Dana White’s Contender Series is returning Aug. 4 for its fourth season. Over its first three seasons, the show produced current UFC talents: Sean O’Malley, Edmen Shahbazyan, Maycee Barber, Geoff Neal, and more.
Needless to say the fourth edition to the show has been heavily anticipated, and we now know many of the prospects who will be competing.
Below are some of the top fighters who we know are taking part in season four later this summer:
Nate Smith (flyweight)
Nate “The Savage” Smith is a 125lb flyweight repping Elevation Fight Team in Denver, Colorado. With an undefeated pro record (6-0), he is set to take on JP Buys on Aug. 11 at the UFC Apex.
Smith has an impressive wrestling background, which he’s used to his advantage early on in his MMA career. He was a part of the Junior Olympic Wrestling team in his hometown of Chicago and has worked to improve his all-around game.
“The Savage” most recently fought in February for the Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA), when he finished Sean Stebbins in the second round. He’ll be hoping for the biggest win of his young career when he takes on JP Buys in August.
Jose Johnson (bantamweight)
This young bantamweight from Flint, Michigan is set to face Ronnie Lawrence on Sept. 1, but before we discuss the future we must revisit the past. Jose Johnson’s last fight against Raphael Costa ended with one of the most brutal elbows you’ll ever witness.
“No Way” Johnson currently trains at StrKings in Killeen, Texas where he’s continued to rise up the pro ranks. Standing at 6’0” with a 74 inch reach, Johnson carries imposing body measurements whenever he steps into the cage.
He will bring those measurements into his most crucial bout to date against Ronnie Lawrence in September. Johnson will have both a four inch height and reach advantage when he steps into the octagon with Lawrence.
TJ Laramie (featherweight)
They say the truth will set you free, but in this particular case “The Truth” is TJ Laramie, the top ranked pro featherweight in all of Canada. At just 22 years old, Laramie already has a fair amount of experience with 14 professional fights thus far.
He’s scheduled to face Daniel Swain who is seven years his elder on Aug. 11, but Laramie is used to competing against people older than him.
The opponents he’s beaten on his current three fight win streak were ages 30, 37, and 29 at the time of the match. Do not expect the Contender Series to be too big a stage for the young, yet experienced TJ Laramie.
Anthony Romero (lightweight)
Sticking with young and talented prospects from the Great White North, I present to you Anthony “The Genius” Romero. Going (7-0) in the professional circuit, Romero is riding a 15 fight win streak dating back to his amateur days.
Standing tall at 5’11” to go along with his “foot on the gas” fighting style, it’s easy to see why Dana White recruited the 23 year old for this season of the Contender Series.
“The Genius” is set to put his win streak on the line Aug. 25 when he takes on Mike Breeden, who’s a James Krause product. If you are going to circle a fight to watch this season of the Contender Series, it’s Romero vs. Breeden.
Tucker Lutz (lightweight)
Even outside of the UFC the lightweight division is uberly talented, which is why there’s a second 155lber on this list. Tucker “Top Gun” Lutz very rarely needs the judges to get involved in his fights.
Since losing his first professional bout, he’s rattled off nine straight wins with eight of them being finishes.
He will bring his heavy hands and killer mentality into the biggest fight of his life when he faces Victor Martinez on the first of September. Expect Lutz to try and keep it on the feet for a stand and bang affair.
Collin Huckbody (middleweight)
Owner of the nickname “Young Huck”, this middleweight out of St. Cloud, Minnesota is looking to get his opponents on the ground and keep them there. He has proficient takedowns along with heavy top pressure while always searching for submissions/ground and pound.
Huckbody drew Kyron Bowen for his next fight which is set to take place Aug. 25 at the Apex in Las Vegas.
Fighting both amateurally and professionally since 2013, there’s no doubt that “Young Huck” has been groomed for this opportunity to fight in front of Dana White.
William Knight (light-heavyweight)
Combine freakish athleticism and explosiveness and you’ll get something close to William “Knightmare” Knight. He’s already got a win over UFC heavyweight Yorgan de Castro, which is even more impressive considering he’s only 5’10”.
Last summer, Knight earned himself a TKO victory on the Contender Series over Hardem Alacabek, but he was not given a contract. Expect the “Knightmare” to be more motivated than ever before when he steps in the octagon against Cody Brundage Sept. 1.
Knight will likely try to close the distance, land shots inside, and get the fight to the ground where he normally has the advantage over his opponents.
Josh Parisian (heavyweight)
If the name Parisian looks familiar to you it’s probably because you either saw him on the Contender Series where he scored a first round spinning back-fist finish or on the Ultimate Fighter: Season 28 where he lost to Michel Batista.
Since the loss to Batista, Parisian has been the winner of five straight which has awarded him another opportunity on the Contender Series against Chad Johnson.
With his big frame and reach (6’4”/80in), the fighter from MIchigan has a chance to put his opponents’ lights out whenever he steps into the cage. With another solid performance on Aug. 18 and Parisian might just earn himself that sought after UFC contract.
Dana White’s Contender Series had gradually become a fan-favorite as well as the producer of many UFC mainstays.
Season four won’t be any different, the only question is who will blossom into the next UFC star by way of the Contender Series?
Bank on a couple of the guys mentioned above to stake their claim as NEXT.
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