Dana White's Contender Series season 7

Dana White's Contender Series
Season 7
Release
Original network	ESPN+
Original release	August 8 (2023-August-08) – October 10, 2023 (2023-October-10)
Season chronology
← Previous Season 6 Next → Season 8

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]

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
Promotion	DWCS
Date	August 8, 2023
Venue	UFC Apex Centre
City	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Main Card
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Middleweight	César Almeida	def.	Lucas Fernando	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Lightweight	Tom Nolan	def.	Bogdan Grad	KO (punches)	1	1:23
Heavyweight	Caio Machado	def.	Kevin Szaflarski	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Bantamweight	Payton Talbott	def.	Reyes Cortez	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Flyweight	Kevin Borjas	def.	Victor Dias	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00

^[4]

Contract awards

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

• Kevin Borjas, Payton Talbott , Caio Machado, Tom Nolan, and César Almeida

Week 2 – August 15

Dana White's Contender Series 58
Promotion	DWCS
Date	August 15, 2023
Venue	UFC Apex Centre
City	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Main Card
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Lightweight	Abdul-Kerim Al-Selwady	def.	George Hardwick	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Light Heavyweight	Ibo Aslan	def.	Paulo Renato Jr.	TKO (punches)	1	2:22
Featherweight	Hyder Amil	def.	Emrah Sonmez	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	[a]
Women's Strawweight	Eduarda Moura	def.	Janaína Silva	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	4:00
Bantamweight	Charalampos Grigoriou	def.	Cameron Smotherman	TKO (punches)	1	1:00

1. Sonmez missed weight (147 lbs)

^[6]

Contract awards

The following fighters (all winners of the night) were awarded contracts with the UFC: ^[7]

• 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. ^[8] 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. ^[9]

Dana White's Contender Series 59
Promotion	DWCS
Date	August 22, 2023
Venue	UFC Apex Centre
City	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Main Card
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Middleweight	Zachary Reese	def.	Eli Aronov	Submission (armbar)	1	1:14
Welterweight	Oban Elliott	def.	Kaik Brito	Decision (majority)	3	5:00
Women's Strawweight	Josefine Lindgren Knutsson	def.	Isis Verbeek	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Featherweight	Luis Pajuelo	def.	Robbie Ring	TKO (knee to the body and punches)	1	3:43

^[10]

Contract awards

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

• 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. ^[12] He was replaced by Yousri Belgaroui. ^[13]

Dana White's Contender Series 60
Promotion	DWCS
Date	August 29, 2023
Venue	UFC Apex Centre
City	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Main Card
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Welterweight	Carlos Prates	def.	Mitch Ramirez	TKO (punch)	2	1:14
Middleweight	Marco Tulio Silva	def.	Yousri Belgaroui	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Featherweight	Timothy Cuamba	def.	Mateo Vogel	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Heavyweight	Thomas Petersen	def.	Chandler Cole	Submission (keylock)	2	1:08
Lightweight	Bolaji Oki	def.	Dylan Salvador	TKO (punches)	1	2:46

^[14]

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC: ^[15]

• 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. ^[16] 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
Promotion	DWCS
Date	September 5, 2023
Venue	UFC Apex Centre
City	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Main Card
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Light Heavyweight	Brendson Ribeiro	def.	Bruno Lopes	KO (punches)	1	3:47
Bantamweight	Serhiy Sidey	def.	Ramon Taveras	TKO (punches)	1	2:26
Middleweight	Dylan Budka	def.	Chad Hanekom	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Featherweight	Jean Silva	def.	Kevin Vallejos	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Women's Flyweight	Dione Barbosa	def.	Rainn Guerrero	Submission (armbar)	1	4:35

^[17]

Contract awards

The following fighters (all winners of the night) were awarded contracts with the UFC: ^[18]

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

Week 6 – September 12

Dana White's Contender Series 62
Promotion	DWCS
Date	September 12, 2023
Venue	UFC Apex Centre
City	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Main Card
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Lightweight	James Llontop	def.	Malik Lewis	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Heavyweight	Jhonata Diniz	def.	Eduardo Neves	TKO (punches)	1	3:15
Featherweight	Steven Nguyen	def.	A.J. Cunningham	TKO (punches)	2	4:06
Women's Strawweight	Julia Polastri	def.	Patricia Alujas	Submission (rear-naked choke)	2	4:05
Bantamweight	Jean Matsumoto	def.	Kasey Tanner	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00

^[19]

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:

• James Llontop, Jhonata Diniz , Steven Nguyen, Julia Polastri, and Jean Matsumoto ^[20]

Week 7 – September 19

Dana White's Contender Series 63
Promotion	DWCS
Date	September 19, 2023
Venue	UFC Apex Centre
City	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Main Card
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Heavyweight	Shamil Gaziev	def.	Greg Velasco	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	2:38
Lightweight	Daniel James Allen	def.	JaCobi Jones	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Women's Strawweight	Talita Alencar	vs.	Stephanie Luciano	Draw (unanimous)	3	5:00
Welterweight	Kaynan Kruschewsky	def.	Dylan Mantello	Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	2:52
Flyweight	Igor da Silva	def.	Jhonata Silva	TKO (punches)	2	2:37

