Contender Series Week 9: Six Fighters Earn UFC Contracts

Dana White's Contender Series returned to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Tuesday night, with six fighters earning UFC contracts following Week 9 of the ninth season. The card culminated in a three-round bantamweight war between Adrian Luna Martinetti and Mark Vologdin, and also produced decisive stoppages and unanimous decisions that added depth to multiple divisions.

Martinetti edged Vologdin by unanimous decision, with all three cageside judges scoring the bout 29-28 for Martinetti after a 15-minute, back-and-forth contest. The bout was marked by high output and damage, with the fighters combining for more than 400 strikes and Martinetti opening a deep cut above Vologdin's left eye with an elbow in close range. After the fight, UFC president Dana White said in a postfight interview that he would sign both men, adding that he would award each a 25,000 bonus. White called the matchup one of the greatest in Contender Series history and said both fighters would be sent to hospital for treatment.

Magomed Zaynukov also secured a contract in the main-card lightweight attraction, earning a lopsided unanimous decision over Lucas Caldas. The judges returned identical 30-26 cards for...