Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 6, Week 1 Full Fight Card, Date & Details
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 6, Week 1
United States
Main Card • Final
Sweden
R3, 5:00
Brazil
R3, 5:00
R3, 5:00
Ecuador
Official Event Results
Official Contract Awards & Post-Fight Honors
UFC Contract Winners & Event Honors
UFC Contract Awards: UFC CEO Dana White awarded an official promotional contract solely to middleweight standout Joe Pyfer following his electric second-round knockout of LFA champion Ozzy Diaz.
Promotional Directive: Following the event, Dana White gave his famous “Be Joe Pyfer” speech to all future competitors, stating that fighters must enter the Octagon to finish fights and make an unmistakable statement to earn a UFC contract.
Post-Fight Cash Bonuses: Traditional performance bonuses (Fight of the Night / Performance of the Night) are not officially distributed at Dana White’s Contender Series events.
Reported Payouts & Disclosed Purses
Fighter Purses & Total Payout Estimates
| Fighter | Result | Base Purse | Win / Finish Bonus | Performance Bonus | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — |
*Purses for Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6, Week 1 were not publicly released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Standard promotional performance bonuses (Fight of the Night / Performance of the Night) are not issued on Contender Series events. Instead, athletes compete for promotional UFC contracts. Undisclosed contract amounts are marked with —.
Historic UFC & DWCS Records Set
Promotional Milestones Established at DWCS Season 6, Week 1
Joe Pyfer’s thunderous knockout led Dana White to establish the famous promotional mantra: “If you want to be in the UFC, be like Joe Pyfer. Be Joe Pyfer.”
Joe Pyfer became the solitary fighter to earn a UFC contract on the season opener, highlighting Dana White’s heightened standard for contract awards in Season 6.
Joe Pyfer’s left-hook knockout over LFA champion Ozzy Diaz at 1:39 of Round 2 was the first finish across the entire 10-week Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6 slate.
After suffering a severe dislocated elbow in his 2020 Contender Series appearance against Dustin Stoltzfus, Pyfer completed a historic redemption run to earn a contract on his second attempt.
Sweden’s Anton Turkalj completed 11 takedowns against Acácio Dos Santos, tying the second-highest single-fight takedown total in Dana White’s Contender Series history.
Anton Turkalj accumulated 11 minutes and 49 seconds of control time over three rounds, setting the Season 6 benchmark for 205-pound grappling control.
Dennis Buzukja successfully defended 11 of 12 takedown attempts against Kaleio Romero, securing his first Contender Series victory across two promotional appearances.
The card featured athletes representing four sovereign nations—the United States, Sweden, Brazil, and Ecuador—showcasing the Contender Series’ global talent recruitment scope.
Alessandro Costa’s victory over Juan Andres Luna produced a dramatic split decision where one judge saw a 30-27 sweep for Costa while another scored the bout 29-28 for Luna.
The scheduled co-feature between Farid Basharat and Willian Souza was scrapped when Souza weighed in at 146 pounds (10 pounds over the bantamweight limit), one of the largest misses in DWCS history.
Despite only one contract awarded on fight night, four of the eight competing athletes (Joe Pyfer, Anton Turkalj, Dennis Buzukja, and Alessandro Costa) went on to make official UFC Octagon appearances.
Week 1 launched the sixth consecutive summer of Dana White’s Contender Series at the UFC APEX, kickstarting a 43-bout season that yielded 43 promotional UFC contracts.
When and where did Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 6, Week 1 take place?
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 6, Week 1 took place on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Who won the main event of DWCS Season 6, Week 1?
Joe Pyfer defeated Ozzy Diaz via KO (left hook and punches) at 1:39 of Round 2 in their featured middleweight bout.
Who earned a UFC contract at DWCS Season 6, Week 1?
Joe Pyfer was the only fighter to earn a UFC contract on Week 1. Dana White declined to sign the three decision winners, demanding more urgency and finishing instinct from prospects.
What is the story behind Dana White’s “Be Joe Pyfer” quote?
After three grinding decision bouts, Dana White was frustrated with the lack of finishes. In his post-fight address, he praised Pyfer’s knockout and told future hopefuls: “If you want to get into the UFC… be like Joe Pyfer. Be Joe Pyfer.”
How did Anton Turkalj defeat Acácio Dos Santos?
Swedish prospect Anton Turkalj defeated Acácio Dos Santos via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28), relying on 11 takedowns and nearly 12 minutes of control time.
Who won the featherweight fight between Dennis Buzukja and Kaleio Romero?
Dennis Buzukja defeated Kaleio Romero via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28), surviving Romero’s wrestling pressure and landing a knockdown in Round 1.
What was the outcome of Alessandro Costa vs. Juan Andres Luna?
Brazil’s Alessandro Costa defeated Ecuador’s Juan Andres Luna via split decision (30–27, 28–29, 29–28) in a back-and-forth flyweight opening bout.
Why was Farid Basharat vs. Willian Souza cancelled from this card?
The bantamweight bout was cancelled during official weigh-ins when Willian Souza missed the 136-pound limit by 10 pounds, weighing in at 146 pounds. The Nevada State Athletic Commission pulled the bout due to safety concerns.
Did the decision winners eventually make it to the UFC?
Yes. Despite not receiving contracts that night, Anton Turkalj (at UFC 279), Alessandro Costa (at UFC Fight Night 216), and Dennis Buzukja (at UFC on ESPN 50) all received short-notice calls to fight in the UFC.
Were Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night bonuses awarded?
No. Dana White’s Contender Series does not issue standard $50,000 UFC performance bonuses. The primary reward for athletes is earning a multi-fight promotional contract with the UFC.
Who called the broadcast for DWCS Season 6, Week 1?
The live broadcast on ESPN+ was anchored by play-by-play commentator Dan Hellie alongside color analysts Paul Felder and Laura Sanko, with Joe Martinez serving as the cage announcer.
What happened to Joe Pyfer in his first Contender Series appearance?
In August 2020 on DWCS Season 4, Pyfer suffered a gruesome dislocated elbow when he was taken down by Dustin Stoltzfus, ending his first bid for a contract before returning two years later to win in Week 1 of Season 6.
How many fights took place at DWCS Season 6, Week 1?
Due to the weigh-in cancellation of Basharat vs. Souza, the card featured four official bouts (one knockout and three three-round decisions).
How soon did Anton Turkalj make his official UFC debut after this fight?
Just six weeks later, Anton Turkalj answered a short-notice call to make his official UFC debut at UFC 279 on September 10, 2022, facing Brazilian phenom Jailton Almeida at a 220-pound catchweight.
Where is the UFC APEX located?
The UFC APEX is the promotion’s state-of-the-art production facility and production studio located in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring a specialized 25-foot Octagon.
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