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 sixth episode of the new season takes place on Sept. 15 and airs live on Paramount+ starting at 7 p.m. ET.
WW: Mayton Perea (8-3, DC Team Machala, Ecuador) vs. Zevan Hunt (7-0, American Elite MMA, United States)
Two fighters who will have to prove they are UFC-ready square off in this one. Zevan Hunt does own wins over Contender Series vets Donovan Beard and Devin Smyth in running his perfect 7-0 record. He’s primarily a ground fighter, which is likely where he’ll try to lure Mayton Perea. Perea is a tall, long striker for the welterweight division and needs to stay on the outside en route to tagging up Hunt with his punches and kicks. This will be a stylistic chess match, in theory.
MW: Igor Cavalcanti (13-2, Infinity Fight Team, Brazil) vs. Oscar Ravello (13-3-1, Sniper Gym, Peru)
Igor Cavalcanti makes his return to the Contender Series after coming up short in 2024 and takes on continental brethren Oscar Ravello. Cavalcanti is an impressive kickboxer with big-time knockout power that tends to start quickly and go for the kill. His inadequacies stem largely when he’s taken down. Ravello is a guy that will likely look to expose that, but he’ll have to get inside of Cavalcanti’s reach and danger zone to do so.
LW: Akbar Abdullaev (13-0, Al-Munar FC, Kyrgyzstan) vs. Ednilson Santos (14-7-1, Cruz MMA, Brazil)
A five-time veteran of ONE Championship, including scoring a win over ONE Champion Kai Tang, Akbar Abdullaev is a proven commodity and 13-0, with 12 wins using his striking and one using his submission skills. He is vastly powerful and has probably the toughest strength of schedule of any fighter on the Contender Series this season. He takes on a very late replacement fighter in Ednilson Santos, who you have to give credit for taking on such a tough fight on about a week’s notice.
MW: Hugo Guillon (7-1, Ghost Arena, France) vs. Luis Hernandez (7-0, Freedom Fighters, United States)
You may remember Luis Hernandez best for some post-fight hijinks, when he defeated a teammate of Sean Strickland and Chris Curtis, taunted them, and then was jumped by the two aforementioned UFC fighters. That shouldn’t be his defining moment, as Hernandez is an undefeated fighter and police officer with finishes in all fights. Most have come in the first round, too, showing he gets to work quickly. Hugo Guillon is similarly a finisher with a somewhat similar style, which means their styles should clash nicely here.
FW: Antonio Monteiro (18-5-1, Nova Uniao, Brazil) vs. Tyshawn Williams (8-0, Xtreme Couture, United States)
Antonio Monteiro returns for the first time since 2024 to the Contender Series to take on another undefeated prospect in Tyshawn Williams. Monteiro is a physically strong fighter with a typical top-notch ground game that many at Nova Uniao have formed. That will be tested by the tried-and-true wrestling seen by Xtreme Couture fighter Williams, who is a physical beast. On the feet, Williams probably has the edge, though their striking could be comparable.
Akbar Abdullaev may be the best fighter competing on this season of the Contender Series right now. He’s proven at a high level and an absolute dominator. I don’t know if he’s the best long-term prospect (he could be), but he’s certainly the best cast member right now.
Despite being the grappler in this matchup, Oscar Ravello is not above getting into a pure dogfight, which I think happens when he can’t get Igor Cavalcanti to the ground. I think it turns into pure anarchy and the fight of the night.
Williams may be an unheralded guy on this episode because of some returning Contender Series vets, Abdullaev, and others, but he’s really a solid prospect that could be successful on the UFC roster. He’s a tough out.
Like we said, a week’s notice to fight Akbar Abdullaev is a tall task for anyone. Two fights ago, Santos was knocked out by two-time Contender Series loser Dylan Mantello. He’s not UFC-caliber, and he’s taking on the most UFC-caliber guy competing.
| Fight Prediction | |
|---|---|
| WW: Mayton Perea vs. Zevan Hunt | Hunt |
| MW: Igor Cavalcanti vs. Oscar Ravello | Cavalcanti |
| LW: Ednilson Santos vs. Akbar Abdullaev | Abdullaev |
| MW: Hugo Guillon vs. Luis Hernandez | Hernandez |
| FW: Antonio Monteiro vs. Tyshawn Williams | Williams |