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Nick Klein reacts after a submission victory against Heraldo Souza of Brazil in a middleweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season eight, week ten at UFC APEX on October 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
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Week 10 Results + Scorecards | Dana White's Contender Series Season 8

Contract Winners, Scorecards, Recaps And More From The Newest Round Of UFC Hopefuls

It’s hard to believe, but another season of Dana White’s Contender Series is about to be in the books as the final set of 10 competitors make the walk into the cage at the UFC APEX hoping to earn a victory, impress the UFC brass, and turn their dreams into realities.

Post-Fight Press Conference | Dana White's Contender Series Season 8, Week 10
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Post-Fight Press Conference | Dana White's Contender Series Season 8, Week 10
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While the number of contracts awarded this season dropped below previous years, the Class of ’24 includes some tremendous prospects and talented fighters with the opportunity to make an impression right out of the gate, with one competitor having already done so.

Cody Haddon, who earned a contract on Week 2, made his successful first foray into the Octagon on Saturday, earning a unanimous decision win over Dan Argueta in a bout where the Perth man showcased his diverse striking arsenal, sound takedown defense, and a quality gas tank in nothing his first UFC victory. More of this year’s group of contract winners will look to follow Haddon’s lead in down the stretch, as Mansur Abdul-Malik and Cortavious Romious are scheduled to compete on November 9 in Las Vegas; Lone’er Kavanagh is slated to make his debut on November 23 in Macau; and heavyweight Tallison Teixeira debuts at UFC 310 in early December.

But first, another five pairs of fighters are set to make their way into the cage this evening with designs on joining this year’s graduating class, and it resulted in a thrilling end to the season.

Four of the five victorious fighters on Tuesday’s fight card earned contracts, as Australia’s Jonathan Micallef, Cuba’s Yadier DelValle, and Americans Luis Gurule and Nick Klein were invited to join the UFC roster, bringing the total number of fighters moving forward this season to 42.

The one winner who did not get a contract, Julieta Martinez, earned a heap of praise from UFC CEO Dana White, who said she was simply too young and too inexperienced at this point to compete on the biggest stage in the sport. Instead, the plan is to allow her to continue developing at the UFC PI in Mexico City, where she can garner valuable experience before eventually making her way to the UFC at some point down the line.

It was an electric night to close out the season, and we have all the details on what transpired collected for you below.

Dana White's Contender Series Season 8, Week 10 Results 

  • Nick Klein defeats Heraldo Souza by submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:37 of Round 1
  • Luis Gurule defeats Nick Piccininni by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Yadier DelValle defeats Antonio Monteiro by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
  • Julieta Martinez defeats Leslie Hernandez by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Jonathan Micallef defeats Mohamed Ado by technical submission (triangle choke) at 3:01 of Round 1 
Contract Winners And Interviews | Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 10
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Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!

Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there’s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world’s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass!

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Contract Winners And Interviews | Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 10
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Dana White's Contender Series Season 8, Week 10 Fight Card

Jonathan Micallef defeats Mohamed Ado by technical submission (triangle choke) at 3:01 of Round 1

Jonathan Micallef showcased his strong grappling and transition games in collecting a first-round submission win to kick off the final episode of Season 8. 

Jonathan Micallef of Australia secures a triangle choke submission against Mohamed Ado of Niger in a welterweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season eight, week ten at UFC APEX on October 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Jonathan Micallef secures a triangle choke submission against Mohamed Ado of Niger in a welterweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season eight, week ten at UFC APEX on October 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Micallef was happy to work into the clinch against unbeaten prospect Mohamed Ado, trading knees in tight before the two found their way to the canvas multiple times. Each time, they engaged in scrambles where each looked to find a dominant position. Midway through the round, Micallef shifted his approach, going to his back as Ado looked to work to top position, locking in a deep triangle choke that put the unbeaten Niger native to sleep.

Jonathan Micallef defeats Mohamed Ado by technical submission (triangle choke) at 3:01 of Round 1

That’s an outstanding finish from the former HEX welterweight titleholder and Melbourne native, who moved to 7-1 with the finish. A couple Australians have already graduated to the roster this season, and now we’ll wait and see if Micallef joins that group later tonight.

Julieta Martinez defeats Leslie Hernandez by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Strawweight hopefuls Julieta Martinez and Leslie Hernandez engaged in an entertaining back-and-forth over 15 minutes in the second bout of the night.

