As flyweights Lone’er Kavanagh and An Tuan Ho prepared to kick off Season 8 of “Dana White’s Contender Series” last Tuesday night, both laid out remarkably similar expectations for themselves.
Both were undefeated professional fighters. Both had identical 6-0 records in MMA. Both were there to earn a spot in the UFC and make their dreams come true. Each man explained all this to us, the viewer, over B-roll footage of him hitting heavy bags and performing various feats of athleticism inside an empty gym.
“I think I belong here because I’ve put in the work, I’ve sacrificed a lot of things, and this is what I was meant to do,” Ho said during his pre-fight video montage. “To fight in the UFC is going to fulfill all the goals that I’ve made, all the dreams I’ve dreamt of, all the visions I saw when I was a kid. That’s going to mean a lot to me.”
As Ho underwent his final check before stepping into the cage, UFC commentator Laura Sanko observed that based on his prior fights, Ho was “UFC-ready right now.”
“You could plug and play him into that flyweight division so easily and he would do really well,” Sanko said.
And for about the first two minutes of his fight with Kavanagh, this did seem to be the case. Ho looked fast and sharp in the striking exchanges, at one point landing a clean right hand on the decorated kickboxer Kavanagh.
Midway through the opening round, Kavanagh landed a perfectly timed left hook, knocking Ho unconscious before he hit the mat.
Experienced viewers of this show didn’t need to be told what all of this meant. Kavanagh launched into a brief celebration inside the cage before quickly locating UFC president Dana White cageside and walking over to offer a bow. White scribbled on his notes and later held them up for Kavanagh to see, a post-fight report that was only two words long: “Holy s***.”
That sealed it. Kavanagh would be rewarded for this win with a standard entry-level UFC contract. Ho would essentially disappear from view as soon as he was revived and helped out of the cage.
This is how it works on “Dana White’s Contender Series” (often shortened to the Contender Series or simply DWCS). Two fighters enter the cage. One wins and the other loses. But just winning isn’t enough. Fighters must win and look good enough doing it to impress White, along with UFC matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard. They find out whether or not they hit that amorphous goal at the end of each episode, as White announces their fates one at a time on the live broadcast.
More and more, this is how fighters find their way into the UFC. Launched in 2017 as additional content for the UFC’s streaming platform, UFC Fight Pass, DWCS is now the main conduit for MMA fighters hoping to compete in the sport’s biggest promotion.
In fact, the Season 8 broadcast began with a surprising statistic to drive home this fact. As explained by play-by-play commentator Dan Hellie, nearly one-third of the current UFC roster got a spot with the fight promotion via DWCS.
“That’s such a crazy stat,” replied Sanko, a former professional fighter herself who’s gradually become one of the UFC’s most beloved commentators. “It’s so cool to see how this show has blossomed into a machine that feeds talent right into the UFC.”
However, not everyone agrees on exactly how cool this is. A frequent criticism of DWCS is that it locks fighters into low-paying contracts by funneling them through a UFC entry portal that gives them little chance to negotiate. In the first season of DWCS, reported payouts were as low as $5,000 to show, with winners earning an additional $5,000.
There are plenty of fans and media members who are quick to point out that while the show might be selling viewers on the promise of life-changing dreams coming true, it’s rewarding fighters with four-fight contracts that essentially pay the UFC version of minimum wage.
30% of the UFC Roster has come from DWCS.
That is a staggering stat#DWCS
— Jason Hagholm (@JHagholm1) August 14, 2024
Still, when you talk to fighters, managers, and coaches, you get the sense that however imperfect a path the Contender Series might be, many have accepted it as the best option available.
As longtime MMA manager Daniel Rubenstein put it, as much as people might like to complain about the money on DWCS, it’s still an instant and meaningful pay raise for fighters who’ve been competing on the regional circuit.
“These days, if you get signed directly to the UFC, you’re probably starting out at ($10,000 to show and $10,000 to win) anyway,” Rubenstein said. “If you get signed off Contenders, you’re also getting 10 and 10. But to fight on Contenders, for most of these guys it’s probably more than double what they make to fight anywhere else.
