Dana White’s Contender Series Week 9 Predictions: Picks for Every Fight

Week 9 of Dana White's Contender Series lands Tuesday, October 6, live from Meta APEX in Las Vegas on Paramount+ at 7 p.m. ET. This penultimate episode of Season 10 puts the women's bantamweight division in the spotlight. 

Most of the card is built around strikers who hunt early finishes. 

Here is a breakdown and a pick for each fight.

Women's Bantamweight: Summer Onley (6-0) vs. Alivia Bierley (5-1)

Onley, out of Ronin MMA in England, is the FCC champion and has built her unbeaten record on the feet. Her opponents' combined record is 21-5, and she has improved from fight to fight. Bierley is also a striker, but her preparation is the bigger question. She has missed weight in multiple pro fights, and an injury pushed her onto this card after she was first booked earlier this season. Both women came in at 135.5 and 136 on the scale, so the cut was not a problem this time. Even so, Onley's steadier output should add up over three rounds.

Pick: Summer Onley by decision

Welterweight: Sal Everett (4-0) vs. Ozzy Martin (4-0)

Both men are 4-0, so this comes down to who handles the stage better. Everett works as one of Dana White's assistants and has won every fight in the first round, including a four-second knockout. His game is built on explosive entries and heavy hands. Martin has more combat-sports mileage, with pro kickboxing and boxing bouts and a finishing streak of his own. That makes him the more composed striker, but he has to survive the opening minutes against a fighter who throws everything at the first bell. Everett's aggression should land first.

Pick: Sal Everett by KO, Round 1

Flyweight: Roque Conceição (11-3) vs. Alexander Chávez (9-0)

This looks like a firefight. Conceição returns after being knocked out in last season's Contender Series and then rebuilding in Japan. He is mainly a kickboxer with some jiu-jitsu. Chávez, the former Inka FC champion from Peru, is unbeaten and has finished about two-thirds of his wins by knockout. Conceição has been stopped on this stage before, and Chávez is comfortable trading in the pocket. His power and unbeaten confidence should tilt a close exchange.

Pick: Alexander Chávez by TKO, Round 2

Bantamweight: Mateus Soares (11-2) vs. Ryuho Miyaguchi (7-1)

Soares is the most complete fighter on the card. He has real power, likes dogfights, and brings the submission skills typical of Refit Pro Fighters. Miyaguchi is coming off a submission loss in Road to UFC, which points to a defensive hole on the mat. Soares can hurt him standing and has a ready backup plan if he takes him down. Every path to a win runs through the Brazilian.

Pick: Mateus Soares by submission, Round 2

Light Heavyweight: Nell Ariano (6-0) vs. Preston LaGrange (6-1)

LaGrange steps in on short notice, which hurts his preparation and conditioning. Ariano, from France, is a tall, lanky striker who is happy to stand in the middle and trade. LaGrange is best remembered for taking a slam knockout, which suggests defensive lapses when exchanges get wild. Ariano's reach lets him pick from range, and he has the unbeaten momentum to finish when LaGrange opens up.

Pick: Nell Ariano by TKO, Round 1