UFC mixed martial arts event in 2023
Season of television series
Dana White's Contender Series Original network ESPN+ Original release August 8 (2023-August-08 ) – October 10, 2023 (2023-October-10 )
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 UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria .[ 2] He was replaced by Rickson Zenidim.[ 3] However, Zenidim had visa issues and was replaced by Victor Dias.
Main Card
Weight class
Method
Round
Time
Notes
Middleweight
César Almeida
def.
Lucas Fernando
Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 29–28, 29–27)
3
5:00
Lightweight
Tom Nolan
def.
Bogdan Grad
KO (punches)
1
1:23
Heavyweight
Caio Machado
def.
Kevin Szaflarski
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
3
5:00
Bantamweight
Payton Talbott
def.
Reyes Cortez
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
3
5:00
Flyweight
Kevin Borjas
def.
Victor Dias
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
3
5:00
Contract awards
The following fighters (all winners of the night) were awarded contracts with the UFC:[ 4]
Week 2 – August 15
Main Card
Weight class
Method
Round
Time
Notes
Lightweight
Abdul-Kerim Al-Selwady
def.
George Hardwick
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
3
5:00
Light Heavyweight
Ibo Aslan
def.
Paulo Renato Jr.
TKO (punches)
1
2:22
Featherweight
Hyder Amil
def.
Emrah Sonmez
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29-28)
3
5:00
[ a]
Women's Strawweight
Eduarda Moura
def.
Janaína Silva
Submission (rear-naked choke)
1
4:00
Bantamweight
Charalampos Grigoriou
def.
Cameron Smotherman
TKO (punches)
1
1:00
^ Sonmez missed weight (147 lbs)
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]
Main Card
Weight class
Method
Round
Time
Notes
Middleweight
Zachary Reese
def.
Eli Aronov
Submission (armbar)
1
1:14
Welterweight
Oban Elliott
def.
Kaik Brito
Decision (majority) (29–28, 29–28, 28–28)
3
5:00
Women's Strawweight
Josefine Lindgren Knutsson
def.
Isis Verbeek
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
3
5:00
Featherweight
Luis Pajuelo
def.
Robbie Ring
TKO (knee to the body and punches)
1
3:43
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]
Main Card
Weight class
Method
Round
Time
Notes
Welterweight
Carlos Prates
def.
Mitch Ramirez
TKO (punch)
2
1:14
Middleweight
Marco Tulio Silva
def.
Yousri Belgaroui
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
3
5:00
Featherweight
Timothy Cuamba
def.
Mateo Vogel
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
3
5:00
Heavyweight
Thomas Petersen
def.
Chandler Cole
Submission (keylock)
2
1:08
Lightweight
Bolaji Oki
def.
Dylan Salvador
TKO (punches)
1
2:46
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.[citation needed ]
Main Card
Weight class
Method
Round
Time
Notes
Light Heavyweight
Brendson Ribeiro
def.
Bruno Lopes
KO (punches)
1
3:47
Bantamweight
Serhiy Sidey
def.
Ramon Taveras
TKO (punches)
1
2:26
Middleweight
Dylan Budka
def.
Chad Hanekom
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
3
5:00
Featherweight
Jean Silva
def.
Kevin Vallejos
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
3
5:00
Women's Flyweight
Dione Barbosa
def.
Rainn Guerrero
Submission (armbar)
1
4:35
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
Main Card
Weight class
Method
Round
Time
Notes
Lightweight
James Llontop
def.
Malik Lewis
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–26, 30–26)
3
5:00
Heavyweight
Jhonata Diniz
def.
Eduardo Neves
TKO (punches)
1
3:15
Featherweight
Steven Nguyen
def.
A.J. Cunningham
TKO (punches)
2
4:06
Women's Strawweight
Julia Polastri
def.
Patricia Alujas
Submission (rear-naked choke)
2
4:05
Bantamweight
Jean Matsumoto
def.
Kasey Tanner
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
3
5:00
Contract awards
The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:
Week 7 – September 19
Main Card
Weight class
Method
Round
Time
Notes
Heavyweight
Shamil Gaziev
def.
Greg Velasco
Submission (rear-naked choke)
1
2:38
Lightweight
Daniel James Allen
def.
JaCobi Jones
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)
3
5:00
Women's Strawweight
Talita Alencar
vs.
Stephanie Luciano
Draw (unanimous) (28–28, 28–28, 28–28)
3
5:00
Welterweight
Kaynan Kruschewsky
def.
Dylan Mantello
Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)
1
2:52
Flyweight
Igor da Silva
def.
Jhonata Silva
TKO (punches)
2
2:37
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
Main Card
Weight class
Method
Round
Time
Notes
Welterweight
Danny Barlow
def.
Raheam Forest
TKO (punches)
1
1:19
Heavyweight
Mario Piazzon
def.
Alexander Soldatkin
DQ (illegal knee)
3
0:20
Featherweight
Danny Silva
def.
