UFC President Dana White Awards Contracts After Rapid Finishes at Contender Series
The tenth season of the talent identification program commenced with swift outcomes, prompting immediate roster additions for two fighters while a third secured victory without a contract offer.
The tenth season of Dana White’s Contender Series commenced on Tuesday night at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, marking the start of a structured audition process designed to identify emerging mixed martial arts talent. The event, streamed on Paramount+, featured five bouts involving ten fighters, with UFC President Dana White retaining sole discretion to award contracts based on in-Octagon performance.
Bilal Hasan, described as the most heavily favoured competitor in the history of the series, delivered a decisive performance at bantamweight. Hasan defeated Mridul Saikia in 45 seconds, prompting an immediate contract offer from White, who described the decision as an "absolute no brainer." White noted that Hasan had lived up to the significant hype surrounding his debut, expressing excitement about his forthcoming entry into the UFC roster.
In the main event, Anthony Wint secured a heavyweight contract following a 34-second victory over Matt Adams. A former collegiate linebacker at Florida International University and member of the New York Jets practice squad, Wint neutralised Adams’ takedown attempt and applied heavy ground and pound to force the stoppage. White praised Wint’s explosive power and "killer instinct," citing his positive reputation from coach Robbie Lawler.
Following the bout, Wint indicated a preference for his debut to take place in Philadelphia or Los Angeles. White acknowledged the request, noting his long-standing professional relationship with Lawler and affirming that Wint’s style aligned with the organisation’s expectations for the heavyweight division.
Thomas Pagliarulo also secured a victory at featherweight, defeating Ananias Mulumba via ground and pound in the third round. Pagliarulo overcame an early knockdown in the first round to take Mulumba’s back and secure the finish. Despite the win, Pagliarulo was not awarded a contract. Mulumba suffered a second consecutive loss on the Contender Series stage, having previously lost to Marwan Rahiki a year prior.
