Week 7 of Dana White's Contender Series is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22nd and takes place at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This event features five Main-Card fights, including a Main Event between Norbert Novenyi Jr. and Theo Haig in the UFC Welterweight Division.
For those unfamiliar with the Contender Series, it is an ongoing series where rising prospects attempt to make an impression on Dana White, the CEO of the UFC.
Dana White's Contender Series: Episode 7 betting picks and predictions
Norbert Novenyi Jr. vs. Theo Haig - Fight to go the Distance - No
Our top pick for Week 7 of the Contender Series concerns the Main Event between Norbert Novenyi Jr. and Theo Haig and for it to end inside the distance. Novenyi Jr. enters this fight with an MMA record of 10-1. His most recent win came against Clement Giordanengo by TKO back in March 2026.
Novenyi Jr. has been a professional MMA fighter for over eight years, and what's most impressive is how often he's won inside the distance. In fact, nine of Novenyi Jr.'s 10 MMA wins have come by finish. This includes four wins by KO/TKO and five wins by submission. Eight of those wins came in the first round, suggesting he will be looking for a quick finish to earn a UFC contract.
As for Haig, he enters this fight with an MMA record of 7-1. His most recent MMA bout was a submission win over Lance Wright in February 2026. Haig also has an impressive streak of winning fights inside the distance. He has seven wins by submission and his only loss is by KO/TKO.
As mentioned, Novenyi Jr. has seen nine of his 11 MMA fights end inside the distance, while all eight of his MMA fights have done the same. Haig also fought in the Contender Series, where he lost by TKO to Cezary Oleksiejczuk in September 2025. For that reason, backing this fight to end inside the distance will be our best bet.
Matchup Stats
Norbert Novenyi Jr. | Theo Haig | |
10-1 | Record | 7-1 |
Win | Last Fight | Win |
5’11” | Height | 6’2” |
185 lbs | Weight | 186 lbs |
26 | Age | 30 |
Alvi Dasuyev vs. Jaden Ortega - Fight to go the Distance - No
Our second pick for Week 7 of the Contender Series is that the fight between Alvi Dasuyev and Jaden Ortega will end inside the distance.
Dasuyev enters this fight with an MMA record of 9-0. He most recently beat Mohamed Soumah by submission back in June 2026. Dasuyev has only been a professional MMA fighter since 2024, but has won all of his fights inside the distance. This includes six KO/TKO wins and three submission wins.
Ortega has an MMA record of 6-0. His most recent win came against Ricardo Chavez by TKO back in February 2026. Like his opponent, Ortega has won most of his MMA fights inside the distance. In fact, he has five wins by KO/TKO and just one win by decision.
Given that Dasuyev has seen all nine of his MMA fights end inside the distance and Ortega has seen five of his six MMA fights do the same, backing this fight to end inside the distance will be our play.
Matchup Stats
Alvi Dasuyev | Jaden Ortega | |
9-0 | Record | 6-0 |
Win | Last Fight | Win |
6’1” | Height | 6’1” |
170 lbs | Weight | 171 lbs |
24 | Age | 24 |
Location, Date, Time
Location: UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
Date: Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
How to Watch Dana White's Contender Series Week 7
Fans can stream the Dana White’s Contender Series Week 7 event on Paramount+.
Dana White’s Contender Series Week 7 Fight Card
Fight | Weight Class |
Norbert Novenyi Jr. vs. Theo Haig | Middleweight |
Alvi Dasuyev vs. Jaden Ortega | Welterweight |
Marcos Degli vs. Paris Moran | Flyweight |
Piero Guaylupo vs. Callum Connor | Lightweight |
Damian Piwowarczyk vs. Emilio Quissua | Light Heavyweight |
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