Dana White's Contender Series 2025: Season 9 - Week 8 - Costa vs. Pinas is a mixed martial arts event to take place on September 30, 2025 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
Fight Card
Main Card (ESPN+)
Middleweight Vitor Costa vs. Damian Pinas Bantamweight Louis Jourdain vs. Magno Dias Welterweight Christopher Alvidrez vs. Eliezer Kubanza Featherweight Kurtis Campbell vs. Demba Seck Flyweight Rashid Vagabov vs. Paulo Henrique da Silva
Background
The ninth season of Dana White’s Contender Series gets underway in August. The full season runs from August 12 through October 14 and features five fights per card. At stake in each contest is a UFC contract.
Last year, in Season 8 of the DWCS , UFC CEO Dana White awarded 42 UFC deals. Through the history of the DWCS, 287 UFC contracts have been awarded.
Three fighters have become UFC champions after appearing on a DWCS card: Sean O’Malley, Jamahal Hill, and Jack Della Maddalena.
Dana White's Contender Series 2025: Season 9 - Week 8 - Costa vs. Pinas Fight Card #DanaWhite #DWCS #UFC
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Post subject: Re: [Event] UFC Contender Series 2025 - S09E08 - Costa vs. Pinas - Sep 30
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 2:02 pm
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Dana White's Contender Series 2025: Week 8 Preview
Priming the Octagon for Another Heart-Pounding Night at UFC APEX
By R. Daneel Olivaw
It’s another week at the UFC APEX, and Week 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9 promises to deliver a fresh batch of talent eager to earn a coveted UFC contract.
The stakes remain as high as ever, with hopefuls stepping into the Octagon to showcase their skills for UFC CEO Dana White and the matchmakers.
This season has consistently provided compelling matchups, and Tuesday night’s card looks set to continue that trend with a mix of undefeated prospects, regional champions, and seasoned finishers looking to make the leap to the big show.
Let's dive on in a closer look at the matchups for Week 8.
Middleweight (185 lbs) Vitor Costa vs. Damian Pinas
Middleweights will headline the event as Brazil's Vitor Costa (8-1) faces Aruba's Damian Pinas (7-1).
Costa, fighting out of Brazil, brings a solid 8-1 record, having transitioned down from light heavyweight where he was ranked #7 in Brazil. His fighting style suggests a powerful, well-rounded game, possibly relying on his size and strength advantage, remnants of his time in the heavier division. His sole loss came early in his career, and he has since put together an impressive run of finishes.
On the other side, Pinas, a product of Nova Uniao, comes in with a 7-1 record and is currently ranked #1 in the Caribbean middleweight division. He was initially slated to compete in Week 1, but withdrew, making his debut this week highly anticipated. While information on his specific fighting details is limited, a top regional ranking suggests a high finishing rate, with the potential for either a knockout or a submission to get the job done quickly. This is a classic strength vs. speed match-up, with Costa’s light heavyweight experience being tested against Pinas's dominance at 185 lbs.
Bantamweight (135 lbs) Louis Jourdain vs. Magno Dias
The bantamweight division is often home to some of the fastest-paced fights, and this contest between Louis Jourdain (8-3) of Canada and Magno Dias (6-1) of Brazil should be no exception.
Jourdain, fighting out of Québec, Canada, has an 8-3 professional record and is ranked #1 in his home province's bantamweight division, a strong indicator of his regional dominance. Jourdain's three losses have likely come against tough opposition, giving him valuable experience in tough spots. Training with a reputable camp like Brazilian Top Team, his game should be solid across striking and grappling.
Dias, representing Fighting Nerds in Brazil, comes in with a strong 6-1 record. Though his rank of #156 in Brazil’s bantamweight division might seem low, regional rankings can be deceptive. A 6-1 record points to a high finishing rate, with his sole loss likely being a learning experience. Dias could easily be a "dark horse," with a powerful skill set that is not yet fully reflected in external metrics. Jourdain's pedigree suggests he is the favorite, but Dias's high winning percentage makes him a dangerous opponent looking to prove his ranking is a mere number.
Welterweight (170 lbs) Christopher Alvidrez vs. Eliezer Kubanza
Following is a high-octane welterweight contest between Christopher Alvidrez (6-1) of the USA and the undefeated Eliezer Kubanza (7-0) of Congo.
Alvidrez, training out of Journeys Martial Arts Academy in the US West, holds a respectable 6-1 record, ranking him #19 in the US West. His record shows a mix of finishes and decisions, with his lone loss coming via unanimous decision, suggesting resilience. His most recent wins have been by TKO, showcasing his striking power. He is a member of *The GOAT Shed*, a gym that has produced notable UFC talent, adding to his pedigree.
