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Will Dana White continue to offer generous contracts in Week 3 of the Contender Series?
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    Will Dana White continue to offer generous contracts in Week 3 of the Contender Series?

    Fight fans already have seen a total of eight UFC contracts handed out thus far during Season 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series, but will that average stay level, increase or perhaps decrease after Week 3?

    White awarded four fighters a chance at the UFC in each of the first two weeks of DWCS this summer – seven of eight have come thanks to stoppage wins – and 10 more fighters have a shot at impressing the UFC president on Tuesday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

    Dana White’s Contender Series


    Watch the newest season of Dana White’s Contender Series Tuesday nights on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet+, as fighters look to earn a UFC contract.

    Watch DWCS Season 8

    Someone’s “0” will go in the opening bout of the card when 7-0 Jack Duffy faces 6-0 Nick Piccininni at 125 pounds. 

    Duffy, who has fought only twice in the past five years, was initially slated to face Mitch Raposo, then Jose Ochoa at this event before Piccininni stepped in. More than half of Duffy’s pro wins have come by submission and those grappling skills may come in handy.

    Piccininni, 27, was a three-time Division 1 All-American and a four-time Big 12 champion during his time wrestling at Oklahoma State University. Five of Piccininni’s six pro MMA wins have been via submission.

    Legacy Fighting Alliance middleweight Liam Anderson will face Russian finisher Andrey Pulyaev in the featured bout of the night. Anderson is 6-2 with six finishes and coming off an 84-second knockout in February.

    Pulyaev, 26, is coming off a 76-second win via punches in February, so matchmakers must feel these two 185-pounders make for an exciting clash of styles.

    Bogdan Grad was finished early by Tom Nolan on DWCS 12 months ago and is looking to make good on his second appearance when he faces 23-year-old Michael Aswell in featherweight action. Aswell is 9-1 as a pro with all his fights taking place in Fury FC.

    England’s Caged Steel bantamweight champ Adam Bramhald looks to hand American Malcolm Wellmaker his first pro loss. Wellmaker is 7-0 and just like Bramhald he is five-foot-10 and 30 years old.

    Marco Tulio won a decision last summer on DWCS but wasn’t awarded a contract. Tulio has fought just once since that victory, winning an LFA contest in his native Brazil. He faces France’s Matthieu Duclos, 6-2 with five wins by KO/TKO.

    Every fighter scheduled to compete on Tuesday’s card successfully made weight Monday.

    Full DWCS Week 3 fight card and official weigh-in results:

    Middleweight: Andrey Pulyaev (185) vs. Liam Anderson (185)

    Featherweight: Michael Aswell (145) vs. Bogdan Grad (145.5)

    Middleweight: Matthieu Duclos (184) vs. Marco Tulio (185)

    Bantamweight: Adam Bramhald (135.5) vs. Malcolm Wellmaker (135.5)

    Flyweight: Jack Duffy (125) vs. Nick Piccininni (125)

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    As the highly anticipated Week 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series approaches, many fans and fighters alike are wondering if the UFC president will continue to offer generous contracts to the standout performers.

    In the first two weeks of the Contender Series, White has not been shy about handing out lucrative contracts to fighters who impress him with their skills and performances. This has led to some exciting moments and big opportunities for up-and-coming fighters looking to make a name for themselves in the sport.

    However, as the competition heats up and the stakes get higher in Week 3, some are questioning whether White will continue to be as generous with his contract offers. With so much talent on display and only a limited number of spots available on the UFC roster, White may have to be more selective in who he chooses to give contracts to.

    That being said, White has always been known for his eye for talent and willingness to take chances on fighters who show potential. He has a track record of giving opportunities to fighters who may not have had the same level of exposure or experience as others, and this could bode well for those competing in Week 3 of the Contender Series.

    Ultimately, only time will tell if Dana White will continue to offer generous contracts in Week 3 of the Contender Series. But one thing is for sure – the fighters competing in this week’s event will be giving it their all in hopes of catching the eye of the UFC president and securing a contract that could change their lives forever.