Best Contender Series Fighters, Ranked

Photo by Brandon Magnus/DWTNCS

Contender Series is back!

Season 8 kicks off later TONIGHT (Tues., Aug. 13, 2024) from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it is loaded with top mixed martial arts (MMA) talent. Freak athlete, Mansur Abdul-Malik, takes on fellow finisher, Wesley Schultz, in the main event. Meanwhile, in the first fight of the night, viral knockout artist, An Ho, fights top Flyweight prospect, Lone'er Kavanagh.

Before the next crop of Ultimate Fighting Champion (UFC) fighters get their contracts, MMAmania.com will highlight the best fighter from each of the previous seven seasons.

Annnnnd here we go!

Sean O'Malley

Season One (Jul. 11 - Aug. 29, 2017)

This season is an absolute no-brainer: Sean O'Malley. There is an argument that he is the biggest and best fighter to come off the show, and it feels like UFC CEO, Dana White, has been looking for his next O'Malley ever since.

O'Malley knocked out Alfred Khashakyan in the first round and yelled, "Welcome To The Sugar Show," which had everyone turning their heads. Oh, and Snoop Dog lost his mind over the knockout.

O'Malley eventually captured UFC’s Bantamweight crown with a knockout over Aljamain Sterling (watch highlights) and has defended it once against his rival, Marlon Vera. O'Malley boasts 8.4 million followers across all social media — eighth most of all fighters on UFC’s roster.

Honorable mentions: Alex Perez, Dan Ige (Ige wasn't awarded a contract on the show, but fought on short notice at UFC 220).

Photo by Jeff Bottari/DWTNCS LLC

Kevin Holland

Season Two (Jun. 12 - Aug. 7, 2018)

Season two of Contender Series had a ton of great options. From Maycee Barber to Anthony Hernandez to Sodiq Yusuff to Jalin Turner. However, I think Kevin Holland — who wasn't even awarded a contract on the show because he pissed off White (shocker) — is the best fighter to come out of season two. Holland eventually made his Octagon debut against Thiago Santos on short notice up a weight class ... and lost. He rattled off three wins shortly thereafter before losing a second time to Brendan Allen.

But, it was in 2020 that he really made an impact.

During UFC's COVID-19 pandemic lockdown era — where every single fight was held inside UFC Apex (or Fight Island), Holland competed five times and won all of them, capping off a tremendous year by knocking out Jacare Souza (see it).

His big 2020 would get him two back-to-back main events in 2021, both of which he lost, but he became a fan favorite because of his attitude of fighting anyone, anywhere, in any weight class.

Honorable mentions: Barber, Chris Curtis

Photo by Chris Unger/DWCS LLC

Jamahal Hill

Season Three (Jun. 18 - Aug. 20, 2019)

The first Contender Series fighter to hold UFC gold came in season three, week five: Jamahal Hill. Hill's first three UFC fights were pretty forgettable, that was, until Paul Craig dislocated "Sweat Dreams" elbow, handing Hill his first professional loss (see it). After that, Hill knocked out highly touted prospect, Jimmy Crute, which scored him his first UFC main event against Johnny Walker (Hill scored a meme knockout).

Hill got another main event against former Light Heavyweight title challenger, Thiago Santos, and then had the best timing ever because he stepped right into a vacant title shot against Glover Teixeira.

"Sweat Dreams" won a dominant unanimous decision to accomplish his goal. He was never be able to defend his title, though, tearing his Achilles and vacating the belt.

Hill will be a staple of the Light Heavyweight division for as long as he fights.

Honorable mentions: Brendan Loughnane, Brendan Allen

Photo by Jeff Bottari/DWCS LLC/Zuffa LLC

Impa Kasanganay

Season Four (Aug. 4. - Sept. 1, 2020)

Season four of Contender Series took place during the global pandemic, which devastated the regional mixed martial arts (MMA) scene.

The best fighter to come off of season four is Impa Kasanganay ... and I'll explain the reason(s). Kasanganay did not have the best UFC run, going 2-2 and got virally knocked out by Joaquin Buckley (it was so good). However, Kasangnay had a fantastic career outside UFC with Professional Fighters League (PFL).

Indeed, in 2023 "Tshilobo" fought his way into PFL by competing on its Challengers show. He went on to win the Light Heavyweight championship and a $1 million payday and is on his way to repeat as defending champion.

Oh, and a fun fact: Kasaganay competed in season three, but didn't nab a contract.

Honorable mentions: Adrian Yanez, Carlos Ulberg

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Jack Della Maddalena

Season Five (Aug. 31. - Nov. 2, 2020)

Season five of Contenders Series was by far the hardest 10 weeks to pick a clear winner; in fact, I've changed my mind several times. At the end of the day, Jack Della Maddalena is the best fighter from the fifth season.

“JDM” is undefeated inside the Octagon, holding a perfect (7-0) record with the promotion. He has raked in five “Performance of the Night” bonuses and has the best win of anyone from season five: he stopped former Welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns (with a broken arm).

Della Maddalena is currently ranked No. 5 in UFC’s Welterweight Top 15 and has placed himself in a position where he is one or two fights away from a title shot.

Honorable mentions: Diego Lopes, Caio Borralho

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Bo Nickal

Season Six (Jul. 26. - Sept. 27, 2021)

Bo Nickal has only three UFC fights and is perfect (6-0) as a professional; however, his potential has him as the best fight to some off the sixth season of Contender Series.

Nickal is a three-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion, making him one of the best college wrestlers to compete in MMA. The scary thing is he hasn't really used his wrestling at all thus far in his career.

He is knocking people out.

We have yet to see him fight a Top 15-seeded Middleweight, but it isn't like he is turning them down, either. Indeed, Nickal is getting Dana White and Co.’s slow build.

Honorable mentions: Raul Rosas Jr., Joe Pyfer

Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Jean Silva

Season Seven (Aug. 8. - Oct. 10, 2023)

One year is definitely challenging to gauge someone; however, Jean Silva has made a big impact already and has had great wins. "Lord" made a statement in his UFC debut, stopping Westin Wilson in the first round (watch it); however, his next two fights put him on everyone's radar.

He knocked out Charles Jourdain at UFC 303 during “International Fight Week” and then turned around and finished the always-durable, Drew Dober, at UFC Denver while he was up a weight class.

Time will tell how good Silva really is, but as of now, he is the best fight from season seven.

Honorable mentions: Payton Talbott, Hyder Amil

For complete Contender Series news and notes checkout our comprehensive archive here.