Dana Whites Contender Series 95: Grading the winners

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Week 8 of Dana White's Contender Series (2026) took place on Tuesday in Las Vegas, and we're grading the winners from the four-fight card, which streamed on ESPN+ from the UFC Apex. With a simple but digestible format that has had the MMA fanbase responding, this series has shown to have legs in multiple ways while serving as a crockpot for contenders the UFC matchmakers can use to fill their roster for future events. With that trend in mind, I once again will be taking a look at the winning fighters, regardless of whether or not they won a UFC contract, and grading their performances in regard to their probability of returning to a UFC stage.

Alivia Bierley

Despite squeezing out a win as a slight underdog, I struggled to give Alivia Bierley anything higher than a C+ in a fight that I and many scored for Summer Onley.

I'm not sure if Tony Weeks, who was the lone judge who scored it 30-27 for Bierley, was watching the fight in 'goon mode,' but I felt that Onley landed the cleaner, more damage-inducing offense in the first and third frames (as well as arguably doing enough on the feet before getting taken down in Round 2).

Bierley showed solid aggression and transitions on the floor, but she found herself outgrappled in the final frame thanks to a savvy half-guard sweep from Onley.

Despite women's bantamweight being one of the most barren and stale weight classes under the UFC umbrella for some time now, I can understand Dana White's decision to pass on this spot. That said, both of these ladies are capable of getting wins in the organization considering the current crop of rostered bantamweights, so I wouldn't hate to see either get a second swing at bat.

Mateus Soares

Mateus Soares, DWCS 95

Earning an easy A and a UFC contract is Mateus Soares, who makes quick work of Ryuho Miyaguchi as a huge betting favorite.

Although there's not much of a fight to recap given how quickly things ended, it's hard not to be impressed by the violent bursts of Soares.

Looking like the second coming of John Lineker, Soares comes out like a compact, pressuring Brazilian tank that packs a wallop of a punch. From hard leg kicks to hook-cross combos, everything Soares throws has serious stopping power in tow.

Signing Soares is a no-brainer given his fan-friendly style, as well as his plug-and-playability from a matchmaking perspective. Although matching Soares up with Ilimbek Akylbek would feel karmically appropriate, I hope that the powers that be pair the Brazilian with Borislav Nikolic for a guaranteed Round of the Year contender.

Roque Conceicao

Earning a deserved A and UFC contract alike is Roque Conceicao, who makes good on his second swing at bat on the Contender Series.

Conceicao had the unfortunate luck of running into surging flyweight prospect Imanol Rodriguez on last year's season of the show, so he made sure to show off all of his skills this time around opposite Alexander Chavez.

Although Chavez was game, Conceicao was eventually able to come out on top of hooking and kicking exchanges, forcing a stunned Chavez to shoot. And once these two hit the floor, we were privy to some fun submission grappling and scrambles.

However, it was ultimately Conceicao who won out the entanglements by securing a triangle catch off a kimura grip that would've made someone like Neil Melanson proud.

I'm glad Dana White signed Conceicao and suspect that exciting fights await him further up the food chain. That said, Fabia Stines seems like a sensible first booking for the Brazilian's first official UFC assignment.

Salahuddin Everett

Earning an easy A and a contract is UFC employee Sal Everett.

Although I'm sure Everett got plenty of side-eyes from his contemporaries for getting this opportunity, the man who stocks Dana White's fridge proved to be a serious fighter by taking out Ozzy Martin in impressive fashion.

Martin showed solid pocket boxing and kicks to boot, but the New Hampshire native couldn't seem to keep the pressure and power of Everett off him. Everett was able to eventually corrall his foe to the fence for a finish, where Martin fell in a way that was eerily reminiscent to how Mirko Cro Cop fell to Gabe Gonzaga back at UFC 70.

I'm glad that Everett put the weird discourse about him having to quit his job to rest by stating that he wants to continue to work with the UFC despite earning a contract as a fighter (as I imagine the pay has to be comparable to the insulting 10-and-10 contracts that these kids get out of the gate, but I digress).

We'll see how strong UFC bias is by the way Everett gets matched up in the future, but I believe that someone like Cameron Nelson is a more than suitable test for Everett's first assignment.

Preston LaGrange

After stepping up on less than a weeks' notice and up an entire weight class, Preston LeGrange earns both an A and a UFC contract for taking out Nell Ariano.

Despite being favored 5-1 from a betting perspective, Ariano showed no signs of life on the feet from Jump Street. In fact, LeGrange looked to have stunned the French judoka anytime he was able to get some space between them.

It was an ugly and short fight, but that appears to be LeGrange's modus operandi. I don't disagree with Dana White signing LeGragne, I just hope that we get to see the Iowa native on a full camp at his proper weight class of 185 pounds next time out.

I'm not sure if the UFC intends on keeping Tre'ston Vines or Yilizhati Maimaitijiang around after their draw, but either party would make for an appropriate first fight for LeGrange.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dana White's Contender Series 95: Grading the winners