Dana White awards 5 UFC contracts after wild DWCS Week 4

All five fighters earned UFC contracts on Week 4 of Dana White's Contender Series Season 10, held September 1 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. Adam Livingston (8-1) defeated Hunter Smith (8-2) by split decision in a lightweight slugfest, securing his contract in his second DWCS appearance after falling short last year. Gabriel Lourenco (8-1) dominated heavyweight Charlie Cleveland (6-2), dropping him with a right hand and finishing with hammer-fists in the opening round, prompting White to call him a new heavyweight threat. Silvestre Sanchez (10-1) earned his contract by knocking out Liam McCracken (8-2) in the third round of their lightweight battle, stunning White who had moments earlier questioned whether the 24-year-old was ready for the UFC stage. Modestino Rodrigues (8-1) earned a contract despite a controversial 15-second stoppage loss by referee Chris Tognoni over Brandon Holmes (6-2) in their middleweight bout—White called it one of the worst stoppages in DWCS history but praised Rodrigues for his perfect execution. In the main event, Adam Darby (8-1) systematically dismantled Patrick Rivera (13-5) with surgical leg-kick precision before a doctor stoppage in the final round of their welterweight clash, earning Darby a UFC contract for his dominant performance.