Dana White's Contender Series 91: Grading the winners
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom grades the DWCS 91 contract winners and breaks down their potential for success in the UFC.
Week 5 of Dana White's Contender Series (2026) took place in Las Vegas, with a card of five fights that streamed on ESPN+. The series has proven successful in generating interest and serving as a breeding ground for future UFC contenders, according to the writer. In this report, the writer grades the performances of the five winning fighters from the card, regardless of whether or not they secured a UFC contract.
Christian Natividad, who won via knockout in the first round, received an A grade. The writer praised Natividad's ability to counter his opponent's kicks with body shots, specifically highlighting the effectiveness of a right hook to the liver. The writer expects Natividad to sign with the UFC and look forward to seeing more from him in future bouts.
Apollo Gomes, who secured a unanimous decision win against Won Il Kwon, earned an A grade. While the decision was criticized for being obvious, the writer acknowledged Gomes' technical skills, such as his southpaw changes and wrist controls. The writer expressed disappointment that UFC brass seemed to overlook Gomes' efforts, particularly in light of the recent death of one of White's fighters.
Despite this, the writer believes Gomes has the skills to make an impact in the UFC, even if he is not a middleweight or higher weight class.
Martin Kozak, who defeated Christian Echols via TKO in the second round, received an A grade. The writer praised Kozak's ability to punish his taller opponent with punches and his use of a southpaw jab to both set up and execute his fight-ending kicks. The writer expects Kozak to secure a UFC contract and potentially face established middleweights such as Mick Maynard in his debut.
Isaac Moreno, who won via unanimous decision against Reginaldo Junior, received a B grade. The writer acknowledged Moreno's ability to incorporate muay Thai tactics and maintain power, but felt that his style was sporadic and aimless in the later rounds. The writer also noted Moreno's wrestling issues after being knocked down, which raised concerns about how he would fare in the UFC's rigorous environment.
Overall, the writer believes Moreno has potential but may struggle to compete at the highest levels without significant improvement.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
