Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 9, Week 1
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Preview
Season 9 of Dana White’s Contender Series kicks off on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, with the opening episode featuring top middleweight prospects eyeing a UFC contract. The spotlight falls on the main event between undefeated Ilian Bouafia (6-0) from France and tough Brazilian contender Neemias Santana (7-2-1). The show returns to the UFC APEX in Las Vegas and airs at 7 p.m. ET exclusively on ESPN+. With three of the five bouts in the middleweight division, the night promises high stakes and an early glimpse at future UFC stars.
Match Card (Week 1 – Main Card)
- Middleweight (Main Event): Ilian Bouafia vs. Neemias Santana
- Welterweight: Ty Miller vs. Jimmy Drago
- Middleweight: Baysangur Susurkaev vs. Murtaza Talha
- Featherweight: George Mangos vs. Radley da Silva
- Middleweight: Christopher Ewert vs. Yuri Panferov
Betting odds featured prospect-heavy lineups: Bouafia was favored over Santana; Susurkaev held a steep advantage; Mangos edged da Silva; Ewert favored over Panferov.
Date & Location
Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Time (ET): 7:00 p.m.
Venue: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Conclusion
While the full details on UFC contracts awarded aren’t explicitly listed in the accessible sources, MMA Fighting confirms the five bouts took place as scheduled on August 12 at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. For detailed recaps, scorecards, and notifications of which fighters earned UFC contracts, UFC.com’s “Week 1 Results + Scorecards” page is an official and up-to-date source