#contender-series

#contender-series

For years now, the entry-level UFC fighters making their promotional debuts have earned a rather embarrassingly low $10,000 to show, $10,000 to win (10/10) fight purse. Yet occasionally, a debuting fighter would pocket $12,000 to show (and another 12K to win). With fighter purses no longer disclosed in Nevada and many other jurisdictions, it's been hard to keep track of who is making what in the sport.

Quillan Salkilld burst onto the MMA scene with the kind of poise, power, and finishing instinct rarely seen in a UFC debut, immediately marking himself as a problem for the lightweight division. Shot selection and ruthless efficiency made every moment he was in the cage box office, signaling that his rise isn't a flash in the pan. In a year loaded with strong rookie performances, Salkilld separated himself by looking less like a newcomer and more like a future contender from the moment the lights hit him.

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.

gave that Russian guy six days notice. Is a Russian better than an American? That's how I look at it. So I'm ready to go five days notice. I'm ready to fight next week.