Julieta Martinez of Argentina punches Leslie Hernandez of Mexico in a strawweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season eight, week ten at UFC APEX on October 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Julieta Martinez of Argentina punches Leslie Hernandez of Mexico in a strawweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season eight, week ten at UFC APEX on October 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Hernandez was impressive out of the chute, using her physicality to out-work Martinez and bully her around the cage. But the Argentine found her groove late in the first and carried it into the second, taking the fight to Hernandez to seemingly draw level before the pair battled on the canvas for the majority of the final frame, with each having positive moments.

Julieta Martinez defeats Leslie Hernandez by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Julieta Martinez defeats Leslie Hernandez by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

The judges were called upon to determine the victor, and when the scores were totalled, it was Martinez that came out on the favorable side of the split decision verdict, collecting her eighth straight win. Just 20 years old, the future is undeniably bright for the aptly named “Ninja Ferret.”

Yadier DelValle defeats Antonio Monteiro by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

Yadier DelValle turned in an aggressive, gutsy performance against Brazilian veteran Antonio Monteiro in the middle fight on Tuesday’s card, emptying every ounce of his gas tank and his entire offensive arsenal in pursuit of a finish en route to a win on the scorecards.

Yadier DelValle of Cuba prepares to face Antonio Monteiro of Brazil in a featherweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season eight, week ten at UFC APEX on October 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Yadier DelValle of Cuba prepares to face Antonio Monteiro of Brazil in a featherweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season eight, week ten at UFC APEX on October 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

DelValle made a good adjustment to be able to attack a guillotine choke in the waning moments of the first, fully committing to chasing the finish to the horn, with Monteiro noticeably wobbly heading back to his corner. In the second, the unbeaten Cuban again chased a finish, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the Brazilian, who somehow managed to survive. While Monteiro started well in the third, a guillotine attempt allowed DelValle to get to top position, where he split Monteiro open for good measure.

Yadier DelValle defeats Antonio Monteiro by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Yadier DelValle defeats Antonio Monteiro by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

All three judges saw the fight in favor of DelValle, who advanced to 8-0 as a professional with the all-out offensive effort on Tuesday evening.

Luis Gurule defeats Nick Piccininni by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Luis Gurule and Nick Piccininni engaged in an entertaining clash of styles in the flyweight division on Tuesday night.

Luis Gurule kicks Nick Piccininni in a flyweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season eight, week ten at UFC APEX on October 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Luis Gurule kicks Nick Piccininni in a flyweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season eight, week ten at UFC APEX on October 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

A Big 12 champ and multiple-time All-American wrestler, Piccininni got the better of the grappling entanglements throughout the contest, repeatedly putting Gurule on the deck while chasing submissions and landing short shots in bursts. But on the feet, it was Gurule that was consistently the more effective and efficient, mixing up his weapons and targets the entire time. In the third, both men had their moments in their respective areas of expertise, leaving the outcome up in the air as the final horn sounded.

Luis Gurule defeats Nick Piccininni by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Luis Gurule defeats Nick Piccininni by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

When the tens and nines were totaled, it was Gurule that picked up the victory, advancing to 10-0 for his career. After getting the call seven days ago and enduring a rugged weight cut, this was a gutsy effort from the Factory X representative.

Nick Klein defeats Heraldo Souza by submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:37 of Round 1

Nick Klein wasted no time wrapping up Season 8, racing across the cage and submitting Heraldo Souza.

Nick Klein secures a rear choke submission against Heraldo Souza of Brazil in a middleweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season eight, week ten at UFC APEX on October 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Nick Klein secures a rear choke submission against Heraldo Souza of Brazil in a middleweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season eight, week ten at UFC APEX on October 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

The Pura Vida BJJ/MMA representative, who took the fight on eight days notice, crashed forward right off the start and put Souza on the canvas, attacking the rear-naked choke before securing the position or searching for hooks. While Souza tried to roll and escape, Klein stayed tight, eventually putting Souza belly-down and forcing him to tap.

Nick Klein defeats Heraldo Souza by submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:37 of Round 1
Nick Klein defeats Heraldo Souza by submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:37 of Round 1

What a crazy performance from the “Blue Collar” middleweight from Wisconsin to close out another entertaining year of action on Dana White’s Contender Series.