It’s back. After awarding 46 UFC contracts over its 10 episodes in 2023, the eighth season of Dana White’s Contender Series is just hours away from kicking off. Later this evening, the first crop of 10 MMA prospects step into the UFC Apex’s Octagon in an effort to win a deal in the sport’s top promotion.
Inside the United States of America, tonight’s card, along with next week’s show, will be streamed on ESPN+ beginning at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT before returning to 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on Aug. 27. As always, the show features five fights this and every week.
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Main Event
At the top of the bill this evening is a middleweight fixture between two fighters with ties to the LFA. Mansur Abdul- Malik (5-0 MMA) battles Wes Schultz (6-1 MMA). This fight is a maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round to close the show.
Co-Main Event
Immediately beforehand, welterweights take to the cage when 42-fight veteran Meng Ding (34-8 MMA), who went 1-1 in his stint with ONE Championship five years ago, fights Rami Hamed (12-3, 1 NC MMA.)
Rest of the Card
Also tonight, you’ll see a light heavyweight affair pitting Bruno Lopes (12-1 MMA, 0-1 DWCS) [in his second appearance on the program] against GFC Light Heavyweight Champion Mikheil Sazhinani (13-2 MMA), a featherweight contest between Jose Miguel Delgado (7-1 MMA) and former A1 Combat Featherweight Champion Ernie Juarez (8-0 MMA), and a flyweight contest matching An Tuan Ho (6-0 MMA) with Cage Warriors alumnus Lone’er Kavanaugh (6-0 MMA.)
DWCS Season 8, Week 1 Results: (Card: 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT, ESPN+)
Main Event: Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Wes Schultz by TKO (Ground and Pound) at 3:55 into Round 2. Abdul-Malik awarded UFC contract.
Co-Main Event: Rami Hamed def. Meng Ding by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-27, 29-27.)
Bruno Lopes def. Mikheil Sazhinani by KO (Punches) at 4:14 into Round 2. Lopes awarded UFC contract.
Jose Miguel Delgado def. Ernie Juarez by KO (Knee) at 1:25 into Round 2. Delgado awarded UFC contract.
Lone’er Kavanaugh def. An Tuan Ho by KO (Left Hook) at 2:25 into Round 1. Kavanaugh awarded UFC contract.
