Dana White’s Contender Series: Everything You Need To Know

All seasons of Dana White’s Contender Series are now streaming on Paramount+. The library of action includes all 10 episodes from the just-concluded Season 10.

Dana White’s Contender Series is a reality-competition series with an MMA twist: rising prospects in the sport fight for the opportunity to earn a UFC contract. It’s part audition, part performance, and all pressure, with UFC CEO Dana White and UFC matchmakers deciding who has done enough to take the next step. It’s not just about winning; fighters must showcase why they belong.

Season 10 concluded after 10 weeks of fights at Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. The season produced 46 UFC contract winners, tying the series record.

Since debuting in 2017, DWCS has established itself as one of UFC’s most important proving grounds, providing a springboard for many familiar names. Through its first nine seasons and Dana White’s Contender Series: Brazil, the show has produced more than 300 contracts, with future champions Sean O’Malley, Jamahal Hill, Jack Della Maddalena, and Carlos Ulberg among the fighters who stamped their entry to UFC.

Here’s everything you need to know about how Dana White’s Contender Series works, where to watch, and the stars who turned their one big opportunity into something much bigger.

Key facts

Series debut: 2017
Latest season: Season 10
Season 10 premiere: Aug. 11, 2026
Season 10 finale: Oct. 13, 2026
Where to watch: All 10 seasons streaming on Paramount+, including Season 10

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How to watch

Dana White in Dana Whites Contender Series on Paramount+ — Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Dana White’s Contender Series streams on Paramount+, all episodes and all seasons, including the most recent season, Season 10. To watch, get started with a Paramount+ subscription, and/or or log into your account. Navigate to the Dana White’s Contender Series show page. Use the Episode Guide to browse seasons and episodes. All episodes are available to stream on demand.

Can I watch all of Season 10 now?

Yes. Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10 concluded Oct. 13, 2026, and all 10 episodes are now streaming on Paramount+.

What happened this season?

Season 10 premiered Aug. 11, 2026, and featured 10 weeks of fights from Meta APEX in Las Vegas.

Rather than a season-long tournament, each episode usually features five standalone bouts with prospects competing for the chance to earn a UFC contract. Fighters get one night to make their case in front of Dana White and UFC matchmakers, with contract decisions announced after the fights.

Fighters who earned UFC contracts in Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10 include four winners from the finale from Oct. 13, 2026:

Greg Foster (lightweight)
Luis Francischinelli (welterweight)
Douglas da Lapa (middleweight)
Smilla Sundell (women’s bantamweight)

How does it work?

Dana White’s Contender Series works as one of the highest-pressure job interviews in sports. Each week typically features five bouts across different weight classes. As White and UFC matchmakers watch, each fighter is auditioning their skill set for a chance at a UFC contract.

Another wrinkle in the action: Simply winning isn’t enough to secure that contract. A fighter can have his or her hand raised in victory, and leave the Octagon® without a deal. Fighters must show UFC decision-makers something that leaves them wanting to see more.

What do the winners get?

For a fighter, winning on Dana White’s Contender Series can earn you a UFC contract – or you can leave with nothing aside from the victory itself. Winning does not guarantee a contract offer. Dana White and UFC matchmakers evaluate various aspects of a fighter’s performance before deciding who has done enough to earn a spot on the roster.

Which UFC stars came from Dana White’s Contender Series

The list of UFC contracts that have come from Dana White’s Contender Series is long. Through the first nine seasons and its Brazil edition, the program has produced more than 300 UFC contracts. Some fighters have used the opportunity to earn their way onto the roster, while others continued climbing until they reached the top of their divisions.

A few names that are familiar to UFC fans:

Sean O’Malley – Before the colorful entrances, the UFC bantamweight title, and “Suga Show,” O’Malley delivered a first-round knockout on DWCS that made him a fighter fans wanted to see again.
Jamahal Hill – “Sweet Dreams” became the first Contender Series graduate to win a UFC championship when he captured the light heavyweight title.
Jack Della Maddalena – The Australian welterweight used the opportunity he earned on DWCS to become one of the division’s most dangerous fighters, eventually completing the journey from prospect to UFC welterweight champion.
Carlos Ulberg – The UFC currently lists the New Zealand standout as one of four champions produced by the series. Ulberg turned his Contender Series opportunity into a push through the light heavyweight ranks to the UFC light heavyweight championship.
Carlos Prates – It didn’t take long for Prates to prove his dominant DWCS performance was only the beginning. The Fighting Nerds standout quickly established himself as a dangerous welterweight and has since climbed to No. 2 in the division.
Bo Nickal – The former DWCS contestant arrived with serious hype thanks to his decorated wrestling career. It took two appearances before the three-time NCAA champion punched his ticket to the UFC.
Joe Pyfer – A gruesome elbow injury derailed his first appearance, but Pyfer returned a couple of years later and delivered a performance worthy of earning a UFC contract. He’s since continued working his way into the middleweight rankings.
Kevin Holland – Even though he didn’t leave DWCS with a contract, Holland’s performance was enough for White to change his mind, and call “Trailblazer” up on short notice. Holland’s willingness to fight anyone, along with a personality to match, has made him one of the roster’s most recognizable characters.
Caio Borralho – His first fight wasn’t enough to secure a future in the UFC, so he returned for a second. His two-fight DWCS journey became the launching pad for his rise through the middleweight division.
Payton Talbott – Personality and an aggressive style helped Talbott turn his DWCS opportunity into the honor of becoming one of the bantamweight division’s names to watch.

Here are winners from the most recent season, Season 10, who have already made their mark:

Anthony Wint – The heavyweight won his UFC debut by submission over Terrance Chatman at UFC Sacramento, 11 days after his DWCS win. A little over a month later, he knocked out Lucas Armand in just 23 seconds at UFC 332.
Bilal Hasan – The flyweight scored a brutal KO of Nilson Rojas in his UFC debut, just over two weeks after earning his contract. He is already set to face Luis Gurule at UFC 334 on Nov. 14, opening the Paramount+ main card at Madison Square Garden.
Luis Hernandez – A Miami-Dade County deputy sheriff, Hernandez has already found UFC success. He went up against Sedriques Dumas on Sept. 26 at a UFC Fight Night. He went from audition to a UFC debut win and performance bonus within two weeks, according to MixedMartialArts.com.

Watch Dana White’s Contender Series now on Paramount+

All seasons of Dana White’s Contender Series stream on Paramount+, including all 10 episodes from the most recent season, Season 10. Catch up now on Season 10, and/or revisit earlier seasons to see some of today’s biggest UFC names before they became familiar faces.

Dana White's Contender Series

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FAQ

Is Dana White’s Contender Series the same as UFC?

Dana White’s Contender Series is a talent-discovery series, a show where MMA fighters vie for contracts to fight on cards for UFC, the premiere sports brand.

Does every winner get a UFC contract?

No. Winning a fight doesn’t automatically grant prospects a UFC contract. Dana White and UFC matchmakers evaluate performances before deciding who has done enough to earn a contract. This means multiple fighters can earn UFC contracts on the same night, while other winners leave with victories, but no UFC deals.

Where is Dana White’s Contender Series filmed?

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10 was filmed at Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

How many fights are on Dana White’s Contender Series?

Each episode of Dana White’s Contender Series typically features five fights across different weight classes. However, fight cards can change due to cancellations, or other circumstances.