"Dana White's Contender Series began back in 2017. Since then, the Contender Series has produced some big-name upcoming stars like Dan Ige, Sean O'Malley, Geoff Neal, Maycee Barber, and Edmen Shahbazyan. In short, it has been a huge success for finding talent. A Contender Series fight is one that has stakes like none other, where fighters must showcase their skills to impress the UFC president enough for a contract with the promotional giant."
"Holding the Contender Series with a smaller cage inside the UFC Apex venue makes for a tense atmosphere, and with only close friends and family of the competing fighters in attendance as spectators. Emotions always run high, as a limited number of contracts can be given out on any given night, and many fighters can potentially have their dreams snubbed out solely because of bad luck."
"Freddy's first Contender Series fight was just five short weeks ago. Vidal looked stellar in his fight and was able to get the finish late in the fight, submitting his opponent in the third via rear naked choke. However, Vidal had missed weight for his first appearance on the Contender Series. Freddy weighed in at 210lbs. at weigh ins for the fight, missing weight by 4lbs."
Dana White's Contender Series launched in 2017 and has produced notable prospects such as Dan Ige, Sean O'Malley, Geoff Neal, Maycee Barber, and Edmen Shahbazyan. The series features high-stakes fights where competitors must impress the UFC president to earn contracts. Events staged in a smaller cage at the UFC Apex create a tense atmosphere with only close friends and family in attendance, and only a limited number of contracts are awarded each night. Freddy "The Barbarian" Vidal, a 31-year-old light heavyweight (4-0), fought on Week 5 (2025) versus Felipe Franco, submitted his opponent in the third but missed weight at 210lbs, and will receive a second Contender Series fight on Week 10 (2025) against Levi Rodrigues. Vidal rose from a 5-0 amateur career beginning in 2022, held an FFS light heavyweight title in 2023, and turned pro with a meteoric early ascent.
Read at Cageside Press
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