Dana White’s Contender Series is officially back for its milestone 10th season, continuing its mission of unearthing the next generation of mixed martial arts talent and offering top-tier prospects a golden opportunity to impress the UFC brass and secure a coveted promotional contract. As the season unfolds, anticipation reaches a fever pitch for the upcoming tenth episode, scheduled to take place on October 13. Fans across the globe will be able to catch all the action live, as the entire card streams exclusively on Paramount+ starting at 7 p.m. ET.
The latest installment of the developmental league delivers a diverse, highly intriguing fight card featuring seasoned kickboxing champions, elite regional titleholders, undefeated prospects, and compelling stylistic matchups across multiple weight classes. With UFC contracts hanging in the balance, the fighters stepping into the cage are expected to leave everything on the line in pursuit of their ultimate career aspirations.
The Lineup
The evening features a rescheduled bout originally slated for Week 8, as high-level striker Ilias Bulaid finally squares off against LFA featherweight champion Erick Viscondi. For Bulaid, widely regarded as one of the most gifted and dangerous fighters on this season of the Contender Series, the trajectory toward the UFC has long felt like a matter of when rather than if. Boasting an unblemished professional record and extensive high-level combat sports experience garnered during his tenure with Bellator MMA, the Dutch standout presents a massive test for anyone in the division.
Standing opposite him is Viscondi, representing California MMA and Brazil, who enters the cage as a reigning LFA champion. While Viscondi possesses the skills to trade blows, choosing to stand and trade with a decorated kickboxer like Bulaid could prove perilous. However, the Brazilian champion may lean into the excitement of a high-octane striking battle to capture the attention of UFC CEO Dana White and matchmakers. Whether Viscondi decides to implement a grappling-heavy strategy or opts to test his mettle on the feet remains one of the evening’s most fascinating tactical questions.
The women’s bantamweight division takes center stage next in a bout that serves as a true striker’s delight, pitting combat sports royalty against a rapidly rising prodigy. Former GLORY kickboxer Aline Pereira meets former ONE Championship titleholder Smilla Sundell in a clash of elite striking pedigrees. At 35 years old, Pereira falls outside the traditional demographic typically targeted by the Contender Series, but her lineage and pedigree make her impossible to ignore. As the sister of UFC superstar Alex Pereira, she carries a formidable combat sports name, though her transition to mixed martial arts has yielded mixed results thus far. Even so, her prowess on the feet is unquestioned.
That striking brilliance will be tested by Sundell, a 21-year-old Muay Thai world champion representing Sweden’s Diaz Combat Sports. After making her transition to professional mixed martial arts earlier this year, Sundell has wasted no time turning heads with devastating, brutal knockout victories over Miranda Barber and Maya Stewart. Despite only having two professional MMA bouts under her belt, the young Swedish standout is showing all the early indicators of being a legitimate force in the sport, making this bantamweight pairing an absolute must-watch affair.
In the welterweight division, physical anomalies collide as towering prospect Luis Francischinelli meets hard-hitting American Will Rentz. Not long ago, Francischinelli was universally recognized as one of the premier welterweight prospects on the global circuit, and despite suffering a setback that temporarily halted his momentum, he remains a tremendously gifted athlete with the physical tools of a future UFC staple. Finding fighters who stand 6-foot-6 in the welterweight division is an extreme rarity, granting the Brazilian a towering physical advantage over nearly any opponent he faces. Francischinelli is a brutal striker possessing immense power and a style that makes it exceptionally difficult for opponents to close the distance.
He will face Will Rentz, a product of Gracie Pac MMA in the United States and a student of established UFC veteran Billy Quarantillo. Rentz brings his own brand of striking potency to the cage, preferring to dictate the action both on the feet and the canvas, with all of his career victories coming by way of knockout. The clash of styles and sheer finishing capability in this matchup ensures that neither man is likely to leave the decision in the hands of the judges.
The middleweight division features a classic country-versus-country showdown as undefeated Brazilian compatriots Davi Cabral and Douglas da Lapa put their perfect records on the line. Cabral, fighting out of War Room Kickboxing & MMA, is fundamentally grounded in Brazilian jiu-jitsu but complements his grappling acumen with heavy-handed knockout power. On the other side, da Lapa represents the Clayton Mangueira Team and has earned the majority of his professional victories via knockout. Knowing the danger Cabral poses on the ground, da Lapa will undoubtedly look to keep the fight standing and avoid a prolonged grappling chess match, setting the stage for a compelling tactical battle of wills.
Rounding out the official lineup in the lightweight division, Greg Foster of the MMA Lab meets Jason Asher out of Mid City MMA on late notice. Asher has opted to step up in weight from featherweight to 155 pounds for this short-notice opportunity, bringing an impressive undefeated record of 5-0 into the cage. With all five of his victories coming via stoppage—including a notable win over respected regional veteran Cameron Graves in his previous outing—Asher aims to extend his finishing streak on the sport’s biggest developmental stage. Meanwhile, Foster enters the bout as a physically strong competitor representing a world-class gym, though at 34 years old, questions linger regarding his ceiling and late-career development curve compared to younger prospects.
Best Fighter: Ilias Bulaid
Among the standout athletes competing across the entire 10-episode season, Ilias Bulaid stands firmly in a tier of his own. Backed by elite-level kickboxing credentials, extensive championship experience in major global promotions, and a proven strength of schedule, the Dutch standout possesses all the necessary attributes of a fighter who is entirely UFC-ready from the moment he steps through the Octagon doors. His ability to seamlessly translate his striking mastery into the mixed martial arts sphere elevates him as the premier prospect of the evening.
Best Fight: Ilias Bulaid vs. Erick Viscondi
Rescheduled from earlier in the season, the featherweight collision between Ilias Bulaid and Erick Viscondi comfortably claims the honors for the best fight of the episode. With Bulaid bringing world-class professional kickboxing pedigree and Viscondi offering the tenacity and skill set of a reigning LFA champion, fans can anticipate an absolute war for as long as the fight lasts. The contrasting styles and high stakes ensure a memorable encounter between two elite athletes.
The Dark Horse: Smilla Sundell
While veteran names often dominate the conversation, former ONE Muay Thai champion Smilla Sundell enters this episode as the ultimate dark horse. Sundell has adapted remarkably well to the structural nuances of mixed martial arts since making her debut. Given the elite caliber of her striking game and the currently developing landscape of the women’s bantamweight division, a dominant performance could pave the way for Sundell to make significant waves in the UFC very quickly.
The Long Shot: Greg Foster
Stepping into a high-stakes Contender Series bout on late notice, Greg Foster faces an uphill battle to secure a contract. While he benefits from training out of a premier facility in the MMA Lab, questions remain regarding his overall strength of schedule and a past defeat against a heavily contested opponent. Entering the cage with the most to prove among the card’s participants, Foster will need to deliver a career-best performance to convince the UFC brass that he is ready for the major leagues.
Predictions for the Paramount+ card favor Ilias Bulaid to defeat Erick Viscondi in the featherweight showcase, while Smilla Sundell is projected to overcome Aline Pereira in the women’s bantamweight battle of strikers. In the welterweight division, Luis Francischinelli is expected to use his towering physical advantages to get past Will Rentz. Middleweight action should see Douglas da Lapa edge out Davi Cabral in their undefeated clash, and Jason Asher is anticipated to extend his finishing streak against late-notice opponent Greg Foster.