^[21]

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:

• Igor da Silva, Kaynan Kruschewsky, Stephanie Luciano, and Shamil Gaziev ^[22]

Week 8 – September 26

Dana White's Contender Series 64
Promotion	DWCS
Date	September 26, 2023
Venue	UFC Apex Centre
City	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Main Card
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Welterweight	Danny Barlow	def.	Raheam Forest	TKO (punches)	1	1:19
Heavyweight	Mario Piazzon	def.	Alexander Soldatkin	DQ (illegal knee)	3	0:20
Featherweight	Danny Silva	def.	Angel Pacheco	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Women's Flyweight	Ernesta Kareckaitė	def.	Carli Judice	Decision (split)	3	5:00
Bantamweight	Vinicius Oliveira	def.	Victor Hugo Madrigal	KO (punch)	1	3:02

^[23]

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC: ^[24]

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

Week 9 – October 3

Dana White's Contender Series 65
Promotion	DWCS
Date	October 3, 2023
Venue	UFC Apex Centre
City	Las 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 class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Light Heavyweight	Rodolfo Bellato	def.	Murtaza Talha	TKO (punches)	2	4:46
Bantamweight	Victor Hugo Silva	def.	Eduardo Matias Torres	Submission (kneebar)	2	2:16
Light Heavyweight	Magomed Gadzhiyasulov	def.	José Daniel Medina	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Welterweight	Maurício Ruffy	def.	Raimond Magomedaliev	TKO (punches)	3	4:45

^[25]

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC: ^[26]

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

Week 10 – October 10

Dana White's Contender Series 66
Promotion	DWCS
Date	October 10, 2023
Venue	UFC Apex Centre
City	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Main Card
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Bantamweight	Ramon Taveras	def.	Cortavious Romious	KO (punch)	1	0:29
Flyweight	André Lima	def.	Rickson Thai Zenidim	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Featherweight	Connor Matthews	def.	Jair Farias	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00
Middleweight	Torrez Finney	def.	Yuri Panferov	Submission (rear-naked choke)	2	2:43
Lightweight	MarQuel Mederos	def.	Issa Isakov	KO (knee)	1	4:09
Flyweight	Lucas Rocha	def.	Davi Bittencourt	KO (knee)	2	0:18

^[27]

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC: ^[28]

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

References

1. "Dana White's Contender Series, Season 7 roster filling up for summer 2023 launch". MMA Junkie. 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
2. Alexander K. Lee (2023-06-15). "Zhalgas Zhumagulov vs. Felipe Bunes off UFC Vegas 75, Zhumagulov to fight Joshua Van at UFC Jacksonville". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
3. Staff (2023-06-19). "MMA fighter from Ponta Grossa represents Brazil in the UFC, in the United States". dpontanews.com.br. Retrieved 2023-06-19.(in Brazilian Portuguese)
4. Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 1". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
5. "Dana White's Contender Series 57 results: All winners get contracts, including 35-year-old kickboxing standout". MMA Junkie. 2023-08-09. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
6. Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 2". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
7. Marrocco, Steven (2023-08-15). "DWCS Season 7, Week 2 results: Another 5-contract night with 3 quick finishes". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
8. Nolan King (2023-06-27). "Tatsuro Taira quickly rebooked for UFC 290 after recent last-minute cancellation". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
9. Damon Martin (2023-08-21). "Dana White's Contender Series Week 3 down to 4 fights after one bout scrapped at weigh-ins". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
10. Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 3". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
11. Al-Shatti, Shaun (2023-08-22). "DWCS Season 7, Week 3 results: Zach Reese's 74-second armbar headlines 3-contract night". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
12. Nolan King (2023-07-04). "Bo Nickal gets newcomer Val Woodburn at UFC 290 as late replacement". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
13. Nolan King (2023-07-13). "Yousri Belgaroui, common kickboxing foe of Adesanya and Pereira, heads to Dana White's Contender Series". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
14. Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 4". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
15. Staff (2023-08-29). "Dana White's Contender Series Season 7, Week 4 Results". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
16. Dan Hiergesell (2023-09-02). "'Surprise, surprise!' Contender Series hopeful hastily removed from Dana White's show after test reveals she's three months pregnant". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
17. Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 5". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
18. Nolan King and Ken Hathaway (2023-09-05). "Dana White's Contender Series 61 results: Dana White gives loser second shot after 'one of the worst ref stoppages'". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
19. Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 6". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
20. "Dana White's Contender Series 62 results: Five UFC contracts awarded on all-time episode". MMA Junkie. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
21. Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 7". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
22. Al-Shatti, Shaun (2023-09-19). "DWCS Season 7, Week 7 results: Unbeaten Dagestani heavyweight Shamil Gaziev headlines 4-contract night". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
23. Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 8". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
24. Staff (2023-09-26). "Dana White's Contender Series Season 7, Week 8 Results". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
25. Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 9". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
26. Staff (2023-10-03). "Dana White's Contender Series Season 7, Week 9 Results". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
27. Sherdog.com. "Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 10". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
28. Marrocco, Steven (2023-10-10). "DWCS Season 7, Week 10 results: 5 win contracts, record 46 win UFC deals at season's end". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-10-11.