Dana White's Contender Series: All You Need To Know

Cameron Kelly Updated: 27 minutes ago

Dana White's Contender Series is back for the 10th season, here is everything you need to know before it starts on August 11, 2026.

For aspiring mixed martial artists, earning a UFC contract is exceptionally hard. Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS) has become one of the most important pathways, giving rising prospects an opportunity to compete in front of CEO Dana White and matchmakers for a chance to join the roster.

Athletes are not solely judged on the outcome, but on how they perform; simply winning the fight is not enough. Finishing ability, standout performances, and fighting styles are all factors in the decision for a contract.

Since its debut in 2017, the series has introduced many UFC contenders and champions, making it a must-watch event for fans as the UFC discovers its next generation of talent.

How does Dana White's Contender Series work?

Each episode features five fights, showcasing different weight classes.

UFC CEO Dana White sits alongside UFC matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard to evaluate each matchup.

Every athlete stepping into the Octagon understands the stakes and how a single standout performance can change everything.

After the fights are all finished, Dana White and the matchmakers evaluate the five matchups and announce which athletes (if any) have earned an official contract to join the UFC roster.

There is no fixed number of roster spots. Each week, Dana White and the matchmakers decide how many contracts are awarded based on the fights they judged.

In 2025, a record-tying 46 athletes were awarded UFC contracts during season 9 of DWCS.

How to Watch Dana White's Contender Series

Season 10 will air exclusively on Paramount+ and stream live at 8:00 PM ET every Tuesday. This marks the first year the series will not be on ESPN+, making it an exciting debut on Paramount+ for the show's 10th season.