Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 2, Week 2 Full Fight Card, Date & Details
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 2, Week 2
United States
Main Card • Final
R1, 1:57
R1, 0:40
R3, 4:10
Georgia
R1, 0:26
Argentina
R2, 2:08
Official Event Results
Official Contract Awards
UFC Promotional Contract Recipients
UFC Contract Awards: UFC President Dana White awarded promotional contracts to four standout finishers: Matt Sayles, Anthony Hernandez, Ryan Spann, and Dwight Grant.
Performance Bonuses: Traditional $50,000 performance bonus awards were not distributed for 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 | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| NC | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| NC | $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 reflect standard Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Dana White’s Contender Series contract structures ($5,000 to show, $5,000 to win). Anthony Hernandez was originally awarded a $5,000 win bonus, but was subsequently sanctioned by the NSAC following a positive test for cannabis metabolites, with the victory officially overturned to a No Contest.
Historic Contender Series Records Set
Promotional Records Established at DWCS: Season 2, Week 2
Every single contest on the five-bout card concluded via stoppage (3 knockouts, 2 submissions), recording a flawless 100% finish rate across the entire event.
Ryan Spann submitted Emiliano Sordi via guillotine choke in just 26 seconds of Round 1, recording the fastest submission finish of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 2.
Dana White awarded UFC promotional contracts to four different athletes in a single evening (Matt Sayles, Anthony Hernandez, Ryan Spann, and Dwight Grant), setting a high-water mark for Season 2.
Light heavyweight participant Emiliano Sordi made his lone DWCS appearance before joining the PFL, where he went on to win the 2019 PFL Light Heavyweight World Championship and the $1 million tournament prize.
Former GLORY kickboxing standout Giga Chikadze made his first Octagon-affiliated audition on this card, eventually signing with the UFC in 2019 and assembling a seven-fight promotional win streak.
Anthony Hernandez dropped undefeated Jordan Wright and stopped him in just 40 seconds of Round 1, earning a contract before the result was later amended to a No Contest by the NSAC.
Matt Sayles handed undefeated prospect Yazan Hajeh his first career defeat, landing 34 significant strikes and securing a referee stoppage at 1:57 of Round 1.
Entering as a betting underdog against Giga Chikadze, Austin Springer executed 4 takedowns and locked in a rear-naked choke submission at 4:10 of Round 3.
Dwight Grant delivered one of the cleanest one-punch knockouts of Season 2, knocking out Tyler Hill at 2:08 of Round 2 to earn an immediate UFC contract.
Three previously unblemished fighters entering the card with a combined 20-0 record (Yazan Hajeh 6-0, Jordan Wright 9-0, and Giga Chikadze 5-0) saw their undefeated runs halted on the same night.
After suffering a knockout defeat to Karl Roberson on Season 1, Ryan Spann became one of the first fighters in DWCS history to return in a subsequent season and successfully punch his UFC ticket.
With four of five fights finishing in the opening two rounds, the entire event required less than 15 minutes of live cage time, making it one of the most efficient cards in promotional history.
When and where did Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 2, Week 2 take place?
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 2, Week 2 took place on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Which fighters earned UFC contracts at DWCS Season 2, Week 2?
UFC President Dana White awarded promotional contracts to four fighters: Matt Sayles, Anthony Hernandez, Ryan Spann, and Dwight Grant.
Who won the main event between Matt Sayles and Yazan Hajeh?
Matt Sayles defeated Yazan Hajeh via TKO (punches) at 1:57 of Round 1 in their featherweight headliner, earning an immediate UFC contract.
Why was Anthony Hernandez vs. Jordan Wright ruled a No Contest?
Anthony Hernandez originally won via 40-second TKO, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) overturned the result to a No Contest after Hernandez tested positive for cannabis metabolites.
How fast was Ryan Spann’s submission of Emiliano Sordi?
Ryan Spann locked in a guillotine choke in just 26 seconds of Round 1, recording the fastest submission finish of Season 2.
Who won the featherweight bout between Austin Springer and Giga Chikadze?
Underdog Austin Springer defeated future UFC contender Giga Chikadze via rear-naked choke submission at 4:10 of Round 3.
How did Dwight Grant win his fight against Tyler Hill?
Dwight Grant secured a highlight-reel second-round knockout (punch) at 2:08 of Round 2, leading directly to a UFC contract offer from Dana White.
What did Emiliano Sordi accomplish after competing on the Contender Series?
Following his DWCS bout, Emiliano Sordi signed with the PFL and went on to capture the 2019 PFL Light Heavyweight World Championship, winning the $1,000,000 tournament grand prize.
Did Giga Chikadze eventually make it to the UFC after losing on DWCS?
Yes. Despite the setback against Springer, Chikadze went on a regional win streak and officially signed with the UFC in 2019, where he won his first seven consecutive Octagon bouts.
Were traditional post-fight performance bonuses awarded at this event?
No. Dana White’s Contender Series does not feature standard $50,000 performance bonuses; the primary incentive and reward on the show is earning a formal contract to the UFC roster.
How many fights on this Contender Series card ended in a finish?
All five fights on the card ended via stoppage (3 knockouts and 2 submissions), resulting in a perfect 100% finish rate.
What were the standard purses for fighters on Season 2 of the Contender Series?
Under standard Nevada State Athletic Commission contracts for Season 2, fighters earned $5,000 to show and an additional $5,000 to win.
Who were the commentators and announcer for the broadcast?
Play-by-play caller Brendan Fitzgerald called the action alongside UFC lightweight contender Paul Felder, with veteran announcer Joe Martinez introducing the athletes and Laura Sanko conducting post-fight interviews.
Where was Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 2, Week 2 streamed?
The event streamed exclusively live worldwide on UFC Fight Pass.
Why was this fight significant for Ryan Spann’s career?
Ryan Spann had suffered a 15-second knockout loss on Season 1 of the Contender Series in 2017. Returning in Season 2, his 26-second submission victory redeemed his previous appearance and earned him his coveted UFC contract.
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