DWCS Season 9: Week 4 Preview & Predictions
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Week 4 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 welterweight scrap between Jack Congdon and Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani. Check out the full lineup and our predictions for an explosive Week 4 of DWCS:
How to Watch:
- Where: UFC Apex — Las Vegas, Nevada
- Start Time: 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET
- How: ESPN+
Full Match Card for Week 4
- Featured Welterweight Bout: Jack Congdon (7-1) vs. Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani (8-2)
- Middleweight Bout: Theo Haig (6-0) vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk (15-3)
- Lightweight Bout: Mandel Nallo (13-3) vs. Samuel Silva (13-4-1)
- Flyweight Bout: Eduardo Henrique (14-2) vs. An Tuan Ho (7-1)
- Featherweight Bout: Tommy McMillen (8-0) vs. David Mgoyan (7-0)
Card Predictions for Contender Series Week 4:
Jack Congdon vs. Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani
Congdon is a true homegrown talent from Cage Titans, one of New England’s premier proving grounds. The 28-year-old Massachusetts native has finished all seven of his professional wins, most of them in the opening round. With four wins by knockout and three by rear-naked choke, Congdo has shown he can end fights in multiple ways.
His lone career blemish came in a championship bout where he was caught in a late submission during the third round. Even in defeat, Congdon proved he could hang at a high level and is more than ready for a step up in competition.
Lebosnoyani, at just 26 years old, brings a dangerous submission game of his own. Nearly all of his wins have come by finish, with an especially sharp focus on choke submissions. His experience in combat jiu-jitsu further underscores how dangerous he is on the mat.
In addition to all his skills, Lebosnoyani has also fought the best competition that the regional scene offers. Proving he’s always down for a scrap. With his slick grappling and finishing instincts, Lebosnoyani enters as the early favorite in this stylistic clash between two proven finishers.
Predictions:
- Jake: Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani
- Rags: Jack Congdon
Theo Haig vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk
Theo Haig has run right through his opposition on the regional scene. Submitting every single one of his opponents, five of them coming in the very first round. His ground game is polished and suffocating, and he’s already shown that his grappling is simply on another level. That is especially true compared to most regional fighters.
In this matchup, he will face his toughest and most experienced opposition to date. This may answer questions on how Haig looks in the later rounds of a fight.
Standing in his way is Poland’s Cezary Oleksiejczuk. While Haig has the edge on the mat, Oleksiejczuk brings far more experience and a versatile game. Primarily a striker, he has still notched a few submission wins of his own, showing he’s no slouch on the ground.
Fans may recognize the name as he is the younger brother of UFC middleweight Michał Oleksiejczuk. Both brothers have been leveling up at Fighting Nerds, one of the fastest-rising gyms. Cezary’s recent victory over former UFC fighter Tom Breese solidified him as a legitimate prospect. On paper, his experience and striking pedigree make him the early favorite.
Predictions:
- Jake & Rags: Cezary Oleksiejczuk
Mandel Nallo vs. Samuel Silva
Mandel Nallo is one of Canada’s top-ranked lightweight prospects on the regional scene. At 33 years old, the time is now for him to prove he’s UFC-ready. Nallo faced tough competition during his Bellator run and has looked exceptionally sharp since returning to the regional scene.
Known as a finisher with impressive power, he captured a regional title with Samurai MMA in his most recent bout in the first round, reminding everyone why he’s long been on the radar. Now, Nallo will look for another remarkable and fast victory.
Silva, 29, comes into this fight with plenty of momentum. The Brazilian took the Cage Warriors Lightweight Championship from homegrown star George Hardwick, a fighter who had already been knocking on the UFC’s door. That victory likely paved the way for Silva’s Contender Series shot.
With 11 finishes on his record and a willingness to fight high-level opposition, Silva has proven he belongs at this stage. However, his 2-2-1 record on the scorecards suggests that he’s far more dangerous early than in drawn-out fights. Silva enters as the early favorite, but Nallo has the kind of flair to turn this matchup into a statement win.
Predictions:
- Jake & Rags: Samuel Silva
Eduardo Henrique vs. An Tuan Ho
Eduardo “Chapolin” Henrique steps in on short notice after Frank Silva’s withdrawal, and in doing so, brings more intrigue to this matchup. Henrique is fresh off competing on The Ultimate Fighter 33, where he made a quick exit against the eventual winner, Joseph Morales. But outside of the show, he has a strong resume, winning and defending the LFA Flyweight Championship in highlight-reel fashion.
Just 11 days before this fight, Henrique notched another victory, proving he’s always ready to scrap. A clean and powerful striker at 29 years old, Chapolin’s biggest question mark remains his ground game.
An Tuan Ho, only 24, gets another chance to impress after a tough debut on Contender Series last year against Lone’er Kavanagh. That fight handed him the first loss of his career. But Ho rebounded with a first-round TKO earlier this year, showing his resilience and finishing ability once again.
If he can deliver a more composed performance this time, Ho has a chance to flip the narrative. That said, with Henrique’s experience and striking credentials, he enters as the early favorite.
Predictions:
- Jake: An Tuan Ho
- Rags: Eduardo Henrique
Tommy McMillen vs. David Mgoyan
This fight wasn’t the original plan. Tommy McMillen was scheduled to face Cody Law. But Law withdrew, and David Mgoyan stepped in on a few weeks’ notice. McMillen, a 27-year-old undefeated wrestler out of Montana, has made a name for himself under Fusion Fight League, where he captured the Featherweight title.
However, his recent fights have raised some questions, as he’s competed at 150 and 160 lbs despite being booked at lower weight classes. Competing at true featherweight again will be something to watch closely. Especially since Dana White is notoriously strict about weight misses on Contender Series.
Standing across from him is 21-year-old David Mgoyan, another undefeated prospect. Fighting out of American Top Team, Mgoyan has already racked up a string of knockout victories across multiple regional promotions.
While less experienced overall, his youth, athleticism, and training environment make him a dangerous test for McMillen. Still, with McMillen’s wrestling pedigree and proven ability to control fights, he enters as the early favorite.
Predictions:
- Jake: Tommy McMillan
- Rags: David Mgoyan
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