Dana White's Contender Series 2025: Season 9 - Week 10 - Vidal vs. Rodrigues is a mixed martial arts event to take place on October 14, 2025 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
Fight Card
Main Card (ESPN+)
Light Heavyweight Freddy Vidal vs. Levi Rodrigues 205 lbs Bantamweight Kwon Won-il vs. Juan Díaz 135 lbs Featherweight Marwan Rahiki vs. Ananias Mulumba 145 lbs Welterweight Michael Oliveira vs. Victor Valenzuela 170 lbs Heavyweight Azamat Nuftillaev vs. Jovan Leka 265 lbs Middleweight Mario Mingaj vs. Wesley Schultz 185 lbs
Background
The ninth season of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) comes to a close this week with a final slate of prospects looking to earn a coveted UFC contract. The action returns to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 14, 2025, with six intriguing matchups across four divisions. Will the final night of the season deliver the exciting finishes and surprising moments that have defined Season 9?
Let's take a closer look at the fights on tap.
Light Heavyweight Freddy Vidal vs. Levi Rodrigues
The night's main event features two promising prospects in the Light Heavyweight division.
Freddy Vidal (4-0) returns to the DWCS cage after an impressive performance earlier this season, where he secured a dramatic, upset submission victory over Felipe Franco in the final minute of the third round. Vidal, a high school coach by day, took that fight on short notice and showed incredible grit and finishing instincts, despite missing weight. While his perfect record is notable, he will need to show better discipline with his weight and prove that his last performance was not a one-off stroke of luck.
Facing him is the undefeated Levi Rodrigues (5-0), a fighter with an unblemished record who enters the Apex for the first time. The 28-year-old Brazilian will be looking to capitalize on this opportunity to make a statement and secure his contract. With both fighters known for their ability to finish fights, this 205 lbs main event has the potential to be an explosive contest to close out the season.
Bantamweight Kwon Won-il vs. Juan Díaz
This contest at 135 lbs features two international veterans.
Kwon Won-il (13-5) enters the Apex with significant experience, primarily from the ONE Championship promotion, where he has competed for the bantamweight title as recently as January 2025. The South Korean fighter, nicknamed "Pretty Boy," is a Taekwondo stylist with a high-octane, knockout-heavy approach, boasting 11 wins by knockout. His high-level experience makes him a top contender to watch.
He is pitted against Juan Díaz (14-1-1), a fighter with an equally impressive professional record. Díaz, who weighs in at 135 lbs, has shown consistency throughout his career. This pairing of two established, high-volume fighters with excellent records promises an action-packed start to the evening.
Featherweight Marwan Rahiki vs. Ananias Mulumba
Featherweights looking to make a splash at 145 lbs meet in the middle of the card.
Marwan Rahiki (6-0) is another undefeated fighter on the card, with a perfect record that shows he is capable of finishing fights. His most recent win in June 2025 was a submission victory, indicating that his game is well-rounded. Rahiki is stepping up to the biggest stage of his career to see if his flawless record can translate into a contract.
He faces the dangerous Ananias Mulumba (9-2), who holds a strong record and has fought for promotions like African Knockout and Brave CF. Mulumba has a great finish rate, having won 44% of his fights by TKO/KO and 56% by submission, making him a threat everywhere the fight goes. This matchup between two high-percentage finishers at 145 lbs is one to watch.
Welterweight Michael Oliveira vs. Victor Valenzuela
The Welterweights take center stage at 170 lbs in a contest that could showcase varied skillsets.
Michael Oliveira is a name that may be familiar to combat sports fans, though primarily from a notable professional boxing career that ended in 2013. The extent of his MMA experience is not immediately clear from the records, which could make him an unpredictable factor in this DWCS bout. If his striking pedigree transfers to the Octagon, he will be a serious threat.
His opponent is Victor Valenzuela, who was recently active, competing in June 2025 at Fury FC 105. Valenzuela will look to use his recent competitive rhythm and potential MMA experience to overcome any striking advantage Oliveira might possess. This is a high-risk, high-reward fight for both men, where the contract may go to the one who can best blend their skills.
Heavyweight Azamat Nuftillaev vs. Jovan Leka
The Heavyweight clash at 265 lbs is a barnburner between two highly-regarded fighters.
