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Best Contender Series fighters from each season, ranked 2026
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 10: UFC CEO Dana White announces the contract winners during Dana White's Contender Series season seven, week ten at UFC APEX on October 10, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Contender Series is back!
Season 10 kicks off later TONIGHT (Tues., Aug. 11, 2025) from inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it is loaded with top mixed martial arts (MMA) talent. Hard-hitting Heavyweights headline the card as former NFL player Anthony Wint takes on LFA veteran Matt Adams . Meanwhile, top Flyweight prospect Bilal Hasan collides with Mridul Saikia earlier in the card.
Before the next crop of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighters get their contracts, MMAmania.com will highlight the best fighter from each of the previous nine seasons.
Annnnnd here we go!
Sean O’Malley , Season One (Jul. 11 – Aug. 29, 2017)
This season is an absolute no-brainer: Sean O’Malley . There is an argument that he is the most popular fighter to ever come off the series, and it feels like UFC CEO Dana White has been looking for his next O’Malley ever since.
O’Malley knocked out Alfred Khashakyan in the first round and yelled, “Welcome To The Sugar Show,” which had everyone turning their heads. Oh, and Snoop Dog lost his mind over the knockout.
O’Malley eventually captured UFC’s Bantamweight crown with a knockout over Aljamain Sterling ( watch highlights ) and has defended it once against his rival, Marlon Vera — only to lose it to Merab Dvalishvili .
Honorable mentions: Alex Perez, Dan Ige (Ige wasn’t awarded a contract on the show, but fought on short notice at UFC 220).
Anthony Hernandez , Season Two (Jun. 12 – Aug. 7, 2018)
Season two of Contender Series had a ton of great options. From Maycee Barber to Kevin Holland to Sodiq Yusuff to Jalin Turner . And in past years of doing this list, I’ve selected Kevin Holland because of his activity and his popularity despite never really being a contender.
However, I think it’s time to switch it to Anthony Hernandez .
Hernandez started his UFC career with a 1-2 record, but it was after his massive upset of Rodolfo Vieira ( watch it ) that he went on an incredible eight-fight win streak, knocking off great fighters and just absolutely breaking them in the process .
His long winning streak eventually came to an end against Sean Strickland , but he’s still very much in the title hunt.
Honorable mentions: Mayce Barber, Kevin Holland
Jamahal Hill , Season Three ( Jun. 18 – Aug. 20, 201 9)
The first Contender Series fighter to hold UFC gold came in season three, week five: Jamahal Hill .
Hill’s first three UFC fights were pretty forgettable, that was, until Paul Craig dislocated “Sweat Dreams” elbow, handing Hill his first professional loss ( see it ). After that, Hill knocked out highly touted prospect, Jimmy Crute , which scored him his first UFC main event against Johnny Walker ( watch it ).
Hill got another main event against former Light Heavyweight title challenger, Thiago Santos , and then had the best timing ever because he stepped right into a vacant title shot against Glover Teixeira .
“Sweat Dreams” won a dominant unanimous decision to accomplish his goal. He was never be able to defend his title, though, tearing his Achilles and vacating the belt .
Hill might be on a pretty bad skid right now, but he was the first fighter from the series to become a champion. Oh, and he’s moving to Heavyweight.
Honorable mentions: Brendan Loughnane, Brendan Allen
Carlos Ulberg , Season Four ( Aug. 4. – Sept. 1, 2020 )
Season four of Contender Series took place during the global pandemic, which devastated the regional mixed martial arts (MMA) scene, but a lot of talent came off the season.
That includes the fourth fighter from the series to become champion, Carlos Ulberg .
Ulberg lost his UFC debut via brutal knockout but then rattled off nine straight wins to challenge for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight title. On a blown-out knee, he was able to survive and starch Jiri Prochazka to claim the strap ( watch highlights ).
Ulberg is currently 10-1 in the promotion.
Honorable mentions: Adrian Yanez, Impa Kasanganay
Jack Della Maddalena , Season Five ( Aug. 31. – Nov. 2, 2020 )
Season five of Contenders Series featured the third fighter to win UFC gold: Jack Della Maddalena .
“JDM” is undefeated inside the Octagon, holding a perfect (8-0) record with the promotion, and in his most recent outing, he battered Belal Muhammad to win the UFC Welterweight title ( watch highlights ). He has raked in six “ Performance of the Night ” bonuses, including stopping title challenger Gilbert Burns ( with a broken arm ).
Maddalena had a chance to add Islam Makhachev to his resume, but ultimately lost his Welterweight title strap inside the world-famous Madison Square Garden .
Honorable mentions: Diego Lopes, Caio Borralho
Joe Pyfer , Season Six ( Jul. 26. – Sept. 27, 2021 )
Season six of Contenders Series was by far the hardest to pick a clear winner; in fact, I’ve changed my mind several times — and I’ll be honest, it was between Joe Pyfer and Bo Nickal . However, at the end of the day, Pyfer is the best fighter from the fifth season (right now).
Besides a loss to Jack Hermansson , Pyfer has been perfect inside the Octagon and extremely violent. He has four knockouts and two submissions, with five Performance of the Night bonuses . In his most recent outing, he scored the biggest win of his career by strangling Israel Adesanya ( watch highlights ).
“Bodybagz” finally got himself into the rankings and is awaiting a massive fight for his next one.
Honorable mentions: Raul Rosas Jr., Bo Nickal
Carlos Prates, Season Seven (Aug. 8 . – Oct. 10, 2023 )
The two best fighters to come off season seven of Contender Series are by far Carlos Prates and Jean Silva — and because Prates has two former champions on his resume, he’s the pick.
Best Contender SeriesContender SeriesSeasonTONIGHTTuesAugMeta ApexLas VegasNevadaMMAHardHeavyweights
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