The best and worst from UFC Fight Night 137: Santos vs. Anders

#4 Best: Dana White’s Contender Series continues to deliver

Ryan Spann made a successful UFC debut after appearing on Dana White's Contender Series

Since it began in the summer of 2017, Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series has become *the* best path to make it into the UFC. 58 fighters have thus far been signed from the US and Brazilian versions of the show; a mix of contracts sending them straight into the UFC, onto The Ultimate Fighter (which now feels totally redundant) or into developmental deals.

The likes of Sean O’Malley, Karl Roberson and Geoff Neal have all become solid prospects to watch since their appearance on the show, and last night offered more proof that DWTNCS works well as a talent factory for the UFC. Debutants Augusto Sakai and Ryan Spann both picked up wins, while Marina Rodriguez ended up with a draw against a very tough opponent in Randa Markos, and probably could’ve won on a different night.

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Sure, the wins weren’t perfect – Sakai’s fight with Chase Sherman was criminally sloppy and Spann clearly needs to work on his takedown defense, even if his scrambling work and striking looked excellent – but these guys are prospects, not instant contenders. As it is, DWTNCS continues to produce solid talent for the UFC and long may it continue.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Kishan Prasad