DWCS Dana's Contender Series 2025 thread

[chrisdiaz]

Is this season happening this year? I cant find anything about it and its mid july.

 

[TCE]

Is this season happening this year? I cant find anything about it and its mid july.

This whole thread are people discussing the fights, fighters, etc. when it starts in August.

 

[chrisdiaz]

This whole thread are people discussing the fights, fighters, etc. when it starts in August.

If you look at any major MMA website it isnt listed and there isnt any news on even the UFC website. Usually MMAJunkie has it on their schedule but its not there.

So I think my question was more than valid when you didnt even provide a date for the first card.

EDIT: Found the first card finally. MMA websites have been in the trash lately.

Contender Series 2025: Week 1 | MMA Event | Tapology

Contender Series 2025 took place Tuesday, August 12, 2025 with 5 fights at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. View fight card, video, results, predictions, and news.

www.tapology.com

 

[David Street]

Guess got to wait and wait for DWCS maybe watch you tube LOL

"Licha CAF Contender Series" refers to a YouTube series created by a user named Licha, which is a fan-made simulation of Dana White's Contender Series within the UFC 5 game. The series features fighters created by the user and aims to simulate the experience of earning a UFC contract through impressive performances. The series is not an official UFC event, but rather a fan creation.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Fan Creation:
  The "Licha CAF Contender Series" is a fan-made project within the UFC 5 game, using custom created fighters (CAFs).
• Simulation:
  The series aims to replicate the format of Dana White's Contender Series, where fighters compete for a chance to earn a UFC contract.
• Goal:
  Licha's goal, according to his Instagram page, is to reach 10,000 subscribers while showcasing these simulated fights.
• Not Official:
  It's important to note that this is not an official UFC event or program. It's a fan's creative endeavor within a video game.
• Location:
  The series is set in the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, just like the real Contender Series.
  
  
  

 

[Dn10]

If they double the number of DWCS shows I wonder if TUF goes away.

 

[Koala]

If they double the number of DWCS shows I wonder if TUF goes away.

TUF is going away, whatever. It's just a program ESPN buys from the UFC, but the UFC is not trying to promote it. The ESPN contract is ending at the end of the year. So, most likely, this is TUF's last season

 

[Ares Black]

Summer is approaching which means DWCS season 9 will also be approaching.


Confirmed Fights:


Heavyweight
Josh Hokit - 27 / 5-0 vs. Guilherme Uriel 28 / 6-1
Elisha Ellison - 28 / 5-1 vs. Brando Peričić - 30 / 4-1


Light Heavyweight
Abdulrakhman Yakhyaev - 24 / 6-0 vs. Alik Lorenz - 28 / 6-1
Ivan Gnizditskiy - 29 / 5-0 vs. Felipe Franco - 24 / 8-0


Middleweight
Christopher Ewert - 31 / 7-0 vs. Yuri Panferov 28 / 8-1
Cam Rowston - 30 / 11-3 vs. Jon Kunneman - 25 / 10-0
Ryan Gandra - 30 / 7-1 vs. Vitor Costa - 24 / 8-1
Neemias Santana 27 / 7-2-1 vs. Ilian Bouafia 6-0
In Soo Hwang - 31 / 8-1 vs. Will Currie - 26 / 13-4


Welterweight
Jimmy Drago - 30 / 7-2 vs. Ty Miller - 24 / 5-0


Lightweight
Samuel Sanches 22 / 10-1 vs. Chasen Blair 26 / 7-3


Featherweight
Márcio Barbosa - 26 / 16-2 vs. Damon Wilson 31 / 9-2
Radley Da Silva - 29 / 7-1 vs. George Mangos - 21 / 7-0
José Delano - 28 / 15-3 vs. Manuel Exposito - 24 / 13-2
Tommy Cuozzi - 25 / 8-0 vs. Ramiro Jimenez - 26 / 10-0


Women's Flyweight
Shanelle Dyer - 24 / 6-0 vs. Carol Foro 8-1


Women's Bantamweight
Jeisla Chaves - 28 / 5-0 vs. Regina Tarin - 20 / 5-0


Flyweight
Frank Silva - 20 / 7-0-1 vs. An Tuan Ho 24 / 7-1



Confirmed Fighters:


