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

^[4]

Contract awards

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

• 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

^[6]

Contract awards

The following fighters (all winners of the night) were awarded contracts with the UFC:^[7]

• 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.^[8] 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.^[9]

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

^[10]

Contract awards

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

• 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.^[12] He was replaced by Yousri Belgaroui.^[13]

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

^[14]

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:^[15]

• 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.^[16] 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

^[17]

Contract awards

The following fighters (all winners of the night) were awarded contracts with the UFC:^[18]

• 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

^[19]

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:

• James Llontop, Jhonata Diniz, Steven Nguyen, Julia Polastri, and Jean Matsumoto^[20]

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

^[21]

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:

• Igor da Silva, Kaynan Kruschewsky, Stephanie Luciano, and Shamil Gaziev^[22]

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

^[23]

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:^[24]

• 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. ^[25]

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:^[26]

• 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

^[27]

Contract awards

The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:^[28]

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2023-08-11 . Dana White's Contender Series, Season 7 roster filling up for summer 2023 launch . 2024-08-27 . MMA Junkie . 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: Sherdog.com . Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 1 . 2024-09-04 . Sherdog . en.
5. 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.
6. Web site: Sherdog.com . Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 2 . 2024-09-04 . Sherdog . en.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Web site: Sherdog.com . Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 3 . 2024-09-04 . Sherdog . en.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. Web site: Sherdog.com . Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 4 . 2024-09-04 . Sherdog . en.
15. Web site: Staff . 2023-08-29 . Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7, Week 4 Results . 2023-08-30 . Cageside Press . en-US.
16. 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.
17. Web site: Sherdog.com . Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 5 . 2024-09-04 . Sherdog . en.
18. 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.
19. Web site: Sherdog.com . Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 6 . 2024-09-04 . Sherdog . en.
20. 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.
21. Web site: Sherdog.com . Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 7 . 2024-09-04 . Sherdog . en.
22. 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.
23. Web site: Sherdog.com . Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 8 . 2024-09-04 . Sherdog . en.
24. Web site: Staff . 2023-09-26 . Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7, Week 8 Results . 2023-09-27 . Cageside Press . en-US.
25. Web site: Sherdog.com . Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 9 . 2024-09-04 . Sherdog . en.
26. Web site: Staff . 2023-10-03 . Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7, Week 9 Results . 2023-10-04 . Cageside Press . en-US.
27. Web site: Sherdog.com . Dana White's Contender Series - Contender Series 2023: Week 10 . 2024-09-04 . Sherdog . en.
28. 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.