Dana White's Contender Series season 7 explained

Season 7 of Dana White's Contender Series commences in August 2023 and in the US is exclusive to ESPN+, ESPN's new over-the-top subscription package.^[1]

Week 1 – August 8

Background

Joshua Van was expected to face Kevin Borjas in a flyweight bout at the event, but he was pulled in order to face Zhalgas Zhumagulov at .^[2] He was replaced by Rickson Zenidim.^[3] However, Zenidim had visa issues and was replaced by Victor Dias.

Dana White's Contender Series 57
Promotion:	DWCS
Date:	August 8, 2023
Venue:	UFC Apex Centre
City:	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Contract awards

The following fighters (all winners of the night) were awarded contracts with the UFC:^[4]

• Kevin Borjas, Payton Talbott, Caio Machado, Tom Nolan, and César Almeida

Week 2 – August 15

Dana White's Contender Series 58
Promotion:	DWCS
Date:	August 15, 2023
Venue:	UFC Apex Centre
City:	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Contract awards

The following fighters (all winners of the night) were awarded contracts with the UFC:^[5]

• Charalampos Grigoriou, Eduarda Moura, Hyder Amil, Ibo Aslan, and Abdul-Kerim Al-Selwady

Week 3 – August 22

Background

Edgar Chairez was expected to face Felipe dos Santos in a flyweight bout at the event, but he was pulled in order to face Tatsuro Taira at UFC 290.^[6] He was briefly replaced by Luciano Pereira. At the weigh-ins, Pereira did not step onto the scale due to a medical issue and the bout was scrapped entirely.^[7]

Dana White's Contender Series 59
Promotion:	DWCS
Date:	August 22, 2023
Venue:	UFC Apex Centre
City:	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:^[8]

• Luis Pajuelo, Oban Elliott, and Zachary Reese

Week 4 – August 29

Background

Val Woodburn was expected to face Marco Tulio Silva in a middleweight bout at the event, but he was pulled in order to face Bo Nickal at UFC 290.^[9] He was replaced by Yousri Belgaroui.^[10]

Dana White's Contender Series 60
Promotion:	DWCS
Date:	August 29, 2023
Venue:	UFC Apex Centre
City:	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:^[11]

• Bolaji Oki, Thomas Petersen, and Carlos Prates

Week 5 – September 5

Background

Corinne Laframboise was expected to face Rainn Guerrero in a women's flyweight bout at the event, but she was pulled after discovering she was pregnant during pre-fight medical screenings. She was replaced by Dione Barbosa.^[12] Cam Rowston was expected to face Chad Hanekom in a middleweight bout but was replaced by Dylan Budka for unknown reasons.

Dana White's Contender Series 61
Promotion:	DWCS
Date:	September 5, 2023
Venue:	UFC Apex Centre
City:	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Contract awards

The following fighters (all winners of the night) were awarded contracts with the UFC:^[13]

• Dione Barbosa, Jean Silva, Dylan Budka, Serhiy Sidey, and Brendson Ribeiro

Week 6 – September 12

Dana White's Contender Series 62
Promotion:	DWCS
Date:	September 12, 2023
Venue:	UFC Apex Centre
City:	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:

• James Llontop, Jhonata Diniz, Steven Nguyen, Julia Polastri, and Jean Matsumoto^[14]

Week 7 – September 19

Dana White's Contender Series 63
Promotion:	DWCS
Date:	September 19, 2023
Venue:	UFC Apex Centre
City:	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:

• Igor da Silva, Kaynan Kruschewsky, Stephanie Luciano, and Shamil Gaziev^[15]

Week 8 – September 26

Dana White's Contender Series 64
Promotion:	DWCS
Date:	September 26, 2023
Venue:	UFC Apex Centre
City:	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:^[16]

• Vinicius de Oliveira, Ernesta Kareckaitė, Carli Judice, Danny Silva, Angel Pacheco, and Danny Barlow

Week 9 – October 3

Dana White's Contender Series 65
Promotion:	DWCS
Date:	October 3, 2023
Venue:	UFC Apex Centre
City:	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Background

Lucas Rocha and Davi Bittencourt were scheduled to fight on this card in a flyweight bout. However, Rocha missed weight by five pounds and the bout was cancelled. The bout was rebooked for the following week.

