LAS VEGAS – Four fighters earned UFC contracts Tuesday night as Dana White’s Contender Series continued with Week 5 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
Quentin Pasley, Isaac Moreno, Martin Kozak and Christian Natividad all received contracts after winning their fights. Pasley delivered the biggest statement, stopping Arlind Berisha with elbows at 4:41 of the first round.
Pasley entered the fight just 3-0 as a professional, but UFC matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard believed the 24-year-old was ready for the main event.
“When I went through the records on here, I said, ‘Why do you guys got a 3-0 guy headline?’” White said. “And they said, ‘You’re going to see.’”
They were right. Pasley earned his fourth professional victory and immediately drew comparisons to Jon Jones.
“Why I wasn’t the only one, like five or six people said Jon Jones after the fight,” White said.
Isaac Moreno also earned a UFC opportunity after defeating Reginaldo Junior by unanimous decision. White revealed that he disagreed with his matchmakers, who initially did not want to sign Moreno.
“Both the matchmakers said, ‘No, we’re not interested.’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m interested,’” White said.
Moreno remained undefeated at 28 years old, and White said his ability to survive dangerous positions ultimately convinced him.
“I’m interested in the kid. I like him. He’s 28. He’s undefeated. He did enough for me. I’m going to give him a shot,” White said.
Christian Natividad opened the card with a major upset, stopping the much larger Colton Loud with a body shot just 1:10 into the first round. Natividad entered on short notice and improved to 10-0.
White admitted he expected Natividad’s undefeated record to end.
“When it first came out I said, ‘I think this kid’s undefeated record’s going to end right now,’” White said. “And boy did he prove me wrong.”
Martin Kozak also earned his UFC contract, stopping Christian Echols in the second round to move to 7-0.
Apollo Gomes was the lone winner who did not receive a contract. Gomes defeated Kwon Won Il by unanimous decision, but White said the performance did not convince him that Gomes was ready for the UFC.
“I thought it was a good fight,” White said. “But nothing about him said, ‘I think this guy’s got it.’”
Outside of Tuesday’s card, White praised Salahdine Parnasse after his victory over Dan Hooker and reacted to Parnasse calling out Max Holloway.
“Calling out Max Holloway is pretty crazy,” White said. “The fact that that guy wants to fight Max right now is impressive.”
White also confirmed that Michael “Venom” Page will not be re-signed, said Tom Aspinall remains injured and addressed the upcoming Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn fight.
Week 5 produced four new UFC fighters, another standout performance from an undefeated prospect and one reminder that on Contender Series, simply winning does not guarantee a contract.
