DWCS Season 10, Week 5: Results, Contract Winners (And What's Next?)

Week 5 of Dana White's Contender Series was another four-contract night, and it closed with one of the nastiest light heavyweight finishes of the season. Quentin Pasley put Arlind Berisha out cold with elbows, Christian Natividad folded Colton Loud with a liver shot in just over a minute, and Isaac Moreno's decision win somehow still earned a UFC deal — a signing our show openly questioned. On the betting side it was the first week of Season 10 that wasn't profitable for us, but we're still up about 16 units on the Contender Series underdog run.

The Fights

Christian Natividad def. Colton Loud (TKO — body shot, R1 1:10)

We had Loud as one of our dogs, and it lasted about as long as a commercial break. Loud landed a body kick, Natividad absorbed it, and then answered with that knuckle-out left hook to the liver — the "paw and claw" the show kept replaying. Loud folded, the Hawaiian Punch moved to 10-0, and we were immediately on board with a contract. Dana had passed on calling him in a prior season when his wins got decision-heavy; the short-notice replacement for Frank Dilva Castro's visa issues answered that question in one minute and ten seconds.

What's next? A flyweight debut that lets him keep hunting the body. The finish rate is back, and the nickname writes itself.

Apollo Gomes def. Kwon Won Il (UD, 29-28 x3)

Our underdog cashed here, and it was ugly in the best Contender Series way. Kwon dropped Gomes multiple times in round one — head shots and a body shot that put him down hard — and we thought Frank Trigg might wave it off before the bell saved him. Gomes survived, wrestled rounds two and three, took the back, and edged a competitive decision. On the broadcast we said a gritty win without one-way traffic might not be enough for a contract, and Dana agreed: Gomes did not get signed. Kwon was told he has a bright future and a door left open.

What's next? For Gomes, another run if he can finish or dominate rather than grind. For Kwon, a third Contender Series appearance would be historic — and entertaining.

Martin Kozak def. Christian Echols (TKO — punches, R2 1:32)

Kozak, the 6'4" Slovak southpaw and RFA middleweight champion, was a massive favorite, and he looked every bit of it. Echols (a late replacement after Juan Andre Cabrera's visa issues) ate a head kick knockdown, survived a low blow pause, and then got broken down with body kicks and punches along the fence in round two. On the show we joked we'd sign Kozak as a "cannon fodder" building block; Dana signed him for real. Echols' toughness got respect in chat, but not a deal.

What's next? A middleweight debut where that length and front-kick-to-body game get a real test. He doesn't need to be a star on night one — he needs to keep finishing.

Isaac Moreno def. Reginaldo Junior (UD, 29-28 x3)

This was the fight the show kept arguing about. We backed Junior (Fighting Nerds) at a pick'em, scored round one for him after he dropped Moreno, and thought he might have done enough late with takedowns and choke attempts. The judges went 29-28 across the board for Moreno's activity, flying knees, and forward pressure. Live, we said Moreno fought more like what Contender Series judges and Dana want to see — and also that we didn't think he deserved a contract off that performance. Dana signed him anyway after saying he'd had to fight the matchmakers to get him on the card. On the show we called it the softest of the night's four deals.

What's next? Moreno needs to prove the grappling holes won't get exposed on a UFC prelim. Junior deserved another look; the tape of that first-round drop is still live.

Quentin Pasley def. Arlind Berisha (KO — elbows, R1 4:41)

Both men were undefeated and had never seen a second round. We took Pasley (New Haven, all first-round TKOs) over Berisha (Albania/Norway, first Albanian on the show). After some dirty-adjacent knee stomps the broadcast flagged — Jon Jones comparisons included — Pasley got the fight down, hunted a D'Arce, then switched to elbows and turned Berisha's lights out at 4:41. Dana's live reaction said everything; Hunter Campbell looked like a kid on Christmas. Pasley told the cage-side mic he "showed him why," and the contract was never in doubt. We noted he was limping afterward after those oblique kicks — hope the ACL history doesn't steal the debut timeline.

What's next? A light heavyweight debut as soon as he's healthy. Violent ground-and-pound at 205 travels.

Contract Winners

• Christian Natividad (flyweight)

• Martin Kozak (middleweight)

• Isaac Moreno (welterweight)

• Quentin Pasley (light heavyweight)

Four deals from five fights, bringing Season 10's running total to 24. Gomes was the only winner left out. On the betting card we went Loud, Gomes, Echols, Junior, and Pasley — cashed Gomes and Pasley, finished the week slightly under water for the first time this season, and still sat around +16 units overall.

Looking Ahead

Pasley's elbows and Natividad's liver shot were the performances that screamed "Welcome to the UFC." Moreno's decision signing was the one that had our chat shaking its head. Contender Series keeps handing out contracts like participation trophies for excitement — and then a 3-0 light heavyweight reminds everyone why the headliners get the microphone. Our underdog card rolls again next Tuesday. Stay tuned…