Azamat Nuftillaev (12-1-1) is a powerhouse with an outstanding record and a massive 84% finish rate. The Uzbekistan native has 8 knockouts and 2 submissions on his resume and has fought across multiple global promotions. However, he enters this contest having suffered his first career loss in his most recent outing back in 2022, so he'll be eager to re-establish his dominance.
He faces Jovan Leka (10-2), a young prospect who is just 23 years old but already has 12 professional fights under his belt. Leka's record speaks for itself, showing his ability to compete at a high level. This match pits Nuftillaev's raw power and experience against Leka's youth and volume, promising fireworks in the big-man division.
Middleweight Mario Mingaj vs. Wesley Schultz
Two veterans of the regional circuit square off at 185 lbs in the opening fight of the night, both looking to take the next step in their careers.
Mario Mingaj (7-0) brings a perfect professional record into the contest. The Italian fighter is a proven finisher with a mix of knockouts and submissions on his resume. He's been fighting consistently and has momentum on his side, having won all seven of his pro bouts.
He is met by Wesley Schultz (6-2), who is also known for his exciting style, evidenced by an impressive 5.16 strikes landed per minute (SLpM) in his previous DWCS appearance. Schultz has solid grappling numbers, averaging 3.36 takedowns per 15 minutes, which suggests this could be a classic striker-versus-grappler contest. Schultz will be fighting to bounce back from a loss in his previous DWCS outing, providing him with extra motivation to get a win here.
Dana White's Contender Series 2025: Season 9 - Week 10 - Vidal vs. Rodrigues Fight Card #DanaWhite #DWCS #UFC
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Post subject: Re: [Event] UFC Contender Series 2025 - S09E10 - Vidal vs. Rodrigues - Oct 14
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2025 4:24 pm
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Week 10 Preview | Dana White's Contender Series, Season 9
What’s On Tap For The Final Week Of DWCS Season 9 This Tuesday At UFC APEX
By E. Spencer Kyte, On X: @SpencerKyte
Closing time, open all the doors and let you out into the world…
The final week of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9 is upon us, which means it’s just about time for the Class of ’25 to start making their way into the Octagon as they look to make their mark on the UFC roster.
While we’ve already had a couple graduates from this season (Baisangur Susurkaev, Cam Rowston) earn victories in their respective debuts, the bulk of this year’s graduating class has yet to matriculate to the biggest stage in the sport, and there are a dozen hopefuls set to try to join them this week as we wrap up another season of Dana White’s Contender Series.
Last week, six more contracts were handed out, along with a $25,000 bonus for both Adrian Luna Martinetti and Mark Vologdin, who beat the bejesus out of one another in arguably the most gnarly fight in DWCS history. We also had another fight end in 90 seconds or less, as Luke Fernandez extended the streak to seven consecutive weeks with such a result by stopping Rafael Pergentino in 15 seconds to open the show.
This week, we close things out with a six-fight card capped by returning competitor Freddy Vidal, who looks for his second win of the year after securing a last-second submission win in Week 5; he’s up against Brazilian Levi Rodrigues in the finale.
Here’s a look at all the matchups for the final week of Season 9.
Freddy Vidal vs Levi Rodrigues
Unbeaten light heavyweights close things out as Freddy Vidal makes his second appearance of the season in a clash with Levi Rodrigues.
Sporting a 4-0 record (0 Since Score), Vidal scored a short-notice submission win in Week 5 but missed weight ahead of his bout with Felipe Franco. UFC CEO Dana White opted to give the Ray Longo-trained PE teacher another opportunity, and now Vidal looks to make the most of it.
Rodrigues touches down in Las Vegas with a 5-0 record (0 Since Score) and is giving up a little size to his American opponent. Between his amateur and pro careers, the 28-year-old has yet to taste defeat, and he’s yet to go the distance as well, venturing into the third round only once in MMA.
Kwon Won-Il vs Juan Diaz
Experienced bantamweights clash here as Won-Il Kwon and Juan Diaz share the Octagon on Tuesday evening.
The 30-year-old Kwon is a ONE Championship veteran with a 14-5 record (-9 Since Score), whose last two losses have come against the promotion’s current champ, Fabricio de Andrade. He’s only gone the distance twice in his career, earning 12 of his 14 career wins by stoppage due to strikes, so expect him to chase a highlight-reel finish in this one.
