LAS VEGAS -- The UFC acquired two of its recent world champions, Sean O'Malley and Jamahal Hill, via Dana White's Contender Series. Scores of others are ranked in their respective divisions. The series has, without question, enabled the UFC to significantly raise its talent level.
Season 8 concluded Tuesday at UFC Apex and the series' best season yet might have ended with its best single week ever. Four of the five winners -- Jonathan Micallef, Yadier del Valle, Luis Gurule and Nick Klein -- earned contracts. The one who didn't, 20-year-old strawweight Julieta Martinez, might be the most gifted of the bunch.
Martinez defeated veteran Leslie Hernandez by split decision in a bout that had White beaming. But as soon as he saw her, White knew he wasn't going to offer Martinez a contract. She's too young and too small at this point, White believes.
But he is a big believer in her talent. He told her to go back to the Performance Institute in Mexico City and keep working, believing she'll develop the experience she needs on the regional circuit and gain the size she needs as she matures.
"She's really talented, but it's not the right time for her," White said. "She's a baby. She doesn't need to step into the UFC right now. We love her. We'll do whatever she needs down at the P.I., let her train at the P.I., let her get more fights in her weight class until she starts to fill out.
"Tonight, you saw a little girl fight a woman. And the little girl won. I wrote down, 'spunky monkey,' when I saw her. She was all over the place, bouncing around like a like a little maniac. She's awesome. She's acrobatic. She's got, obviously, a ton of heart. The head kick she landed was beautiful; that flying knee. But she needs more time."
Martinez will eventually be in the UFC, perhaps if and when the UFC adds an atomweight division. White said that might be something the promotion may be forced to do.
Each of the other four fighters got their tickets to the big time on Tuesday. Micallef submitted Mohammed Ado at 3:01 of the first with a triangle choke after a slick transition. Yadier del Valle looked like a killer in pummeling Antonio Monteiro, who showed a chin of iron. Del Valle won a unanimous decision by scores of 30-27 twice and 30-26.
Gurule, who came to Las Vegas last week to corner Brandon Royval for his fight against Tatsuro Taira, won a split decision over Nick Piccininni. And Nick Klein, a purple belt, submitted Heraldo Souza, a BJJ black belt, in just 37 seconds.
On his wall in what he calls 'The War Room,' where he meets with chief business officer Hunter Campbell and matchmakers Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby to make the fights, White has each division's rankings listed with each DWCS alum highlighted. So many of this season's fighters, though, stood out that White created yet another chart
"There were so many [impressive prospects] this years, you know my boards that I have set up in 'The War Room,' that has all the top fighters in every weight class and all the fighters in the Top 15," White said. "I started another board with fighters we want to keep top of mind every day who came off this season."
Chris Unger/Zuffa
Julieta Martinez (L) won a split decision over Leslie Hernandez but didn't earn a UFC contract.