DWCS 2025: All Participants, Countries, Promotions, Fighters from Armenia and Other Countries

Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) is a UFC scouting event where top MMA prospects from around the world compete for a chance to earn a UFC contract. The ninth season kicks off on August 12 and brings together fighters from over 20 countries. DWCS has become a key gateway for regional talents aiming to reach the global MMA stage.

How DWCS Works
Each week (10 in total), fighters without UFC contracts face off. The most dominant and exciting winners may be offered UFC deals right after their bouts. Participants are usually athletes with strong records and victories in reputable promotions.

International Lineup
DWCS 2025 features a truly global lineup, including athletes from the USA, Brazil, Russia, England, France, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Poland, Armenia, and more. The USA and Brazil lead in numbers, but there’s strong representation from less traditional MMA nations like India, Vietnam, and Bolivia.

Armenian Fighters in DWCS 2025
Undefeated 21-year-old David Mgoyan (7-0) will represent Armenia and take on American champion Tommy McMillen (8-0) on September 2 (Week 4).
Also featured is American fighter of Armenian descent Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani (8-2).

In previous years, several Armenian fighters earned UFC contracts through DWCS: Edmen Shahbazyan, Ludwig Sholinian, Armen Petrosyan, and Melsik Baghdasaryan.

Where the Fighters Come From
The most represented promotion is the U.S.-based LFA with 18 participants. Other major feeder leagues include CFFC, Fury FC, Ring of Combat, Brazil’s Jungle Fight, the UK’s Cage Warriors, France’s Ares FC, Poland’s FEN, Australia’s HEX, and Canada’s BFL. Many fighters hold championship titles in these promotions, and some have already competed in organizations like Bellator and PFL.

Fighters in DWCS 2025 by Country

The statistics will be updated, as not all participants of the latest episodes are known at the moment - the fighters of the first six episodes out of ten are fully confirmed.

United States:
Jimmy Drago (7-2)
Ty Miller (5-0)
Tommy Cuozzi (8-0)
Josh Hokit (5-0)
Brandon Holmes (5-0)
Alik Lorenz (6-1)
Damon Wilson (9-2)
Elisha Ellison (5-1)
Jack Congdon (7-1)
Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani (8-2)
Theo Haig (6-0)
Tommy McMillen (8-0)
Anthony Guarascio (4-0)
Cam Teague (9-1)
Chasen Blair (7-3)
Jimmie Pace Jr. (7-2)

Brazil:
Neemias Santana (7-2-1)
José Delano (15-3)
Guilherme Uriel (6-1)
Vitor Costa (8-1)
Ryan Gandra (7-1)
Márcio Barbosa (16-2)
Manoel Sousa (12-1)
Frank Silva (7-0-1)
Samuel Silva (13-4-1)
Guilherme Pat (5-0)
Carol Foro (8-1)
Felipe Franco (8-0)
Lerryan Douglas (12-5)
Samuel Sanches (10-1)
Mahamed Aly (4-0)
Mackson Lee (9-0)
Rafael Tobias (13-1)
Jair de Oliveira (6-0)
Jeisla Chaves (5-0)
Icaro Brito (8-1)
Luis Felipe Dias (15-5)

Russia:
Yuri Panferov (8-1)
Abdulrakhman Yakhyaev (6-0)
Baysangur Susurkaev (8-0)
Ivan Gnizditskiy (6-0)

Poland:
Cezary Oleksiejczuk (15-3)
Iwo Baraniewski (5-0)

France:
Ilian Bouafia (6-0)

England:
Louis Lee Scott (9-0)
Shanelle Dyer (6-0)

Argentina:
Manuel Exposito (13-2)
Sofia Montenegro (6-1)
Jonathan Figueroa (12-1)

Canada:
Radley Da Silva (7-1)
Mandel Nallo (13-3)

Australia:
George Mangos (7-0)
Cam Rowston (11-3)
Brando Peričić (4-1)

Chile:
Christopher Ewert (7-0)

Bahrain:
Murtaza Talha (7-1)

Mexico:
Ramiro Jimenez (10-0)
Cristian Pérez (13-1)

India:
Kaushik Saikumar (5-0)

Vietnam:
An Tuan Ho (7-1)

Armenia:
David Mgoyan (7-0)

South Korea:
In Soo Hwang (8-1)

Ireland:
Paddy McCorry (6-1)

Spain:
Hecher Sosa (13-3)

Colombia:
Javier Reyes (21-5)

Bolivia:
Juan Andres Cabrera (9-1)

Aruba:
Damian Pinas (7-1) *
(*Bout later cancelled)

Fighters by Promotion

Each athlete's last three fights were taken into account, and if they were in the last two years. That is, if a fighter had three fights in three different leagues in the last two years, then all these leagues were included in the statistics, so one athlete can appear in the list several times.

