The ninth season of Dana White’s Contender Series could be the most exciting yet, with some huge prospects competing for a contract with the UFC.
The latest series spans from August 12 to October 14, with ten shows each filled with some of the top up-and-coming fighters from all across the globe.
Names like Sean O’Malley, Jamahal Hill, and Bo Nickal all got their start in the UFC on Dana White’s Contender Series and have gone on to become key names in the promotion in the years following.
This latest cohort of hopeful fighters could be the best one yet, with former NFL stars, six-foot-five-inch monsters, and Judo champions all making up the most exciting prospects for the upcoming series.
Josh Hokit punches down at Sean Rose during their Bellator fight
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
5. Jon Kunneman
In an impressive field of up-and-coming fighters, American grappler Jon Kunneman is one of the standouts for the ninth season of Dana White’s Contender Series.
The 26-year-old wrestled at the University of Nebraska before training in MMA under the legendary Greg Jackson, the man who trained legendary fighters such as Jon Jones and Georges St-Pierre.
These are big shoes to fill, but Kunneman will be hoping just to get his foot in the door first. His 10-0 record in the octagon is one of the most impressive this season of the show, and he looks certain to earn a contract with the UFC if things go to plan.
Kunneman faces a tough test on the program, as he is tasked with facing the 11-3 Cam Rowston with a chance to earn a UFC deal from White.
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4. Guilherme Pat
With a nickname like “Kong”, you just know that Guilherme Pat is going to be a handful for his opponent on Dana White’s UFC Contender Series.
While his opponent, Anthony Guarascio, has been doing the media rounds in the build-up to the show, it is Pat who could be one of the most impressive Heavyweights to earn a deal with the UFC through this opportunity.
Standing at six feet five inches and weighing in at over 235 lbs, he is a physical specimen who will have the power advantage over nearly everyone he steps into the octagon with.
“Kong” has only had five fights in his career, but with four knockouts and a decision victory under his belt, he looks good to make a splash in Las Vegas.
3. Juan Diaz
One of the top Bantamweight prospects on the show this year is the 27-year-old Peruvian prospect, Juan Diaz.
Known as “Pegajoso”, or “Sticky”, the five-foot-nine competitor is a tricky man to fight in the octagon, finding different ways to end his opponents.
He is equally adept at eking out a win over three rounds or going on for the kill with the rear naked choke, making Diaz a threat from all sides for whoever is unlucky enough to take him on in Dana White’s Contender Series.
2. Iwo Baraniewski
One of the top prospects in this year’s show has to be the Judoka Iwo Baraniewski.
The Polish fighter fought competitively in Judo before making the transition into MMA in 2023, following big wins both nationally and in European competitions in Judo.
He amassed a 5-0 win record in Polish MMA promotion Babilon MMA, impressing with two submission wins and three TKO finishes, with no fight getting past the first round.
While competition in the US will be much tougher, he has the training and the ability to beat Mahamed Aly on the September 16 edition of the program.
1. Josh Hokit
The most promising contender who is looking to make his mark on the UFC in Dana White’s latest series is former NFL player and MMA fighter Josh Hokit.
The Heavyweight fighter played Football in college before being signed by the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. While he never made his debut in the NFL, he spent two years on their roster, as well as a brief stint on the Arizona Cardinals team.
Following the end of his football career, Hokit embarked on his profession in MMA, signing for Bellator MMA. He won his first two fights via submission before the promotion shut down, with three first-round victories in the LFA before being snapped up by Dana White.
Hokit looks like a real prospect in the Heavyweight division and could become a big star in the promotion, should he impress on Dana White’s Contender Series 9.