Back again at the UFC Apex, the Contender Series returns in full swing for DWCS 78, with notable featherweight athletes Manuel Exposito and José Mauro Delano taking top billing on the card. In the co-main event, exciting middleweight prospects Brandon Holmes and Cameron Rowston go toe-to-toe in what has all the makings of a banger fight.
DWCS 78 Main Event
Emerging as a must-watch competitor in his native Brazil, Delano makes his first Contender Series appearance at DWCS 78 with an established pedigree, having earned titles in both Shooto Brasil and the LFA. Although these straps marked major milestones for his career, “Ze” has just one prize on his mind: the UFC 145-lb throne with a win in the DWCS 78 main event.
Aiming to make his home of Argentina proud, Exposito arrives in Las Vegas on the hunt for a coveted UFC contract in DWCS 78’s headliner. Owner of 10 stoppages across his 13 professional victories, the Morro 555 Jiu Jitsu representative is dead set on following in the footsteps of famous fighters from his country into the UFC like Esteban Ribovics.
DWCS 78 Co-Main Event
Undefeated as both an amateur and a professional, Holmes has proven to be quite a knockout artist, capturing seven total wins by strikes across his whole combat sports journey going into DWCS 78. Now just a single punch away from changing his life in a variety of ways, the middleweight bruiser walks into the toughest bout of his life with his fists locked and loaded.
Exactly 364 days after making his first run on the Contender Series, Rowston wants nothing more to demonstrate why his one of the top 185-lb competitors not signed to the promotion. Winning his last three contests since his defeat to Torrez Finney last year on the show, “Battle Giraffe” is seemingly at the summit of his game as he endeavors to impress in his second chance at mixed martial arts glory in DWCS 78.
More Bouts On the Card
Rounding out the main card in DWCS 78, undefeated athletes Louis Lee Scott and Kaushik Saikumar battle to preserve their coveted zeros. Then, heavyweight phenom Josh Hokit competes in his fourth scrap of 2025 opposite Guilherme Uriel. Finally, touted Mexican finisher Ramiro Jimenez faces off with Tommy Cuozzi.
DWCS 78 Predictions and Staff Picks
MMASucka staff picks are composed of four of the world’s leading mixed martial arts organizations: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League (PFL), ONE Championship (ONE FC), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
- UFC picks will include main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event.
- PFL picks from main cards for pay-per-views and from tournament fights in the Regular Season, Playoffs, and Finals.
- ONE FC and DWCS picks will feature all MMA fights from the event with a minimum of three matchups.
The individual who picks the most victorious fighters by the end of 2025 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a detailed chain from Championship Chains.
Find our DWCS 78 picks and fight odds below.
Staff records after UFC 319:
- Hank Strandberg: 138-79
- Drew Zuhosky: 110-107
- Frazer Krohn: 105-77
- Jeremy Brand: 96-78
- Andrew Benjamin: 34-92
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Ramiro Jimenez -500
Vs.
Tommy Cuozzi +375
FEATHERWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Jimenez by Unanimous Decision
Hank Strandberg: Jimenez by Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Jimenez by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Cuozzi by Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Jimenez by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Jimenez: 4
Staff picking Cuozzi: 1
Josh Hokit -440
Vs.
Guilherme Uriel +340
HEAVYWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Hokit by Second Round Knockout
Hank Strandberg: Hokit by First Round Knockout
Drew Zuhosky: Hokit by First Round Knockout
Frazer Kron: Hokit by Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Hokit by First Round Knockout
Staff picking Hokit: 5
Staff picking Uriel: 0
Louis Lee Scott -500
Vs.
Kaushik Saikumar +375
BANTAMWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Scott by Second Round Knockout
Hank Strandberg: Scott by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Saikumar by Unanimous Decision
Frazer Kron: Scott by First Round Knockout
Andrew Benjamin: Scott by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Scott: 4
Staff picking Saikumar: 1
Brandon Holmes -160
Vs.
Cam Rowston +130
MIDDLEWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Holmes by Third Round Submission
Hank Strandberg: Rowston by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Rowston by Second Round Knockout
Frazer Krohn: Holmes by Third Round Submission
Andrew Benjamin: Holmes by Second Round Submission
Staff picking Holmes: 3
Staff picking Rowston: 2
Jose Delano -550
Vs.
Manuel Exposito +400
FEATHERWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Delano by First Round Knockout
Hank Strandberg: Delano by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Exposito by Third Round Knockout
Frazer Krohn: Delano by Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Delano by Split Decision
Staff picking Delano: 4
Staff picking Exposito: 1
