For many mixed martial arts fighters, the chance to fight in the premier MMA organization is a dream come true. Dana Whites Tuesday Night Contender Series offers up-and-coming fighters a chance to fight in front of UFC President Dana White himself, and potentially earn a UFC contract. However, just winning the fight guarantees nothing. Fighters must also prove to be exciting, and always look to finish the fight. White often says, “Don’t leave it in the hands of the judges.” If you want to stand out, you need to be relentlessly in pursuit of a fight-ending strike or submission. For this reason, many of the bouts have been action packed, with many fighters throwing caution to the wind and going for broke.
Each show offers five fights, and at the end of each episode, victorious fighters anxiously line up and hope for their name to be called by White, who decides which fighters will be given a UFC contract with a chance to prove themselves against the best fighters in the world. Some fighters who won their fights but did not receive a UFC contract were invited back to DWTNCS for a second chance.
So far 13 UFC contracts have been awarded.
Week 1 – Kurt Holobaugh, Boston Salmon
Week 2 – Sean O’Malley
Week 3 – Karl Roberson, Geoff Neal
Week 4 – Julian Marquez, Brandon Davis
Week 5 – Mike Rodriguez, Alex Perez
Week 6 – Charles Byrd, Grant Dawson
Week 7 – Benito Lopez, Joby Sanchez
This series is exactly what fight fans have been looking for, a weekly card that feels like a real UFC event. The fights take place on Fight Pass in the UFC Training Centre in Las Vegas, inside an Octagon with a referee and three judges scoring the bout.
Unlike the UFC’s other series, The Ultimate Fighter, these fights count as professional MMA bouts and the results are added to their official record. The series gives the UFC a great avenue to pick up new talent for the ever growing UFC roster, and to help find the next big MMA superstar.
The series also offers a unique broadcasting experience. Along with a traditional broadcast team, the show also offers viewers an alternate broadcasting team of UFC Hall of Famer Uriah Faber and Snoop Dogg. The dynamic duo has been dubbed the “Snoopcast” and offers a more comedic and lighthearted take on the fights while drinking some gin and juice.
Dana’s Contender Series helps bridge the gap between official events and gives fans a chance to watch some action on a weekly basis.
The final episode of the first season plays on UFC Fight Pass tonight at 10pm EST/7pm PST.
As for the future of Dana White’s Contender Series? He has said he believes this show is the perfect concept and that it will be back later in the year.
UG Blogger Treeloy Foreman can be followed at @TreeloyUG
