Dana White just wrapped up the 2026 Contender Series by dishing out four more UFC contracts on Tuesday night, giving us some serious last-minute fireworks. But even with all that excitement, one of those contracts had everyone raising an eyebrow, because it seems Dana White himself wasn’t even on board with the decision.
The Shocking Call and The New Blood
Yeah, you read that right. The most talked-about moment from the final week came after Smilla Sundell, a 21-year-old phenom, went head-to-head with Aline Pereira, who’s the younger sister of two-time champ Alex Pereira, in a women’s bantamweight battle. Sundell won by unanimous decision, 29-28 on all cards, a solid performance. But here’s the kicker: Dana White wasn’t ready to give Sundell that UFC shot. He just wasn’t feeling it. Can you believe it? Instead, it was Mick Maynard who stepped in, overruling the boss and electing to hand Sundell the contract anyway. Talk about a vote of confidence, or a serious disagreement behind the scenes! Either way, Sundell is in.
She wasn’t the only one getting a golden ticket, though. We also saw Luis Francischinelli, a welterweight prospect who stands an astounding 6-foot-6, absolutely dominate. He grabbed his seventh pro win with a first-round TKO over Will Rentz, and get this: all seven of his wins have come by TKO. That’s a serious finisher, folks. Then there’s Douglas da Lapa, who moved to an impressive 7-0 at middleweight after a late TKO win against Davi Cabral. Six of his seven career victories are by TKO, so this guy brings the thunder. And to kick off the night, Greg Foster earned a decision win over Jason Asher at lightweight in what sounds like an absolute war. All three of these guys secured their contracts, no questions asked.
Tough Breaks and What’s Next
Not everyone got what they wanted, though. Erick Visconde was in the main event against Ilias Bulaid, taking a unanimous decision win. Visconde even said he broke his hand in the second round, which is just brutal. Despite the gritty win, Dana White wanted to see more from him before a UFC debut. Tough break, especially fighting with a broken hand, but the boss has high standards. For Pereira, it just wasn’t her night against Sundell, and no contract for her either.
So, we’ve got four new names coming into the UFC. Smilla Sundell, Luis Francischinelli, Douglas da Lapa, and Greg Foster are all officially signed. It’s wild to think about the journey ahead for these fighters, especially with the drama around Sundell’s contract. You just know everyone’s gonna be watching to see how she performs, given the big call Mick Maynard made. What a way to close out the season!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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