DWCS Season 9: Week 10 Preview & Predictions
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Week 10 of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9 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 Light Heavyweight scrap between two undefeated prospects, Freddy Vidal and Levi Rodrigues. Fans will be treated to an extra fight on the season finale, with 6 fights scheduled for this card. Check out the full lineup and our predictions for an explosive Week 10 of DWCS:
How to Watch
- 📅 Date: Tuesday, October 14
- 🕑 Start Time: 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET
- 📍 Location: UFC Apex — Las Vegas, Nevada
- 📺 How to Watch: ESPN+
Full Match Card for Week 10
- Featured Light Heavyweight Bout: Freddy Vidal (4-0) vs. Levi Rodrigues (5-0)
- Bantamweight Bout: Juan Díaz (14-1-1) vs. Won Il Kwon (14-5)
- Featherweight Bout: Marwan Rahiki (6-0) vs. Ananias Mulumba (9-2)
- Welterweight Bout: Michael Oliveira (8-0) vs. Victor Valenzuela (12-3)
- Heavyweight Bout: Azamat Nuftillaev (17-1-1) vs. Jovan Leka (10-2)
- Middleweight Bout: Mario Mingaj (7-0) vs. Wes Schultz (7-2)
Card Predictions for Contender Series Week 10:
Freddy Vidal vs. Levi Rodrigues
Vidal fought and won on Week 5 of this season. He accepted that fight on short notice and won, but he missed weight. A third-round submission was impressive enough for the boss to give him another chance with more of a fight camp. The New York native fought as a pro for the first time in 2024.
He had a solid amateur run dating back to 2022 and has been training under the Serra-Longo team. Vidal should be well-prepared entering this fight. In only his fourth fight this year, he has finished every opponent in 2025 so far. A very strong wrestler, look for Vidal to be aggressive with his hands early to find his way onto the ground. A fitting nickname, “The Barbarian”, Vidal will look to take advantage of this opportunity once again.
Rodrigues fought for LFA during the same week as Vidal’s Contender Series appearance, so both fighters should have similar recovery time. “Baby Monster” is a 28 year old striker with a Muay Thai background who carries real knockout power. He’s finished all his opponents by KO/TKO, three in the first round, and brings a slight experience edge into this matchup.
With Cage Boxing and Kickboxing also on his resume, the young Brazilian enters this fight on a 10-fight MMA winning streak dating back to his undefeated Amateur background. He won a light heavyweight title before turning pro and will look to use that experience at the weight class to his advantage.
Predictions:
- Jake: Levi Rodrigues
- Rags: Freddy Vidal
Juan Díaz vs. Won Il Kwon
Díaz, 27, has long been on prospect lists looking at future Contender Series Prospects. He enters this fight riding a seven-fight win streak. Born in Peru but fighting out of Mexico, he’s the LUX bantamweight champion with two successful title defenses. Díaz has showcased a well-rounded game, plenty of cage time, and championship-level experience, with seven of his wins coming by decision.
“Pegajoso” is a very entertaining fighter who is known to dictate the pace. He has recently been sharpening his grappling skills, competing in back-to-back EBI events since his last MMA fight. Having always competed at Bantamweight, he will feel at home in the weight class. With a strong gym behind him, you can count on Diaz pushing a pace for as long as the fight lasts.
Kwon, 30, enters this fight coming off a loss in a title bout against one of the better bantamweights outside of the UFC, Fabricio de Andrade. Both of his recent defeats came from body strikes, something to keep an eye on. But he’s also known for targeting the body himself, utilizing his well-timed knees. He has achieved significant success with ONE Championship against high-level opposition overseas.
“Pretty Boy” is primarily a knockout artist. With 12 KOs to his name, he rarely leaves it to the judges. Having gone the distance only twice in his career, Kwon knows he does not get paid by the minute. With his striking style being so aggressive, he does find himself struggling against strong grapplers, and that may play a factor in this matchup.
Predictions:
- Jake: Won Il Kwon
- Rags: Juan Díaz
Marwan Rahiki vs. Ananias Mulumba
Rahiki has finished every opponent he’s faced so far as a pro. The Australian made his pro debut in February 2024 and has already held featherweight titles in two different regional promotions. At just 23 years of age, he has created quite a career so far. Known for his knockout power, Rahiki enters his fourth fight of 2025 looking to keep his finishing streak alive.
Despite the reputation for his hands, Rahiki has been rounding out his game nicely. In his more recent fights, he’s showcased his front choke series. He also has vicious ground and pound once in top position. As a well-rounded fighter, the ceiling seems to be very high for the fighter known as “Freaky”. With a tendency to spin, he will constantly be looking for the highlight finish.
