Dana White’s Contender Series: Six Of The Biggest Snubs So Far

Thanh Le, Inside the Matrix
Thanh Le, Inside the Matrix Credit: ONE Championship

Thanh Le (12-2)

I will never know why the UFC passed on Thanh Le. It’s just an epic headscratcher.

Le was 6-1 when he made his appearance on season one of the Contender Series. He had a 100% finish rate, something he still has to this day. Le was also an alumnus of The Ultimate Fighter, something the UFC brass takes into consideration.

In the second round, he knocked out his opponent, Lazar Stojadinovic, with a head kick followed by punches. It was a great KO, and he should have been signed because of it.

Unfortunately, that week was the Sean O’Malley show, and he stole the spotlight from everyone.

When Dana was backstage talking with Laura Sanko, he didn’t even acknowledge the other fighters and their performances. Sanko tried to get him to talk about Le’s KO, but O’Malley was on his brain.

Thankfully Le was picked up by ONE Championship and is now their featherweight champion.