Week 8 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 lightweight scrap between Loai Abushaar and George Staines. Check out the full lineup and our predictions for an explosive Week 8 of DWCS:
How to Watch
- 📅 Date: Tuesday, September 29th
- 🕑 Start Time: 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET
- 📍 Location: UFC Apex — Las Vegas, Nevada
- 📺 How to Watch: Paramount+
Full Match Card for Week 8
- Featured Middleweight Bout: Loai Abushaar (7-1) vs. George Staines (10-0)
- Heavyweight Bout: Zaurbek Sabanov (4-0) vs. Adama Diop (6-1)
- Featherweight Bout: Luca Borando (9-1) vs. Ian Escuza (7-0)
- Strawweight Bout: Camila Reynoso (9-1) vs. Aieza Bertolso (7-0)
- Featherweight Bout: Ilias Bulaid (9-0) vs. Erick Visconde (17-3)
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Card Predictions for Contender Series Week 8:
Loai Abushaar vs. George Staines
Loai Abushaar is a 30-year-old American who stands 6-foot-4 at lightweight. He has finished all seven of his professional wins, six in the first round. Riding a four-fight winning streak, he has shown he can end fights in different ways, with four wins by KO/TKO and three by submission.
George Staines, 26, is an undefeated English prospect with a kickboxing background. His professional record, though, includes more submission wins than knockouts and more decisions than finishes. Staines has faced high-level opposition, and his extensive amateur career gives him experience beyond his professional record.
Staines enters as the favorite, but Abushaar’s height and early finishing ability make this a compelling matchup. Abushaar has repeatedly found openings in the first round. Staines has shown he can handle difficult opponents and win across a full fight.
Whether Abushaar can create an early finish, or Staines can take control as the fight develops, could decide it.
Prediction: George Staines via Submission
Zaurbek Sabanov vs. Adama Diop
Zaurbek Sabanov, 28, is undefeated as both a professional and an amateur. The Russian Wushu Sanda fighter has finished each of his last three professional wins by KO/TKO, including two in the first round. He is only four fights into his professional career, but his recent results show how quickly he can turn his striking into a finish.
Adama Diop, 31, brings a different threat. The Senegalese fighter will be shorter than Sabanov but should have the edge in size and physical strength. Five of his six professional wins have come by KO/TKO, including four first-round finishes. He has also won regional titles in two promotions, giving him experience in championship fights.
Sabanov enters as the favorite, but Diop’s power makes this dangerous from the opening bell. Sabanov will need to establish his range without giving Diop the chance to land the kind of early shot that has ended most of his wins.
Prediction: Adama Diop via KO/TKO
Luca Borando vs. Ian Escuza
Luca Borando, 26, has finished eight of his nine professional wins, including seven by KO/TKO. The Italian returns to featherweight after competing at 160 pounds in his last fight, making his return to the division worth watching.
Ian Escuza, 30, is undefeated and has finished all seven of his opponents in the first round. The Peruvian has five wins by KO/TKO and two by submission, with four of those finishes coming in under a minute. He has also defended a regional title twice.
Borando enters as the favorite, but Escuza’s record makes him a serious threat from the opening bell. If Borando survives that early pressure, his power and experience could give him more opportunities as the fight goes on.
Prediction: Ian Escuza via KO/TKO
Camila Reynoso vs. Aieza Bertolso
Camila Reynoso, 23, has competed for regional titles at both flyweight and strawweight. The Argentine has finished six of her nine professional wins, bringing championship fight experience and a proven ability to end fights early into this matchup.
Aieza Bertolso, 25, is undefeated as a professional and lost just once in 17 amateur bouts. The Brazilian is riding a 21-fight winning streak and has earned four of her seven professional wins by submission. She also won a regional title in her most recent fight.
Both are among South America’s top-ranked pound-for-pound women’s prospects. Bertolso enters as the favorite, but Reynoso’s finishing ability and experience in title fights make this one of the most competitive matchups on the card.
Prediction: Aieza Bertolso via Decision
Ilias Bulaid vs. Erick Visconde
Ilias Bulaid, 31, is an undefeated professional from the Netherlands who now fights out of Ireland. He brought an extensive kickboxing résumé into MMA, and his striking has produced five KO/TKO wins, including four in the first round. He won a regional title in his most recent fight.
Erick Visconde, 29, is from Brazil and trains in the United States. He has finished 12 of his 17 professional wins, six in the first round. His six KO/TKO wins and six submissions make him a threat both standing and on the ground. He, too, is coming off a regional title victory.
Visconde is the slight favorite in the closest betting matchup on the card. Both fighters can finish early and enter with momentum from title wins, leaving little to separate them on paper.
Prediction: Erick Visconde via Submission