One of my fighters is competing for a title in LFA (Legacy Fighting Alliance) and is earning $2,250, but he has to cover his own medical expenses. Audie Attar, who manages UFC star Conor McGregor, believes that fighting on a platform with a dedicated fan base and consistent media coverage is a valuable opportunity in the MMA industry. He sees programs like the Contender Series as a way for fighters to earn their place in a top promotion and build their brand. This path allows fighters to start in mid-major promotions like LFA or Cage Warriors before potentially moving up to larger promotions through free agency.
UFC president Dana White is a big advocate for Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS), calling it the best show on television. He believes that the show offers a unique format that showcases up-and-coming talent in the MMA world. DWCS provides immediate action and consequences for fighters, without the need for elaborate backstories or reality TV drama. The show’s live format and focus on showcasing fighters in the moment is a departure from the more traditional storytelling approach of shows like “The Ultimate Fighter.”
DWCS serves as a cost-effective way for the UFC to generate content, with low production costs and a venue that is owned and operated by the organization. This allows for efficient production and high-quality broadcasts without the need for extensive setup or equipment. Overall, DWCS provides a valuable platform for emerging fighters to showcase their skills and potentially earn a spot in the UFC. While matchmakers may be using DWCS shows to evaluate fighting talent, Borsari noted that the production team also sees it as an opportunity to assess talent within their own crew. This provides a platform for individuals like Laura Sanko and Dan Hellie to showcase their abilities and potentially transition to higher-level shows within the UFC. Additionally, the show serves as a cost-effective way for the UFC to generate content for broadcast partners like ESPN+, ultimately offering viewers the chance to see lesser-known fighters compete for a shot at a UFC contract.
The Contender Series, along with other UFC programs like TUF and the “Road to the UFC” tournament, has become a source of hours of programming that showcases up-and-coming fighters. While some see the show as a way for the UFC to further establish its dominance in the MMA space, others, like Terry Trebilcock of King of the Cage, believe it creates an unnecessary gap between smaller promotions and the UFC. Fighters who compete on the Contender Series and fail to earn a contract may struggle to find opportunities in smaller promotions, leading to potential setbacks in their careers.
Critics within the MMA industry, such as Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick, caution that the path from the Contender Series to the UFC is not guaranteed, and fighters must understand the high stakes involved. Underperforming on the show could have long-lasting consequences for a fighter’s career, as the UFC is known for being selective in offering second chances to those who do not impress in their initial appearance.
Despite these challenges, the Contender Series has produced success stories like Sean O’Malley, who went on to become a UFC bantamweight champion after his breakout performance on the show. O’Malley views his journey from small promotions to the UFC, with a pitstop on the Contender Series, as a seamless transition that propelled his career to new heights. The platform also provided him with the opportunity to engage with fans and showcase his personality, paving the way for his future success in the UFC.
Unlike some fighters who are bound by a standard four-fight contract, O’Malley had the chance to renegotiate his contract after each fight early in his career. He was able to gradually climb the ranks in the UFC, a luxury not always afforded to fighters in every weight class. Despite the uncertainties that come with a Contender Series opportunity, O’Malley believes that the UFC is the ultimate platform for fighters due to the exposure and opportunities it provides.
On the other hand, not every Contender Series opportunity leads to immediate success. Caio Borralho faced challenges but eventually secured a contract after impressing Dana White. His journey highlights the importance of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity.
While some fighters may not get a second chance after a disappointing performance, others, like Brendan Loughnane, find success in alternative promotions. The unpredictability of MMA careers underscores the significance of making the most of opportunities when they arise.
Ultimately, the Contender Series serves as a crucial stepping stone for fighters looking to make a name for themselves in the competitive world of mixed martial arts. It offers a platform for talent to shine, but success is not guaranteed, making each fight a make-or-break moment for aspiring fighters. following sentence: The cat lazily stretched out on the warm windowsill.
The cat stretched lazily on the cozy windowsill.