The UFC is searching for its next wave of talent as Dana White’s Contender Series returns for its 10th season on Tuesday, August 11. Season 10 opens with five fights from the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, giving 10 fighters the opportunity to make an impression in front of UFC CEO Dana White and potentially leave the building with a UFC contract.
For those unfamiliar with the show, Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) serves as one of the UFC’s primary avenues for discovering and signing emerging talent. Fighters compete in official professional MMA bouts, but simply winning isn’t necessarily the end goal. After the fights, White determines which performances are worthy of UFC contracts.
The formula has produced plenty of success since the series debuted in 2017. More than 300 UFC contracts have been awarded through DWCS, and the list of alumni includes fighters who eventually reached the top of the promotion.
Sean O’Malley, Jamahal Hill, Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Ulberg all earned UFC opportunities through the Contender Series before eventually becoming UFC champions. Other notable DWCS graduates include Kevin Holland, Joe Pyfer, Carlos Prates and Bo Nickal.
Season 10 is scheduled to feature 10 episodes airing every Tuesday night, beginning August 11 and running through October 13. The series also has a new streaming home in 2026, with episodes airing exclusively on Paramount+.
Week 1 is headlined by an undefeated heavyweight with an NFL background, while several regional champions and unbeaten prospects will also look to turn Tuesday night’s opportunity into a place on the UFC roster.
Dana White’s Contender Series Week 1 Odds
Tonight’s season opener features five fights across five weight classes, with Anthony Wint and Bilal Hasan entering as the two biggest favorites on the card.
Hasan is the heaviest favorite of the night at -5000 against Mridul Saikia (+1600), while Wint is listed at -1300 for his heavyweight matchup against Matt Adams (+800).
Here’s a look at the full Week 1 card and the latest betting odds available at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook.
Favorite | Underdog |
|---|---|
| Jon Kunneman (-275) | Joe Kropschot (+200) |
| Ananias Mulumba (-165) | Tom Pagliarulo (+135) |
| Bilal Hasan (-5000) | Mridul Saikia (+1600) |
| Fabrizio Escarrega (-120) | Abe Alsaghir (-105) |
| Anthony Wint (-1300) | Matt Adams (+800) |
Dana White’s Contender Series Week 1 Fight Card Preview
While many of the names competing on DWCS are still unfamiliar to casual UFC fans, that’s part of the appeal of the series. Each episode provides an early look at prospects hoping to become the next breakout fighter to emerge from the show.
Here’s a closer look at some of the matchups kicking off Season 10:
Jon Kunneman (-275) vs. Joe Kropschot (+200)
The Season 10 opener begins with a matchup between two regional middleweight champions.
Jon Kunneman enters with a perfect 10-0 professional record and the Anthony Pettis Fighting Championship middleweight title. Even more impressive than the unbeaten record is how he’s done it: Kunneman has finished each of his first 10 professional opponents inside two rounds, including nine consecutive first-round finishes.
His Contender Series appearance has also been a long time coming. Kunneman was scheduled to compete on DWCS in 2025 before an injury forced him out, delaying his opportunity by a year.
Waiting for him Tuesday is Joe Kropschot, who brings championship credentials of his own. Kropschot is the LFA middleweight champion and enters Week 1 riding a four-fight winning streak, with all four victories coming by finish. He captured the LFA middleweight belt earlier this year with a second-round submission of David Allakhverdiev.
Hard Rock Bet lists Kunneman at -275, with Kropschot at +200.
Bilal Hasan (-5000) vs. Mridul Saikia (+1600)
Hasan enters his flyweight matchup with Mridul Saikia as a massive -5000 favorite at Hard Rock Bet, making him by far the heaviest-priced fighter on the Week 1 card. Saikia enters as the night’s biggest underdog at +1600.
The undefeated prospect has already captured the CFFC flyweight championship and has built his early career around an aggressive style capable of producing finishes.
Tuesday represents his opportunity to make the jump from highly regarded prospect to potential UFC newcomer.
Anthony Wint (-1300) vs. Matt Adams (+800)
The Week 1 main event features heavyweights Anthony Wint and Matt Adams, with Wint arriving in Las Vegas as one of the most recognizable athletes on the card thanks to a career that began well before his transition to MMA.
Wint previously played linebacker at FIU before reaching the NFL, where he spent parts of the 2018 season with the New York Jets. He later turned his attention to mixed martial arts and has put together an unbeaten professional record while climbing through the regional heavyweight ranks.
Wint enters Season 10 as the Fury FC heavyweight champion and has established himself as a finishing threat since making the move to MMA.
Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10 Schedule
Week 1 is only the beginning of a season that will stretch across the next three months.
Season 10 is scheduled for 10 weekly episodes, with a new group of UFC hopefuls competing every Tuesday.
The current Season 10 schedule is as follows:
- Week 1: Tuesday, August 11
- Week 2: Tuesday, August 18
- Week 3: Tuesday, August 25
- Week 4: Tuesday, September 1
- Week 5: Tuesday, September 8
- Week 6: Tuesday, September 15
- Week 7: Tuesday, September 22
- Week 8: Tuesday, September 29
- Week 9: Tuesday, October 6
- Week 10: Tuesday, October 13
Betting on Dana White’s Contender Series at Hard Rock Bet
Hard Rock Bet offers Fight Winner odds for all five matchups on the opening episode of Dana White’s Contender Series – Season 10.
Simply head over to the MMA category on the website or mobile app as you would for any other UFC event and click on Dana White’s Contender Series. From there, you’ll find the full card for tonight’s season opener.
Check Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook every Tuesday for the latest DWCS odds ahead of each new episode.
Dana White’s Contender Series Week 1 Event Info
- 📅 Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
- ⏰ Start Time: 7:00 PM ET
- 🏟️ Location: Meta APEX – Las Vegas, Nevada
- 💻 Streaming: Paramount+
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