Season 6 of Dana White’s Contender Series reaches its tenth and final week.
September 27th welcomes the final five bouts of the season to the UFC Apex.
Here is a tidbits snapshot for each of the Week 10 participants to whet the palate.
Bo Nickal (USA) v Donovan Beard (USA)
Bo Nickal – Decorated collegiate wrestler Bo Nickal competes on Contender Series for a second time this season, having already submitted Zachary Borrego in the first-round of his Week 3 matchup. The Penn State alumnus’ only other professional bout was at Jorge Masvidal’s iKON FC 3, June 3rd 2022; there, he stopped fellow debutant John Noland in just 33 seconds.
Donovan Beard – A Cage Fury Fighting Championships Middleweight Champion, Donovan Beard enters Contender Series riding a two-fight win-streak obtained in just 70 days. “The Highlight Reel” – who holds a 7-1 professional record – is unbeaten at 185lbs professionally; his lone professional loss was at Welterweight.
Sam Patterson (England) v Vinicius Cenci (Brazil)
Sam Patterson – An imposing Lightweight at 6’4”, Sam Patterson enters Contender Series unbeaten in nine bouts; a run that stretches back to late 2017. “The Future”, who holds a 9-1-1 professional record, has won eight of his nine professional victories via stoppage (4 KO/TKO, 4 submission). Holding a notable knockout victory over UFC alumnus Felipe Silva, the combined record of Patterson’s most recent four opponents is 57-16-1.
Vinicius Cenci – After losing his 2016 professional debut, Vinicius Cenci has built an impressive seven-fight win-streak in which all seven bouts ended via stoppage (1 TKO, 6 submissions). Competing in his first professional bout in just under a year, “Chambinho” last competed October 2nd 2021; that bout was preceded by an almost two-year absence from professional competition. Cenci’s seven professional victories are against competition with a combined record of 16-4.
Emiliano Linares (Ecuador) v Jack Jenkins (Australia)
Emiliano Linares – Ecuadorian Featherweight Emiliano Linares enters Contender Series following a successful defence of the Budo Sento Championship Featherweight Championship in May 2022. From his 8-1 professional record, “Predator” boasts seven victories via stoppage (6 KO/TKO, 1 submission); Linares’ lone unanimous decision victory was his BSC Featherweight Championship winning bout last year.
Jack Jenkins – Holding Featherweight Championships for Australian MMA promotions Eternal MMA and Rogue MMA, Jack Jenkins’ four most recent bouts have been Championship winning bouts. Currently riding a six-fight win-streak, 9-2 “Phar” notably avenged his first professional loss in 2017 – to Jesse Medina – in a 2021 rematch; a successful Eternal MMA Featherweight Championship defence.
Rafael Ramos (Brazil) v João Elias (Brazil)
Rafael Ramos – A Flyweight Champion for both Fatality Arena and Shooto Brasil, undefeated Rafael Ramos enters Contender Series with a 10-0 professional record. “Macapá” last competed professionally over a year ago, stopping undefeated Brazilian Filipe Esteves via TKO at LFA 112. The combined record of Ramos’ ten professional opponents is 41-15.
João Elias – After 22 professional bouts – culminating with the Brazilian Fight Series Flyweight Championship -, João Elias holds a 17-3-1 (1 no contest) professional record. Boasting eleven submission victories, “Alicate” enters Contender Series riding a three-fight win-streak, in which all three bouts ended via first-round submission. Elias’ lone majority draw was with Contender Series 2021 alumnus Bruno Mesquita.
Ashiek Ajim (USA) v Mateus Mendonça (Brazil)
Ashiek Ajim – A CES MMA Bantamweight Champion, Ashiek Ajim holds a 6-1 professional record built entirely with CES MMA. Only going the distance as a professional once, five of Ajim’s six professional victories are via first-round stoppage (4 KO/TKO, 1 submission); his lone professional loss is to former UFC athlete Kris Moutinho.
Mateus Mendonça – Undefeated Bantamweight Mateus Mendonça will compete in his first professional bout for almost two years on Contender Series. 9-0 “Bocão” last competed 16th October 2020 at Future MMA 12, defeating former The Ultimate Fighter Brazil and UFC alumnus Pedro Nobre via unanimous decision. All six of Mendonça’s stoppage victories ended in the first-round.
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