DWCS Season 10 Week 3 Results

The DWCS Season 10 Week 3 results delivered one of the most unexpected nights in the history of Dana White’s Contender Series. Alex Apodaca stunned heavily favored prospect Bella Mir by unanimous decision at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on August 25, ending Mir’s undefeated professional record and earning a UFC contract in the process.

Mir entered the fight surrounded by enormous expectations. The 23-year-old was unbeaten at 4-0 professionally and had already established herself as one of the most highly regarded young grapplers in the sport. She was also the daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir and had built a decorated wrestling résumé of her own.

Instead, Apodaca produced the performance of her career.

The result was particularly shocking because Apodaca entered as an enormous underdog. UFC’s official results confirmed that all three judges scored the bout 29-28 for Apodaca, giving her the biggest upset in Contender Series history.

The main event was only part of a memorable evening. Guilherme Uriel, Sean Clancy Jr., Ronald Humphrey and Nick Galanti also earned UFC contracts after impressive performances.

Bella Mir Suffers Historic Upset

Bella Mir was expected to be one of the biggest stories of DWCS Season 10.

Before the fight, Mir had won all four of her professional MMA bouts, with three victories coming by first-round submission. Her credentials also included major wrestling accomplishments, including an NCAA championship and multiple Nevada State titles. She had previously become the first athlete to sign a UFC NIL deal.

Those achievements made her one of the most closely watched prospects on the Contender Series.

Alex Apodaca had a very different profile.

The 32-year-old entered with a 3-1 professional record and a three-fight winning streak. Her background was rooted in Muay Thai, while years of training helped her develop into a more complete MMA fighter. She also had a less conventional path to the sport, having studied at the University of Texas and worked in finance while continuing to train.

On paper, Mir appeared to have the stronger résumé.

Inside the Octagon, however, Apodaca proved that experience and composure could change the equation.

Apodaca constantly changed her stance and presented Mir with a difficult target. She also defended Mir’s takedown attempts effectively, preventing the highly accomplished wrestler from consistently imposing her preferred grappling game.

As the fight progressed, Apodaca became increasingly comfortable.

She mixed punches with kicks to the body and head while forcing Mir to work at a demanding pace. Mir still landed significant offense, but Apodaca’s overall activity and ability to control the exchanges were enough to convince all three judges.

The final scorecards read 29-28, 29-28 and 29-28 for Apodaca.

DWCS Season 10 Week 3 Results Put Apodaca in UFC

The biggest reward came immediately after the fight.

The victory also demonstrated why the Contender Series remains such an important pathway to the UFC.

Apodaca was not simply surviving against Mir. She adjusted throughout the contest, defended the takedowns that mattered most and maintained enough offensive output to win rounds on the judges’ scorecards.

Her performance was especially impressive because Mir had spent much of her young career overwhelming opponents with grappling.

Apodaca refused to allow that pattern to develop.

Even when Mir found success late in the fight, Apodaca stayed composed. Mir attempted a late submission, but Apodaca defended the position and remained active until the final horn.

For Mir, the defeat represents the first professional loss of her MMA career.

However, the result does not erase the accomplishments that made her one of the sport’s most promising prospects. At just 23 years old, Mir has considerable time to develop, correct weaknesses and return to competition.

Nick Galanti Delivers Fastest Finish

The DWCS Season 10 Week 3 results began with a spectacular knockout.

Nick Galanti stopped Carlos Petruzzella in only 35 seconds of the opening round. The CFFC middleweight champion immediately put his finishing ability on display and secured one of the fastest victories of the night.

Galanti entered the fight with a 7-1 record and championship experience from Cage Fury Fighting Championships. His background included Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but he had developed into a more complete MMA fighter capable of applying pressure and finding finishes.

The opening exchange ended the contest almost immediately.

Galanti landed the decisive punches and followed with ground strikes before the referee intervened. His aggressive approach gave Dana White little reason to hesitate when it came time to award a contract.

The result moved Galanti closer to the UFC roster after years of preparation.

Ronald Humphrey Scores Dominant Submission

Ronald Humphrey also secured his UFC contract with an emphatic performance.

Humphrey submitted Alexis Miranda via rear-naked choke at 4:03 of the first round. The victory improved Humphrey’s professional record to 5-0 and maintained his perfect record as he continues his rise through the welterweight division.

Humphrey established his physicality early.

After Miranda opened with boxing combinations, Humphrey quickly closed distance and took the fight to the mat. He repeatedly punished Miranda with knees and ground attacks while refusing to allow his opponent to establish a comfortable rhythm.

Eventually, Humphrey worked his way to the back and secured the rear-naked choke.

Miranda had no choice but to tap.

