Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 8, Week 5 Full Fight Card, Date & Details
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 8, Week 5
United States
Main Card • Final
New Zealand
R2, 2:21
UFC Contract Awarded
Netherlands
R3, 2:34
Japan
Democratic Republic of Congo
R3, 5:00
UFC Contract Awarded
Georgia
Brazil
R1, 4:45
UFC Contract Awarded
Canada
Official Event Results
Contract
Official Contract Awards
UFC Contract Winners
UFC Contracts Awarded: Dana White awarded three official UFC promotional contracts following the event: Navajo Stirling for his vicious walk-off knockout, Josias Musasa for his resilient split decision victory, and Nicolle Caliari for her sharp first-round armbar submission.
Bonus Notes: No traditional post-fight performance bonuses ($50,000 FOTN/POTN) are officially issued at Dana White’s Contender Series events. Despite securing a third-round TKO victory, Yousri Belgaroui was not offered a promotional contract on the night.
Reported Payouts & Disclosed Purses
Fighter Purses & Total Payout Estimates
| Fighter | Result | Base Purse | Win / Finish Bonus | Performance Bonus | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 |
*Purses are compiled from standard Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) baseline contracts for Dana White’s Contender Series ($5,000 show / $5,000 win). Scheduled fighter Kody Steele received both his show and win money after scheduled opponent Quemuel Ottoni pulled out of their bout on the day of the event.
Historic UFC Records Set
Promotional Records Established at Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 8, Week 5
City Kickboxing standout Navajo Stirling improved his perfect professional MMA record with a devastating Round 2 walk-off knockout of Phil Latu to claim a UFC contract.
Josias Musasa made promotional history, becoming the first fighter representing the Democratic Republic of the Congo to secure a UFC contract through the Contender Series.
Brazilian flyweight Nicolle Caliari notched the lone first-round submission finish of the night, securing a slick armbar against Corinne Laframboise at 4:45 to punch her ticket to the UFC.
Dana White awarded three official UFC promotional contracts out of four victorious competitors on the night, representing a 75% signing rate for winning athletes.
Former GLORY kickboxing standout Yousri Belgaroui landed 89 significant strikes at a 67% accuracy rate across three rounds before stopping Taiga Iwasaki via TKO.
A scheduled lightweight clash between Quemuel Ottoni and Kody Steele was abruptly cancelled on the day of the event after Ottoni withdrew in the locker room, leading to Steele being paid show and win money.
Georgian bantamweight Otari Tanzilovi executed 4 of 16 takedown attempts against Josias Musasa in a fierce grappling display across three tightly contested rounds.
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 8, Week 5 marked the 71st official fight card in the history of the Contender Series hosted inside the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
Middleweight Taiga Iwasaki was officially warned by referee Mark Smith following multiple accidental eye pokes in Round 2, nearly resulting in a point deduction before the third-round stoppage.
Navajo Stirling out-struck Phil Latu 52 to 25 in significant strikes (and 21 to 4 in leg kicks) before finishing the bout with an emphatic right hand at 2:21 of Round 2.
Nicolle Caliari recorded the fastest stoppage of the evening, tapping out former champion Corinne Laframboise in the opening frame.
The bantamweight war between Musasa and Tanzilovi served as the only bout on the card to reach the judges’ scorecards, concluding in a split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28).
When and where did Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 8, Week 5 take place?
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 8, Week 5 took place on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Who won the main event between Navajo Stirling and Phil Latu?
Navajo Stirling defeated Phil Latu via KO (punch) at 2:21 of Round 2 in their light heavyweight headliner.
Which fighters earned UFC contracts on Season 8, Week 5?
Three fighters earned official UFC promotional contracts from Dana White: Navajo Stirling, Josias Musasa, and Nicolle Caliari.
Why was the bout between Quemuel Ottoni and Kody Steele cancelled?
Despite both fighters successfully making weight, Quemuel Ottoni pulled out of the fight on the day of the event in the locker room. Kody Steele was paid both his show and win money and rebooked for Week 9.
How did Yousri Belgaroui defeat Taiga Iwasaki?
Yousri Belgaroui defeated Taiga Iwasaki via TKO (punches) at 2:34 of Round 3 after landing 89 significant strikes.
Did Yousri Belgaroui receive a UFC contract after his TKO win?
No. Despite scoring a third-round TKO victory, Dana White decided not to award Yousri Belgaroui a UFC contract on the night.
What was the outcome of Josias Musasa vs. Otari Tanzilovi?
Josias Musasa defeated Otari Tanzilovi via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) in an action-packed three-round bantamweight war.
How did Nicolle Caliari defeat Corinne Laframboise?
Nicolle Caliari submitted Corinne Laframboise via armbar at 4:45 of Round 1, securing a UFC contract with the sole first-round submission on the card.
What historical milestone did Josias Musasa achieve with his victory?
Josias Musasa became the first fighter representing the Democratic Republic of the Congo to earn a UFC promotional contract through Dana White’s Contender Series.
How many bouts took place on Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 8, Week 5?
A total of 4 bouts took place following the last-minute cancellation of the scheduled lightweight bout between Quemuel Ottoni and Kody Steele.
Were traditional post-fight performance bonuses awarded?
No traditional $50,000 performance bonuses are awarded on Contender Series events; instead, fighters compete for official UFC contracts awarded by Dana White.
What were the striking numbers for Navajo Stirling in the main event?
Stirling landed 52 of 76 significant strikes (68%), including 21 leg kicks, while limiting Phil Latu to 25 significant strikes before securing the knockout.
Where was Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 8, Week 5 broadcast?
The event streamed live across the United States exclusively on ESPN+.
Who called the fights on commentary for the event?
The broadcast booth featured play-by-play lead Brendan Fitzgerald alongside color commentators Michael Bisping and Laura Sanko.
Was Kody Steele compensated for his cancelled bout?
Yes. Because Steele made weight and was ready to compete, UFC CEO Dana White paid him both his show and win money ($10,000 total) and rebooked him for Week 9.
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