DWCS 90 Capped by Thrilling Welterweight Clash!

DWCS 90, the fourth week of action in the 10th anniversary season of Dana White's Contender Series, is upon us. Tuesday night, the September schedule of events in MMA kicks off on the first evening of the month for week four of DWCS in 2026.

Last week on Contender Series, five winners secured a UFC contract, including Alex Apodaca, who upset Bella Mir, a -6000 favorite on the moneyline, in the main event, bringing the total number of contracts won this season to 15. 

Live coverage of DWCS 90 begins at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT on Tuesday evening. As always, the action from the midweek MMA promotion can be seen from start to finish on Paramount Plus. If there are no adjustments needed to be made between now and fight night, the customary five-bout card will be held at the Apex.

DWCS 90 Main Event: Patrick Rivera vs. Adam Darby: Shogun Fights Champ Eyes UFC Deal

At the top of the bill on Tuesday night, the welterweight division takes center stage for the DWCS 90 main event. Patrick Rivera (13-4 MMA,) who went 10-1 in Shogun Fights, battles Adam Darby (7-1 MMA,) an alumnus of Cage Warriors. All fights on DWCS are an advertised three rounds at five minutes per round, main events included.

Rivera will be making the walk on DWCS 90 on Tuesday night having posted a record of 5-0 in his last five fights. Going into Tuesday night's contest, he's won six fights in succession. 

A former Shogun Fights Welterweight Champion, Rivera most recently scored a third-round submission by way of rear-naked choke versus Rey Trujillo on March 28 in Hanover, MD during Shogun Fights 32. Whenever a fighter is on a hot streak, as he is right now, he's a dangerous fighter. 

Adam Darby Seeking Seventh Stoppage Win

Across the way, Adam Darby, who's posted a 7-1 record under the Cage Warriors banner, owns a 5-0 record in his last five outings. On Feb. 21, he submitted Thiago Habib (3-2 MMA) with a ninja choke inside the opening round during Cage Warriors 200 in Dublin, Ireland, securing a Performance of the Night award in the process.

Darby has finished all but one of his opponent in his professional MMA career. If Darby stops Rivera on Tuesday night during DWCS 90, he just might be going back to Ireland as one of the newest members of the UFC's active roster.

Only time will tell, however, if this is to be the case. 

DWCS 90 Co-Main Event: Brandon Holmes vs. Modestino Rodriguez: Holmes Gets Second Chance at UFC Contract

Immediately beforehand, the middleweight division serves as the focus of the DWCS 90 co-main event when Brandon Holmes (6-1 MMA, 0-1 DWCS) fights Modestino Rodriguez (7-1 MMA.) This is the former's second appearance in as many years on DWCS. 

Holmes comes into his sophomore Contender Series appearance with a mark of 4-1 in his last five fights. After being on the receiving end of a first-round knockout from current UFC fighter Cam Rowston in his fight last year on the show, he dished out a first-round knockout to Preston LaGrange (6-1 MMA) during Fury FC 113 in Houston on Jan. 18.

It's not often that someone gets a second chance in life, but that's what Brandon Holmes has been afforded during DWCS 90. Can he make the most of it?

Modestino Rodriguez Makes First MMA Appearance This Year

Meanwhile, Modestino Rodriguez comes into Tuesday's co-main attraction with a 4-1 record of his own in his last five MMA fights. It's been more than a year since he last fought under MMA rules, however.

On the night of June 28, 2025, he knocked out Virgilo Ailton (5-1 MMA) inside the second round. He's kept himself busy in the interim, fighting in a one-night K-1 kickboxing tournament in October and going 2-1 in the tournament before being knocked out in the final by Marco Antonio.

He hasn't fought under any discipline in about 11 months. How much in the way of ring rust does he have going into DWCS 90?

DWCS 90: Liam McCracken vs. Silvestre Sanchez: Bellator Alumnus Aiming for Sixth Straight Win Inside Distance

Also on DWCS 90, the lightweights go to battle for a bout between Liam McCracken (8-1 MMA) and Silvestre Sanchez (9-1 MMA, a veteran of Lux Fight League. McCracken, an alum of the late Bellator MMA, has gone 5-0 in his last five fights.

Back on June 6, he scored a third-round TKO after the fight doctor determined his opponent, Mateus Linhares (11-4 MMA,) could not continue in the bout during Full Contact Contender's FCC 46 in Bolton, England. McCracken has gotten his hand raised in victory five times in a row.

His opponent in the other corner gives McCracken the toughest test to-date in his MMA career.

Silvestre Sanchez Wants Another Quick Finish in DWCS 90

Silvestre Sanchez has gone 5-0 in himself in his last five outings. On April 24, he only needed 18 seconds and an overhand right to knock out Irving Cardona (4-7 MMA) during LFL 60.

Recently, he's made quick work of opponents once the cage door shuts on fight night. The total combined fight time of Sanchez' last two fights: Three minutes and 28 seconds.

Sanchez' camp is issuing these marching orders to their fighter: "Throw the first big punch once the fight starts." If he can score another quick knockout, his next fight after DWCS 90 just might be in the UFC.

Rest of the Card

DWCS 90 is rounded out by a heavyweight fight between Gabriel Lourenco (7-1 MMA) and Charlie Cleveland (6-1 MMA) and a lightweight contest matching Adam Livingston (7-1 MMA, 0-1 DWCS) and Hunter Smith (8-1 MMA) in the former's second Contender Series appearance.