DWCS Dana's Contender Series 2025 thread

[DamnSevern]

what do you think of this 19 year old Ansar Khamzaev kid? He won tonight in LFA but he's only got 3 fights and is really young.

Its one of those things though do you try and bring him into contender series now this young or let him get more experience but risk maybe PFL picking him up.

imo one of the top 25 prospects in the world when you consider his age (also trains at kill cliff)....hes fighting 10-0 khabibullo azizov next month

 

[TCE]

Thanks everyone for contributing and posting confirmed news.

I have updated the OP. I also added country flags instead of text because I feel it looks more organized and is presented better.

Cheers.

 

[Ares Black]

Thanks everyone for contributing and posting confirmed news.

I have updated the OP. I also added country flags instead of text because I feel it looks more organized and is presented better.

Cheers.

Update looks awesome

 

[TCE]

Update looks awesome

Thanks, I like the layout I did with the flags, haha.

Credit to everyone here though with the fighters and fights confirmed.

 

[TCE]

Some new names today

HW - Shah Kamali - 26/England/4-0

This one is interesting because according to Sherdog, he is fighting this guy on June 7th on a Brave card.

Miha Frlic MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com

The industry pioneer in UFC, Bellator and all things MMA (aka Ultimate Fighting). MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997.

www.sherdog.com

 

[Neck&Neck]

I wish the season started earlier than August

 

[Hdfi]

This is a ridiculous post. The contender series has produced 3 champions, title challengers and loads of top 5-10 fighters. They literally get every champ from all the regional leagues on there. The contender series is legit.

I agree, there are a lot of great fighters but some of the bigger names aren't getting signed. For example, the best brazilian HW prospect available is Marcus Buchecha, not Uriel and Aly. Buchecha would probably beat them in the first round...

 

[Hellowhosthat]

This one is interesting because according to Sherdog, he is fighting this guy on June 7th on a Brave card.

Miha Frlic MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com

The industry pioneer in UFC, Bellator and all things MMA (aka Ultimate Fighting). MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997.

www.sherdog.com

Yeah that happens sometimes. Happened with Bashi last season. He'll just lose the spot if he loses. Regina Tarin is also in the same position.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

I agree, there are a lot of great fighters but some of the bigger names aren't getting signed. For example, the best brazilian HW prospect available is Marcus Buchecha, not Uriel and Aly. Buchecha would probably beat them in the first round...

Buchecha isn't going to go through Contender Series. He's left ONE and they have long matching periods so I imagine he's waiting that out

 

[The_Renaissance]

This one is interesting because according to Sherdog, he is fighting this guy on June 7th on a Brave card.

Miha Frlic MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com

The industry pioneer in UFC, Bellator and all things MMA (aka Ultimate Fighting). MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997.

www.sherdog.com

Yeah that happens sometimes. Happened with Bashi last season. He'll just lose the spot if he loses. Regina Tarin is also in the same position.

Josh Hokit did it just the other week. I guess they'll offer Kampala's opponent the slot if he wins, he's also 4-0 himself.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

I really hope Teague has been working on his head movement since last time because you really can't afford to be getting hit by Douglas much.

 

[TCE]

I really hope Teague has been working on his head movement since last time because you really can't afford to be getting hit by Douglas much.

How good is Douglas? I understand he's the LFA champ which is good but his record is 12 - 5, that's not the best going in.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

How good is Douglas? I understand he's the LFA champ which is good but his record is 12 - 5, that's not the best going in.

He's improved in recent years and got himself on a decent run. He's got fuck you power if he lands which is his main attribute.

 

[STAY GOLD]

Sola and Augen are defending their titles so it seems like they won’t be on this season. Shame.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Sola and Augen are defending their titles so it seems like they won’t be on this season. Shame.

Ares don't release people for it if they're still under contract with them. Bouafia and LLS were both offered last year but had to fight out their Ares deals and come back.

 

[STAY GOLD]

Some odd ball names on the way.

 

[Koala]

Jonathan Figueroa ("El Picante") | MMA Fighter Page | Tapology

Jonathan "El Picante" Figueroa (12-1-0) is a Pro MMA Fighter out of Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina and the #19th ranked Pro Mens Middleweight in Latin America. View complete Tapology profile, bio, rankings, photos, news and record.

www.tapology.com

His last two opponents were 0-1 and 0-2. He fought a guy who was 0-3 in 2023

 

[STAY GOLD]

That’s one of the oddball signings I was referencing. There’s others.

And fwiw, he’s 16-1, not 12-1.

 

[EndlessCritic]

I wish the season started earlier than August

I wish they ran it 52 weeks a year.

 

[Neck&Neck]

I wish they ran it 52 weeks a year.

Dana would have to start a whole new promotion, with all the fighters he would sign lol