Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 7, Week 5 Full Fight Card, Date & Details
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 7, Week 5
United States
Main Card • Final
Brazil
R1, 3:47
UFC Contract Awarded
Ukraine
R1, 2:26
UFC Contract Awarded
R3, 5:00
UFC Contract Awarded
South Africa
R3, 5:00
UFC Contract Awarded
Argentina
R1, 4:35
UFC Contract Awarded
Official Event Results
UFC Contract
UFC Contract
Official Contract Awards
Official UFC Contract Recipients (Clean Sweep 5-for-5)
UFC Contract Winner: Brendson Ribeiro earned his UFC contract with a sensational first-round knockout over previously undefeated LFA champion Bruno Lopes as a +425 underdog.
UFC Contract Winner: Serhiy Sidey was awarded a UFC contract following a first-round TKO of Ramon Taveras at 2:26, extending his winning streak to eight straight bouts.
UFC Contract Winner: Dylan Budka secured a UFC contract with a grinding, high-workrate unanimous decision victory over South Africa’s Chad Hanekom.
UFC Contract Winner: Jean Silva impressed UFC CEO Dana White with a masterclass display of power and volume striking against Kevin Vallejos, landing 87 significant strikes.
UFC Contract Winner: Dione Barbosa earned her UFC contract with a dominant opening-bout submission, finishing Rainn Guerrero via first-round armbar at 4:35.
Note: Traditional $50,000 performance bonuses are not awarded on Dana White’s Contender Series; all five winning athletes earned official multi-fight UFC promotional contracts.
Reported Payouts & Contract Awards
Fighter Purses & Contract Status
| Fighter | Result | Base Purse | Win / Finish Bonus | Performance Bonus | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | UFC Contract | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | UFC Contract | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | UFC Contract | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | UFC Contract | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 | |
| WIN | $5,000 | $5,000 | UFC Contract | $10,000 | |
| LOSS | $5,000 | — | — | $5,000 |
*Purses on Dana White’s Contender Series are regulated by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) under standard developmental bout agreements ($5,000 to show, $5,000 win bonus). All five winning fighters on this card were awarded official multi-fight promotional contracts with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Historic UFC & DWCS Records Set
Promotional Records Established at DWCS Season 7, Week 5
Dana White awarded official UFC promotional contracts to all five bout winners (Brendson Ribeiro, Serhiy Sidey, Dylan Budka, Jean Silva, and Dione Barbosa), marking one of the rare 100% signing nights in Contender Series history.
Brendson Ribeiro delivered one of the season’s most shocking upsets as a +425 underdog, knocking out previously undefeated LFA champion Bruno Lopes (-550) via first-round TKO.
Serhiy Sidey’s first-round TKO over Ramon Taveras featured a highly debated referee stoppage that prompted Dana White to break precedent and offer Taveras an immediate rematch later in Season 7 (Week 10).
Jean Silva showcased the explosive striking and signature swagger of The Fighting Nerds team, outlanding Argentina’s Kevin Vallejos 87 to 71 in significant strikes in a three-round featherweight war.
Dione Barbosa opened the broadcast with a slick first-round armbar submission victory against Rainn Guerrero, securing her direct entry into the UFC women’s flyweight division.
Rainn Guerrero answered a short-notice call to fight on less than a week’s preparation after Corinne Laframboise was medically removed following pre-fight testing revealing pregnancy.
Dylan Budka logged an event-high 6:28 of ground control and secured two takedowns against South African knockout artist Chad Hanekom to capture a 29-28 unanimous decision.
Three of the five fights concluded in the opening round: Ribeiro (3:47 KO), Sidey (2:26 TKO), and Barbosa (4:35 armbar submission).
The card featured an international roster representing Brazil, the United States, Ukraine, South Africa, Argentina, and Canada.
Canadian-Ukrainian bantamweight standout Serhiy Sidey improved his professional record to 10-1-0 with his eighth consecutive mixed martial arts victory.
All five bouts took place inside the UFC Apex’s intimate 25-foot Octagon, contributing to high-octane exchanges and 163 combined significant strikes in the Silva-Vallejos clash alone.
Contract recipients from this event quickly emerged as fan favorites, with Jean Silva and Brendson Ribeiro registering statement stoppage wins in their subsequent UFC main-roster debuts.
When and where did Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 7, Week 5 take place?
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 7, Week 5 took place on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at the UFC Apex (Meta APEX) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Who won UFC contracts at DWCS Season 7, Week 5?
UFC CEO Dana White awarded contracts to all five fight winners: Brendson Ribeiro, Serhiy Sidey, Dylan Budka, Jean Silva, and Dione Barbosa.
Who won the main event between Brendson Ribeiro and Bruno Lopes?
Brendson Ribeiro pulled off a huge upset as a +425 underdog, knocking out previously undefeated LFA champion Bruno Lopes via KO (punches) at 3:47 of Round 1.
Why was the stoppage in Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras controversial?
Referee Kevin MacDonald waved off the bout at 2:26 of Round 1 as Sidey landed follow-up strikes, but Taveras immediately popped back up in defense. Dana White agreed it was an early stoppage, awarded Sidey a contract, and offered Taveras a second chance later in the season (which led to a Week 10 rematch).
How did Jean Silva defeat Kevin Vallejos?
The Fighting Nerds standout Jean Silva outlanded previously unbeaten Argentine prospect Kevin Vallejos 87 to 71 in significant strikes, winning a high-paced unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
Who won the middleweight bout between Dylan Budka and Chad Hanekom?
Dylan Budka defeated South Africa’s Chad Hanekom via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) behind 6 minutes and 28 seconds of control time.
How did Dione Barbosa finish Rainn Guerrero?
Brazil’s Dione Barbosa dominated the grappling exchanges, locking in an armbar submission at 4:35 of Round 1 to secure a UFC contract.
Why was Corinne Laframboise pulled from her fight against Dione Barbosa?
Canada’s Corinne Laframboise was removed days prior to the bout after mandatory pre-fight medical screenings revealed she was several months pregnant. Rainn Guerrero stepped in on short notice.
How many first-round finishes occurred at DWCS Season 7, Week 5?
There were three first-round finishes: Dione Barbosa (armbar at 4:35), Serhiy Sidey (punches at 2:26), and Brendson Ribeiro (punches at 3:47).
Were standard $50,000 UFC performance bonuses awarded at this event?
No. Athletes on Dana White’s Contender Series do not compete for traditional $50,000 post-fight bonuses; instead, competitors fight for coveted multi-fight UFC promotional contracts.
Where was Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7, Week 5 broadcast?
The event streamed live exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States starting at 8:00 PM EDT.
Who were the commentators for DWCS Season 7, Week 5?
The broadcast desk featured play-by-play voice Brendan Fitzgerald alongside color commentators Laura Sanko and former UFC lightweight contender Paul Felder.
Who was the cage announcer for this Contender Series episode?
Veteran ring announcer Joe Martinez handled the fighter introductions inside the Octagon.
What was the live gate and attendance for the event?
As a studio television production hosted inside the UFC Apex, there were no public ticket sales, and attendance was restricted to fighters, corners, VIP guests, and credentialed media.
How often does Dana White sign all five winners on a DWCS episode?
Awarding contracts to all five winners (a 100% clean sweep) is relatively uncommon on the Contender Series, reserved only for nights where every winner demonstrates extraordinary skill, aggression, or finishing ability.
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