Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Week 3 Full Show
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Event Details:
- Date & Time: Tuesday, August 26, 2025 – 8:00 PM ET
- Location: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
- Broadcast: Live on ESPN+ in the U.S.
Official Match Card & Results:
| Weight Class | Fighters | Result & Method | Finish Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middleweight (Main Event) | Ryan Gandra vs. Trent Miller | Gandra wins by TKO (punches) | Round 1 – 2:51 |
| Featherweight | Marcio Barbosa vs. Damon Wilson | Barbosa wins by TKO (punches) | Round 1 – 4:14 |
| Light Heavyweight | Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs. Alik Lorenz | Yakhyaev wins by TKO (punches) | Round 1 – 0:30 |
| Lightweight | Manoel Sousa vs. Cristian Perez | Sousa wins by TKO (punches) | Round 3 – 3:00 |
| Heavyweight | Donte Johnson vs. Darion Abbey | Johnson wins by TKO (punches) | Round 1 – 1:04 |
All five winners were awarded UFC contracts by Dana White after their impressive victories.
Fight Reviews:
- Ryan Gandra vs. Trent Miller
Gandra showed calm precision, landing powerful punches that forced an early stoppage in Round 1. - Marcio Barbosa vs. Damon Wilson
Barbosa continued his reputation as a fast finisher. He pushed forward aggressively and secured a first-round TKO. - Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs. Alik Lorenz
The quickest fight of the night—Yakhyaev ended it in just 30 seconds with a flurry of strikes. - Manoel Sousa vs. Cristian Perez
Perez started strong with grappling control, but Sousa weathered the storm. In Round 3, Sousa rallied with heavy punches to earn a comeback TKO. - Donte Johnson vs. Darion Abbey
Despite a size disadvantage, Johnson landed early, dropped Abbey, and sealed the fight with a TKO in just over a minute.
Location & Production Notes:
The event took place at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, with commentary by Dan Hellie and Daniel Cormier. Ring announcing was handled by Justin Bernard, while Charly Arnolt conducted post-fight interviews.
Conclusion:
Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 9, Week 3 was one of the most explosive nights of the season. With four first-round finishes and a dramatic late TKO, every winner made a statement and earned a UFC contract. Ryan Gandra, Marcio Barbosa, Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev, Manoel Sousa, and Donte Johnson all proved they belong on the big stage.
This week highlighted exactly what the Contender Series is about: hungry fighters seizing their one shot to break into the UFC with unforgettable performances.
