Week 2 of Dana White's Contender Series (2026) took place on Tuesday in Las Vegas, and we're grading the winners from the five-fight card, which streamed on ESPN+ from the UFC Apex. With a simple but digestible format that has had the MMA fanbase responding, this series has shown to have legs in multiple ways while serving as a crockpot for contenders the UFC matchmakers can use to fill their roster for future events. With that trend in mind, I once again will be taking a look at the winning fighters, regardless of whether or not they won a UFC contract, and grading their performances in regard to their probability of returning to a UFC stage.
Roman Puga
- Weight class: Featherweight
- Result: Roman Puga def. Taner Trembley via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Grade: A+
Kicking off the night was a war between Roman Puga and Taner Trembley that will go down as one of the best
fights in Contender Series history.
Puga's well-educated jab and beautiful bodywork looked to have him rolling downhill early, but Trembley's well-rounded game and sheer toughness eventually gave him a second wind after surviving the initial storms, scoring with some solid uppercut-hook returns. Though Trembley also tried to mix in takedowns where he could, Puga's first-layer takedown defense allowed the 29-year-old to stay safe and land some knees off some solid frames and wrist controls in clinch space.
I don't know how Trembley ate some of the left hooks he did, but I am glad that he also got a contract for his part in what was a career-shortening performance. I'm not sure who the UFC brass matches either man up with next; I just hope that Puga-Trembley becomes the new Sam Stout-Spencer Fisher or Charles Oliveira-Nik Lentz in the sense that they run back this perfect pairing every couple of years.
Alik Lorenz
- Weight class: Light heavyweight
- Result: Alik Lorenz def. Mahamed Aly via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:23
- Grade: A
Although Mahamed Aly wasn't happy with the stoppage, I have a hard time denying Alik Lorenz your standard A for redeeming his first Contender Series appearance by getting the job done early as a north of a 2-1 underdog.
Aly, who still refuses to lean on his judo or jiu-jitsu base in his fights, started the fight fast on the feet.
However, in the process of seeing what stuck to the proverbial walls, Aly kept sticking his chin straight up in the air to be hit. And like a game of tetherball at recess, Lorenz was able to land his patented right in the form of uppercuts and overhands alike.
Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to see more of Lorenz's game aside from his right hand. That said, I'm sure we'll get more informative looks from the MMA Lab product now that he's being plugged into the middleweight division.
If it's a domestic booking, someone like Nick Klein might be appropriate. If it's international, then perhaps names like Julien Leblanc or Ben Johnston would be in the cards for Lorenz.
Cristian Perez
- Weight class: Lightweight
- Result: Cristian Perez def. Logan Paxton via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:06
- Grade: A
Continuing the evening's theme of redemption was Cristian Perez, who came out on top of a barnburner opposite Logan Paxton.
Both men were able to visibly hurt the other early, but Perez's transitional offense allowed him to pull away down the stretch. From solid clinch strikes off frames to the ability to follow his opponent out of the pocket with shifting combinations, Perez's seamless flow through the phases impressed me most.
Perez, who is now a Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt, has also clearly been working on his grappling defense. It's hard to tell who the UFC will book Perez against first, but with Dana White saying that he wants him on the upcoming UFC Noche card, then expect to see "Puas" there.
Trent Miller
- Weight class: Lightweight
- Result: Trent Miller def. Douglas Rodrigues via submission (Von Flue choke) – Round 2, 1:04
- Grade: A
Despite my personal bias almost having me pull the trigger on giving out two of my ever-elusive A+ gradings, Trent Miller will have to settle for a standard A (as well as a UFC contract, of course) after coming through as the biggest underdog on the card opposite Douglas Rodrigues.
Miller, who was severely written off and disrespected by the bookmakers and public alike after failing on his first swing at bat on the Contender Series (in a fight he took on days' notice, mind you), was able to go out there and prove his supporters right.
Miller and his janky striking mechanics might not jump off the page to most, but his insanely stupid power and ability to adapt and sponge techniques are what earned him a spot on my prospects to watch column years ago.
I also want to highlight Miller's chief coach and corner, Roman Isbell, who has been a quiet force with both his prospect roster and coaching abilities, demonstrating solid guidance for Miller between rounds.
I wasn't sure if Dana White was going to sign Miller initially, but this promotion's love for middleweight fodder is way too strong to deny a muscle-bound mutant like Miller.
If it's a domestic booking, then I wouldn't be shocked to see Miller paired with anyone from Torrez Finney to Eric McConico. But if it's an international booking, then I say match Miller up with the Serbian, Vlasto Čepo.
Kaik Brito
- Weight class: Welterweight
- Result: Kaik Brito def. Namo Fazil via knockout (punch) – Round 3, 0:12
- Grade: A
Although Kaik Brito was technically up on Namo Fazil on two judges' scorecards going into the final frame, this fight almost felt like a comeback win with how jaw-dropping the Brazilian's knockout was to anyone watching on the live broadcast.
Watching live, I was wondering if I was being too critical of Fazil for not throwing enough after both corralling and landing on Brito against the cage. However, between the judges' scorecards and the result, it's clear that Fazil's resets arguably cost him this fight.
To be fair, Brito is an incredibly janky striker who is both dangerous and difficult to get a beat on. I wouldn't be shocked if Brito gets shipped off to an international card to face someone like Abubakar Vagaev, I just hope that the Brazilian can eventually get to a fight with Jonathan Micalef so that we can find out who the current 'jankweight' king is at 170 pounds.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dana White's Contender Series 88: Grading the winners