It was exactly the kind of dominant, aggressive performance that can attract Dana White’s attention on the Contender Series.

Guilherme Uriel Wins in 50 Seconds

Guilherme Uriel needed even less time to make his case.

Uriel submitted Mario Piazzon with a standing guillotine choke at just 50 seconds of Round 1. The heavyweight bout ended suddenly after Uriel secured the choke and tightened his grip until Piazzon was rendered unconscious.

The victory was especially meaningful because it came on Uriel’s second appearance on the Contender Series.

Rather than allowing the opportunity to pass him by again, Uriel produced an explosive finish that immediately captured attention.

The emotional reaction afterward underscored how important the moment was. Uriel’s victory earned him a UFC contract and gave him another chance to continue his career on the sport’s biggest stage.

Sean Clancy Jr. Remains Unbeaten

Sean Clancy Jr. added another impressive performance to his undefeated record.

Clancy defeated Gary Balletto by second-round TKO, using striking and ground control to secure the stoppage. The victory kept Clancy unbeaten and earned him a UFC contract alongside the other successful fighters from Week 3.

The performance showed a balanced skill set rather than relying on one particular weapon.

Clancy was able to create damage on the feet before using his ground game to maintain control. That combination proved decisive against Balletto.

For an undefeated prospect trying to convince Dana White that he belongs in the UFC, it was an effective statement.

Complete DWCS Season 10 Week 3 Results

The five fights on the August 25 card produced five different outcomes, but every winner ultimately left Las Vegas with a UFC contract.

Here are the official DWCS Season 10 Week 3 results:

• Alex Apodaca def. Bella Mir — unanimous decision, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28
• Guilherme Uriel def. Mario Piazzon — submission, standing guillotine, Round 1, 0:50
• Sean Clancy Jr. def. Gary Balletto — TKO, Round 2
• Ronald Humphrey def. Alexis Miranda — submission, rear-naked choke, Round 1, 4:03
• Nick Galanti def. Carlos Petruzzella — knockout, Round 1, 0:35

All five winners received UFC contracts after their performances.

The card therefore produced a perfect five-for-five result when it came to contract opportunities.

Why Bella Mir’s Loss Matters

Mir’s defeat will likely remain the defining moment of Week 3.

The loss was not simply an upset. It was a reminder of the unusual pressure placed on highly touted prospects entering the Contender Series.

Mir arrived with an impressive amateur and professional résumé. She had already been successful in wrestling and grappling, and expectations surrounding her UFC future were unusually high.

That made the defeat even more surprising.

But MMA careers rarely develop in a straight line.

Mir now has an opportunity to learn from a full 15-minute fight against an opponent who successfully disrupted her strengths. She also gained valuable experience dealing with adversity, fatigue and an opponent who refused to follow the expected script.

At 23, that experience could become important later in her career.

Meanwhile, Apodaca has completely changed the trajectory of her own career.

She entered the fight as an underdog and left with a UFC contract and one of the most significant victories in Contender Series history.

What Week 3 Means for Dana White’s Contender Series

Week 3 also reinforced the central purpose of Dana White’s Contender Series.

The show is designed to identify fighters who can make an immediate impression and potentially become UFC athletes. Five fights were scheduled for the third episode of Season 10, with every winner competing for the opportunity to join the promotion.

Season 10 is also operating under a new broadcasting arrangement, with episodes airing weekly on Paramount+. The season consists of 10 consecutive weeks, with five three-round fights scheduled each week.

That format creates enormous pressure.

A fighter may have years of experience, but a single three-round performance can determine whether the UFC sees enough potential to offer a contract.

Apodaca demonstrated that perfectly.

She did not need to enter the fight with the strongest résumé. She needed to perform when the opportunity arrived.

The Bigger Picture After Week 3

The most important takeaway from the DWCS Season 10 Week 3 results is that reputation means very little once the cage door closes.

Bella Mir had the credentials, the undefeated record and the spotlight.

Alex Apodaca had the opportunity.

She turned it into history.

The other winners took a different route. Uriel and Galanti produced lightning-fast finishes, while Humphrey dominated before securing his submission. Clancy combined striking and control to remain unbeaten.

Together, the five winners showed the variety of skills required to earn a UFC contract.

For Mir, the next chapter will be about responding.

For Apodaca, it is about proving that the upset was not a one-night achievement.

And for the other contract winners, the real challenge is only beginning.

The Contender Series can open the door to the UFC, but staying there requires an entirely different level of consistency.

Week 3 proved that anything can happen when prospects step into the Octagon with their UFC dreams on the line.

External Sources

For official results and scorecards, see UFC’s official Dana White’s Contender Series results. Additional event coverage is available from MMA Fighting.