DWCS Season 9: Mid-Season Report
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We’ve officially reached the halfway point of Season 9 of Dana White’s Contender Series, and several fighters have already stood out. Some even made their UFC debuts shortly after earning contracts.
Nine seasons in, the show doesn’t carry the same hype and anticipation it once did. Still, DWCS continues to attract viewers and create buzz each week, with fans searching for content and prospects eager to seize their shot.
Here is a mid-season report to highlight the top performers and biggest stories from Season 9 so far:
Number of Contracts Through Mid-Season
In the first five weeks, a total of 21 contracts were awarded, averaging about four per week. The only notable outlier was Week 1, when just two contracts were handed out.
Some contracts went to fighters who typically only earn them under rare circumstances, including Shanelle Dyer, who lost her fight, and Louis Lee Scott, who missed weight. Overall, the season has been unusually heavy on contract awards, making it one of the more generous starts in recent memory.
5 Standout Contract Winners
Caroline Foro brings rare power to the division, maintaining constant pressure while staying calm throughout the fight. She could rise quickly up the rankings, especially with the strawweight division wide open following Weili Zhang’s move up to flyweight.
Mandel Nallo is as ready as they come. At 36, he needed to prove himself on DWCS, especially since Dana White doesn’t often sign older fighters. He has a great frame for lightweight, with striking that is crisp and precise. What stands out most is his timing, as he consistently finds ways to land short strikes in between his opponent’s combinations.
Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani is highly regarded not only for his fighting ability, but also for his character. The broadcast highlighted how much everyone he interacted with at The Apex admired him. His knockout of Congdon was one of the nastiest ever. A protégé of Rener Gracie and Brian Ortega, Jean-Paul “Mufasa” Lebosnoyani is going to be a problem in the UFC.
José Mauro Delano has looked like one of the most UFC-ready prospects. He faced a tough opponent who refused to go away, no matter what he threw. Delano kept throwing everything for three full rounds, staying sharp and never slowing down throughout the fight.
Baysangur Susurkaev accepted his Contender Series fight on just four days’ notice and won by first-round knockout. As one of Khamzat’s main training partners, he was a hidden gem ready to be discovered. It seems Dana White loves him because the UFC is strapping a rocket to his back. He was one of the best prospects outside the UFC prior to being signed.
Baysangur Susurkaev: From Training Partner to UFC Debut
Baysangur Susurkaev, one of Khamzat Chimaev’s main training partners, played a major role in Chimaev’s UFC 319 fight camp. Little did he know that the camp would also be for him, as he prepared to step in on short notice during Week 1 of Contender Series.
What no one expected was that just days later, he would make his UFC debut on the very same card he had been helping Khamzat prepare for.
During Week 2 of camp, Susurkaev suffered an injury that went unnoticed by most, except us. Check out our last IG Fight Camp:
Fighters Who Have Already Fought or Been Scheduled
Baysangur Susurkaev fought the same week he earned his contract. He is already scheduled for another PPV at UFC 322 in November. Cameron Rowston earned his contract the following week and immediately called his shot to fight on the card in Perth where he knocked out Andre Petroski in the first round.
AbdulRakhman Yakhyaev is set to fight on November 22, while Donte Johnson will make his return on November 1, this time competing at middleweight. Cezary Oleksiejczuk and Steven Asplund are both scheduled to fight on the December 13 card.
DWCS Season 9 Guide
Here is your go-to-guide for DWCS Season 9. Follow every update each week, including fight results, contract winners, and full cards for the rest of the season:
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