Nikola Motta spoke to the media after scoring a UFC contract at Dana White’s Contender Series 35.
DWCS 35: Nikolas Motta full post-fight interview
Nikola Motta spoke to the media after scoring a UFC contract at Dana White’s Contender Series 35.
Tag: Nikolas Motta
DWCS targets Joe Lowry vs. Nikolas Motta for Nov. 10 lineup in Las Vegas
Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4 returns in November – and the lineups are filling up.
A lightweight fight between a former CFFC champion and current CFFC champion is in the works for Dana White’s Contender Series 35 in Las Vegas.
Lightweights [autotag]Joe Lowry[/autotag] and [autotag]Nikolas Motta[/autotag] will square off Nov. 10 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a potential UFC contract on the line.
Multiple people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking, but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Lowry (9-1) competed on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018 and lost by first-round knockout to Devonte Smith. Shortly after the fight, Lowry was involved in a serious car accident that left him injured and unable to train for months. In August, Lowry returned to MMA action and picked up a first-round TKO over Piankhi Zimmerman at CFFC 83.
An alum of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, Season 4,” Motta (11-3) has won four of his most recent five fights. The current CFFC lightweight champion, Motta has six knockouts in 11 victories.
With the addition, the Nov. 10 lineup includes:
- Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz vs. Mario Sousa
- Stephanie Frausto vs. Luana Pinheiro
- Joe Lowry vs. Nikolas Motta
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7 fighters who should fill remaining spots on Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4
Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4 is right around the corner – and its lineup is filling up quickly.
Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4 is right around the corner – and its lineup is filling up quickly.
While many top regional fighters and high-ceiling prospects have been snatched up by the promotion, some very worthy prospects still remain without a contract.
The UFC is working on fights for the first six events but the final four still seem largely open. Here are five of the most deserving candidates to snatch one of the final slots.
Johnny Munoz (Bantamweight, 10-0)
One of the best pound-for-pound prospects in North America, it’s about time for [autotag]Johnny Munoz[/autotag] to be noticed. One of the faces of King of the Cage for the past five years, Munoz is ready to venture outside the promotion. A versatile, multi-faceted finisher, Munoz presents a puzzle no opponent has been able to figure out yet. He holds an 80 percent finishing rate with five submissions and three knockouts. He currently holds the KOTC bantamweight title. To put it simply, Munoz on DWCS is an absolute no-brainer.
Nikolas Motta (Lightweight, 11-3)
[autotag]Nikolas Motta[/autotag] first entered the national and international spotlights as a participant on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4.” He went through the proverbial wringer, competing in Shooto Brasil in his native country. All the while, he trained with UFC champs Jose Aldo and Renan Barao. Dedicated to his craft, Motta moved to the United States in order to find fights, where he began training with Eddie Alvarez. He competed for 864 Fighting Championship, then took on a plethora of challenges and won the vacant CFFC title. Sure he’s had a couple losses, but the final product is better because of them. He’s already ready, but if the UFC needs him to prove that one more time on DWCS, so be it.
More fighters on next page:
10 lightweights you can expect to see on Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4
The return of Dana White’s Contender Series isn’t far off, and here are 10 lightweights who are candidates to appear on the show.
Dana White’s Contender Series has become a focal point for fighters on the regional scene looking to make it to the next level. Since its inception in 2017, the UFC Fight Pass-turned-ESPN+ summer original removed some of the guesswork for up-and-comers trying to make it big.
With UFC president Dana White and matchmakers Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby cageside, the stakes are high. Have an impressive, exciting win on the show, and you’re in.
Rumored for a late-June 2020 start date, DWCS Season 4 is almost here. The lineups haven’t been announced quite yet, but advanced planning is underway. While there are hundreds of fighters qualified to compete on the show, we’ll be narrowing each divisional pool to 10 you should expect to see on the show this summer.
Up next, the lightweights.
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Rafael Alves
Record: 18-9
Age: 29
Height: 5’7″
Birthplace: Belem, Para, Brazil
[autotag]Rafael Alves[/autotag] was supposed to compete on season 3 of DWCS. UFC president Dana White sat cageside at Alves’ most recent fight in April 2019. Impressed with what he saw, White offered Alves a roster slot. However, for unknown reasons, the offer didn’t turn into reality. Alves didn’t fight on DWCS – and hasn’t competed since that April bout. Assuming the offer still stands, Alves is a great addition to the DWCS lineup. He brings veteran savvy, excitement, and well-roundedness. It wasn’t a straight incline for Alves when moving up the regional rankings, but the current product is a good one. DWCS would prove it.
Mike Breeden
Record: 8-2
Age: 30
Height: 5’10”
Birthplace: United States
An exciting and flashy striker, [autotag]Mike Breeden[/autotag] has built a deep highlight reel just 10 fights into his pro career. Training under James Krause at Glory MMA and Fitness, Breeden has improved all aspects of his game since his pro debut in 2017. In his most recent fight at LFA 77 in September 2017, Breeden turned heads with his flying knee knockout of Brandon Jenkins. The victory extended his winning streak to three – just in time to be recruited for the Season 4 of DWCS.
More fighters on the next page:
On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make MMA big leagues with March wins
For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves.
Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.
For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, but few will succeed.
This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major-promotion notoriety return to the cage for what could be their stepping stone fights. There are dozens of fighters inches away from making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.
This month:
- An undefeated Oklahoma finisher who’s stepping into the LFA cage for the first time.
- A young English champion looks to keep his finishing streak alive in his first Cage Warriors title defense.
- A Tennessean whose MMA journey kicked off in an unlikely fashion hopes to extend his win streak to three.
- Flying under-the-radar, a slick Texas-based striker takes on arguably his toughest test to date.
- A CFFC champion from Brazil hopes his first title defense will punch his ticket into the UFC.