Six Contracts Handed Out as Contender Series Week 7 Makes History

Dana White awarded UFC deals to six fighters in Las Vegas, including two who lost their bouts — a first in Contender Series history.

Week 7 of Dana White's Contender Series Season 10 delivered an unusual night at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas on Tuesday, with six fighters leaving with UFC contracts. Two of those deals went to fighters who lost their bouts, marking a first in the history of the show.

In the main event, Norbert Novenyi Jr. took a unanimous decision over Theo Haig in a tougher outing than expected for the heavily favored London Shootfighting prospect. Novenyi dropped Haig early, but Haig responded with grappling that controlled much of the opening round. Novenyi ground out the win, yet he was the only victorious fighter on the card not to receive a contract, with Dana White telling him the promotion wants to see him compete on the series again.

The co-main event produced one of the night's wilder fights, as Ares welterweight champion Alvi Dasuyev earned a unanimous decision over Jaden Ortega. Dasuyev scored a knockdown early and emptied his tank trying to finish the durable Ortega, then had to survive a surge in the later rounds. Both men were awarded contracts, and afterward Dasuyev pointed to jet lag for his fading cardio.

Piero Guaylupo and Callum Connor delivered another brawl that drew a standing ovation from White and Hunter Campbell. The 21-year-old Guaylupo dropped Connor at the end of the first round, but Connor recovered and the pair combined for nearly 400 significant strikes over three rounds. Guaylupo won on the scorecards, and both fighters signed UFC deals.

Elsewhere on the card, LFA interim flyweight champion Marcos Degli submitted Fury FC champion Paris Moran with a one-armed rear naked choke in the second round to earn a contract. In the opening bout, KSW veteran Damian Piwowarczyk, a training partner of Jan Blachowicz, overcame a slow start against Emilio Quissua to pick up a contract of his own.