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 fourth episode of the new season takes place on Sept. 1 and airs live on Paramount+ starting at 7 p.m. ET.
WW: Patrick Rivera (13-4, Crazy 88 Jiu-Jitsu, United States) vs. Adam Darby (7-1, Team Ryano MMA, Ireland)
This is an interesting main event for a couple of reasons. Firstly, Patrick Rivera is 34 years old, and Dana White isn’t looking for 34-year-old contenders. He’s also a guy who fights .500-level regional talent. Then you have Darby, who has the Irish background the UFC loves, but similarly has not really fought much other than .500-ish regional talent himself. Perhaps the matchmakers see something that I don’t (hint: they don’t).
MW: Modestino Rodrigues (7-1, Revira Black Team, Brazil) vs. Brandon Holmes (6-1, TNT Martial Arts & Fitness, United States)
Brandon Holmes took an insanely late-notice bout last year on the Contender Series, and I think that willingness has earned him a second chance. Though he was crushed by Cam Rowston, he came back and won in very impressive fashion on the regional scene. He’s going to get all he can handle with Modestino Rodrigues, a guy with professional kickboxing experience and a high finish rate as a mixed martial artist.
LW: Hunter Smith (8-1, Performance Evolution Training Center, United States) vs. Adam Livingston (7-1, Long Island MMA, United States)
We have a couple of headhunters fighting in this fight, as neither Hunter Smith nor Adam Livingston is one to usually take a step back. They both have a high rate of knockout stoppages. I think in this one, you will see two guys swing until one can swing no more. The winner will be rewarded with a contract for such a slugfest.
LW: Silvestre Sanchez (9-1, Llamas Brothers MMA, Mexico) vs. Liam McCracken (8-1, Aspire Combat Sports Academy, England)
Speaking of good fights that should entertain the bosses, we have the power boxing and grappling of Silvestre Sanchez taking on the technical boxing and grappling of Liam McCracken. Both guys tend to be in exciting fights and hunt for the finish consistently. This should be another one where a contract is awarded to the winner for the display both men put on.
HW: Gabriel Lourenco (7-1, Chute Boxe, Brazil) vs. Charlie Cleveland (6-1, Demolition Fight Team, United States)
Former college football player Charlie Cleveland has quickly established himself as one of the better heavyweight prospects in the United States right now. A great athlete with scary power on the feet is Cleveland, which will be met by the classic Chute Boxe style of Muay Thai and kickboxing that Gabriel Lourenco will bring to the table. This one doesn’t go past the first round.
There are a lot of prospects on this episode that I just don’t think have high ceilings. I think the best fighter is Modestino Rodrigues, again given his professional kickboxing background and the fact that’s translated well to MMA with a 7-1 record.
I stated in their preview that these are two headhunters who don’t step backward. It edges Sanchez-McCracken as best fight of the night.
Cleveland is another in the line of former football players making a smooth transition to heavyweight. Heavyweights in MMA rarely have the athleticism to boot. Cleveland clearly does, which is why he’s been successful so quickly.
A 34-year-old journeyman who fights .500 opposition? I don’t see how that’s not the definition of a long shot.
| Fight | Prediction |
|---|---|
| WW: Patrick Rivera vs. Adam Darby | Darby |
| MW: Modestino Rodrigues vs. Brandon Holmes | Rodrigues |
| LW: Hunter Smith vs. Adam Livingston | Livingston |
| LW: Silvestre Sanchez vs. Liam McCracken | McCracken |
| HW: Gabriel Lourenco vs. Charlie Cleveland | Cleveland |