Tag: Bruno Lopes

Defying the odds: The 10 biggest MMA betting upsets of 2023

Check out the top 10 MMA betting upsets of 2023, according to the oddsmakers, across Bellator, the UFC, PFL and more.

Who doesn’t love a good upset?

In 2023, MMA saw its fair share of underdogs who defied the odds in the UFC, Bellator, PFL, and beyond. While everyone has an opinion of who should win and who should lose, the oddsmakers (and how the betting public responds) largely get the final say on what history reflects.

This year, with the help of MMA database Tapology, MMA Junkie has compiled the top 10 betting upsets of 2023. Fights that were eligible were those that multiple major online sportsbooks recognized, and that Tapology recorded before the close of the betting line.

Promotions eligible include UFC, Bellator, PFL, KSW, DWCS, Road to UFC, and ONE Championship.

Check out the top 10 MMA betting upsets of 2023 below. Only major MMA promotions were included in the tally.

Dana White’s Contender Series 61 video: Brendson Ribeiro’s heavy hands sleep Bruno Lopes

Brendson Ribeiro’s powerful punching erased the undefeated record of Bruno Lopes at Dana White’s Contender Series 61 in Las Vegas.

[autotag]Brendson Ribeiro[/autotag] punched his way into the UFC with a vicious finish.

In the feature bout of Dana White’s Contender Series 61, Ribeiro (15-5) entered the octagon at the UFC Apex as a sizeable underdog against Bruno Lopes (11-1). The light heavyweights promised to bring the violence to convince the Dana White and the matchmakers that they were worthy of a contract, and Ribeiro delivered the TKO finish at 3:47 of Round 1.

Lopes was on the attack but Ribeiro found room to land a brutal right hand, sending the previously undefeated fighter to the canvas. Ribeiro rushed in with heavy hammerfists, putting Lopes out to seal the deal.

Check out video of the finish below (via X):

The result was Lopes’ first loss as a professional. Ribeiro overcame the odds and secured his third straight first-round finish.

At the conclusion of the show, Dana White extended a contract offer to Ribeiro, who kept his 100 percent career finishing rate intact.

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Dana White’s Contender Series 61 results: Dana White gives loser second shot after ‘one of the worst ref stoppages’

Season 7, Week 5 of Dana White’s Contender Series goes down Tuesday, and MMA Junkie has live results from the UFC Apex.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was onsite at Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 61 event.

The series sees prospects fighting for the opportunity to sign a UFC deal, with UFC president Dana White on hand to make the decisions.

The fifth episode of Season 7 saw 10 fighters compete for their shot at a UFC contract with five fighters earning UFC contract offers: bantamweight [autotag]Dione Barbosa[/autotag] (6-2), featherweight [autotag]Jean Silva[/autotag] (11-2), middleweight [autotag]Dylan Budka[/autotag] (7-2), featherweight [autotag]Serhiy Sidey[/autotag] (10-1), and light heavyweight [autotag]Brendson Ribeiro[/autotag] (15-5).

Perhaps the highlight of the event, however, was White’s facial expressions following a quick stoppage by referee Kevin MacDonald during Sidey vs. [autotag]Ramon Taveras[/autotag] (8-2).

White called it “one of the worst ref stoppages” he’s ever seen, so he announced Taveras will get another shot on DWCS during Week 10.

Full results of Dana White’s Contender Series 61 include:

  • Brendson Ribeiro def. Bruno Lopes via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:47
  • Serhiy Sidey def. Ramon Taveras via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:26
  • Dylan Budka def. Chad Hanekom via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Jean Silva def. Kevin Vallejos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Dione Barbosa def. Rainn Guerrero via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:35

Continue reading below for more details about each fight – and watch the Sidey vs. Taveras stoppage for yourself.

Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 7 roster filling up for summer 2023 launch

Dana White’s Contender Series will return this summer. Check out the fighters and fights that have been booked thus far.

Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 7 is in the works.

DWCS debuted in 2017 with an eight-episode inaugural season. Season 2 was held in 2018 with eight episodes, followed by a three-episode DWCS: Brasil. In 2019, DWCS was extended to 10 episodes for its third season. The length was repeated in 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Each season, the number of fighters signed has increased. Thus far, the show has produced UFC notables including Sean O’Malley, Maycee Barber, Geoff Neal, Ryan Spann, Sodiq Yusuff, Jamahal Hill, Taila Santos, Johnny Walker, Alex Perez, Bo Nickal, Jailton Almeida, Jack Della Maddalena, and Marina Rodriguez among others.

In recent weeks, the UFC matchmakers have been gearing up for a summer DWCS return, expected to launch Aug. 8. Athletes and matchups have slowly but surely been booked. The number of episodes for Season 7 is not yet known.

Scroll below to see the latest athletes and fights booked, which have been confirmed by MMA Junkie or posted about by the fighters involved. This list will be updated as more fighters and matchups come to light.

LFA champ Bruno Lopes faces Brendson Ribeiro on Dana White’s Contender Series

UFC hopefuls Bruno Lopes and Brendson Ribeiro will square off on Dana White’s Contender Series.

LFA light heavyweight champion [autotag]Bruno Lopes[/autotag] is one impressive performance away from a UFC contract – as is his opponent, [autotag]Brendson Ribeiro[/autotag].

Lopes (11-0) and Ribeiro (14-5) will fight on the fifth episode of Season 7 of Dana White’s Contender Series, which takes place Sept. 5 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Lopes, 30, has finished nine of his 11 professional opponents with five knockouts and four submissions. At LFA 143 in September 2022, Lopes won LFA gold with a knockout of Willyanedson Paiva.

Ribeiro, 26, is the Shoot Brasil light heavyweight champion and enters the bout on a two-fight winning streak. All 14 of his professional wins have come inside the distance including eight knockouts and six submissions.

Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 7 is beginning to fill up with a number of fighters and matchups already coming to light. The series is expected to kick off Aug. 8.

With the addition, the DWCS 61 lineup includes:

  • Jean Silva vs. Kevin Villejos
  • Bruno Lopes vs. Brendson Ribeiro