Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 1, Week 4 Full Fight Card, Date & Details
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 1, Week 4
United States
Main Card • Final
R2, 2:20
R1, 0:46
R3, 5:00
Brazil
R3, 5:00
R3, 5:00
Official Event Results
Official UFC Contract Recipients
UFC Promotional Contracts Awarded by Dana White
Contract Awards: On Dana White’s Contender Series, traditional post-fight performance bonuses ($50,000 FOTN/POTN) are not distributed. Instead, UFC President Dana White evaluates all fight outcomes to present official contracts joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster.
Julian Marquez: Earned an Octagon contract with one of the most vicious finishes of 2017, knocking out top prospect Phil Hawes with a second-round right head kick.
Brandon Davis: Captured his UFC deal after putting on an all-time striking masterclass, throwing 454 significant strikes in a thrilling unanimous decision battle over Austin Arnett.
Kyler Phillips: Although not awarded a direct contract on the night, Phillips was invited directly into The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated (TUF 27) before later signing full-time with the promotion.
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 sanctioned and disclosed in accordance with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Standard Dana White’s Contender Series Season 1 contracts paid $5,000 to show and a $5,000 win bonus. In addition to bout purses, Julian Marquez and Brandon Davis were signed to official multi-fight contracts with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Historic Event Records & Milestones
Milestones Established at DWCS Season 1, Week 4
Julian Marquez scored one of the most famous head-kick knockouts in DWCS history, folding top middleweight prospect Phil Hawes in Round 2.
Brandon Davis (134) and Austin Arnett (105) combined for 239 landed significant strikes, setting an all-time single-fight record for DWCS Season 1.
Brandon Davis launched an incredible 454 significant strike attempts across 15 minutes, the highest single-bout output of the 2017 summer series.
Kyler Phillips needed just 46 seconds to dismantle James Gray, earning the fastest finish of the evening via ground-and-pound elbows.
Julian Marquez overcame +290 underdog odds against -380 betting favorite Phil Hawes to punch his ticket directly to the UFC roster.
Carlos Candelario survived eight takedowns and five submission attempts from BJJ black belt Ronaldo Candido to earn a gritty unanimous decision win.
Kyler Phillips’ dominant performance earned him an immediate slot on The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated, launching his UFC bantamweight career.
Dana White officially awarded UFC contracts to middleweight Julian Marquez and featherweight warrior Brandon Davis.
Six competitors from this five-fight card (Marquez, Hawes, Phillips, Davis, Arnett, and Castaneda) would go on to compete inside the UFC Octagon.
Week 4 featured the viral alternate broadcast desk with hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg and UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber calling Marquez’s finish live.
John Castaneda outlanded Cheyden Leialoha 48-28 in significant strikes, earning his 14th career professional victory via unanimous decision.
The card served as the fourth event of the inaugural 2017 DWCS summer tournament, staged inside the 25-foot Octagon at the UFC Training Center.
When and where did Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 1, Week 4 take place?
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 1, Week 4 took place on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, at the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Who won the main event at DWCS Season 1, Week 4?
Julian Marquez defeated Phil Hawes via KO (head kick) at 2:20 of Round 2 in an explosive middleweight main event.
Which fighters were awarded UFC contracts at DWCS Season 1, Week 4?
UFC President Dana White awarded official UFC contracts to two fighters: Julian Marquez and Brandon Davis.
How did Julian Marquez finish Phil Hawes?
Marquez defended Hawes’ wrestling attacks in Round 1 and landed a flush right head kick in Round 2, knocking Hawes out cold at 2:20.
Did Phil Hawes ever fight in the UFC after this loss?
Yes. Phil Hawes returned to the Contender Series in Season 4 (2020), scored a 78-second knockout, and signed with the UFC, compiling multiple Octagon victories.
How fast was Kyler Phillips’ finish over James Gray?
Kyler Phillips stopped James Gray in just 46 seconds of Round 1 via TKO with brutal ground-and-pound elbows.
What happened to Kyler Phillips after not getting a direct UFC contract that night?
Dana White invited Phillips directly onto The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated (TUF 27), which eventually led to his official signing with the promotion where he became a ranked bantamweight contender.
What was the outcome of Brandon Davis vs. Austin Arnett?
Brandon Davis defeated Austin Arnett via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–26) in an all-out striking war that earned Davis a UFC contract.
Did Austin Arnett eventually make it to the UFC?
Yes. Despite his loss to Davis, Arnett’s impressive durability earned him a short-notice UFC contract a few months later at UFC on FOX 27 in January 2018.
How did Carlos Candelario defeat Ronaldo Candido?
Carlos Candelario neutralized Candido’s submission threats and outstruck the Brazilian black belt on the feet to secure a unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
Who won the bout between John Castaneda and Cheyden Leialoha?
John Castaneda defeated Cheyden Leialoha via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) in the bantamweight card opener.
How was Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 1, Week 4 broadcast?
The event streamed live exclusively on UFC Fight Pass worldwide, starting at 8:00 PM EDT.
Who were the commentators for DWCS Season 1, Week 4?
The traditional broadcast was called by Dan Hellie and Paul Felder, while an alternate audio stream (the “SnoopCast”) was hosted by Snoop Dogg and Urijah Faber. Joe Martinez was the Octagon announcer.
What was the venue and attendance for DWCS Season 1, Week 4?
The event was held inside the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, as a closed-studio production with zero general public attendance.
How many total strikes were landed in the Brandon Davis vs. Austin Arnett war?
The two fighters combined to throw 736 total strikes, landing 246 (including 239 significant strikes), setting the high-water mark for Season 1.
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