Dana White’s Contender Series is back for its 10th season.
The show, which airs on its home on Paramount+, aims to give top prospects a chance to impress the UFC brass in an attempt to earn a contract with the company. The show’s second episode of the new season takes place on Aug. 18 and airs live on Paramount+ starting at 7 p.m. ET.
WW: Kaik Brito (19-6, Black Thai Team, Brazil) vs. Namo Fazil (10-1, Tiger Muay Thai, United States)
The first of a few Contender Series vets competes here, as Kaik Brito returns for the first time since 2023 to take on MVP Promotions vet Namo Fazil. Brito loves to get in a good barnburner, possessing a good brawling kickboxing style to go with a solid submission grappling game. Fazil is similarly rounded and a guy that’s coming with a bit of hype, having big power on the feet and a strong submission arsenal himself. This should be one helluva fight.
MW: Trent Miller (9-3, Xtreme Couture, United States) vs. Douglas Rodrigues (6-1, Fight Master MMA, Brazil)
In one of the more questionable returns of this season of the Contender Series, Trent Miller gets another crack on the show after being one of the most overmatched fighters in his first attempt. He takes on Douglas Rodrigues, a striker who is going to give him fits on the feet. Miller looked like a fish out of water on the feet in his last Contender Series bout, so unless he’s made major adjustments, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Rodrigues lighting him up on the feet.
LW: Cristian Perez (14-2, The GOAT Shed, Mexico) vs. Logan Paxton (10-1, Havoc MMA, United States)
You guessed it, another Contender Series vet is set to compete here in Cristian Perez. He takes on Logan Paxton in what should be a showcase fight for the Mexican martial artist. Paxton is a powerful wrestler, though his track record has not seen him fight the strongest competition in the regionals. Perez is battle-tested against better competition and going to have a major advantage on the feet, though he has solid submissions as well. Paxton will test him early, but this is Perez’s fight to lose.
LHW: Alik Lorenz (7-2, MMA Lab, United States) vs. Mahamed Aly (5-1, Team Lloyd Irvin, Brazil)
After coming up short in the 2025 Contender Series, Alik Lorenz and Mahamed Aly return this season in an attempt to get another crack at the roster. It’s an interesting fight in that Lorenz is more of a brawler and likely considered the better striker, even though Aly has shown some solid improvements in the kickboxing realm. The big advantage here will be with Aly’s ground game if he can force that against Lorenz. Lorenz won’t be easy to get down, and Aly likely will have to eat some shots to get it in. This is going to be an interesting one.
FW: Taner Trembley (7-0, Start BJJ, United States) vs. Roman Puga (5-1, MMAFC, United States)
In what should be another solid showcase fight, wrestling standout Taner Trembley takes on finisher Roman Puga. Puga is likely going to want to keep this fight standing, as that’s probably his best route to victory. Trembley will close the distance and use his wrestling and jiu-jitsu to dominate Puga. That will be very tough for Puga to defend against, as Trembley is relentless.
Perez was a favorite fighter of mine last season, though he came up short against a tough opponent. He continues to be one of the better fighters that will be featured on the Contender Series and has a crowd-pleasing style that makes him not only dangerous but a potential bonus collector.
Kaik Brito and Namo Fazil are going to have a war on the feet. They could show off some slick grappling on the mat. They are going to leave everything in the cage, and Dana White will be on his feet by the end.
Fazil doesn’t have the name recognition of his opponent Brito, but he has a rounded skill set and is only getting better. He’s definitely a guy to keep an eye on in the aforementioned best fight of the night.
As stated, I was shocked that Trent Miller was invited back after his previous showing on the Contender Series. While he looks like a million bucks with his muscular frame, he showed a low gas tank, mediocre striking and a lack of resolve in his last Contender bout.
| Fight | Pick |
|---|---|
| WW: Kaik Brito vs. Namo Fazil | Fazil |
| MW: Trent Miller vs. Douglas Rodrigues | Rodrigues |
| LW: Cristian Perez vs. Logan Paxton | Perez |
| LHW: Alik Lorenz vs. Mahamed Aly | Aly |
| FW: Taner Trembley vs. Roman Puga | Trembley |
| Fight | Pick |
|---|---|
| WW: Kaik Brito vs. Namo Fazil | Fazil |
| MW: Trent Miller vs. Douglas Rodrigues | Rodrigues |
| LW: Cristian Perez vs. Logan Paxton | Perez |
| LHW: Alik Lorenz vs. Mahamed Aly | Aly |
| FW: Taner Trembley vs. Roman Puga | Trembley |