Dana White rips 2 DWCS winners, then awards both with UFC contracts

Dana White's Contender Series Season 10 Week 8 took place Tuesday at Meta APEX in Las Vegas, though the card was reduced to four fights after a last-minute cancellation. Ilias Bulaid and Erick Visconde's featherweight matchup was postponed to Week 10 after Bulaid fell ill despite making weight.

White awarded UFC contracts to all four winners on the night, though his commentary on their performances ranged from effusive praise to harsh criticism.

Strawweight: Aieza Ramos Bertolso def. Camila Reynoso via submission (Brabo choke) Round 1

Featherweight: Ian Escuza def. Luca Borando via TKO Round 1 (32 seconds)

Heavyweight: Adama Diop def. Zaurbek Sabanov via stoppage

Lightweight: George Staines def. Loai Abushaar via slam knockout

Bertolso, a 25-year-old undefeated strawweight, impressed White with dominant striking and grappling, forcing Reynoso to tap early in the first round. Escuza's 32-second featherweight finish over Borando was marred by controversy; White felt an illegal knee should have resulted in a no contest, but UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby advocated for the undefeated Peruvian, prompting White to grant him a contract with a warning.

Adama Diop drew the harshest critique despite winning. White blasted his sloppy wrestling-heavy approach and poor striking, warning the 31-year-old Senegalese heavyweight that he would be knocked out in the UFC if he fought that way—yet still offered him a contract given his age and career crossroads.

George Staines, a teammate of Paddy Pimblett, delivered what White called "one of the greatest finishes ever," slamming the 6-foot-4 Loai Abushaar to earn an enthusiastic welcome to the UFC.