Dana White’s Contender Series: Brazil 3 Full Fight Card, Date & Details
Dana White’s Contender Series: Brazil 3
United States
Main Card • Final
Brazil
R3, 5:00
UFC Contract Awarded
R2, 3:40
UFC Contract Awarded
R3, 5:00
UFC Contract Awarded
R3, 5:00
R1, 4:21
UFC Contract Awarded
Official Event Results
Contract Earned
Contract Earned
Contract Earned
Contract Earned
Official UFC Contract Awards
UFC Promotional Contract Recipients
UFC Contract Winner: Raulian Paiva secured an official promotional deal after an intense, high-output split-decision victory over Allan Nascimento in the flyweight main event.
UFC Contract Winner: Vinicius Moreira punched his ticket to the Octagon by earning a second-round triangle choke submission victory over John Allan.
UFC Contract Winner: Luana Carolina was awarded an official UFC agreement following a dominant three-round striking showcase against Mabelly Lima.
UFC Contract Winner: Thiago Moisés capped the contracts with a thunderous first-round head-kick knockout against Gleidson Cutis.
Reported Payouts & Contract Awards
Fighter Purses & Promotional Status
| Fighter | Result | Base Purse | Win / Finish Bonus | Performance Bonus | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | — | — | UFC Contract | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | UFC Contract | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | UFC Contract | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | — | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — | |
| WIN | — | — | UFC Contract | — | |
| LOSS | — | — | — | — |
*Because this event was pre-recorded as part of the Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil television series at the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas, specific base fight purses were not publicly published by the athletic commission. In lieu of traditional performance bonuses, four athletes—Raulian Paiva, Vinicius Moreira, Luana Carolina, and Thiago Moisés—were officially awarded multi-fight UFC promotional contracts by UFC President Dana White.
Historic Contender Series Records Set
Promotional Records Established at DWCS: Brazil 3
Episode 3 saw 4 out of 5 winners earn official UFC contracts (Raulian Paiva, Vinicius Moreira, Luana Carolina, and Thiago Moisés), tying the single-episode record for the highest contract haul in Contender Series Brazil history.
This event served as the finale of the UFC’s first-ever international expansion of the Dana White’s Contender Series franchise, designed specifically to scout Brazilian talent.
Thiago Moisés delivered the sole knockout of the event at 4:21 of round one, landing a devastating head kick followed by ground-and-pound punches against Gleidson Cutis.
Vinicius Moreira registered the only submission finish of the card, tapping fellow light heavyweight prospect John Allan with a second-round triangle choke at 3:40 of Round 2.
Allan Nascimento landed 105 significant strikes across three rounds, establishing one of the highest significant strike totals in a three-round flyweight bout in Contender Series history.
Luana Carolina outlanded Mabelly Lima 85 to 46 in significant strikes (+39 differential) to claim a dominant unanimous decision and secure her promotion to the UFC roster.
Raulian Paiva (81) and Allan Nascimento (105) combined for 186 significant strikes, setting a three-round volume record for flyweights in the Contender Series Brazil series.
Thiago Moisés accepted his bout after Gleidson Cutis missed the lightweight weight limit by 5.5 pounds (weighing in at 160.5 lbs), scoring a first-round stoppage regardless.
The card featured two 15-minute split decisions (Raulian Paiva vs. Allan Nascimento and Gisele Moreira vs. Dayana Silva), tying the record for the most split decisions on a 5-bout DWCS event.
With four fighters signed in Episode 3, the inaugural season of Contender Series Brazil concluded with 11 total UFC signees, including future UFC contenders Johnny Walker, Marina Rodriguez, and Thiago Moisés.
Gisele Moreira threw 210 significant strike attempts over 15 minutes in her split-decision victory over Dayana Silva, setting an offensive pace record for female bouts in the series.
Thiago Moisés’ 4-minute and 21-second stoppage was the fastest finish on the fight card, convincing Dana White to award him a contract without hesitation.
When and where did Dana White’s Contender Series: Brazil 3 take place?
Dana White’s Contender Series: Brazil 3 was recorded on August 11, 2018, at the UFC Training Center (TUF Gym) in Las Vegas, Nevada, and originally aired on September 7, 2018.
Who won the main event between Raulian Paiva and Allan Nascimento?
Raulian Paiva defeated Allan Nascimento via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) in a three-round flyweight war to earn a UFC contract.
Which fighters were awarded UFC contracts at DWCS: Brazil 3?
UFC President Dana White awarded promotional contracts to four fighters: Raulian Paiva, Vinicius Moreira, Luana Carolina, and Thiago Moisés.
How did Thiago Moisés defeat Gleidson Cutis?
Thiago Moisés scored an emphatic TKO (head kick and punches) at 4:21 of Round 1 to earn an immediate UFC contract.
Why did Thiago Moisés vs. Gleidson Cutis take place at a catchweight?
Originally scheduled as a lightweight bout (155 lbs), the fight was contested at a 160.5-pound catchweight after Gleidson Cutis missed the weight limit by 5.5 pounds.
How did Vinicius Moreira win his fight against John Allan?
Vinicius Moreira submitted John Allan via triangle choke at 3:40 of Round 2 in their light heavyweight matchup.
Who won the bout between Luana Carolina and Mabelly Lima?
Luana Carolina defeated Mabelly Lima via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28), landing 85 significant strikes to secure her UFC deal.
What was the outcome of Gisele Moreira vs. Dayana Silva?
Gisele Moreira defeated Dayana Silva via split decision (29–28, 29–28, 28–29) in a three-round women’s bantamweight clash.
Why was Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil pre-recorded rather than live?
Unlike the standard U.S. Contender Series live weekly broadcasts, the Brazilian edition was filmed across two days (August 10 and 11, 2018) in Las Vegas and edited into a three-week television series for Brazilian broadcast networks.
What television networks broadcast Contender Series Brazil?
The series aired on Combate and Combate Play on Friday nights, with re-broadcasts on TV Globo and SporTV in Brazil, and globally on UFC Fight Pass.
Who were the hosts and commentators for Contender Series Brazil?
The broadcast was presented by Felipe Andreoli, with UFC Hall of Famer and Brazilian ambassador Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira conducting post-fight interviews alongside play-by-play announcer Rhoodes Lima.
Did Allan Nascimento eventually make it to the UFC after this fight?
Yes. Despite falling short on the scorecards against Raulian Paiva, Allan Nascimento continued winning on the international circuit and officially signed with the UFC in 2021.
How many total UFC contracts were awarded across Contender Series Brazil?
A total of 11 fighters earned UFC contracts across the three-episode season, including future standouts Johnny Walker, Marina Rodriguez, Taila Santos, Mayra Bueno Silva, and Augusto Sakai.
What was the venue and attendance for Contender Series Brazil 3?
The bouts were held in a closed television studio environment inside the UFC Training Center (TUF Gym) in Las Vegas, Nevada, in front of a controlled studio audience.
What did Thiago Moisés go on to achieve in the UFC after earning his contract?
Following this win, Thiago Moisés built a respected UFC lightweight career, securing notable victories over veterans like Michael Johnson, Bobby Green, and Alexander Hernandez, and headlining a UFC main event against future champion Islam Makhachev.
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