DWCS Season 10 Week 6: 4 UFC Deals After KO

DWCS Season 10 Week 6 delivered another explosive night of mixed martial arts action, with four fighters earning UFC contracts after a series of impressive performances at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on September 15.

The standout moment came when Akbar Abdullaev needed just 19 seconds to stop Ednilson Santos with a single devastating punch. The spectacular knockout immediately caught the attention of UFC CEO Dana White, who praised Abdullaev as one of the most talented fighters to appear on the series.

Along with Abdullaev, Mayton Perea, Igor Cavalcanti and Luis Hernandez also secured UFC contracts. The only winner who did not receive a contract was Tyshawn Williams, although White indicated that another opportunity could be available later in the season.

DWCS Season 10 Week 6 produces four UFC contracts

The sixth episode of Season 10 featured five fights, giving 10 fighters an opportunity to impress UFC officials and earn a place on the promotion’s roster.

Four of those five winners received contracts.

Mayton Perea defeated Zevan Hunt by first-round TKO after only 45 seconds. Igor Cavalcanti stopped Oscar Ravello at the 1:38 mark of the opening round. Abdullaev produced the night’s fastest finish with his 19-second knockout, while Luis Hernandez submitted Hugo Guillon in the second round.

Williams completed the night with a unanimous decision over Antonio Monteiro but did not receive a contract.

The UFC’s official results confirmed the five-match lineup and the successful contract winners following the event.

Akbar Abdullaev delivers a 19-second knockout

The most memorable performance of DWCS Season 10 Week 6 belonged to Akbar Abdullaev.

Abdullaev faced Ednilson Santos in a lightweight contest and wasted virtually no time establishing his striking threat. After briefly working Santos’ body, Abdullaev unleashed a powerful right hand that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.

The fight was officially stopped just 19 seconds into the opening round.

The knockout was particularly notable because Abdullaev entered the Contender Series with an undefeated record and significant experience outside the UFC. His performance gave him the kind of emphatic finish the promotion frequently looks for when deciding which prospects deserve contracts.

MMA Fighting reported that White reacted enthusiastically to the knockout and described Abdullaev as “the greatest talent that’s ever been on this show.” That is White’s assessment of the prospect rather than an independently established ranking, but it illustrates the level of excitement surrounding Abdullaev’s performance.

Mayton Perea overwhelms Zevan Hunt

Mayton Perea also made an immediate impression.

Perea faced undefeated prospect Zevan Hunt in the featured welterweight bout. Hunt entered the contest with a perfect professional record, but Perea quickly changed the complexion of the fight.

According to the fight report, Perea hurt Hunt during the opening exchanges and continued pressing forward rather than allowing his opponent to recover. Hunt was dropped multiple times before the referee stopped the contest at 45 seconds of Round 1.

The victory gave Perea one of the night’s most convincing finishes and earned him a UFC contract.

For fighters competing on Dana White’s Contender Series, that kind of performance can be particularly important. The event is designed to give emerging athletes an opportunity to demonstrate that their skills can translate to the highest level of MMA.

Perea did exactly that against Hunt.

Igor Cavalcanti scores another first-round finish

Igor Cavalcanti became the third fighter to earn a UFC contract after defeating Oscar Ravello.

Cavalcanti immediately applied pressure, using his boxing to create an early opening. A straight right hand helped put Ravello in trouble, and Cavalcanti followed his opponent to the ground.

Rather than recklessly throwing strikes, Cavalcanti maintained his position and continued attacking until the referee intervened.

The official stoppage came at 1:38 of the first round.

The result gave Cavalcanti a second consecutive contract-winning performance opportunity on the Contender Series and demonstrated his ability to combine striking offense with effective ground control.

Luis Hernandez survives danger and finds the submission

Luis Hernandez provided a different type of finish.

Hernandez faced Hugo Guillon in a middleweight matchup and spent much of the opening round applying pressure. However, Guillon created serious danger during the second round when he caught Hernandez with a knee and threatened with a D’Arce choke.

Hernandez managed to escape.

He then reversed the situation and secured a rear-naked choke, forcing Guillon to submit at 1:01 of the second round.

The victory preserved Hernandez’s unbeaten record and earned him the fourth UFC contract of the night.

His performance was a reminder that Contender Series fights can change quickly. A fighter can move from being in immediate submission danger to finishing the contest moments later.

Tyshawn Williams wins but does not get a UFC contract

The most unusual outcome of DWCS Season 10 Week 6 came in the final fight.

Tyshawn Williams defeated Antonio Monteiro by unanimous decision after three rounds. The judges scored the contest 29-28, 29-27 and 29-27 in Williams’ favor.

Williams relied heavily on his wrestling, repeatedly taking Monteiro to the canvas and controlling the fight.

