The first week for a new season of Dana White’s Contender Series is
now official.
All 10 competitors made weight on Monday, including scheduled
headliners Cesar
Almeida (185.5) and Lucas
Fernando (186). The Contender Series takes place at the UFC
Apex in Las Vegas on Tuesday, with fighters attempt to earn a UFC
contract based on their performance in the Octagon. The card airs
on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT — one hour earlier than normal.
A kickboxer with a 47-8-1 career mark, Almeida has been victorious
in his first three professional MMA appearances. Most recently, the
35-year-old Lotus MMA member scored a 38-second knockout of
Danilo de Souza Silva at Shooto Brazil 110 in December
2021.
Fernando will carry a 9-1 record into the matchup with Almeida. In
his last outing, Fernando claimed the Legacy Fighting Alliance
middleweight crown with a fourth-round KO of Jansey
Silva at LFA 154 on March 10.
Contender Series Weigh-in Results:
Cesar
Almeida (185.5) vs. Lucas
Fernando (186)
Tom
Nolan (155) vs. Bogdan Grad
(156)
Caio
Machado (256) vs. Kevin
Szaflarski (260.5)
Payton
Talbott (135.5) vs. Reyes
Cortez Jr. (135.5)
Kevin
Borjas (125.5) vs. Victor Dias
(126)