Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 4, Week 9 Full Fight Card, Date & Details
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 4, Week 9
United States
Main Card • Final
Brazil
R3, 5:00
Poland
Israel
R3, 0:55
UFC Contract Awarded
R3, 5:00
UFC Contract Awarded
R1, 2:48
UFC Contract Awarded
R3, 5:00
Official Event Results
UFC Contract
UFC Contract
Official Post-Fight Contract Awards
UFC Promotional Contract Recipients
UFC Contract Awards: Unlike numbered UFC pay-per-view events, Dana White’s Contender Series does not issue traditional $50,000 cash bonuses (Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night). Instead, fighters compete for coveted multi-fight promotional contracts with the Ultimate Fighting Championship awarded directly by UFC CEO Dana White.
Natan Levy: Earned an official UFC contract after stepping in on just one day’s notice at a 160-pound catchweight and submitting Shaheen Santana via third-round arm-triangle choke.
Nikolas Motta: Earned an official UFC contract with a surgical striking performance, landing 40 significant head strikes to sweep all three judges’ scorecards (30-27 x3) against former CFFC champion Joe Lowry.
Luana Pinheiro: Awarded an official UFC contract after scoring the sole knockout of the evening, dismantling Stephanie Frausto with vicious combinations in just 2:48 of Round 1.
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 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | — | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 |
*Disclosed purses as structured by Dana White’s Contender Series and filed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Standard base fighter payout for Season 4 athletes was $5,000 to show and a matching $5,000 win bonus. DWCS bouts do not feature standard post-fight cash bonuses; instead, standout athletes are awarded official UFC multi-fight contracts.
Historic Promotional Records & Milestones Set
Promotional Records Established at DWCS Season 4, Week 9
Following his third-round submission victory, Natan Levy became just the third Israeli-born fighter in promotional history to earn an official UFC contract.
Danny Sabatello controlled Taylor Moore on the ground for 14 minutes and 7 seconds (94.1% of the fight), recording one of the highest control percentages in Contender Series history.
Judge Derek Cleary scored the bantamweight clash 30-24 in favor of Danny Sabatello, registering a rare six-point decision margin in a 15-minute DWCS contest.
With three contract awards distributed to Levy, Motta, and Pinheiro, Season 4 elevated its running contract total to 33, en route to an all-time season record of 37.
Natan Levy agreed to a 160-pound catchweight bout on only 24 hours’ notice after Landon Quinones withdrew, successfully submitting Shaheen Santana at 0:55 of Round 3.
Luana Pinheiro delivered the event’s only knockout finish, dropping Stephanie Frausto and stopping the contest at 2:48 of Round 1 with punches.
Nikolas Motta (reigning CFFC lightweight champion) defeated Joe Lowry (former CFFC lightweight champion), marking an unprecedented clash of Cage Fury titleholders on the Contender Series.
Danny Sabatello out-struck Taylor Moore 153 to 23 in total strikes, establishing one of the widest volume strike differentials (+130) ever recorded in a 3-round DWCS bantamweight contest.
Mario Sousa overcame 10 minutes and 24 seconds of top control from Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz by out-damaging his opponent 51 to 14 in significant strikes to capture a unanimous decision.
Syndicate MMA prospect Natan Levy preserved his flawless professional record, advancing to 6-0 with his third submission victory inside the distance.
Held under stringent Nevada State Athletic Commission COVID-19 health protocols, the event operated inside the UFC Apex production bubble with 0 fans in attendance.
Future UFC color commentator Laura Sanko anchored the live event broadcast as cage announcer and post-fight interviewer at the UFC Apex facility.
When and where did Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 4, Week 9 take place?
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 4, Week 9 took place on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Who earned official UFC contracts on DWCS Season 4, Week 9?
UFC President Dana White awarded contracts to three fighters: Natan Levy (catchweight submission winner), Nikolas Motta (lightweight decision winner), and Luana Pinheiro (strawweight knockout winner).
Who won the main event between Mario Sousa and Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz?
Mario Sousa defeated undefeated Polish prospect Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) in a three-round middleweight main event.
Did Mario Sousa get a UFC contract after winning the main event?
No. Despite winning a hard-fought decision, Dana White decided not to offer Mario Sousa a contract immediately, stating that the 24-year-old Brazilian needed additional development before entering the UFC roster.
How did Natan Levy win his fight on short notice?
Stepping in on just 24 hours’ notice for Landon Quinones at a 160-pound catchweight, Natan Levy utilized superior grappling and ground control before securing an arm-triangle choke submission at 0:55 of Round 3 against Shaheen Santana.
How did Luana Pinheiro defeat Stephanie Frausto?
Luana Pinheiro earned the only knockout finish of the night, dropping Stephanie Frausto with a crisp punching combination and forcing a referee stoppage at 2:48 of Round 1.
Who won the lightweight clash between Nikolas Motta and Joe Lowry?
Reigning CFFC lightweight champion Nikolas Motta defeated former champion Joe Lowry via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27), out-landing Lowry with 40 significant head strikes.
What happened in the fight between Danny Sabatello and Taylor Moore?
Danny Sabatello put on a relentless grappling clinic, controlling Taylor Moore for 14:07 of the 15-minute fight and out-striking him 153 to 23 to earn a dominant unanimous decision (30–24, 30–25, 30–26).
Why was Danny Sabatello not awarded a UFC contract despite dominating?
Dana White was critical of Sabatello’s grappling-heavy, safety-first strategy, stating he wanted to see more urgency to finish rather than top-position riding, leaving Sabatello without a contract.
What was the live gate and attendance for DWCS Season 4, Week 9?
The event had an official attendance of 0 fans and a live gate of $0 due to strict COVID-19 pandemic closed-door safety protocols inside the UFC Apex.
How was Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 4, Week 9 broadcast?
The entire five-fight event was streamed exclusively live in the United States on ESPN+ starting at 8:00 PM EST / 5:00 PM PST.
Who called the fights and announced the athletes for DWCS Season 4, Week 9?
The commentary team featured play-by-play announcer Dan Hellie alongside UFC lightweight contender Paul Felder, with Laura Sanko handling cage introductions and post-fight interviews.
Are performance bonuses awarded on Dana White’s Contender Series?
No. Traditional $50,000 UFC performance bonuses are not awarded on DWCS. Instead, the ultimate prize is an official multi-fight contract to join the UFC active roster.
Why did Shaheen Santana fight Natan Levy instead of Landon Quinones?
Landon Quinones tested positive for COVID-19 the day before the event and was pulled from the card. Undefeated prospect Natan Levy accepted the short-notice call at a 160-pound catchweight.
How many total UFC contracts were awarded during DWCS Season 4?
Across the ten-week run in 2020, Dana White awarded a then-record total of 37 UFC contracts to emerging prospects.
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