Dana White’s Contender Series Returns for Season 9
Dana White’s Contender Series is back, and season nine is officially underway, bringing with it another chance for rising fighters to make their dream of joining the UFC come true. Since its launch in 2017, this series has become a proving ground for future stars, with Dana White himself sitting cageside, ready to hand out UFC contracts to those who deliver unforgettable performances. Many names that fans know well today — like Sean O’Malley, Jamahal Hill, Diego Lopes, and Maycee Barber — first caught attention on this very stage.
This season kicked off on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, and it’s scheduled to run for ten episodes, each one streamed live from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fight fans in the U.S. can tune in every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on ESPN+, while international viewers can catch the action through UFC Fight Pass and additional broadcast partners depending on their region. From Europe to Asia and the Middle East, the series continues to reach a global audience, showing just how big of a platform this has become for hungry contenders.
Also Read:Each week, a lineup of fighters steps into the cage, knowing that one electrifying finish or dominant performance could change their careers overnight. The format is simple yet brutal: five bouts per card, ten athletes giving everything they have, and only a handful walking away with UFC contracts. The rest return to the grind, hoping for another shot in the future.
Week one already set the tone with a slate of high-energy middleweight matchups, while week two, better known as DWCS 78, brought more intensity to the octagon. Fighters like Manuel Exposito and Jose Delano clashed in a featherweight main event, each chasing that life-changing nod from Dana White. Alongside them, prospects like Josh Hokit, Louis Lee Scott, and Ramiro Jimenez also had their chance to show that they belong in the biggest fight promotion in the world.
What makes the Contender Series so special is not just the fights themselves, but the stakes behind them. Every athlete knows this isn’t just another win or loss on their record — it’s a career-defining moment. The audience gets to witness raw hunger, unmatched intensity, and the kind of all-or-nothing performances that sometimes get lost in standard UFC cards.
As season nine continues over the coming weeks, fans can expect more highlight-reel knockouts, slick submissions, and emotional contract announcements. For the fighters, this is their audition on the biggest stage possible, and history has shown that more than a few of them will turn into future champions. For anyone who loves the drama of combat sports, Dana White’s Contender Series is must-watch TV every Tuesday night.
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