Despite the victory, White did not offer Williams a UFC contract on the night.

That does not necessarily mean Williams’ Contender Series run is over. According to MMA Fighting, White told him that he would have another opportunity later in the season.

The situation also highlights an important feature of the Contender Series. Winning a fight does not automatically guarantee a UFC contract. Fighters are competing not only for victories but also for opportunities to demonstrate qualities that UFC officials believe can translate to the promotion.

DWCS Season 10 reaches 28 UFC contracts

With four contracts awarded during Week 6, the total number of fighters signed through Season 10 reached 28 at this stage of the competition.

That figure was reported following the latest episode and represents another significant milestone for the 2026 season.

Season 10 consists of 10 weeks of competition, with five fights scheduled each week. The series has become one of the UFC’s main pipelines for discovering new talent.

The format gives prospects an opportunity to compete directly in front of UFC officials while also exposing them to a wider audience.

For the fighters who receive contracts, the Contender Series is only the beginning. A UFC deal means they now have to prove themselves against established athletes and other highly regarded prospects.

Why Akbar Abdullaev’s performance stands out

Among the four contract winners, Abdullaev generated the biggest immediate reaction because of the extraordinary speed of his victory.

A 19-second knockout leaves almost no room for strategic adjustment. The fight essentially ended before either fighter could establish a sustained rhythm.

Abdullaev’s undefeated record also adds context to the performance. MMA Fighting reported that he entered the bout with a substantial résumé outside the UFC, while other coverage noted his previous experience in ONE Championship.

His knockout of Santos therefore served two purposes.

First, it demonstrated his ability to end a fight with one clean strike. Second, it gave UFC officials a brief but highly memorable introduction to his skill set.

White’s comments afterward further increased attention on the new UFC signing.

Still, the next stage will provide a much greater test. Contender Series success and UFC success are separate challenges, and Abdullaev will eventually have to demonstrate that his skills work against UFC-level opposition.

Four different paths to UFC contracts

One of the most interesting aspects of DWCS Season 10 Week 6 was the variety of performances that produced contracts.

Perea earned his opportunity through relentless first-round striking pressure.

Cavalcanti combined early striking success with ground-and-pound.

Abdullaev delivered perhaps the most spectacular single moment of the night with his one-punch knockout.

Hernandez demonstrated composure by escaping a dangerous submission situation before finishing Guillon himself.

Those performances show why Dana White’s Contender Series remains an important part of the UFC’s talent-development system.

The fighters do not all need to win in exactly the same way. Instead, they have an opportunity to show different aspects of their games in a high-pressure environment.

What comes next for the new UFC signings?

The four contract winners now move into a new phase of their careers.

The UFC has not yet announced the specific debut dates or opponents for all four fighters. Their next assignments will likely provide an opportunity to see how they perform against established UFC competition.

For Abdullaev, expectations will be particularly high after his spectacular finish and White’s public praise.

Perea will also enter the UFC with momentum after destroying an undefeated opponent in less than a minute.

Cavalcanti and Hernandez bring their own strengths to the roster, with both earning contracts through stoppage victories.

Meanwhile, Williams remains one of the names to watch after being promised another opportunity on the Contender Series.

DWCS Season 10 Week 6 results at a glance

Fight	Result	Method	Time	UFC Contract
Mayton Perea vs. Zevan Hunt	Perea won	TKO	0:45, R1	Yes
Igor Cavalcanti vs. Oscar Ravello	Cavalcanti won	TKO	1:38, R1	Yes
Akbar Abdullaev vs. Ednilson Santos	Abdullaev won	KO	0:19, R1	Yes
Luis Hernandez vs. Hugo Guillon	Hernandez won	Submission	1:01, R2	Yes
Tyshawn Williams vs. Antonio Monteiro	Williams won	Decision	3 rounds	No

Results and contract information are based on UFC and MMA Fighting’s coverage of the September 15 event.

The bigger picture for the UFC

The sixth week of Dana White’s Contender Series once again demonstrated why the program has become an important recruiting platform for the UFC.

Four fighters left Las Vegas with contracts, while another winner was promised an additional opportunity. The event also produced multiple stoppages, including three first-round finishes and a second-round submission.

For fans, the appeal is straightforward: every fight can introduce a potential future UFC contender.

For the athletes, however, the stakes are much higher. A successful performance can change the direction of a career, while a victory without a contract can mean returning to the drawing board and waiting for another opportunity.

That tension was on full display during Week 6.

Abdullaev’s 19-second knockout ultimately became the defining moment, but Perea, Cavalcanti and Hernandez also delivered finishes strong enough to earn UFC deals.

With Season 10 continuing, attention now turns to the next group of prospects looking for their opportunity.