LAS VEGAS — It was a night of chaos, blood, and highlight finishes at the UFC APEX on Tuesday, as six fighters earned UFC contracts during Week 7 of Dana White’s Contender Series. In a throwback to the promotion’s early days, White rewarded every winner and even one of the losers after a lineup stacked with violent first-round stoppages and one bloody war.
Main Event: Mantas Kondratavicius Wrecks Djani Barbir
Mantas Kondratavicius (13-1) wasted no time in proving he belonged in the UFC, stopping Djani Barbir in just 67 seconds. After a furious opening exchange, Kondratavicius cracked Barbir with a crushing right hand that floored him before swarming with a finishing flurry. Barbir protested the stoppage, but the result was never in doubt. A finish that emphatic guaranteed Kondratavicius a contract.
Co-Main Event: Murtazali Magomedov Stuns Brahyam Zurcher
In a matchup of undefeated prospects, Murtazali Magomedov (10-0) announced himself as a serious featherweight contender. Zurcher, a teammate of Islam Makhachev, entered with hype but Magomedov shut it all down with a piston-like jab that floored him before closing with strikes for a stoppage at 1:37 of Round 1. Dana White had no hesitation offering him a UFC deal.
Contracts Awarded
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Mantas Kondratavicius
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Murtazali Magomedov
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Jeisla Chaves
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Sofia Montenegro
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Javier Reyes
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Rafael Tobias
Final Takeaway
It was the first time since 2023 that Dana White offered contracts to all the winners of the night and in this case, even more. With four first-round finishes and a war that showcased heart and grit, Week 7 delivered exactly what Contender Series is meant to, hungry fighters fighting like their careers depended on it.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
