A wild night at the UFC APEX saw six fighters earn UFC contracts as the penultimate week of DWCS Week 9 Season 9 delivered nonstop action from start to finish.
Adrian Luna Martinetti and Mark Vologdin Go to War
If you ever needed a reminder of why Dana White’s Contender Series exists, look no further than Adrian Luna Martinetti vs. Mark Vologdin. The two bantamweights didn’t just fight, they went to war for 15 unforgettable minutes inside the UFC APEX.
When it was all said and done, Martinetti’s hand was raised after a unanimous decision win (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), but truth be told, there were no losers here. Both men earned UFC contracts and $25,000 bonuses, with Dana White standing and applauding like the rest of the crowd after what might be the most insane fight in Contender Series history.
From the opening bell, this was chaos in motion. Vologdin came out fast, showing off his crisp boxing and snapping jabs that repeatedly found their target. He even dropped Martinetti early with a counter right hand that echoed through the APEX. Most fighters would’ve been shaken, not Martinetti. The Ecuadorian just smiled, stood up, and went right back into the fire.
By the second round, Martinetti flipped the script. He pushed the pace, mixing in leg kicks, knees to the body, and elbows in the clinch. His output was off the charts, so much so that he actually set a new record for most significant strikes landed by a bantamweight in Contender Series history. Somewhere in that madness, he opened up a nasty cut above Vologdin’s left eye with a slicing elbow, but the Russian refused to back down.
The third round was pure grit. Both fighters were bleeding, exhausted, and still throwing bombs. Vologdin landed another sharp right early, but Martinetti answered with a takedown and some brutal ground-and-pound to close the show. By the end, both men could barely stand, but neither stopped swinging until the final horn.
When the judges’ scores came in, Martinetti took the win, improving to 17-1 and extending his streak to 15 straight victories. But honestly, the scorecards didn’t matter. Dana White stepped into the cage moments later and made it official: “Both of these guys are getting contracts and a bonus after that war.”
Magomed Zaynukov Shines in Dominant Decision
Magomed Zaynukov closed the show in style, defeating Lucas Caldas by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26) in a brutal lightweight war. Representing the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School, Zaynukov showcased relentless forward pressure and diverse striking across three rounds, setting a new DWCS lightweight record for significant strikes landed.
Caldas dropped the Russian early in the first round but couldn’t sustain his momentum. From there, Zaynukov took over, mixing heavy combinations with body shots and elbows to overwhelm his opponent. By the final horn, it was clear he had done more than enough to impress Dana White, improving to 8-0 and earning a well-deserved UFC contract.
Imanol Rodriguez Scores Explosive Knockout
Former Ultimate Fighter semifinalist Imanol Rodriguez made a statement in his DWCS Week 9 debut, stopping Roque Conceicao Moreira Junior in the first round of their flyweight bout.
After a measured start, Conceicao landed a body kick that Rodriguez instantly countered with a crisp right hand, dropping the Brazilian hard. The 25-year-old didn’t let up, chasing his opponent to the fence and unloading heavy punches until referee Jason Herzog stepped in at 2:12 of Round 1.
Rodriguez’s performance marked his third straight first-round finish, and Dana White didn’t hesitate to hand him a UFC deal.
Luis Felipe Dias Submits Donavon Hedrick
In the middleweight division, Luis Felipe Dias returned from a two-year layoff with a slick second-round rear-naked choke victory over Donavon Hedrick.
The Brazilian, a former Shooto champion, leaned on his grappling throughout the contest, closing distance and wearing down Hedrick. After securing top position in the second round, Dias softened up his opponent with elbows before slipping his arm under the chin and forcing the tap at 4:37 of Round 2.
It was the 16th finish of Dias’ 17 career wins and a reminder of why he’s long been one of Brazil’s most underrated talents.
Luke Fernandez Opens the Show with a 15-Second Knockout
Light heavyweight prospect Luke Fernandez wasted no time delivering one of the fastest finishes in DWCS history, dispatching Rafael Pergentino in just 15 seconds.
The CFFC champion connected with a clean one-one-two combination that dropped Pergentino instantly. Fernandez followed up with ground-and-pound before the referee jumped in to halt the action. The emphatic victory improved his record to 6-0 and immediately caught Dana White’s attention.
DWCS Week 9 Contract Winners:
- Magomed Zaynukov
- Luke Fernandez
- Imanol Rodriguez
- Luis Felipe Dias
- Adrian Luna Martinetti
- Mark Vologdin
Six Fighters Earn UFC Contracts at DWCS Week 9
When the dust settled at DWCS Week 9 , Dana White awarded contracts to Magomed Zaynukov, Luke Fernandez, Imanol Rodriguez, Luis Felipe Dias, Adrian Luna Martinetti, and Mark Vologdin, bringing the total number of UFC signees this season to 41, with one week left to go.
White praised the fighters for delivering one of the most memorable cards in Contender Series history, calling it “a night that perfectly sums up what this show is all about, hungry fighters chasing their dream.”
