Week 7 of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10 is here, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Ten hungry prospects will step into the cage, all fighting for that life-changing UFC contract.
Headlining the night is a can’t-miss middleweight scrap between Norbert Novenyi Jr and Theo Haig. Check out the full lineup and our predictions for an explosive Week 7 of DWCS:
How to Watch
- 📅 Date: Tuesday, September 22
- 🕑 Start Time: 4:00 PM PT / 7:00 PM ET
- 📍 Location: UFC Apex — Las Vegas, Nevada
- 📺 How to Watch: Paramount+
Full Match Card for Week 7
- Featured Middleweight Bout: Norbert Novenyi Jr. (10-1) vs. Theo Haig (7-1)
- Welterweight Bout: Jaden Ortega (6-0) vs. Alvi Dasuyev (9-0)
- Flyweight Bout: Paris Moran (14-3, 1 NC) vs. Marcos Degli (14-3)
- Lightweight Bout: Piero Guaylupo (11-0) vs. Callum Connor (8-0)
- Light Heavyweight Bout: Damian Piwowarczyk (11-4) vs. Emilio Quissua (8-0)
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Card Predictions for Contender Series Week 7:
Norbert Novenyi Jr. vs. Theo Haig
At 26 years old, Norbert Novenyi Jr. brings a strong grappling pedigree into this matchup. Born in Hungary and now training out of London, he has finished nine of his 10 professional victories, with eight of those stoppages coming in the first round.
A former Bellator fighter, Novenyi Jr.’s lone defeat came by majority decision against Dalton Rasta, giving him valuable experience against high-level opposition. On the mat, he is an aggressive grappler who has shown a particular affinity for choke submissions, making him a dangerous threat whenever he can establish dominant positions.
Theo Haig presents a similarly dangerous challenge on the ground. All seven of his professional victories have come by submission, with five of those finishes arriving in the first round. His only loss came on last season’s Contender Series, where he was stopped by knockout in under a minute.
That result aside, his submission game has been the defining feature of his career, and he has consistently looked to force opponents into uncomfortable grappling exchanges.
With two submission specialists meeting, this fight could become a tactical chess match on the mat, with both men wary of giving the other an opening for a finish. The level of mutual respect in the grappling could also force the fight into a stand-up battle. If that happens, Novenyi Jr. may have the more favorable matchup.
Prediction: Norbert Novenyi Jr. via KO/TKO
Jaden Ortega vs. Alvi Dasuyev
Jaden Ortega enters this matchup at just 24 years old and still undefeated, having finished five of his six professional victories. All five stoppages have come by KO/TKO, with four in the first round, highlighting the explosiveness and finishing ability.
The biggest question surrounding Ortega, however, is the level of competition he has faced. While his undefeated record and early-round finishing rate are impressive, he has yet to face an opponent with the experience and résumé of Dasuyev, making this a significant step up in competition.
Alivi Dasuyev is also undefeated and brings an equally impressive finishing record into the matchup. He has stopped every opponent he has defeated, with all but one of those finishes coming in the first round.
Beyond his spotless record, Dasuyev has already captured championships in two different regional promotions and has an extensive amateur résumé. That experience could prove valuable if Ortega is unable to find an early finish and the fight begins to move into unfamiliar territory for the younger prospect.
On paper, both fighters have demonstrated the ability to end fights quickly, so this matchup has the potential to be decided by whoever can impose their pace first. Dasuyev enters the fight as the favorite, but with two undefeated fighters who have shown a consistent ability to finish, neither can afford to give the other many opportunities early.
Prediction: Alvi Dasuyev via Submission
Paris Moran vs. Marcos Degli
Paris Moran enters this matchup at 30 years old and brings a wealth of experience to the cage. Fighting out of Texas, he is a two-time Fury FC champion, reclaiming the title in his last fight. Moran is a well-rounded fighter with a high fight IQ, and six of his victories have come by way of stoppage.
