Dana White's Contender Series was created to support the young fighters of the regional scene. This season's main fight will feature the Lightweight title fight. The Middleweights, Welterweights, and Co-main Events will follow. The Ultimate Job Interview was cancelled because of injuries to main event participants. This tournament is a great way to find out if your are the next big thing within the UFC.
Dana White's sixth Season of the Contender Series
The sixth season Dana White's Contender Series, has been revealed. Its premiere date is Tuesday, July 26, at 8 PM ET. The program will air online on ESPN+ and one episode is expected each week. The program scouts promising fighters and offers them the chance to sign contracts with UFC. The sixth season will include ten episodes.
The main event will feature lightweights
Two promising prospects will be fighting for the title shot at the lightweight division. Rafael Alves and Ty Flores, both former UFC fighters, will be competing in the main event. Both are on an impressive four-fight winning streak. Rafael Alves is a former Titan FC interim lightweight champion who trains at the MMA Masters in South Florida. Miguel Baeza has been his mentor and he has witnessed his rise to stardom.
The co-main show will feature middleweights
The co-main event of the UFC 276 contender series will feature two of the best fighters in the division. In the co-main event, No. Jack Hermansson (6th) will be taking on No. Sean Strickland is 7th ranked. Both fighters hope to face reigning division champion Israel Adesanya. Hermansson won six of his eight previous fights and has now won nine since 2016. Strickland is on a five-fight winning streak and is hoping to continue that streak.
The co-main events are the Welterweights
The co-main fight of the contender series features two former heavyweight champions who are both undefeated. Diaz will take on Brazilian challenger Bruno Assis, who beat a highly-rated opponent in March. There will also be two exciting bantamweight matches. Mayra Bueno Silvi will take on Wu Yanan while Carlos Aldo will be facing a top-rated middleweight prospect.
Lightweights are the co-main event
The lightweight division is back for the second time in as many years, with one of the top prospects in the UFC facing a lightweight. Brendan Battles (28-0 KOs, 2 knockouts) will face Fred Grey of Atlanta in the comain event. The winner will earn a spot in the lightweight division's championship fight next year.