Gabriel Bonfim earned a UFC contract last night with a fantastic submission finish over Trey Waters.
As weâve noted on several occasions since the start of the new season, Dana Whiteâs Contender Series serves as a phenomenal entry point into the Ultimate Fighting Championship. From world class finishes to the drama of not knowing who is going to earn a contract, Dana has been able to build a great brand that gives athletes one golden opportunity to achieve their dream of becoming a UFC fighter.
Sometimes the decisions made arenât always favoured by the masses but more often than not, the DWCS alumni go on to make a real name for themselves at the elite level - with Sean OâMalley serving as a shining example of that.
Last night, we saw the seventh week of action take place with several high profile bouts going down from beginning to end.
One performance that stood out in particular was that of Gabriel Bonfim who, in a marvellous moment of composure, was able to overcome a submission attempt to land one of his own on Trey Waters.
Waters appeared to have a nasty looking choke locked in that was deemed to be quite tight, but in the blink of an eye, Bonfim switched position and secured a first-round Von Flue choke out of nowhere.
Even the commentators were perplexed by what theyâd seen and, quite clearly, so was Dana White, to the point where he was impressed enough to give him a deal.
The brothers of destruction
It was another night of celebration as four fighters received contracts with the UFC, including Gabrielâs brother Ismael Bonfim.
Ismael didnât face too much adversity in a lop-sided unanimous decision win over Nariman Abbasov, with the Bonfims becoming the latest set of brothers to make their way onto the UFC roster.
With the Usman brothers, Burns brothers and more doing their thing, theyâll have to work hard if they want to stand out amongst the pack.
Still, based on Tuesday, it feels as if theyâre willing to do what it takes to grab the attention of the boss.