Just as importantly, he has built his résumé against a solid level of competition and has already shared the cage with Joshua Van, giving him experience against an opponent who has since continued to rise through the ranks. Moran’s ability to mix his skill set and make adjustments could be particularly important against a dangerous finisher like Degli.
At 26 years old, Marcos Degli enters the matchup with an impressive record of his own. The Brazilian has finished 13 of his 14 victories, including eight in the first round, and has established himself primarily as a knockout threat with nine KO victories on his record. He is also an LFA champion with two successful title defenses, further demonstrating his ability to perform consistently against quality opposition.
Degli has not lost since 2022 and brings a 12-fight winning streak into this matchup, giving him considerable momentum heading into the fight.
The matchup presents an interesting contrast between Moran’s experience, versatility, and ability to make adjustments and Degli’s overwhelming finishing ability. Moran has the tools to make Degli work in multiple areas, but giving a fighter with Degli’s knockout power too many opportunities could be costly. Degli enters as a sizable favorite.
Still, Moran’s experience and well-rounded skill set could make this a more competitive fight if he can avoid getting drawn into a firefight and force Degli to fight outside of his preferred range.
Prediction: Paris Moran via Decision
Piero Guaylupo vs. Callum Connor
At just 21 years old, Piero Guaylupo enters this matchup undefeated as both an amateur and a professional. The Peruvian has already captured regional championships in two different promotions and has finished all but one of his professional victories by KO/TKO, with five of those stoppages coming in the first round. His combination of youth, power, and an undefeated record makes him an intriguing prospect, although there are still some questions surrounding the résumé.
Guaylupo does not have an impressive strength of schedule, and one of his fights has been flagged and ruled ineligible for inclusion on his official record due to concerns surrounding its legitimacy. Those circumstances make it more difficult to evaluate exactly how he will perform against a higher level of opposition. But outside of those questions, Guaylupo has continued to show the traits of a dangerous prospect.
Callum Connor also enters the fight undefeated and brings his own impressive finishing record. The Englishman has stopped six of his eight professional opponents, with five of those finishes coming in the first round.
Like Guaylupo, however, Connor has a fight that has been flagged for potential legitimacy concerns in one of his fights, adding another layer of uncertainty when assessing the records of both fighters. One clear physical advantage Connor will have is his size. Standing at 6 feet tall, having a height advantage over the 5-foot-9 Guaylupo.
This is an intriguing matchup between two undefeated fighters who have shown a clear ability to finish opponents early. Guaylupo appears to have the more explosive finishing profile. Connor’s height and reach should give him opportunities to make the fight difficult at range. Guaylupo enters as the favorite, but the size difference and Connor’s own first-round finishing ability make this a competitive fight.
Prediction: Piero Guaylupo via KO/TKO
Damian Piwowarczyk vs. Emilio Quissua
Damian Piwowarczyk enters this matchup at 29 years old and represents Poland. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-6, he brings an enormous physical presence into the cage and has backed it up with an impressive finishing record. He has stopped 10 of his 11 professional victories, with six of those finishes coming in the first round.
There has been a noticeable theme of Polish fighters bringing serious power, and Piwowarczyk certainly appears to fit that mold. His combination of size and finishing ability makes him a particularly dangerous opponent, especially if he is able to establish his range early.
Emilio Quissua is also 29 and enters the matchup undefeated. The German fighter has finished five of his victories, all by KO/TKO, with four coming in the opening round. At 6-foot-4, he is only two inches shorter than Piwowarczyk, meaning this should be a matchup between two unusually large athletes who are both comfortable looking for the finish.
That size difference is unlikely to be a major factor by itself, and Quissua’s undefeated record suggests he has the confidence and ability to deal with the challenges presented by Piwowarczyk.
With both fighters possessing significant knockout power, this has the makings of a closely contested matchup. The fight is reflected as nearly even on the odds, with Piwowarczyk coming in as a slight favorite. Given their finishing rates, however, there may not be much room for either fighter to make mistakes.
Prediction: Damian Piwowarczyk via KO/TKO
