Through four episodes so far this season, Dana White's Contender Series has put on 20 fights and signed 19 fighters to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The mission for Contender Series invitees remains crystal clear — win your fight and you’re extremely likely to get a UFC contract.
While this season continues to be an unprecedented signing frenzy, this week’s lineup actually appears to merit one. The 10 fighters scheduled to appear in front of the UFC boss on Tuesday night include five undefeated prospects, and collectively tote a half-dozen belts from respectable regional promotions including Cage Fury Fighting Championships and Jungle Fight.
Among the standouts are CFFC middleweight champ Jeffery, who might well have been fighting to add the Legacy Fighting Alliance belt to his collection in his next fight had he not gotten the callup. The 28-year-old Canadian competed on Season 3 of the Contender Series and was turned away by Brendan Allen, and his only career losses have been to two solid UFC up-and-comers in Allen and Sean Brady. In the card opener, towering Brazilian prospect Edivan Santos will tote his 6-foot-7 frame and 11-fight unbeaten streak into the Apex against Rizvan Kuniev, heavyweight champ of Eagles FC, brainchild of former UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Dana White’s Contender Series 2021: Week 5 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Sept. 28, and airs live on ESPN+ at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.
THE LINEUP
205: Lukasz Sudolski (8-0) vs. Ihor Potieria (18-2)155: Manuel Gaxhja (7-0) vs. Chris Duncan (7-0)
185: Aaron Jeffery (10-2) vs. Caio Borralho (8-1)
155: Lucas Almeida (12-0) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (11-0)
HW: Rizvan Kuniev (10-2-1) vs. Edivan Santos (12-2)