Season 6 of Dana White’s Contender Series continues into its seventh week.
Now entering the final month of the season, September 6th welcomes a further five bouts to the UFC Apex.
Here is a tidbits snapshot for each of the Week 7 participants to whet the palate.
Vitor Petrino (Brazil) v Rodolfo Bellato (Brazil)
Vitor Petrino – 6-0 Vitor Petrino made his professional debut in 2019 against his Contender Series opponent, Rodolfo Bellato; Petrino won via knockout in just 25 seconds. “Icão” most recently competed at UAE Warriors, where he finished UFC alumnus Gadzhimurad Antigulov via second round knockout.
Rodolfo Bellato – A Leões da Luta Light Heavyweight Champion, Rodolfo Bellato enters Contender Series looking to avenge his only professional loss; a loss to Contender Series opponent Vitor Petrino. Holding an 8-1 professional record,“Trator” has competed three times since the loss to Petrino, winning all three bouts via first-round stoppage (1 TKO, 2 submission).
Gabriel Bonfim (Brazil) v Trey Waters (USA)
Gabriel Bonfim – The younger brother of fellow Week 7 contender Ismael Bonfim, undefeated Welterweight Gabriel Bonfim boasts a remarkable 12-0 professional record, with all twelve victories via stoppage. In his most recent bout, “Marretinha” won the Vacant LFA Welterweight Championship to become the seventh 170lb champion in promotional history.
Trey Waters – Replacing Felix Klinkhammer, Trey Waters enters Contender Series undefeated as a professional; his 6-0 record includes five stoppages (2 KO/TKO, 3 submission). “The Truth” most recently competed at LFA 133, in June; despite entering the bout as a moderate underdog, Waters knocked out a previously undefeated Benjamin Bennett.
Jimmy Lawson (USA) v Kevin Szaflarski (Poland)
Jimmy Lawson – A former Penn State wrestler, Jimmy Lawson enters Contender Series riding a four-fight win-streak, with all four victories via KO/TKO; Lawson’s three most recent victories ended in the first round. “Greedy” has MMA roots with American Kickboxing Academy, where he was coached by the likes of Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez.
Kevin Szaflarski – Fighting out of Czarny Dunajec, Poland, Kevin Szaflarski is a Heavyweight Champion of Polish promotion Profesjonalna Liga MMA. Since losing his professional debut, the 6’5” 27-year-old has built an 11-fight win-streak. The combined record of his last five opponents? 23-9.
Ismael Bonfim (Brazil) v Nariman Abbasov (Azerbaijan)
Ismael Bonfim – A Federal Fight Lightweight Champion, Ismael Bonfim is the older brother of fellow Week 7 contender Gabriel Bonfim. “Marreta” enters Contender Series riding an eleven-fight win-streak that started in 2015. Bonfim’s last defeat was over eight years ago, to current UFC athlete Renato Moicano; in fact, Moicano was signed to the UFC following his matchup with Bonfim.
Nariman Abbasov – Boasting a 28-3 professional record, Nariman Abbasov enters Contender Series riding a thirteen-fight win-streak, and is unbeaten for over five years. A Lightweight champion for Russian MMA promotion AMC Fight Nights Global, Abbasov’s five most recent bouts have been successful championship bouts. The combined record of those five championship opponents? 110-24-5.
Nayara Maia (Brazil) v Tereza Bledá (Czech Republic)
Nayara Maia – A Budo Sento Championship Flyweight Champion, 6-0-1 Nayara Maia is unbeaten as a professional. At BSC Vol 2 in April 2021, Maia fought twice on the same card, stopping both Cecilia Ulloa Flores and Sandra Jimenez Chimeyo in the first round.
Tereza Bledá – The ascension of Reinders MMA‘s Bledá is astounding. Holding a 5-0 record built entirely with MMA promotion OKTAGON, Bledá progressed from professional debutant to OKMMA Flyweight Champion in just over 15 months. Combined record of her opponents? 32-13-1.
Subscribe
