up producing some quick rising stars as Bo Nickal and Raul Rosas Jr. both received contracts last year.
Now this season, more fighters will be looking to impress White and have their dreams of becoming a UFC fighter become a reality.
Tonight’s featured bout of the evening will be between Lucas Fernando and Cesar Almeida, who are both rising Brazilian middleweight contenders.
Fernando is 9-1 as a professional fighter and he is the reigning LFA middleweight champion. He won the title in March by stopping DWCS alum Jansey Silva by a fourth-round stoppage.
Meanwhile, Almeida is 35-year-old and is coming to MMA from a great kicking boxing career. He only has three MMA fights under his belt, but he’s looked great in all three outings by earning first round wins in every appearance.
In the co-main event, Australia’s Tom Nolan faces off with Austrian Bogdan Grad in a lightweight matchup.
Nolan is an exciting young prospect as the 23-year old is undefeated in five pro fights.
Grad will have the experience advantage as he’s 11-1 as a pro.
One other noteworthy fight comes between light heavyweight’s Caio Machado and Kevin Szaflarski.
Last season, Szaflarski was supposed to appear on the show, but was forced to withdraw at the last minute.
Tonight’s show can be streamed on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET and the episode can be watched anytime following the event on ESPN+.
A full list of results from Dana White’s Contender Season: Season 7, Week 1 are listed below:
Cesar Almeida defeated Lucas Fernando by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-27)
Tom Nolan defeated Bogdan Grad by knockout (punch) – Round 1 (1:23)
Caio Machado defeated Kevin Szaflarski by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Payton Talbott defeated Reye Cortez Jr. by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Kevin Borjas defeated Victor Dias by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
*Bold names received a UFC contract