LFA (USA):
Neemias Santana, Ty Miller, José Delano, Josh Hokit, Guilherme Uriel, Ryan Gandra, Alik Lorenz, Márcio Barbosa, Manoel Sousa, Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani, An Tuan Ho, Samuel Silva, Theo Haig, Guilherme Pat, Lerryan Douglas (champion), Mackson Lee, Javier Reyes, Icaro Brito

Bellator / PFL:
Manoel Sousa, Shanelle Dyer

CES (USA):
Yuri Panferov

Fury FC (USA):
Christopher Ewert, Brandon Holmes, Baysangur Susurkaev, Cam Teague

Ring of Combat (USA):
Jimmy Drago (champion)

CFFC (USA):
Jimmy Drago, Kaushik Saikumar, Brandon Holmes, David Mgoyan, Anthony Guarascio (champion)

FightWorld (USA):
Ty Miller

Ultimate Battle Grounds (USA):
Tommy Cuozzi (champion)

Combate Global (Mexico):
Ramiro Jimenez (champion), Cristian Pérez

Anthony Pettis FC (USA):
Louis Lee Scott

Shogun Fight (USA):
Kaushik Saikumar, Mahamed Aly

CCP (USA):
Brandon Holmes

Conquest of the Cage (USA):
Elisha Ellison

Cage Titans (USA):
Jack Congdon

Zhong Luo (USA):
Theo Haig

RUF MMA / Fusion Fight League (USA):
Tommy McMillen (Fusion FFL champion)

Tuff-N-Uff (USA):
David Mgoyan

BORROKA (Russia):
Baysangur Susurkaev

WXC (USA):
Anthony Guarascio

Island Fights (USA):
Cam Teague

Empire FC (USA):
Cam Teague (champion)

Cagezilla FC (USA):
Mahamed Aly

Ares FC (France):
Ilian Bouafia, Louis Lee Scott (champion), Abdulrakhman Yakhyaev (champion with 1 defense)

Hexagone MMA (France):
Ilian Bouafia

Jungle Fight (Brazil):
Vitor Costa (champion with 2 defenses), Carol Foro (champion)

SFT (Brazil):
Neemias Santana

Shooto Brasil (Brazil):
Damian Pinas

Bison Combat (Brazil):
Ryan Gandra

Coari / Zone FC (Brazil):
Frank Silva

Fight Music Show (Brazil):
Guilherme Pat, Rafael Tobias

Soldado Combat / Qualify Combat (Brazil):
Carol Foro, Felipe Franco

Thunder Fight / Demo Fight (Brazil):
Samuel Sanches, Jeisla Chaves

Avalanche FC / TKO Palmas (Brazil):
Mackson Lee, Rafael Tobias

PMW / L.A. Esportes (Brazil):
Jair de Oliveira (PMW champion)

Gomes FC / CFC (Brazil):
Jeisla Chaves, Icaro Brito

Paranagua Fight (Brazil):
Luis Felipe Dias

Budo Sento / UWC (Mexico):
Manuel Exposito, Javier Reyes

MMA Mexico (Mexico):
Mandel Nallo, Sofia Montenegro

BFL (Canada):
Radley Da Silva (champion with 3 title defenses)

Samourai MMA / BTC (Canada):
Mandel Nallo (champion)

Cage Warriors (UK/Ireland):
Damon Wilson, Samuel Silva (champion), Chasen Blair, Paddy McCorry

Prime Show / FEN / Babilon MMA (Poland):
Cezary Oleksiejczuk (FEN), Iwo Baraniewski (Babilon)

HEX Fight Series (Australia):
George Mangos (champion with 3 defenses), Brando Peričić

Eternal MMA / SFL / SFC (Australia/NZ):
Cam Rowston, Brando Peričić

Open Fight Latam (Chile):
Christopher Ewert (champion)

Victory Extreme FC (Aruba):
Damian Pinas

Brave CF / BFC (Bahrain/Belarus):
Murtaza Talha

FNC (Croatia):
Cezary Oleksiejczuk

UAE Warriors (UAE):
Carol Foro

Happy Elephant / ONE FC (China/Singapore):
Ivan Gnizditskiy

Road FC / ZFN (South Korea):
In Soo Hwang

WOW / WAR (Spain):
Hecher Sosa (WOW champion)

Fusion FC (Peru):
Rafael Tobias, Sofia Montenegro

CAM / Coliseo Fight / Ronin Fight / Posadas FN (Argentina):
Sofia Montenegro, Jonathan Figueroa

Samourai Fight House (Argentina):
Jimmie Pace Jr. (champion with 3 defenses)

Ciclon Combat (Bolivia):
Juan Andres Cabrera

DWCS: A Launchpad for Future Stars
Every season, DWCS introduces new talents who go on to shine in the UFC. 2025 could be no different — a future champion may emerge this fall.

DWCS 2025 Schedule
The series runs every Tuesday from August 12 to October 14 (10 weeks total). Live broadcasts are available on ESPN+.

UPDATE: DWCS 2025 Week 1: Two fighters earn UFC contracts

UPDATE: Contender Series 2025 Week 2: Five Fighters Earn UFC Contracts

Follow DWCS 2025 and the Armenian fighters on Sportaran.com.