Three years Kwon’s junior, Diaz also has 14 career wins against just one loss and one draw (+4.0 Since Score), and arrives at the UFC APEX on a seven-fight winning streak. Training out of the UFC PI in Mexico City, the 27-year-old has a win over former UFC competitor Carlos Huachin, and is the reigning Lux Fight League bantamweight titleholder, having successfully defended his title twice.
Marwan Rahiki vs Ananias Mulumba
International featherweights find themselves across from one another in Las Vegas as Australia’s Marwan Rahiki faces off with Ananias Mulumba from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Born in Morocco and fighting out of Lion’s Den Academy in Sydney, Rahiki carries an unblemished 6-0 record (-4 Since Score) into this one, having claimed both the HEX Fight Series and Beatdown Promotions titles in his last two outings. He’s yet to go to the scorecards but did venture into the championship rounds two fights back, ending things with a guillotine choke in the fourth round.
Mulumba is the second Congolese fighter to compete this season, after teammate Eliezer Kubanza competed last week. The 27-year-old is 9-2 as a professional (0 Since Score), having won three straight and nine of his last 10 after dropping a decision in his professional debut.
Michael Oliveira vs Victor Valenzuela
Michael Oliveira and Victor Valenzuela square off in this intriguing clash of welterweight finishers.
Unbeaten in eight pro bouts, Oliveira earned his first seven wins by stoppage before going the distance in his most recent outings. The 27-year-old has logged his last six appearances under the LFA banner, registering four first-round finishes and amassing a -2.0 Since Score heading into Tuesday’s event at UFC APEX.
The 31-year-old Valenzuela makes his way to Las Vegas with a 12-3 record and a six-fight winning streak (-7.5 Since Score), having earned eight victories inside the distance. Training out of MMA Masters in South Florida, his nickname “Psicosis” comes from the handle he gave himself as a child when he used to paint and scratch in the street, and not the famed luchador of the same name.
Azamat Nuftillaev vs Jovan Leka
Azamat Nuftillaev and Jovan Leka face off in the fourth heavyweight tussle of the season, looking to follow the previous three victors to the UFC roster.
A native of Uzbekistan, Nuftillaev is a very difficult competitor to break down. At the surface, he’s 13-1-1 (-9.0 Since Score) as a professional, with his lone loss coming against Slim Trabelsi. He also sports a 100-percent finishing rate, so it will be interesting to see how he fares here.
Just 23 years old, Leka has already logged a dozen appearances as a professional, sporting a 10-2 record (-3.0 Since Score) with three consecutive wins as he touches down in Las Vegas. He’s looking to become the third fighter from Serbia to catapult himself into the UFC via the Contender Series alongside Dusko Todorovic (Season 3) and Uros Medic (Season 4).
Mario Mingaj vs Wes Schultz
The final card of the season opens in the middleweight division as undefeated Italian Mario Mingaj takes on returning hopeful Wes Schultz.
The first Italian to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series, the 26-year-old Mingaj carries a 7-0 record (+4.0 Since Score) with six finishes heading into his first appearance outside of Europe. Set to turn 27 on October 28, Mingaj hits Las Vegas looking to earn himself a massive early birthday present in the form of a UFC contract here.
Schultz competed on the first week of Season 8, losing to rising middleweight star Mansur Abdul-Malik. He’s since earned a bounce-back victory to climb to 7-2 overall (-5.5 Since Score) and aims to join the long list of returning competitors that made good on their second opportunity to impress the UFC brass.
DWCS Week 10 Official Weigh-In Results:
Light Heavyweight Featured Bout: Freddy Vidal (204.5) vs Levi Rodrigues (205.5)
Bantamweight Bout: Kwon Wonil (135) vs Juan Diaz (136)
Featherweight Bout: Marwan Rahiki (146) vs Ananias Mulumba (146)
Welterweight Bout: Michael Oliveira (170.5) vs Victor Valenzuela (170)
Heavyweight Bout: Azamat Nuftillaev (234) vs Jovan Leka (259)
Middleweight Bout: Mario Mingaj (186) vs Wes Schultz (186)
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UFC Contender Series 2025 - S09E09 - Caldas vs. Zayunokov
