Season 6 of Dana White’s Contender Series continues into its ninth week.
The penultimate week of the season, September 20th welcomes a further five bouts to the UFC Apex.
Here is a tidbits snapshot for each of the Week 9 participants to whet the palate.
Leon Aliu (Italy/Albania) v Brunno Ferreira (Brazil)
Leon Aliu – A Slam FC Light Heavyweight Champion, and Italian Cage Fighting Middleweight Champion, Leon Aliu boasts a 10-1 professional record. In his most recent bout, Aliu sensationally stopped England’s James Webb via first-round knockout at Cage Warriors 138.
Brunno Ferreira – A Big Shot MMA Middleweight Champion, undefeated Brazilian Brunno Ferreira holds an 8-0 professional record, with all eight victories via stoppage (5 KO/TKO, 3 submission). “The Hulk” has finished six of his eight professional bouts within the first-round.
Raúl Rosas Jr (Mexico) v Mando Gutierrez (Mexico)
Raúl Rosas Jr – 17-year-old Raúl Rosas Jr is the youngest athlete in Contender Series history. Undefeated as a professional, “El Niño Problema” built his 5-0 record entirely with Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico, winning every bout via stoppage (1 TKO, 4 submission).
Mando Gutierrez – A Total Warrior Combat Bantamweight Champion, Mando Gutierrez boasts a 7-1 professional record that includes six victories via submission. In fact, across his fourteen combined professional and amateur victories, “El Toro” has only gone the distance twice; the remaining twelve victories ended via submission.
Richard Jacobi (Brazil) v Austen Lane (USA)
Richard Jacobi – Making his professional debut in August 2021, Richard Jacobi has already competed six times in 2022. The Brazilian Heavyweight is undefeated as a professional, holding a 6-0-1 record that includes five first-round KO/TKO victories. Jacobi most recently competed at LFA 132, earning a majority draw with fellow undefeated Brazilian Hyago Silva.
Austen Lane – A former NFL American Football player, Austen Lane returns to Contender Series after participating in Season 2. Holding an 11-3 professional record, all eleven of Lane’s professional victories have ended via stoppage (10 KO/TKO, 1 submission). Lane has won Heavyweight Championships for Warfare Fighting Championships, Combat Night, and Fury FC.
Nurullo Aliev (Tajikistan) v Josh Wick (USA)
Nurullo Aliev – A professional since 2018, undefeated 22-year-old Nurullo Aliev boasts a 6-0 professional record. The combined record of those six opponents? 30-9-2. Aliev will be the third Tajik to compete on Contender Series, following Muhammadjon Naimov, and Muin Gafurov.
Josh Wick – Replacing Nair Melikyan, Idaho’s Josh Wick boasts a decorated 12-5 professional record. Indeed, in 2017 to 2019, “The White Mamba” won the BTC Fight Promotions Lightweight Championship, Front Street Fights Lightweight Championship, and Paramount MMA Lightweight Championship within 681 days.
Roybert Echeverria (Venezuela) v Jafel Filho (Brazil)
Roybert Echeverria – Competing entirely for Titan Fighting Championship as a professional, Roybert Echeverria amassed his 7-0 professional record in just 449 days. “The Unbroken” had a stellar 2021, winning five bouts in just 309 days; this included four victories via stoppage (3 KO/TKO, 1 submission).
Jafel Filho – A Shooto Brasil Flyweight Champion, Jafel Filho notably holds a second-round TKO victory over Week 2 contract winner Vinicius Salvador; albeit at a heavier 135lbs. Holding a 13-2 professional record, “Pastor” has competed at both 125lbs and 135lbs, although his two losses are both at Flyweight. One loss is to Contender Series 2021 alumnus Bruno Mesquita.
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