Contender Series Week 2 Preview

The second edition of Dana White’s Contender Series 2021 will go down on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+. After handing out five UFC contracts in week 1, anything can happen in week 2. The fight card will feature five fights, ten talented fighters, and an endless amount of potential. With fighters featured from all around the world, we are here to make sure you are educated about the fighters looking to earn their UFC contract. Let’s take a look at what to expect from week 2 of the Contender Series 2021.

Muin Gafurov (17-3) vs. Chad Anheliger (10-5)

Firstly, Muin Gafurov will take on Chad Anheliger to start the fight card. Gafurov comes in with more experience than the average Contender Series fighter. Holding a record of 17-3, Gafurov has previously fought for ONE Championship and UAE Warriors. Gafurov is well-rounded with creative striking that makes him dangerous at 135 pounds. His reliable chin and experience offer him the opportunity to win any fight. Gafurov strikes with sneaky power, so make sure not to blink when he is in the cage.

On the contrary, Anheliger has had quite the road to this fight against Gafurov. After starting his pro career 2-5, Anheliger decided this would not be the story of his career. He turned things around and managed to win eight fights in a row. Anheliger leaves everything in the cage and looks to end the fight every chance he gets. Consequently, Anheliger finished nine of his ten wins, six by KO/TKO and three submissions. Anheliger is now one big win away from the ultimate comeback of 2-5 to the UFC.

Bruno Korea (12-3-1) vs. Carlos Vergara (8-2-1)

Secondly, Bruno Korea and Carlos Vergara look to be the newest additions to the UFC flyweight division. After going 2-1 in The Ultimate Fighter Brazil Season 4, Korea got a chance in the UFC against Matheus Nicolau. Unfortunately, he did not get the win and was not given another chance in the UFC. Luckily, Korea found success on the regional scene, going 8-2-1 after his short UFC tenure. Korea’s slick jiu-jitsu and technical striking have earned him another shot in the biggest MMA promotion in the world.

Although Korea’s striking has improved greatly, he must be careful against the explosive Vergara. Holding a record of 8-2-1, Vergara has won five of his fights by KO/TKO. Vergara has now won four fights in a row, dating back to March 2019. Despite the lack of experienced opponents, Vergara has the ability to end any fight at flyweight. Vergara will need to avoid Korea’s BJJ and look for a statement finish on the feet.

Saimon Oliveira (17-3) vs. Jose Alday (14-5-1)

Thirdly, Saimon Oliveira vs. Jose Alday is a matchup between two closely skilled fighters. Since turning pro in 2013, Oliveira has been using his jiu-jitsu to create success. Consequently, Oliveira has won eleven of his fights by submission. The main concern for Oliveira will be the fact he has not fought in nearly two years. With that being said, Oliveira’s BJJ always offers him a path to victory. Additionally, Oliveira’s striking improvements have set him up for success in the UFC moving forward.

Alday is a talented fighter who has had his ups and downs on the regional scene. Holding a record of 14-5-1, Alday has wins over UFC fighters Gustavo Lopez and John Castaneda. After starting his pro career 8-0, Alday struggled at times with step-ups in competition. Alday’s last fight was four months ago, where he won in only 57 seconds by KO. He now looks to ride that momentum into the biggest fight of his MMA career and cash in on a UFC contract.

Mario Sousa (12-1) vs. Chidi Njokuani (19-7) may be the fight of the night for the second week of the Contender Series 2021

Mario Sousa vs. Chidi Njokuani has fight of the night written all over it. Holding a record of 12-1, Sousa can finish this fight wherever it goes. As a result of his fight style, Sousa has finished eleven of his twelve wins. At 24 years old, Sousa has won his last five fights in a row. The last time we saw Sousa, he won on last year’s Contender Series against Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz. Unfortunately, Sousa was not awarded a UFC contract but got invited back for another chance at earning a contract.

Njokuani comes in as potentially the most experienced fighter on the 2021 Contender Series. After building up a record of 13-4, Njokuani signed with Bellator. Njokuani ended up with a Bellator record of 5-3 with tons of experience gained. He ultimately parted ways with Bellator and fought one fight with LFA before getting invited to DWCS. Njokuani uses his striking to control the pace and damage his opponent throughout the fight. Although he comes in as an underdog, underestimating Njokuani would be a mistake.

Josh Quinlan (5-0) vs. Logan Urban (5-1) will headline the second week of the Contender Series 2021

In the headliner, Josh Quinlan and Logan Urban will end the night with a bang. Coming in on short notice, Urban is simply as game as they come. Holding a record of 5-1, every single one of Urban’s fights has ended by a finish. Although his opponents were mostly inexperienced, his dominant performances have continued to speak volumes. Urban is unpredictable and creates damage wherever the fight goes. Despite taking the fight on short notice, Urban always comes to fight and has the skills needed to win.

On the other side of the cage, Quinlan has maintained a perfect record through five fights. Not only has he won all of his fights, but Quinlan has also finished every fight. Quinlan mostly maintains a counterstriking approach with a reliable ground game. At 28 years old, his ability to create damage has made him an interesting prospect. With his previous opponent dropping out, Quinlan will have to make last-second adjustments to his game plan. All things considered, the winner of the main event will most likely earn a UFC contract.