Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 9, Week 3
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Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Location: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Preview
The third week of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9 was a proving ground for fighters desperate to turn their dreams into UFC contracts. Headlining the card, Ryan Gandra and Trent Miller stepped into the middleweight spotlight in a battle that promised fireworks. The featherweight co-main event pitted Damon Wilson against Brazil’s Marcio Barbosa, both eager to show that they belong in the biggest promotion in the world. Rising talents also clashed across divisions, as Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev met Alik Lorenz at light heavyweight, Cristian Perez tested Manoel Sousa in the lightweight ranks, and heavyweights Darion Abbey and Donte Johnson collided in a bout that had knockout written all over it. With so much on the line, every fighter came to the cage ready to leave a lasting impression.
Match Card
- Middleweight (Main Event): Trent Miller vs. Ryan Gandra
- Featherweight (Co-Main): Damon Wilson vs. Marcio Barbosa
- Light Heavyweight: Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs. Alik Lorenz
- Lightweight: Cristian Perez vs. Manoel Sousa
- Heavyweight: Darion Abbey vs. Donte Johnson
Conclusion
Week 3 lived up to the high expectations as each contest ended in a statement finish. Ryan Gandra blasted through Trent Miller with a brutal first-round TKO in the main event, while Marcio Barbosa’s striking dominance overwhelmed Damon Wilson in the co-main. Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev wasted no time, securing a stoppage in just half a minute, and Manoel Sousa rallied for a dramatic third-round finish over Cristian Perez. The heavyweights delivered as well, with Donte Johnson scoring a thunderous knockout of Darion Abbey. In the end, Dana White handed contracts to all five winners, cementing the night as one of the most thrilling and decisive episodes of the season.