Week 2 of the 10th Season of
Dana White's Contender Series exceeded expectations.
Historic night in DWCS history as UFC signs six new fighters,
including one in defeat
Roman
Puga (6-1) and Taner
Trembley (7-1) kicked off the card in a featherweight clash. It
was one of the most memorable fights in DWCS history, with both
fighters repeatedly rocking each other. While Puga walked away with
a unanimous decision victory, Trembley's toughness was on full
display.
Dana White was walking out to award Puga an
Ultimate Fighting Championship contract when Sean Shelby
insisted that Trembley be given one as well.
“It takes two to make a great fight,†White said while awarding
both Puga and Trembley UFC contracts. “And this fight was
absolutely incredible. And because it was such a great fight, I got
to see so much well-roundedness and toughness from both guys. As
soon as this fight was over, I said, ‘Send both these guys to the
hospital right now.' So Puga — it's a no-brainer; I'm absolutely
bringing him in. And as I'm walking out here, Sean Shelby just
grabbed me and said, ‘I want Taner too.' So, both of these guys get
a contract with the UFC.â€
Alik
Lorenz (8-2) made his second Contender Series appearance in a
light heavyweight tilt against Mahamed Aly
(5-2). Lorenz floored Aly with an overhand right before finishing
him with hammer-fists. While White thought it was an early
stoppage, he was impressed enough with the +320 underdog Lorenz's
massive upset win.
“I did not agree with the stoppage; I thought the stoppage was a
bit early,†White said. “But Lorenz was teeing off on him with big
shots. And by the time the fight started, he was a 4-1 dog. So,
when you come in as a 4-1 dog and you do what you did tonight,
Lorenz, get over here, congratulations.â€
Cristian
Perez (15-2) took on Logan
Paxton (10-2) in a lightweight matchup. Perez looked flawless
as he picked apart Paxton en route to a second-round stoppage win.
White not only gave Perez a contract but also an offer to compete
at
Noche UFC 4 in September.
“Cristian Perez, incredible fight,†White said. “Again, two very
tough, durable guys and Christian Perez could not have looked any
better than he did tonight. And I hope he wants to fight at UFC
Noche.â€
Trent
Miller (10-3) also made his sophomore Contender Series
appearance in a middleweight matchup against Douglas
Henrique Rodrigues (7-2). A +270 underdog, Miller put Rodrigues
to sleep with a Von Flue choke in the second round to earn a UFC
contract.
“Trent Miller, unfortunately, I'm a very brutally honest guy,â€
White said. “Rodriguez was by far the better fighter in my opinion
and he was a 5-1 favorite. But you said, ‘F*ck that sh*t.' Not only
did you win the first round, but you came in and beat him in the
second round by Von Flue choke. Get over here, you're in the
UFC.â€
Another Contender Series veteran earned the final contract of the
night in the main event. Kaik Brito
(20-6) returned in a welterweight matchup against Namo Fazil
(10-2), three years after his first failed DWCS bid in 2023. While
Fazil was riding a lot of momentum after his recent win at
Most Valuable Promotions' inaugural MMA event, Brito put the
Iraqi to sleep with a right hand in the third round to earn a UFC
contract.
“And what could you not say about the main event? That was
incredible,†White said. “And the fact that Fazil has so many fans
in here going crazy. Brito, I love your style, the way you fight…
Came out with a flying knee in the third round, tried to finish the
fight, and finished it in spectacular fashion. I cannot wait to see
you fight in the UFC.â€
DWCS has proved to be one of the most reliable sources of scouting
future UFC stars. White revealed that fighters from DWCS have made
a combined $225.3 million in the UFC. There are also currently 420
active DWCS graduates on the UFC roster.
🚨 Dana White says fighters who earned UFC
contracts through the Contender Series have made a combined $225.3
MILLION pic.twitter.com/BT8HXjC0Lj
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS)
August 19, 2026
Joaquin
Buckley remains undeterred after his third consecutive defeat
in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Buckley faced Mike Malott in the Canadian's home country at
UFC Edmonton on Saturday. Malott landed a knee in the second
round and followed with a punch before the referee stopped the
bout. Despite the setback, “New Mansa†remains optimistic about his
future.
Joaquin Buckley plans to document his rebuild after Mike
Malott’s UFC Edmonton knockout
Buckley won six straight fights before his current skid. He now
plans to livestream his efforts to rebuild, inviting fans to follow
the process.
“Right now, we rebuilding and I want y'all to see the process, not
just the results,†Buckley wrote in the caption of his postfight
Instagram post. “The highs, the lows, and everything it takes to
become who God called me to be.â€
In the accompanying video, Buckley said he wants to share his
training and introduce fans to his team.
“I realize that I want to document everything,†Buckley said. “I
want to document the process, I want to document the work, I want
to document the team. This is really just starting back over from
scratch; creating a new foundation and making something happen… I'm
not going to stop; I'm going to keep working. And I'll make sure
that everybody remembers that name.â€
Joaquin
Buckley remains undeterred after his third consecutive defeat
in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Buckley faced Mike Malott in the Canadian's home country at
UFC Edmonton on Saturday. Malott landed a knee in the second
round and followed with a punch before the referee stopped the
bout. Despite the setback, “New Mansa†remains optimistic about his
future.
Joaquin Buckley plans to document his rebuild after Mike
Malott’s UFC Edmonton knockout
Buckley won six straight fights before his current skid. He now
plans to livestream his efforts to rebuild, inviting fans to follow
the process.
“Right now, we rebuilding and I want y'all to see the process, not
just the results,†Buckley wrote in the caption of his postfight
Instagram post. “The highs, the lows, and everything it takes to
become who God called me to be.â€
In the accompanying video, Buckley said he wants to share his
training and introduce fans to his team.
“I realize that I want to document everything,†Buckley said. “I
want to document the process, I want to document the work, I want
to document the team. This is really just starting back over from
scratch; creating a new foundation and making something happen… I'm
not going to stop; I'm going to keep working. And I'll make sure
that everybody remembers that name.â€
Farid
Basharat is pushing back against suggestions that he was
difficult to work with.
Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana
White addressed Basharat's departure after
UFC Edmonton. White suggested there were reasons beyond the
unbeaten bantamweight's results for the decision not to renew his
contract, prompting a response.
Farid Basharat denies refusing UFC fights, cites Victor Hugo
weight miss and torn MCL
The UFC did not offer Basharat (16-0) a new contract despite his
7-0 promotional record. After White raised difficulties with
matchmakers and declined fights as possible reasons for such
departures, “Ferocious†reiterated that he had never turned down an
opponent and cited instances in which he competed under unfavorable
circumstances.
Basharat pointed to his victory over Victor Hugo, who weighed 145.5
pounds for their originally scheduled bantamweight bout in 2024 —
9.5 pounds above the non-title limit. He also said he competed with
a torn medial collateral ligament in his knee during his
Dana White's Contender Series appearance in 2022.
“He kind of alluded to, maybe I was turning down fights, or maybe I
was difficult to deal with,†Basharat said on Instagram. “I
definitely didn't turn nobody down. In fact, we're talking about
the same guy that, in Abu Dhabi, I fought in 2024; my opponent
missed weight by 10 pounds and I still went ahead with the fight…
Still put on a good show and won. In my Contender Series fight, I
had a torn MCL, still went ahead with the fight… These are facts
you can ask your UFC staff; you can ask the physio team.â€
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