Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 8, Week 9 Full Fight Card, Date & Details
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 8, Week 9
United States
Main Card • Final
Russia
R1, 4:23
Contract Winner
France
R2, 4:07
Contract Winner
Portugal
R1, 1:43
Contract Winner
Brazil
Germany
R1, 2:44
Contract Winner
Australia
R3, 5:00
Official Event Results
Official Contract Awards
UFC Promotional Contracts Awarded
Post-Fight Bonuses: No standard Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night cash bonuses were awarded for this event.
UFC Contract Awards: UFC CEO Dana White officially awarded promotional UFC contracts to four of the five victorious competitors: Artem Vakhitov, Kody Steele, Mario Pinto, and Islam Dulatov.
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 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 |
*Purses on Dana White’s Contender Series are governed by standard Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) developmental contracts, typically featuring a baseline of $5,000 to show and $5,000 to win. Monetary post-fight bonuses were not awarded; four winning athletes earned coveted multi-fight promotional contracts with the UFC.
Historic Promotional Records Set
Promotional Milestones Established at Season 8, Week 9
Former GLORY light heavyweight champion Artem Vakhitov secured a UFC contract with a first-round TKO (4:23), becoming one of the most decorated kickboxers to cross over into the UFC.
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira attended the event cageside and personally spoke with Dana White in his private office to advocate for Vakhitov’s UFC signing.
Dana White awarded UFC promotional contracts to four victorious athletes on the evening (Artem Vakhitov, Kody Steele, Mario Pinto, and Islam Dulatov).
Week 9 concluded with four finishes across five scheduled bouts (80% finish rate), with three knockouts occurring inside the opening round.
Welterweight phenom Islam Dulatov extended his winning streak to 11 consecutive fights by knocking out LFA champion Vanilto Antunes with an elbow at 2:44 of round 1.
Portuguese heavyweight Mario Pinto maintained his unblemished professional mixed martial arts record with an emphatic 1:43 first-round knockout over Lucas Camacho.
Mario Pinto’s 103-second victory over Lucas Camacho stood as the fastest finish of the evening and one of the quickest heavyweight stoppages of Season 8.
BJJ black belt Kody Steele outlanded Chasen Blair 48 to 48 in significant strikes before securing a TKO stoppage at 4:07 of round two to improve his MMA record to 7-0.
Australian flyweights Sean Gauci and Anthony Drilich engaged in an intense three-round war, combining for 427 total strike attempts and 163 significant strikes.
HEX Fight Series champion Sean Gauci landed 4 takedowns and controlled the mat for 1:32 to earn a unanimous decision sweep (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) over Eternal MMA champion Anthony Drilich.
Three of the evening’s five contests finished inside the opening round (Pinto in 1:43, Dulatov in 2:44, and Vakhitov in 4:23).
The four signings on Week 9 brought the promotional contract count to 38 athletes across the first nine weeks of Season 8 heading into the season finale.
When and where did Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 8, Week 9 take place?
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 8, Week 9 took place on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Who won the main event between Artem Vakhitov and Islem Masraf?
Former GLORY kickboxing champion Artem Vakhitov defeated Islem Masraf via TKO (punches) at 4:23 of Round 1 in their light heavyweight clash.
Which fighters earned UFC contracts on Season 8, Week 9?
UFC CEO Dana White awarded contracts to four fighters: Artem Vakhitov, Kody Steele, Mario Pinto, and Islam Dulatov.
Did Alex Pereira help Artem Vakhitov get signed to the UFC?
Yes. UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira was seated cageside and personally spoke with Dana White in his private office after the fight, endorsing his former kickboxing rival for a UFC contract.
How did Islam Dulatov defeat Vanilto Antunes?
Islam Dulatov scored a highlight-reel finish, knocking out LFA champion Vanilto Antunes with an elbow at 2:44 of Round 1.
How did Kody Steele defeat Chasen Blair?
Grappling standout Kody Steele defeated Chasen Blair via TKO (punches) at 4:07 of Round 2 after landing 48 significant strikes.
What was the fastest finish of the evening?
Heavyweight Mario Pinto delivered the fastest finish of the night, knocking out Lucas Camacho with a punch in just 1:43 of Round 1.
Why didn’t Sean Gauci get a UFC contract despite winning?
Although Australia’s Sean Gauci defeated Anthony Drilich via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28), Dana White elected not to award him a contract, stating he wanted to see more urgency and damage from the flyweight.
How was the event broadcast in the United States?
The entire 5-bout card was streamed live exclusively across the United States on ESPN+.
Who called the fights on commentary?
The broadcast booth featured play-by-play announcer Brendan Fitzgerald alongside color analyst Paul Felder, with Laura Sanko conducting post-fight interviews.
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