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:^[17]

• Maurício Ruffy, Magomed Gadzhiyasulov, José Daniel Medina, Victor Hugo Silva, and Rodolfo Bellato

Week 10 – October 10

Dana White's Contender Series 66
Promotion:	DWCS
Date:	October 10, 2023
Venue:	UFC Apex Centre
City:	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:^[18]

• Lucas Rocha, MarQuel Mederos, Connor Matthews, André Lima, and Ramon Taveras

Notes and References

1. Web site: Foley . Jake . 2023-05-06 . Who is Eduarda Moura? Women fighter nicknamed 'Ronda' set to compete in Season 7 of Dana White's Contender Series . 2023-05-11 . www.sportskeeda.com . en-us.
2. Web site: Zhalgas Zhumagulov vs. Felipe Bunes off UFC Vegas 75, Zhumagulov to fight Joshua Van at UFC Jacksonville. mmafighting.com. Alexander K. Lee. 2023-06-15. 2023-06-15.
3. Web site: MMA fighter from Ponta Grossa represents Brazil in the UFC, in the United States. dpontanews.com.br. Staff. 2023-06-19. 2023-06-19.
4. Web site: 2023-08-09 . Dana White's Contender Series 57 results: All winners get contracts, including 35-year-old kickboxing standout . 2023-08-11 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
5. Web site: Marrocco . Steven . 2023-08-15 . DWCS Season 7, Week 2 results: Another 5-contract night with 3 quick finishes . 2023-08-16 . MMA Fighting . en.
6. Web site: Tatsuro Taira quickly rebooked for UFC 290 after recent last-minute cancellation. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2023-06-27. 2023-06-27.
7. Web site: Dana White’s Contender Series Week 3 down to 4 fights after one bout scrapped at weigh-ins. MMA Fighting. Damon Martin. 2023-08-21. 2023-08-21.
8. Web site: Al-Shatti . Shaun . 2023-08-22 . DWCS Season 7, Week 3 results: Zach Reese’s 74-second armbar headlines 3-contract night . 2023-08-23 . MMA Fighting . en.
9. Web site: Bo Nickal gets newcomer Val Woodburn at UFC 290 as late replacement. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2023-07-04. 2023-07-04.
10. Web site: Yousri Belgaroui, common kickboxing foe of Adesanya and Pereira, heads to Dana White’s Contender Series. sports.yahoo.com. Nolan King. 2023-07-13. 2023-07-13.
11. Web site: Staff . 2023-08-29 . Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7, Week 4 Results . 2023-08-30 . Cageside Press . en-US.
12. Web site: ‘Surprise, surprise!’ Contender Series hopeful hastily removed from Dana White’s show after test reveals she’s three months pregnant. mmamania.com. Dan Hiergesell. 2023-09-02. 2023-09-02.
13. Web site: Dana White's Contender Series 61 results: Dana White gives loser second shot after 'one of the worst ref stoppages'. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King and Ken Hathaway. 2023-09-05. 2023-09-05.
14. Web site: 2023-09-13 . Dana White's Contender Series 62 results: Five UFC contracts awarded on all-time episode . 2023-09-13 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
15. Web site: Al-Shatti . Shaun . 2023-09-19 . DWCS Season 7, Week 7 results: Unbeaten Dagestani heavyweight Shamil Gaziev headlines 4-contract night . 2023-09-20 . MMA Fighting . en.
16. Web site: Staff . 2023-09-26 . Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7, Week 8 Results . 2023-09-27 . Cageside Press . en-US.
17. Web site: Staff . 2023-10-03 . Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7, Week 9 Results . 2023-10-04 . Cageside Press . en-US.
18. Web site: Marrocco . Steven . 2023-10-10 . DWCS Season 7, Week 10 results: 5 win contracts, record 46 win UFC deals at season’s end . 2023-10-11 . MMA Fighting . en.