As the 2022 season of Dana White’s Contender Series winds down, only ten fights remain for the year. Tonight, five undefeated fighters and the youngest fighter to compete on the Contender Series take center stage at the UFC Apex. Stay tuned here for live Dana White’s Contender Series 55 results.
DWCS Week 9 – Fighters to Watch
There are plenty of interesting storylines going into week nine of the Contender Series, and the one getting the most attention is the presence of a seventeen-year-old Mexican fighter named Raul Rosas Jr (5-0) fighting for a UFC contract. Rosas has been a pro MMA fighter for less than a year and already finished five opponents, although none of those opponents had more than two fights on their records. All of those fights aired on UFC Fight Pass through the UWC promotion in Mexico.
Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard, the UFC matchmakers, have a tendency of bringing on fighters onto the Contender Series that are either too young or old for Dana White‘s taste. Even if Rosas Jr. notches a first-round finish, it’s hard to see Dana White agreeing that his experience is sufficient to compete in the UFC. Will Rosas become the first high schooler to fight in the UFC? That’s a question many MMA fans are tuning in to see.
Another fighter drawing eyes this week is returning DWCS alum and former NFL player Austen Lane (11-3). In a twist of fate, Lane’s first appearance was a blowout loss to Greg Hardy. Now, Hardy is cut from the UFC and Lane returns on a five-fight win streak, all of which ended in the first round. None of his fights have gone to a decision, and he fights undefeated Richard Jacobi (6-0-1) of Brazil.
The fighter with the biggest weight on his shoulders tonight will be Nurullo Aliev (6-0) of Tajikistan. From the massive social media following he commands to the possibility of being the only UFC fighter from his country, Aliev has a massive fight tonight. The 22-year-old is undefeated and trains out of Kill Cliff FC in Florida.
His opponent is someone who has almost three times the experience he does, competing against Josh Wick (12-5) of Idaho. Wick is a late replacement but is coming off a knockout of Cain Carrizosa, a UFC veteran. “The White Mamba” trains out of the highly successful Elevation Fight Gym in Denver, Colorado.
DANA WHITE’S CONTENDER SERIES 55 RESULTS
ESPN+ (8pm EST / 5pm PST)
Brunno Ferreira def. Leon Aliu via TKO (Punches) at 1:35 of round 1- Brunno Ferreira earns a UFC contract
Raul Rosas Jr def. Mando Gutierrez via Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)- Raul Rosas Jr earns a UFC contract
Austen Lane def. Richard Jacobi via TKO (Ground and Pound) at 4:34 of round 1- Austen Lane earns a UFC contract
Nurullo Aliev def. Josh Wick via TKO (Ground and Pound) at 4:36 of round 1- Nurullo Aliev earns a UFC contract
Jafel Filho def. Roybert Echeverria via TKO (Left Hook and Ground Strikes) at 1:31 of round 3 – Jalel Filho earns a UFC contract