Heavyweight

Shah Kamali - 26 / 4-0
Guilherme Pat - 5-0

Light Heavyweight

Mahamed Aly - 31 / 4-0
Iwo Baraniewski - 26 / 5-0
Jair de Oliveira - 29 / 6-0
Rafael Tobias - 22 / 13-1

Middleweight

Damian Pinas - 23 / 7-1
Baysangur Susurkaev - 24 / 8-0
Cezary Oleksiejczuk - 25 / 15-3
Theo Haig - 28 / 6-0
Đani Barbir - 7-0
Mantas Kondratavičius - 7-1

Lightweight

Cristian Pérez - 25 / 13-1
Manoel Sousa - 27 / 12-1
Tommy McMillen - 27 / 8-0

Bantamweight

Juan Díaz - 27 / 14-1-1
Kaushik Saikumar - 27 / 5-0
Louis Lee Scott - 25 / 9-0

Needs an update

 

[TCE]

Needs an update

True. I'll get on it in an hour or so.

 

[TCE]

Needs an update

Update officially completed. Can't wait.

 

[Ares Black]

Update officially completed. Can't wait.

Thanks, Sherbro. Great work, much appreciated.

 

[TCE]

Thanks, Sherbro. Great work, much appreciated.

No problem, Sherbro. Thought I'd add the weeks they are on this time, as well.

 

[Koala]

I think the UFC is using the two UAE Warriors cards this week to scout fighters for DWCS while their matchmakers are there
UAE 61: Chopurov might be on their shortlist, Zalal might have joined UAE Warriors for a test outside his local promotion against a tough opponent with Pena, Chaaban and Bulaid are taking a second fight in two months, Morozov is also coming from his local promotion to UAE Warriors, maybe Saidaliev at HW
UAE 62: Boynazarov is fighting a recent UFC vet, Osmanli vs Jacobs could be a prospect vs prospect to get in DWCS, same for Daniyabeov vs Muradov, 2 Kazakhs leaving the local scene to face tough vets, maybe even Zouad taking a second fight in two months

 

[Ares Black]

Lightweight

Cristian Pérez - 25 / 13-1
Manoel Sousa - 27 / 12-1

These guys are confirmed to be fighting each other

Cristian Pérez vs. Manoel Sousa, Contender Series 2025 | MMA Bout | Tapology

Pérez vs. Sousa at Contender Series 2025 on Tapology. View Pérez vs. Sousa fight video, highlights, news, Twitter updates, and fight results.

www.tapology.com

 

[MMAddict21]

These guys are confirmed to be fighting each other

Cristian Pérez vs. Manoel Sousa, Contender Series 2025 | MMA Bout | Tapology

Pérez vs. Sousa at Contender Series 2025 on Tapology. View Pérez vs. Sousa fight video, highlights, news, Twitter updates, and fight results.

www.tapology.com

Hate this fight. Both guys could be signed straight up.

 

[Ares Black]

Hate this fight. Both guys could be signed straight up.

Yeah it kinda sucks when they do this. I appreciate the level of competition but they often go to a competitive decision.

Then they'll have a fight between a decent fighter and a total can, and sign the guy who gets the finish.

Last season I really hated Lone'er Kavanaugh vs An Tuan Ho. I was really high on both guys.

 

[The_Renaissance]

Yeah it kinda sucks when they do this. I appreciate the level of competition but they often go to a competitive decision.

Then they'll have a fight between a decent fighter and a total can, and sign the guy who gets the finish.

Last season I really hated Lone'er Kavanaugh vs An Tuan Ho. I was really high on both guys.

It does my head in, they'll then have a 7-3 fight a 6-2 guy and somehow one of these nobodies ends up in the UFC.

 

[Bubzeh]

We have some squash matches too so it's cool, elsewhere in LW we're getting Damon Wilson fed to Barbosa, who'll take his head off, and we have Chasen Blair being rolled out again to square off against Samuel Sanches (who I have never seen, but judging by his tapology page, he looks like somewhat of a destructive force).

 

[Bubzeh]

This fight is pay per view. You have this opening the main card on the next English PPV (potentially European) and all bets are off when it comes to the numbers it draws.

I want this Louis Lee Scott kid talking as much shit as he usually does in the build up and Kaushik going on a two to three week tour of the country.

 

[STAY GOLD]

This fight is pay per view. You have this opening the main card on the next English PPV (potentially European) and all bets are off when it comes to the numbers it draws.

Stop.

 

[STAY GOLD]

Some more oddball choices coming up.