The UFC's premier talent discovery platform, Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS), is back with its ninth season, kicking off on August 12, 2025. This series has been instrumental in introducing some of the most prominent fighters in the UFC today, including former champions like Jamahal Hill and Sean O'Malley, as well as the newly crowned welterweight champion, Jack Della Maddalena. This season promises to uncover the next wave of MMA superstars.

How to Watch

Catch all the action on ESPN+, and stay updated with FightCenter, which provides in-depth stats and analysis for every UFC and DWCS card.

Week 1 Matchups

• Middleweight: Ilian Bouafia vs. Neemias Santana
• Welterweight: Ty Miller vs. Jimmy Drago
• Middleweight: Damian Pinas vs. Murtaza Talha
• Featherweight: George Mangos vs. Radley da Silva
• Middleweight: Christopher Ewert vs. Yuri Panferov

Week 2 Matchups

• Featherweight: Manuel Exposito vs. Jose Delano
• Middleweight: Jon Kunnenman vs. Cam Rowston
• Men's Bantamweight: Kaushik Saikumar vs. Louis Lee Scott
• Heavyweight: Josh Hokit vs. Guilherme Uriel
• Featherweight: Tommy Cuozzi vs. Ramiro Jimenez

Week 3 Matchups

• Light Heavyweight: Vitor Costa vs. Ryan Gandra
• Featherweight: Damon Wilson vs. Marico Barbosa
• Light Heavyweight: Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs. Alik Lorenz
• Lightweight: Cristian Perez vs. Manoel Sousa
• Heavyweight: Elisha Ellison vs. Brando Peričić

Week 4 Matchups

• Welterweight: Jack Congdon vs. Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani
• Middleweight: Theo Haig vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk
• Lightweight: Mandel Nallo vs. Samuel Silva
• Men's Flyweight: An Tuan Ho vs. Frank Silva
• Featherweight: Tommy McMillen vs. David Mgoyan

Weeks 5-10 Matchups

Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming matchups as the season progresses.

Rising Stars to Watch

This season is packed with promising fighters who could follow in the footsteps of past DWCS alumni. Keep an eye on Ilian Bouafia, Manuel Exposito, and Vitor Costa, who are all poised to make a significant impact.

Conclusion

Dana White's Contender Series continues to be the ultimate proving ground for aspiring UFC fighters. With each week bringing new matchups and potential contract winners, Season 9 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. Don't miss a single fight as the next generation of MMA talent steps into the spotlight.