Kubanza, fighting out of Soma Fight Club in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is another undefeated sensation, coming in at 7-0. He is ranked #28 in the Middle East welterweight rankings, having secured many of his wins via quick stoppages—including a high percentage of knockouts, even via head kicks. Kubanza has proven to be a dangerous, fast starter, making him one of the most exciting prospects of the evening. His flawless record and penchant for first-round knockouts may give him the mental edge over Alvidrez, who will need to navigate the early pressure.
Featherweight (145 lbs) Kurtis Campbell vs. Demba Seck
This featherweight clash pits two fighters with impressive professional records against each other: Kurtis "The Pink Panther" Campbell (7-0) of the UK and "Black Tiger" Demba Seck (10-2) of Senegal.
Campbell, a former FCC champion and a product of The MMA Academy in England, remains undefeated at 7-0 and is ranked #5 in the highly competitive UK/Ireland featherweight scene. Undefeated prospects always carry a certain aura, and Campbell will look to maintain his perfect record. Given the high finishing rates often seen in DWCS, it's expected that a significant portion of his victories have come inside the distance.
Seck holds a slightly more experienced 10-2 record and is ranked #11 in the Mid East & Africa region. While his exact method of victory breakdown is not widely publicized, a record with only two losses suggests a veteran's maturity in the cage. His higher number of professional fights means he has been tested on the regional scene more extensively than Campbell. This is a fascinating pairing: the clean, unbeaten record of the British prospect against the deep, battle-tested record of the Senegalese veteran.
Flyweight (125 lbs) Rashid Vagabov vs. Paulo Henrique da Silva
The lighter weights kick off the night with a flyweight showcase featuring two highly successful international prospects: Rashid Vagabov (13-2) of Russia and Paulo Henrique da Silva (11-1) of Brazil.
Vagabov, representing Eagles MMA in Russia, brings an exceptional 13-2 record and is ranked #3 in the Middle East's flyweight class. His extensive record and high finishing rate suggest a well-established, aggressive style, typical of Dagestani-style fighters, who often look to dominate the grappling exchanges. His two losses are likely the only blemishes on a career built on consistent victories.
Da Silva, fighting out of Brazil, is also an elite prospect with an 11-1 record, ranked #35 in Brazil. His single loss and 11 wins indicate a fighter who rarely sees the final bell. At only 23 years old, Da Silva is one of the younger prospects on the card, and his high number of victories at a young age suggests a significant natural talent and rapid development. With a combined 24-3 record between them, this bout has the makings of a classic technical showdown, potentially stealing the 'Fight of the Night' honors.
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Post subject: Re: [Event] UFC Contender Series 2025 - S09E08 - Costa vs. Pinas - Sep 30
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2025 5:26 pm
Site Admin
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 12:53 pm Posts: 14058 Location: In front of you
Dana White's Contender Series Fight Preview
Week 8 Preview | Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9
Taking A Look At This Week’s Fight Card As The Season Rolls On
By E. Spencer Kyte
In the setup to last week’s episode, it was noted that there had been at least one finish in 90 seconds or less in every episode since Week 1, with Iwo Baraniewski providing the honors in Week 6. Last week, Mantas Kondratavicius ensured that streak continued as he closed out Week 7 with a 66-second stoppage win over Djani Barbir, providing the fourth finish of the night while ensuring he received a call to the Octagon as well.
For the first time all season, we had more fighters than winners receive contracts, as UFC President Dana White rewarded both Jeisla Chaves and Sofia Montenegro for their hard-fought and bloody battle in the middle of the card, while the four victorious male athletes — Kondratavicius, Murtazali Magomedov, Javier Reyes, and Rafael Tobias — all secured the opportunity to compete on the big stage next time out as well. For the season, that brings the total number of contracts awarded to 31, meaning the possibility of a new all-time record remains, but it will take some riveting performances and a couple of unsuccessful competitors getting the nod to exceed the 46 contracts awarded in Season 6.
Before we get to this week’s matchups, a Since Score update: after coming out of the gates uneven — and sitting level at 7-7 through the first three weeks — fighters with the greater Since Score have gone 12-7 (.632 winning percentage) over the last four weeks. As always, it’s far from a perfect indicator, but with a growing sample size, it seems to be providing at least a few useful insights.
Here's a look at the matchups for Week 8.
Vitor Costa vs Damian Pinas
Middleweights close out the show for the second straight week and third time this season as Vitor Costa and Damian Pinas square off to wrap up Tuesday’s event.
Fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and representing The Fighting Nerds, the 25-year-old Costa owns an 8-1 record, an eight-fight winning streak, and a +6 Since Score. He lost his pro debut to current UFC middleweight Cesar Almeida and has posted finishes in six of his last eight outings, and now ventures to Las Vegas hoping to carry on the impressive tradition the Fighting Nerds have established on Dana White’s Contender Series.
Just 23 years old, Pinas has only been a pro for a little over three years, amassing a 7-1 record (Since Score: 0) with each his victories coming inside the distance. Training at the famed Nova Uniao, the native of Suriname only loss came by way of disqualification due to an illegal kick, and he’s since rebounded with a trio of finishes.
Louis Jourdain vs Magno Dias
Action shifts to the bantamweight division here as Louis Jourdain takes on Magno Dias.
The younger brother of UFC standout Charles Jourdain, “The Mad Prince” ended a nearly two-year hiatus caused in large part by a knee injury in May, registering a second-round stoppage win over Danilo Adreani at Samourai MMA 14 in Montreal. The 28-year-old Jourdain has an 8-3 record with five finishes and a +6.0 Since Score heading into this one, where he looks to land himself the opportunity to compete alongside his brother in the UFC.
Another member of the vaunted Fighting Nerds, Dias carries a 6-1 record with six finishes, a three-fight winning streak, and a -4.0 Since Score into his Week 8 appearance at the UFC APEX. The 29-year-old is surrounded by elite training partners and excellent coaches who have successfully navigated this process many times over, so it will be interesting to see how he handles things on Tuesday night.
Eliezer Kubanza vs Christopher Alvidrez
The middle fight of this week’s slate takes place in the welterweight division, as undefeated Eliezer Kubanza squares off with American Christopher Alvidrez.
Sporting a 7-0 record (+4.0 Since Score) with all but one of his victories coming by way of finish, Kubanza fights out of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and represents the SOMA Fight Team, home of UFC competitors Anshul Jubli and Puja Tomar, as well as Road to UFC competitor Ritu Phogat. “King Kong” has only been out of the first round twice in his career, and gone the distance just once, which was last time out at BRAVE CF 91 against Zagid Gaidarov.
Born in San Pedro, California, and representing The Goat Shed in Miami, Florida, Alvidrez is a 27-year-old freestyle fighter with a 6-1 record, five finishes, and a -3.0 Since Score, which is weighted heavily by one early opponent. Last time out, “The Newborn” collected a first-round stoppage win over UFC veteran Takashi Sato.
Kurtis Campbell vs Demba Seck
Business shifts the featherweight ranks as Kurtis Campbell looks to maintain his unblemished professional record as he takes on Demba Seck.
After closing out his amateur career with seven consecutive victories, Campbell has opened his professional run by replicating those results, touching down in Las Vegas with a 7-0 record, five finishes, and a +3.5 Since Score. “The Pink Panther” won the Full Contact Contender (FCC) featherweight title last September and has successfully defended it twice, earning each of those victories by stoppage.
A black belt in hapkido and taekwondo, the 32-year-old Seck looks to add to his seven-fight winning streak when he steps in against Campbell on Tuesday night. Born and raised in Senegal and fighting of the Elite Training Center in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Seck owns a 10-2 record (-5.5 Since Score) with eight finishes, including two already this year.
Rashid Vagabov vs Paulo Henrique
The opening bout of the week takes place in the flyweight division, as Rashid Vagabov and Paulo Henrique share the Octagon to kick off Week 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series.
Vagabov, who trains under former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, is 27 years old and 13-2 as a professional, having registered eight wins by stoppage, earned five consecutive victories, and compiled a +9.5 Since Score over the course of his six-plus-year career to date. He’s finished each of his last four opponents while competing under the UAE Warriors banner and will look to join a host of teammates and training partners on the UFC roster on Tuesday night.
Fighting out of Guaruja, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and trained by its most noteworthy combat sports son, Charles Oliveira, Henrique touches down in Las Vegas with an 11-1 record (-3.5 Since Score), having dropped his professional debut and rattled off 11 consecutive victories since. The 23-year-old posted stoppages in each of his first nine wins before going the distance in each of his last two appearances.
DWCS Week 8 Official Weigh-In Results:
Middleweight Featured Bout: Vitor Costa (186) vs Damian Pinas (185.5)
Bantamweight Bout: Louis Jourdain (135.5) vs Magno Dias (136)
Welterweight Bout: Eliezer Kubanza (170) vs Christopher Alvidrez (170)
Featherweight Bout: Kurtis Campbell (146) vs Demba Seck (145.5)
Flyweight Bout: Rashid Vagabov (126) vs Paulo Henrique (125.5)
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UFC Contender Series 2025 - S09E07 - Barbir vs. Kondratavicius
