Watch the emotional moment Dana White decided to give a defeated Contender Series fighter a UFC contract anyway

Angel Pacheco wore his heart on his sleeve after a hard-fought loss at Dana White’s Contender Series – and that resonated with the UFC boss.

It’s almost unheard of for fighters who lose on Dana White’s Contender Series to be awarded a UFC contract. In fact, prior to last Tuesday’s event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, it had only happened once in the series’ history.

Last week, however, UFC CEO [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] awarded two defeated fighters UFC deals. One of those deals went to featherweight [autotag]Angel Pacheco[/autotag], who lost an all-time battle against [autotag]Danny Silva[/autotag].

The decision to award him a contract was triggered by an emotional backstage conversation between White and a heartbroken Pacheco.

“When I went back there, his ear is hanging off. He’s crying,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “He looks at me … I told him, ‘I’m going to pay your your win money.’ He (couldn’t) give a f*ck that I’m going to give him his win money. He’s crying and he said, ‘I wanted to win this fight so bad. I want to be in the UFC so bad. If there’s ever a late minute pullout or anything, please think of me.’

“I said, ‘Oh yeah.’ I said, ‘Dude, you are right up my alley. We’re going to pay you your win money.’ I went back and told the boys, ‘We’re signing this kid.’ If you want to be in the UFC that bad, if you want to win this fight that bad, how bad do you think he wants to win his first UFC fight?'”

On Monday, Pacheco’s manager and coach, Tyson Chartier, of Top Game Management, posted a video of the backstage interaction that persuaded White to go double-contract for the same DWCS bout. Check out the video below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx5csCuuJuo/

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Vinicius Oliveira reflects on contract-winning knockout at Dana White’s Contender Series 64

Vinicius Oliveira’s 15th career knockout led to a UFC contract.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Vinicius Oliveira[/autotag]’s 15th career knockout led to a UFC contract.

Oliveira (19-3) scored a walk-off knockout of Victor Madrigal (12-4) in the first round Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 64.

The former UAE Warriors bantamweight champion has a wealth of experience at just 27, which had UFC CEO White confident that he could be thrown right in the deep end from his octagon debut.

“I feel so good,” Oliveira said during the DWCS 64 post-fight press conference. “This is my dream come true. I’ve been training for this moment since I started martial arts, and I knew it will happen one day–  and this day was today.”

Oliveira’s left hook sent Madrigal crashing to the canvas, and the Brazilian is no stranger to highlight reel finishes – but none more special than Tuesday night’s.

“All fights are most important of my career, but this knockout is the most important because I was in the door to get into the UFC. (Because of) this knockout, I was able to get in the UFC.”

Oliveira hasn’t competed in Brazil since 2019, and would love to make his official UFC debut on the Nov. 4 UFC Fight Night card in Sao Paulo.

“I think it’ll be amazing to fight in Brazil, in my country. But if I’m not able to, I’m prepared to fight in any country – like December, November, anywhere,” Oliveira said.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 64.