Mulumba, 27, represents the D.R. Congo and enters on a three-fight win streak. All of his victories have come by finish, with none of his recent bouts reaching the third round. His most recent win came under the UAE Warriors banner, and while this Contender Series fight marks a step up in competition, Mulumba has shown he can rise to the occasion.
With an extremely strong frame, Mulumba is a very big Featherweight. With a patient game plan that eventually leads him to the ground, he will utilize every inch of that frame to impose his will. He has fought on big shows previously in UAE Warriors and Brave CF, so the UFC Apex shouldn’t be too imposing for the fighter nicknamed “Metal”. This fight will be an all-out war.
Predictions:
- Jake: Marwan Rahiki
- Rags: Marwan Rahiki
Michael Oliveira vs. Victor Valenzuela
Oliveira is an undefeated 27-year-old prospect from Brazil coming from the LFA. He opened his career with six straight first-round knockouts, three of them in under a minute. Although his most recent fight went the distance, he’s still known for his explosive power and fast starts. So far, every fight has been must-see TV.
Oliveira has progressively seen a stiffer level of competition, which has been key to his development. In his most recent fight, Oliveira got to experience a full three-round fight showcasing more of his skillset. “PQD” is a striker, but the Brazilian has the capabilities to fight everywhere and has the frame to be a dominant Welterweight. This fight offers a chance to prove and continue his dominance on the way to a UFC contract.
Valenzuela enters off a championship win with Fury FC. The 31-year-old from Chile, nicknamed “Psicosis,” hasn’t really lost a fight since 2015. His only defeat since then was a DQ in 2021 due to an illegal kick. With six KOs on his record, five of them in the first round, Valenzuela has shown finishing ability and versatility.
With mean intentions and lots of experience, Valenzuela has lots of tricks. Even with his hands being plan A, he has comfort on the ground and a signature submission, the armbar. In this fight, he will face his toughest opposition to date. Having fought all across the globe, though, this will not be his first rodeo. This bout is the perfect opportunity to prove he belongs at this level.
Predictions:
- Jake: Michael Oliveira
- Rags: Michael Oliveira
Azamat Nuftillaev vs. Jovan Leka
In what is hyped up as a battle of two massive warriors, Azamat Nuftillaev is a 31-year-old powerhouse from Uzbekistan. A proven finisher who captured a regional championship in his last outing with the Octagon promotion, he has 11 KO/TKO wins, eight of which came in the first round. He also has victories by submission and decision, showing he is well-rounded but, his fights rarely go long.
When he has gone later in fights, we have seen his cardio slow down, which could be a concern. But the “Dragon” enters this fight in his prime with the experience edge. On the ground, he is extremely slick and on his feet, he has a quality barrage of kicks. He is always looking for a finish, and this is why the UFC has put him in this position.
Leka, 23, is a Serbian-born fighter standing 6’5″, which gives him a significant height advantage. All but one of his wins have come by finish, six via KO/TKO. Both of his losses were by decision, making it interesting to see how he performs if this fight goes long. With five first-round finishes, expect an explosive matchup from the start.
Leka is a striker but has shown the ability to play on the ground if the fight gets there. His loose style of strikes allows him to throw from a variety of angles, and he has strong kicks. With extremely long legs and a frame that certainly uses all 265 pounds of the limit, Leka is a physical specimen, and his results show just that. This will be his first oppurtunity to prove that he belongs at the big show.
Predictions:
- Jake: Azamat Nuftillaev
- Rags: Jovan Leka
Mario Mingaj vs. Wes Schultz
Mingaj is an undefeated Italian prospect known for his submission prowess, with five submission wins, four coming via triangle choke. His last three victories have all ended in that way. Weight could be a factor, as he’s occasionally weighed in near the 190-pound mark. Regardless, he will still be dangerous when the fight hits the mat.
Coming from Aurora Mixed Martial Arts, Mingaj has spent the last two fights with the Cage Warriors promotion. Standing at 6 feet 4, Mingaj is a massive prospect at Middleweight. Entering this fight on a hot streak as a pro, he had a rough start to his amateur career. The way he has bounced back shows you the type of fighter that he is.
Schultz, a wrestler by trade, may want to avoid extended grappling exchanges given Mingaj’s submission threat. Returning to the Contender Series after falling short last season, Schultz was nearly rebooked later that same year but withdrew. He has since bounced back with a first-round submission win on the regional scene, proving he can finish fights on the ground as well.
“Party Time” always comes to fight regardless of where the fight is, though. At 6 feet 2, he is also a massive Middleweight. With a great amateur background and a high level of competition, Schultz is ready for his redemption. Before his Contender Series loss last season, Schultz was one of the top prospects in the USA and has reclaimed that place. This is a tough fight for the American, but he may be up to the test.
Predictions:
- Jake: Wes Schultz
- Rags: Mario Mingaj
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