Contender Series Season 10 Opens with Heavy Favourites and Contract Discretion
The tenth iteration of the talent pipeline begins at the Meta APEX, featuring undefeated prospects Anthony Wint and Bilal Hasan as the primary betting favourites.
Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10 commenced on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, marking the start of a nine-week audition process for mixed martial arts talent. Ten fighters competed across five bouts, with UFC President Dana White holding sole discretion to award contracts based on their performance in the Octagon.
The event featured two significant betting favourites, with undefeated fighters Anthony Wint and Bilal Hasan drawing heavy support from the betting markets. Wint, a former New York Jets practice squad member, entered the main event as a -1400 favourite. However, the biggest favourite on the card was flyweight Bilal Hasan, priced at -3600 against Mridul Saikia.
The Contender Series has established itself as a critical pathway to the UFC, having previously produced four UFC champions: Sean O’Malley, Jamahal Hill, Jack Della Maddalena, and Carlos Ulberg. Other notable graduates currently rising through the ranks include welterweight contender Carlos Prates and lightweight Mauricio Ruffy, who is scheduled for the co-main event of UFC 331.
While highlight-reel finishes can influence the decision-making process, the ultimate authority to sign a fighter rests entirely with White, regardless of the official fight outcome. The series aims to identify the future of the sport, with each week featuring five fights where top regional fighters audition for a spot on the UFC roster.
All bouts were streamed exclusively on Paramount+, which holds the exclusive streaming rights for UFC content through 2033. The platform provides access to the UFC archive, live events, and original programming, with subscription plans starting at $8.99 per month or $89.99 per year.
