"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."
"Blair was an eight-fight veteran of Cage Warriors, an England-based regional MMA promotion. Blair went 6-2 with the promotion from his debut in April of 2022 to September 2024. During that span, Blair only faced one opponent that didn't have a winning record. Chasen lost his second fight to a then 2-0 Jeffery Craig via split decision, and was submitted via kneebar by a then 9-3 Ahmad Hassanzada in late 2023."
The Contender Series began in 2017 and has produced notable UFC 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 for contract offers and takes place in a smaller cage at the UFC Apex with only friends and family attending. Limited contract availability creates intense pressure and the possibility of careers being affected by bad luck. A few fighters receive second opportunities on the Series. Chasen Blair, a 26-year-old lightweight, first fought on the Series in 2024 after compiling a 6-2 Cage Warriors record from April 2022 to September 2024. Blair's notable results include a first-round triangle choke over Florin Pirtea and defeats to Jeffery Craig (split decision) and Ahmad Hassanzada (kneebar).
Read at Cageside Press
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