Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series often serves as a reminder that there’s no precise science to getting into the UFC. Winning on the show doesn’t guarantee a contract, even if the wins are impressive. It’s a few steps above The Ultimate Fighter, sure. But this year’s fights — more than the inaugural run last year — have a handful of promising prospects, talent that’s not quite there, and a few fighters that for some reason aren’t being signed outright to the UFC.
This leads to fights that aren’t exactly mismatches, but feel somewhat unnecessary. The show is still great, with talent that has tremendous potential putting their skills on display.