The lineup for Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 5 is slowly coming to form. Contracts are going out and fighters are putting their names on the dotted lines.
The upcoming installment has a different flare than recent years, with a large percentage of the roster coming from outside North America. The majority are from Brazil, Russia and beyond. Of the fights that have surfaced thus far, only a few Americans are set to partake in Season 5, which is set to begin in August.
Portions of Dana White’s Contender Series S5 roster have leaked. Many international fighters and it’s not a coincidence, I’m told. That was the intent from the start.#UFC was looking to increase talent level anyway, but this also offsets limited international signings in 2020.
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) May 26, 2021
The first known event date is Aug. 31. The series will extend at least through mid-October, with the latest event on the schedule currently set for Oct. 12.
A number of fights have leaked prior to the UFC’s official announcements. Scroll below to see the fights MMA Junkie has confirmed thus far.
Aug. 31 – Khusein Askhabov vs. Joanderson Brito
Image via Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA)
Widely regarded as one of the top featherweights in North America, Joanderson Brito (11-2-1) has struggled to find fights of late. Not having competed since 2019, Brito enters DWCS coming off of a 44-second knockout win over Jose Mariscal in his first promotional main event. He currently rides a nine-fight winning streak.
As for Khusein Askhabov (23-0), he and his brother, Khasan, are known for their eye-popping records. Prior to COVID-19-induced travel restrictions, Askhabov was expected to fight on DWCS, Season 4 in 2020. Askhabov has held multiple titles in Russian promotion WWFC.
The fight was first reported by Team Askhabov.
Aug. 31 – light heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov vs. Matheus Scheffel
Azamat Murzakanov (9-0) was signed to the UFC in 2017, but never debuted due to a failed drug test. He later was released. Since that time, Murzakanov has competed twice – both on the same night. In a one-night tournament in 2019, Murzakanov won back-to-back fights to clinch Brave CF openweight gold.
Matheus Scheffel (14-6) was slated to fight Nick Maximov for DWCS in 2020. However, due to pandemic travel restrictions, he was removed from the fight. Scheffel enters this season having won six of seven fights and is currently the Future FC light heavyweight champion.
The fight was initially reported by Vestnik MMA.
Sept. 7 – flyweight: Bruno Korea vs. CJ Vergara
Bruno Korea and Matheus Nicolau
Another ex-member of the UFC roster, Bruno Korea (12-3-1) looks to punch his ticket back to the big show nearly six years after his lone promotional appearance. After competing on “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 4,” Korea was submitted by Matheus Nicolau at UFC Fight Night 77 in 2015. Since then, he’s gone 8-2-1 and currently holds the Taura MMA flyweight championship.
Since 2018, CJ Vergara (8-2-1) has been on a roll. Currently on a four-fight winning streak, Vergara is the Fury FC flyweight champion. He earned title gold in a “Fight of the Year” candidate when he defeated two-time DWCS alum Jacob Silva in a back-and-forth brawl in March. Five of his eight pro victories are by finish.
The fight was first reported by Combate.
Sept. 14 – strawweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Julia Polastri
Touted as one of Canada’s top rising talents, Jasmine Jasudavicius (5-1) enters DWCS off a win in March. Nearly unblemished in her professional MMA career, Jasudavicius’ lone loss came with the CFFC strawweight title on the line when she lost a split decision to Elise Reed.
Julia Polastri (8-2) joins the DWCS, Season 5 roster on a six-fight winning streak. She currently holds the Shooto Brazil strawweight title and four stoppage victories to her name.
The fight was first reported by MMA Empire.
Sept. 21 – middleweight: Hashem Arkhagha vs. AJ Dobson
Fighting out of Jordan, Hashem Arkhagha (6-0) has competed for notable Middle East promotions UAE Warriors and Brave CF. Undefeated as a professional, Arkhagha has finished all six of his professional fights inside the distance.
Also undefeated, AJ Dobson (5-0) has competed largely on the Midwest regional scene. Four of his five victories have come by way of finish with four TKOs and one submission.
The fight was first reported by Arkhagha himself.
Sept. 28 – middleweight: Caio Borralho vs. Aaron Jeffery
Caio Borralho (8-1) has won five fights in a row prior to his first DWCS attempt this fall. The Brazilian has competed mostly for Future FC as of late and is currently their middleweight champion.
CFFC middleweight champion Aaron Jeffery (10-2) has been on the UFC’s doorstep for quite some time. Season 5 will mark the second time he’ll have competed on DWCS. In 2019, Jeffery was submitted by Brendan Allen on the show. Since then, he’s gone 4-0 with three finishes.
The fight was first reported by MMA Fighting.
Sept. 28 – lightweight: Lucas Almeida vs. Daniel Zellhuber
Lucas Almeida (12-0) finishes fights. In fact, he’s got a 100 percent finishing rate entering his attempt to earn a UFC contract. He currently holds lightweight titles for both the Jungle Fight and Max Fighting promotions
One of Latin America’s fastest-rising stars, Daniel Zellhuber (11-0) is only 21 years old but already on the UFC’s doorstep. He’s recently racked up victories under the promotional banners of Lux Fight League, iKon Fighting Federation, and Combate Americas among others.
Almeida’s manager Wallid Ismael confirmed the booking on Twitter after an initial report by Sherdog.
Sept. 28 – heavyweight: Rizvan Kuniev vs. Edivan Santos
Rizvan Kuniev (10-2-1) is one of Russia’s top heavyweights – and will look to prove his greatness knows no borders. Since 2015, Kuniev has gone 8-0 with four finishes in that stretch. He is currently the Eagle FC heavyweight champion – the titleholder for the promotion run by former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Another fight-finishing Brazilian, Edivan Santos (12-2) has not lost in 11 fights. With most of his finishes coming by way of knockout, Santos will look to continue his success in the first major opportunity of his career.
The first was first reported by Vestnik MMA.
Oct. 12 – Silvana Gomez Juarez vs. Maria Silva
A former KSW title challenger, Argentina’s Silvana Gomez Juarez (10-2) has only lost two fights in her professional career – both to fighters with UFC notoriety (Ariane Lipski and Poliana Botelho). She was scheduled to fight Antonina Shevchenko on DWCS in June 2016 but withdrew due to injury. Now, three fights and three wins later, she’s back on the UFC’s radar.
Maria Silva (6-0) made her professional debut in 2013 but has only competed six times. When she has fought, however, she’s been dominant as she’s won all of her fights with five coming inside the distance.
The fight was first reported by ESPN Deportes.
Oct. 12 – heavyweight: Martin Buday vs. Hugo Cunha
Representing Slovak Republic, Martin Buday (7-1) rides a six-fight winning streak with a 100 percent finishing rate into his DWCS opportunity. He’s largely competed for Slovakian promotion Oktagon with his most recent fight coming in 2019.
A slick grappler with a national wrestling background, Hugo Cunha (6-0) brings a fairly unique skillset to the cage for a heavyweight. All six of his professional fights he’s ended inside the distance with three knockouts and three submissions.
The fight was first reported by Combate.