Angel Pacheco
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
3
5:00
Women's Flyweight
Ernesta Kareckaitė
def.
Carli Judice
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)
3
5:00
Bantamweight
Vinicius Oliveira
def.
Victor Hugo Madrigal
KO (punch)
1
3:02
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
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.
Main Card
Weight class
Method
Round
Time
Notes
Light Heavyweight
Rodolfo Bellato
def.
Murtaza Talha
TKO (punches)
2
4:46
Bantamweight
Victor Hugo Silva
def.
Eduardo Matias Torres
Submission (kneebar)
2
2:16
Light Heavyweight
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov
def.
José Daniel Medina
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
3
5:00
Welterweight
Maurício Ruffy
def.
Raimond Magomedaliev
TKO (punches)
3
4:45
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
Main Card
Weight class
Method
Round
Time
Notes
Bantamweight
Ramon Taveras
def.
Cortavious Romious
KO (punch)
1
0:29
Flyweight
André Lima
def.
Rickson Thai Zenidim
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
3
5:00
Featherweight
Connor Matthews
def.
Jair Farias
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)
3
5:00
Middleweight
Torrez Finney
def.
Yuri Panferov
Submission (rear-naked choke)
2
2:43
Lightweight
MarQuel Mederos
def.
Issa Isakov
KO (knee)
1
4:09
Flyweight
Lucas Rocha
def.
Davi Bittencourt
KO (knee)
2
0:18
Contract awards
The following fighters were awarded contracts with the UFC:[ 18]
Lucas Rocha , MarQuel Mederos , Connor Matthews , André Lima , and Ramon Taveras
References
^ 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" . www.sportskeeda.com . Retrieved 2023-05-11 .
^ Alexander K. Lee (2023-06-15). "Zhalgas Zhumagulov vs. Felipe Bunes off UFC Vegas 75, Zhumagulov to fight Joshua Van at UFC Jacksonville" . mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-06-15 .
^ Staff (2023-06-19). "MMA fighter from Ponta Grossa represents Brazil in the UFC, in the United States" . dpontanews.com.br. Retrieved 2023-06-19 . (in Brazilian Portuguese)
^ "Dana White's Contender Series 57 results: All winners get contracts, including 35-year-old kickboxing standout" . MMA Junkie . 2023-08-09. Retrieved 2023-08-11 .
^ Marrocco, Steven (2023-08-15). "DWCS Season 7, Week 2 results: Another 5-contract night with 3 quick finishes" . MMA Fighting . Retrieved 2023-08-16 .
^ Nolan King (2023-06-27). "Tatsuro Taira quickly rebooked for UFC 290 after recent last-minute cancellation" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-06-27 .
^ Damon Martin (2023-08-21). "Dana White's Contender Series Week 3 down to 4 fights after one bout scrapped at weigh-ins" . MMA Fighting . Retrieved 2023-08-21 .
^ Al-Shatti, Shaun (2023-08-22). "DWCS Season 7, Week 3 results: Zach Reese's 74-second armbar headlines 3-contract night" . MMA Fighting . Retrieved 2023-08-23 .
^ Nolan King (2023-07-04). "Bo Nickal gets newcomer Val Woodburn at UFC 290 as late replacement" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-04 .
^ Nolan King (2023-07-13). "Yousri Belgaroui, common kickboxing foe of Adesanya and Pereira, heads to Dana White's Contender Series" . sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2023-07-13 .
^ Staff (2023-08-29). "Dana White's Contender Series Season 7, Week 4 Results" . Cageside Press . Retrieved 2023-08-30 .
^ Dan Hiergesell (2023-09-02). " 'Surprise, surprise!' Contender Series hopeful hastily removed from Dana White's show after test reveals she's three months pregnant" . mmamania.com. Retrieved 2023-09-02 .
^ Nolan King and Ken Hathaway (2023-09-05). "Dana White's Contender Series 61 results: Dana White gives loser second shot after 'one of the worst ref stoppages' " . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05 .
^ "Dana White's Contender Series 62 results: Five UFC contracts awarded on all-time episode" . MMA Junkie . 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2023-09-13 .
^ Al-Shatti, Shaun (2023-09-19). "DWCS Season 7, Week 7 results: Unbeaten Dagestani heavyweight Shamil Gaziev headlines 4-contract night" . MMA Fighting . Retrieved 2023-09-20 .
^ Staff (2023-09-26). "Dana White's Contender Series Season 7, Week 8 Results" . Cageside Press . Retrieved 2023-09-27 .
^ Staff (2023-10-03). "Dana White's Contender Series Season 7, Week 9 Results" . Cageside Press . Retrieved 2023-10-04 .
^ Marrocco, Steven (2023-10-10). "DWCS Season 7, Week 10 results: 5 win contracts, record 46 win UFC deals at season's end" . MMA Fighting . Retrieved 2023-10-11 .
By year General info Executives Lists