DWCS 44 winner Jonny Parsons not surprised with UFC deal after split: ‘This is where I belong’

Despite earning a hard-fought win on Dana White’s Contender Series 44, Jonny Parsons expected to walk away with a UFC contract.

LAS VEGAS – Despite earning a hard-fought win on Dana White’s Contender Series 44, [autotag]Jonny Parsons[/autotag] expected to walk away with a UFC contract.

In the featured bout Tuesday night, Parsons (8-2) defeated Solomon Renfro by split decision in a fight in which he overcame an early barrage to get his hand raised. It’s been a long journey for the 30-year-old, who knew his performance was enough to impress Dana White.

“Honestly, I’m not surprised,” Parsons said during the DWCS 44 post-fight news conference. “This is where I belong.”

He continued, “I thought I put on an exciting fight, the kind of fight that Dana wants to see, and I feel like I got the good reaction out of him and the things he said when he told me I earned a contract, I knew I gave him what he was looking for.”

Although Parsons thought all three judges should have awarded him the win, the split decision call somehow assured him that he was the victor.

“When they said split, I knew for sure it was going to me,” Parsons said. “I was a little worried, it kind of got me thinking how the first round went, but after thinking about it and when they said split, that’s when it clicked in my head, ‘Man, Rounds 2 and 3 were all me, let’s go.”

To see the full interview with Parsons, check out the video above.

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Dana White’s Contender Series 44 official weigh-in results, live video stream (12 p.m. ET)

MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Monday’s official Dana White’s Contender Series 44 fighter weigh-ins.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Monday’s official Dana White’s Contender Series 44 fighter weigh-ins, and you can catch a live video stream of the action, beginning at noon ET.

Dana White’s Contender Series cards see prospects fighting for the opportunity to sign a UFC deal, with UFC president Dana White on hand to make the decisions.

In the featured bout, Syndicate MMA welterweight [autotag]Jonny Parsons[/autotag] (7-2) takes on eight-time CFFC veteran [autotag]Solomon Renfro[/autotag] (8-1).

The early weigh-ins take place at the UFC host hotel in Las Vegas. The UFC Apex hosts Tuesday’s card, which streams on ESPN+.

The full Dana White’s Contender Series 44 weigh-in results include:

  • Jonny Parsons () vs. Solomon Renfro ()
  • Valesca Machado () vs. Piera Rodriguez ()
  • Caio Borralho () vs. Jesse Murray ()
  • Kaloyan Kolev () vs. Armen Petrosyan ()
  • James Barnes () vs. Pedro Falcao ()