Analyzing the Exciting Matchups and Results of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9: An Insider’s View from Las Vegas

The highly anticipated Season 9 of “Dana White’s Contender Series” made its comeback on August 12, 2025, continuing to serve as the UFC’s premier showcase for emerging talent. American welterweight Ty Miller secured the first contract of the season with a unanimous decision victory over Jimmy Drago. UFC President Dana White expressed his admiration for Baysangur Susurkaev, a teammate of Khamzat Chimaev, who electrified the audience by knocking out Murtaza Talha with a stunning liver kick in the first round.

Just four days post his knockout victory, Susurkaev wasted no time in securing a spot on the UFC 319: Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis card in Chicago, where he celebrated his debut with a second-round rear-naked choke submission against fellow newcomer Eric Nolan.

During the second week, four out of five scheduled fights ended with impressive knockouts. The sole unanimous decision clash featured Jose Delano triumphing over Manuel Exposito in an exhilarating main event that captivated fans until the last round. All five victorious fighters walked away with contracts from the UFC.


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Results and Upcoming Fights for “Dana White’s Contender Series” Season 9:

Week 1 Results

Middleweight: Ilian Bouafia def. Neemias Santana by unanimous decision
Welterweight: Ty Miller def. Jimmy Drago by unanimous decision
Middleweight: Baysangur Susurkaev def. Murtaza Talha by TKO in the first round
Featherweight: Radley da Silva def. George Mangos by unanimous decision
Middleweight: Yuri Panferov def. Christopher Ewert by unanimous decision

Miller and Susurkaev both earned UFC contracts.


Week 2 Results

Featherweight: Jose Delano def. Manuel Exposito by unanimous decision
Middleweight: Cam Rowston def. Brandon Holmes by TKO in the first round
Men’s Bantamweight: Louis Lee Scott def. Kaushik Saikumar by TKO in the third round
Heavyweight: Josh Hokit def. Guilherme Uriel by TKO in the second round
Featherweight: Ramiro Jimenez def. Tommy Cuozzi by TKO in the first round

Jimenez, Hokit, Scott, Rowston, and Delano received UFC contracts.


Upcoming Matchups for Weeks 3 to 5

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


Week 5 Matchups

Heavyweight: Guilherme Pat vs. Anthony Guarascio
Featherweight: Cam Teague vs. Lerryan Douglas
Light Heavyweight: Felipe Franco vs. Ivan Gnizditskiy
Lightweight: Chasen Blair vs. Samuel Sanches
Women’s Flyweight: Shanelle Dyer vs. Carol Foro


Future Weeks

Matchups for Weeks 6 to 10: TBA