Week 4 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.
Adam Livingston
- Weight class: Lightweight
- Result: Adam Livingston def. Hunter Smith via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Grade: B
Despite getting the desired win and UFC contract, I found it difficult to give Adam Livingston's spirited
effort anything more than a solid B from a grading perspective.
Although I believe the judges ultimately got it right, I couldn't help but shake the feeling that Hunter Smith was constantly on the brink of taking over the proverbial steering wheel in this fight. In fact, I found myself feeling for the frustrations of Smith's corner regarding his incorrect circling and lack of follow-ups when in positive positions.
Both Livingston and Smith started with the right ideas and shot selection to begin the fight, but each combatant ended up straying from their effective tactics in favor of headhunting. Livingston, in particular, looked really good when jabbing and working the body (as Smith was clearly favoring his right side by the end of the contest).
Hopefully, we see more of Livingston's fundamentals and a tad less spinning stuff from the native New Yorker next time out. If it is an international booking, then book Livingston in a potential barnburner opposite someone like Damian Rzepecki.
Gabriel Lorenco
- Weight class: Heavyweight
- Result: Gabriel Lorenco def. Charlie Cleveland via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:02
- Grade: A
Although it didn't last long, Gabriel Lorenco earns the obligatory A that this show's standards have set for fast finishers that understand the assignment.
Lorenco's opponent, Charlie Cleveland, came out with some solid looks from his classic southpaw stance. Unfortunately for Cleveland, Lorenco's length and power made up for the rawness that still needs to be cooked out of his game.
But with Lorenco securing yet another quick finish, I suppose the Brazilian will have to continue to learn on what will be a much bigger stage. I believe that Anthony Wint would be a solid and sensible matchup for Lorenco, but the UFC matchmakers will likely feed the American footballer a couple more gimmies before any real tests.
Even if Lorenco is not worthy of the same promotional hype as Wint, I suspect that he, too, gets the Terrance Chapman treatment coming off this show
Silvestre Sanchez
- Weight class: Lightweight
- Result: Silvestre Sanchez def. Liam McCracken via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:44
- Grade: A
In what was easily the best fight and prospect of the night, Silvestre Sanchez earns an emphatic A for his third-round finish over a tough Liam McCracken.
Sanchez, who looked a weight class larger than McCracken with his pre-USADA shoulders, got to show off a lot of his skills in this fight. From solid takedowns and grappling along the fence to his combinations on the feet, Sanchez's pressure seems to be a hallmark of his style.
I can be critical of this show's propensity to push products too quickly to the mass markets, but Sanchez is definetley someone the matchmakers can plug-and-play in what has traditionally been their deepest division.
I know prospect showdowns can be risky, but I believe that Sanchez vs. Stan Dorsainvil has Fight of the Year potential written all over it should the UFC brass want to put that together.
Modestino Rodrigues
- Weight class: Middleweight
- Result: Modestino Rodrigues def. Brandon Holmes via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:15
- Grade: A
Although we barely even got to see a fight, I, once again, feel compelled to give out the obligatory A that the bar of this show has set for fast finishers like Modestino Rodrigues.
I sympathize with Brandon Holmes given the early nature of Chris Tagnoni's stoppage (which was a classic case of referee over-correction due to his late stoppage in the Charlie Cleveland fight), but Rodrigues deserves his due for doing his job as a slight underdog.
Luckily for Rodrigues, middleweights and above who win on this show are often rewarded with main-card gimmies on Fight Nights, while entertaining lighter-weight class fighters like Nathaniel Wood can't get favorable matchups or featured slots to save their lives. But I digress.
Expect Mick Maynard to force-feed us Rodrigues in a prominent Fight Night spot soon, likely against anyone ranging from Julien Leblanc to Donte Johnson.
Adam Darby
- Weight class: Welterweight
- Result: Adam Darby def. Patrick Rivera via TKO (doctor stoppage) – Round 3, 2:45
- Grade: B
Despite technically getting a stoppage win, I had a hard time giving Adam Darby anything higher than a B for his part in what ultimately ended up being a one-sided beatdown that was more depressing than it was entertaining.
Unfortunately for Patrick Rivera, whatever plan he and his team came into this fight with appeared completely futile by the end of the first frame. And whether you want to point to the deceptive nature of Darby's 'death by a thousand papercuts' style or MMA's cold and apathetic corner culture when it comes to coaches and corners failing to protect their own fighters, watching Rivera's corner miss all the non-verbals that were given is something that I have a harder and harder time watching as I age with this sport.
Kerry Hatley, who has made a marked improvement from his "Kumite Kerry" reputation for allowing near-deaths to precipitate stoppages, ended up making the right call for both Rivera's brain health and for the sake of the audience who had to watch him senselessly waste it at the behest of his corner.
Nevertheless, Darby ultimately makes an interesting addition to the UFC's welterweight stable, and I apologize if it seems that I'm letting the other moving pieces in the main event overshadow Darby's disciplined performance. Expect Darby to be booked on the next English or European show, likely opposite an action-fighting Brazilian like Jose Henrique Souza.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dana White's Contender Series 90: Grading the winners
