Dana White’s Contender Series expected to return in August with several weeks of fights

Dana White’s Contender Series will be returning sooner rather than later.

According to multiple sources speaking to MMA Fighting on Sunday, the Contender Series is expected to relaunch on Aug. 4 from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. Additionally, sources have said that the Contender Series fight cards are currently expected to run each week through August, September and the first two weeks of October.

Season 3 of the Contender Series, which ran in 2019, also lasted for 10 weeks.

While it’s always been expected that the show would return, there has been no definitive word from the UFC as the promotion continues to deal with holding events during a global pandemic. The UFC will call the APEX home for the foreseeable future while fans are not allowed to attend events.

Over the past three years, the Contender Series has served as a launch pad for numerous UFC careers as five fights in different weight classes taking place each week. Following the conclusion of the card, UFC president Dana White picks the athletes he wants to offer a UFC contract.

Fighters such as Sean O’Malley, Geoff Neal, Edmen Shahbazyan and Sodiq Yusuff have joined the UFC roster by way of the Contender Series.

As the date draws near, the UFC will begin announcing the fight cards that will make up the newest slat of Contender Series events with the shows being held behind closed doors.

News of the Contender Series returning was first reported by MMA Junkie.