Dana White Hands Out Historic Six UFC Contracts on Contender Series Week 7, Including Deals for Two Losing Fighters

The premise of Dana White’s Contender Series is supposed to be ruthless: win impressively, or go back to the regional circuit. But on Week 7 of the show's 2026 season, the UFC CEO threw the standard playbook out the window. Inside the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on Tuesday night, an unprecedented six fighters earned their way onto the UFC roster in a single evening—including two men who didn't even get their hands raised.[1][2]

The night’s defining moment materialized during a 15-minute lightweight war between 21-year-old Peruvian prodigy Piero Guaylupo and English brawler Callum Connor. The two undefeated prospects combined for nearly 400 significant strikes in an absolute barnburner that White immediately hailed as a potential "Fight of the Year" candidate.[1][3]

Guaylupo walked away with the 30-27 unanimous decision victory on all three scorecards, extending his pristine professional record to 13-0. But when the dust settled and the contracts were handed out, White didn't hesitate to reward Connor's iron chin and relentless forward pressure.[3][7]

"Both guys really wanted to win. The shots that they were getting hit with… and it was awesome," White told the media during the post-fight press conference, explaining his rare decision to sign the 8-1 Englishman despite the official defeat.[3]

The generosity didn't stop there. A welterweight clash between Alvi Dasuyev and Jaden Ortega delivered a similarly breathless back-and-forth battle. Dasuyev, a 24-year-old wrestling specialist training out of Belgium, secured the victory after surviving Ortega's flashy flying knees and high-volume striking.[1][4][5]

Yet again, White rewarded the loser of the bout. "Jaden showed up here to fight. It takes two guys to make a great fight! I want him too!" White declared, handing both 170-pounders their golden tickets to the big show.[1][4]

The sheer volume of contracts handed out in September 2026 highlights a shift in what the promotion values. While winning remains the primary objective, the UFC is increasingly prioritizing athletes who guarantee entertainment and refuse to back down under fire.[2][4]

Rounding out the historic six-contract haul were flyweight Marcos Degli and Polish light heavyweight Damian Piwowarczyk. Both men secured impressive stoppage victories earlier in the night to punch their tickets, ensuring they didn't have to rely on the boss's mercy.[1][7]

The only winner left empty-handed was middleweight Norbert Novenyi Jr., who ground out a grueling, wrestle-heavy decision over Theo Haig in the featured bout. White admitted he "didn't like the fight," proving that on the Contender Series, damage output still reigns supreme over safe point-fighting.[3][5]

For Guaylupo, the 21-year-old standout of the evening, the ceiling appears limitless. "To be that young and have the fight IQ – he's got everything," White raved. "He's going to be fun to watch." The Peruvian lightweight now enters the UFC's deepest division with a massive wave of momentum.[3][6]

Through seven weeks of the 2026 season, the running total of contract winners has surged past 30, but Week 7 stands alone in the promotion's history. By handing out six deals in a single night—and explicitly rewarding two athletes who fell short on the scorecards—the UFC has fundamentally altered the calculus for every regional fighter stepping into the Apex. The message is no longer just to win; it is to make sure the boss cannot look away.[1][7]