Dana White’s Contender Series 2025: Week 9-Play-by-Play & Results

The Contender Series (DWCS) from Dana White is back for another year of action. Week 9 has the usual five-pack battles that we got to know and that we love. All promotion is available on ESPN+But you keep your eyes open here for all the results of the competition series that occur.

Rafael Pegentino vs Luke Fernandez

Round 1 – Luke Fernandez meets him in the middle of the cage. He throws a hard 1-2 and it drops late. He succeeds with a few bombs on the mat and it’s all over before it even really started.

Official result: Luke Fernandez Def. Rafael pergentino by tko (punches) – round 1 (0:15)

Donavon Hedrick vs Luis Felipe Dias

Round 1 – The hunters feel each other a bit and then Hedrick throws a big shot that misses the goal. Dias Off-Balance seems to capitalize Dias and throws wild itself. That requires a Takedown from Hedrick, but Dias is struggling quickly and gets its own recording of his own return. After some solid positioning, Hedrick works his way back to neutral and the fight is back on the feet about halfway. Hedrick is located next to the country with a few straight strikes. Dias is looking for the counters and find a few. Dias then comes to his horse and decides to be the aggressor. He supports him and lands hard to the body with a staircase. That requires a clinch from Hedrick. Dias lands on the divorce and drops Hedrick and then takes his back again, that is where the round ends. Dias 10-9

Round 2 – a few collisions in the conflict start the second round. Dias seems to be the more dangerous hunter with knees. Hedrick is the more active hunter from the range and then he shoots a double. Dias is happy to jump guillotine, but it’s not even close. Hedrick lands on top of a few large shots before Dias uses the cage to get up again. They separate and Dias uses a duck underneath to work backwards. He gets hooks and goes to work. In three-quarters of an attitude, he is looking for a combination of choke attempts and punches. Hedrick continues to defend, but he is in bad places. Dias takes her back again and this time the choke gets.

Official result: Luis Felipe Dias def. Donavon Hedrick by submission (behind Naked Choke) – Round 2 (4:37)

Imanol Rodriguez vs Roque Cukição

Round 1 – Some early steps from Conceição find the brand while Rodriguez seems to feel him out. A sharp judge drops Rodriguez. He immediately jumps up again and starts to switch off the pressure to take a little bit of himself. Concukição falls awkward after he has been cut with a right and seems stunned – Rodriguez is completely over him. He lands a knee that hurts him, and hooks a few more. Concueição up again and eat a kick -upcut that extends the lights forever.

Official result: Imanol Rodriguez def. Roque Conukição by TKO (Punches and knees) – Round 1 (2:12)

Adrian Luna Martinetti vs Mark Vologdin

Round 1 – The size of the size is clear to start with. Vologdin tries to beat it by working with some stairs, especially on the main knee. He lands some work and Martinetti starts looking for a Takedown. Vologdin speaks and separates. Then he starts to get going with the pressure. Martinetti drops a body shot. He gets up and is falling with a right hand again. He shoots a Takedown from that one, but Vologdin rolls by to avoid and separate again. Martinetti stays with the low legs to close the round, but Vologdin steps through to land large. He drops Martinetti a third time with a few seconds and goes for the finish. Time is when they wage war. Vologdin 10-9

Round 2 – Both hunters start the second round a touch more measured after the chaotic end of the first. Then Martinetti brings him back to the cage and goes crazy with the body shots. The defense goes to the wind. Martinetti with knees to the body. Vologdin with hooks that stumble Martinetti. Martinetti back on the knees and adds an elbow. More hooks from Vologdin. Vologdin stuffed blood. Martinetti gets some top control and is looking for a finish. Vologdin finally works and hurts him again. This is one of the most insane wars in the History of Contender Series! Martinetti 10-9

Round 3 – Martinetti is looking for the stairs to restart the round. Vologdin marches ahead and hurts him with a right hook. He seems to end and Martinetti survives with a Takedown against the cage. He does not do much with the position and then Vologdin does a ruck roll. Vologdin uses the possibility to reset the pressure. He lands with the Jab and Head Hunt. A knee lands for Martinetti and he scores another Takedown. He lands a few small strikes to try to circulate. Vologdin almost wipes to end the round, but it ends there. Martinetti 10-9

Official result: Adrian Luna Martinetti Def. Mark Vologdin by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Lucas Caldas vs Magommed Saynukov

Round 1 – Fast stairs to the calf of Caldas to start things. They act at the bottom and then the hooks start to fly on both sides. Zaynukov gets the most fairs in the past, but Caldas does not deteriorate. Caldas has some success in progressing, but Zaynukov is the much more accurate striker. Both attack the body as a pace. Caldas takes a staircase on the nuts and is not interested in taking a break. A left hand of Caldas drops Kaynukov. He is struggling to survive and Caldas works up. Another elbow seems to hurt Zaynukov again, but the sharpness of Zaynukov has him back in the fight. Longing round to call the knockdown for Caldas and the volume of Zaynukov. I lean a bit to the Russian. Zaynukov 10-9

Round 2 – The stairs also start this round with Caldas Vooruit. Zaynukov lands the big stairs. Caldas finds a home for an elbow. Zaynukov sees a Judo -foot Sweep taking some top control of the guard. He does little with that time and then lets Caldas. They act again and Zaynukov finds a home for the hooks and stairs. Zaynukov takes a poke in the eyes and we get a quick break before we go back immediately for more of the same. Despite all the damage from Zaynukov, Caldas is still moving forward while the horn sounds. Zaynukov 10-9

Round 3 –

Official result:

DWCS contract winners:

• Mark Vologdin (before the show was even over)
• Adrian Luna Martinetti (before the show was even over)

And for more the coverage of the Contender Series by Dana White, view all the work here on Cageside Press. We have interviews with the hunters and analysis of those who get a chance on Tuesday.