DWCS 2025 Week 1: Two fighters earn UFC contracts

On August 13, the first episode of Dana White’s Contender Series 2025 took place at the Apex in Las Vegas. Five fights were held, but only two of the ten fighters managed to secure a UFC contract.

UFC president Dana White attended the event and personally selected the signees. According to him, the first episode was “very boring,” and choosing winners was not easy. In the end, Ty Miller (6-0) and Baisangur Susurkaev (10-0) earned the chance to compete in the world’s top MMA promotion.

The 24-year-old Chechen fighter Baisangur Susurkaev especially stood out. Just three days after his DWCS victory, he made his UFC debut at UFC 319, where he defeated Eric Nolan.

Contender Series 2025: Week 1 Results

•  •I lian Bouafia (7-0) def. Neemias Santana (7-3-1) via unanimous decision | Did not receive contract. White called the fight a draw.

•  • Ty Miller (6-0) def. Jimmy Drago (7-3) via unanimous decision | Miller signed a UFC contract.

• • Baisangur Susurkaev (10-0) def. Murtaza Talha (7-2) via first-round KO | Susurkaev signed a UFC contract. Talha failed in DWCS for the second time.

• • Radley Da Silva (8-1) def. George Mangos (7-1) | Did not receive contract.

• • Yuri Panferov (9-1) def. Christopher Ewert (7-1) | Did not receive contract. This was Panferov’s second unsuccessful attempt.

Fighters may still get signed after all ten episodes of DWCS 2025.

The next Contender Series episode will take place on August 19 in Las Vegas.

Read more about DWCS in our feature: DWCS 2025: all participants, countries, promotions, fighters from Armenia and other nations.

Reminder: On September 3, Armenian fighters David Mgoyan and Jean-Paul Bosnoyan will compete in the fourth episode of DWCS 2025.