Dana White’s Contender Series made history during Week 7 of Season 10, with the UFC awarding six contracts inside the renovated Meta Apex—including deals for two fighters who came up short on the judges' scorecards.
UFC analyst Laura Sanko broke down the historic evening alongside Brian Campbell, emphasizing that the night delivered unprecedented drama:
"Never in the history of this show have two losers on one night gotten contracts," Sanko said. "Those two fights were incredible. It was tooth and nail. It was guys pouring out their souls onto the canvas, and Dana White loves that."
Double-Contract Thrillers Steal the Spotlight
The lightweight showdown between unbeaten prospects Piero Guaylupo and Callum Connor set the standard for the night. Peru’s 21-year-old powerhouse Guaylupo secured a 30-27 unanimous decision behind heavy combinations, but Connor’s durability, precision striking, and refusal to back down despite heavy facial damage convinced the UFC brass to sign both fighters.
A similarly intense battle unfolded at welterweight between Alvi Dasuyev and Jaden Ortega. Dasuyev dominated the opening frames before severe fatigue set in, allowing the 23-year-old Ortega to mount a gritty third-round comeback. Both men received UFC contracts, but Dasuyev quickly called for an immediate rematch:
"The plan was to knock him out," Dasuyev said. "He got the contract too, but we can run it again in the UFC in December. I want to make my debut this year. Next time, I knock this guy out."
Dramatic Finishes on the Undercard
In the light heavyweight opener, Poland's Damian Piwowarczyk survived a barrage from Emilio Quissua before scoring a dramatic TKO finish with just five seconds remaining in the first round. Sanko praised Piwowarczyk’s resilience:
"The hotter the kitchen, the better he cooks. As soon as it started to get a little hectic in there, it was like he went, 'I live in the chaos. I am the king of chaos.' This kid has crazy knockout power."
At flyweight, former LFA interim champion Marcos Degli earned his spot on the roster by submitting Paris Moran with a stylish, one-armed rear-naked choke in the second round—securing his 13th consecutive victory.
Main Event Falls Short of the Contract Standard
The only fight that did not yield a contract was the middleweight headliner, where Norbert Novenyi Jr. defeated Theo Haig via unanimous decision. Despite getting the win, Novenyi’s safety-first grappling approach drew crowd frustration and failed to impress the matchmakers, proving once again that advancing to the UFC requires style and intent, not just a victory on the cards.
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