Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Week 3 Today Show
Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Week 3 Today Show
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Event Information:
- Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025
- Start Time: 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Fight Card & Results:
| Division | Matchup | Outcome | Time/Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middleweight (Main Event) | Ryan Gandra vs. Trent Miller | Gandra def. Miller via TKO (punches) | Round 1 – 2:51 |
| Featherweight | Marcio Barbosa vs. Damon Wilson | Barbosa def. Wilson via TKO (punches) | Round 1 – 4:14 |
| Light Heavyweight | Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs. Alik Lorenz | Yakhyaev def. Lorenz via TKO (punches) | Round 1 – 0:30 |
| Lightweight | Manoel Sousa vs. Cristian Perez | Sousa def. Perez via TKO (punches) | Round 3 – 3:00 |
| Heavyweight | Donte Johnson vs. Darion Abbey | Johnson def. Abbey via TKO (punches) | Round 1 – 1:04 |
All five winners impressed Dana White enough to secure UFC contracts.
Fight Breakdown:
- Ryan Gandra dominated Trent Miller in the main event with sharp combinations, forcing a referee stoppage before the first round ended.
- Marcio Barbosa continued his streak of quick finishes, overwhelming Damon Wilson and earning another highlight TKO.
- Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev stole the spotlight with the fastest finish of the night, knocking out Alik Lorenz in only 30 seconds.
- Manoel Sousa survived Cristian Perez’s early grappling control and staged an incredible comeback in Round 3 with a finishing flurry.
- Donte Johnson, despite being undersized in the heavyweight clash, stunned Darion Abbey with heavy hands and ended the fight in just over a minute.
Atmosphere & Presentation:
The UFC APEX in Las Vegas provided the perfect stage once again, with commentary from Dan Hellie and Daniel Cormier. Justin Bernard handled ring announcing duties, while Charly Arnolt conducted fighter interviews after the bouts.
Final Thoughts:
Season 9, Week 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series showcased exactly why this platform is vital for rising talent. From lightning-fast knockouts to a dramatic third-round comeback, the fighters proved they’re ready for the big leagues. Ryan Gandra, Marcio Barbosa, Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev, Manoel Sousa, and Donte Johnson all walked away not just with victories, but with official UFC contracts.
This week will be remembered as one of the most action-packed editions of the season.