Dana White's Contender Series tournament is for younger fighters in the region. The main event of this season will be the Lightweight title bout, with the Middleweights as well as the Welterweights being co-main events. The Ultimate Job Interview was cancelled due to injuries to main event competitors. However, this tournament offers a great opportunity to discover if you're the next big thing at the UFC.
Dana White's sixth season of the Contender Series
The sixth season Dana White’s Contender Series has been released. Its premier date is Tuesday July 26th, at 8 PM ET. The program will air live on ESPN+, and is expected to air one episode per week. The UFC's newest fighters are scouted and offered contracts. Ten episodes will be featured in the sixth season.
The main event will feature lightweights
Two promising prospects are fighting to win the title shot in lightweight division. The main event will feature former UFC fighters Ty Flores vs Rafael Alves. Both are on a four-fight winning streak. Rafael Alves is a former Titan FC interim lightweight champion who now trains at MMA Masters in South Florida. Miguel Baeza has been his mentor and he has witnessed his rise to stardom.
Middleweights are the co-main event
Two of the most talented fighters in UFC 276 will take part in the comain event. In the co-main, No. Jack Hermansson, 6th ranked, will take on No. Sean Strickland is 7th ranked. Both fighters hope to face reigning division champion Israel Adesanya. Hermansson's record since 2016 is nine, winning six of the last eight fights. Strickland is on a five-fight winning streak and is hoping to continue that streak.
The co-main events are the Welterweights
The co-main feature of the contender series features a fight featuring two former heavyweight champions. Both are undefeated. Bruno Assis (Brazilian challenger) will face Diaz. Assis beat a highly-rated competitor in March. There will also be two exciting bantamweight matches. Mayra Bueno Silvi will take on Wu Yanan while Carlos Aldo will be facing a top-rated middleweight prospect.
The co-main events will feature lightweights
The lightweight division will return for the second consecutive year, with one top prospect in the UFC facing another lightweight. Brendan Battles (28-1 KOs, 2 KOs), takes on Fred Grey, an unknown opponent, in the comain event of the contender Series. The winner will earn a spot in the lightweight division's championship fight next year.