Dana White’s Contender Series began back in 2017. Since then, the Contender Series has produced some big-name upcoming stars like Dan Ige, Sean O’Malley, Geoff Neal, Maycee Barber, and Edmen Shahbazyan. In short, it has been a huge success for finding talent.
A Contender Series fight is one that has stakes like none other, where fighters must showcase their skills to impress the UFC president enough for a contract with the promotional giant. Holding the Contender Series with a smaller cage inside the UFC Apex venue makes for a tense atmosphere, and with only close friends and family of the competing fighters in attendance as spectators. Emotions always run high, as a limited number of contracts can be given out on any given night, and many fighters can potentially have their dreams snubbed out solely because of bad luck.
In rare cases, however, a fighter gets a second look. This series will examine those.
Dylan “The Quiet Man” Mantello (8-3 MMA)
Age: 31 years old
Height: 6’1″ / Reach: 73″
Weight Class: Lightweight (155lbs.)
First DW’s Contender Series Fight: 2023 (Week 7)
Old DW’s Contender Series Opponent: Kaynan Kruschewsky (15-3 MMA)
Second DW’s Contender Series Fight: 2024 (Week 6)
New Opponent: Ahmad Suhail Hassanzada (11-3 MMA)
First Contender Series Fight
Dylan Mantello first competed on the Contender Series in September of 2023. Mantello entered that first DWCS appearance riding a three-fight win streak that featured three finishes.
After starting his career at 4-0, Mantello had a pair of decision losses against decent competition. That’s when he’d rip off that three-fight win streak that spanned over Eagle FC, Ring of Combat and CFFC fighting promotions. Mantello even won the Ring of Combat Lightweight Championship in what was his fourth fight with the promotion.
First Contender Series Opponent
Mantello was finished by then 14-1 fighter, Kaynan Kruschewsky on his first appearance on the Contender Series. The former Jungle Fight Lightweight champ would go on to receive a UFC contract from Dana White at the end of the night.
However, Kruschewsky has struggled with the promotion since being signed.
Kaynan made his promotional debut against Elves Brener in November of 2023. Kaynan stepped in for Esteban Ribovics who had withdrawn from the bout. Brener KO’d Kruschewsky towards the end of the first round with an educated overhand in the catchweight fight.
In his most recent fight Kaynan fought Kurt Holobaugh back in July. Kruschewsky lost a unanimous decision in that one, this time back at his actual weight class and not in a short notice fight.
So, Mantello’s loss has not aged the best, but Kruschewsky is definitely game and so that’s a plus.
The Road Back
When Mantello steps in the cage on Tuesday it will be just two days shy of a full year since his first appearance on the Contender Series. In that time period Mantello has only competed one time in pro MMA.
Dylan returned to the CFFC and faced 15-13 opponent Nate William on the main card of CFFC 129. Mantello scored a spectacular fly knee KO in the second round of the bout back in February. The impressive highlight was enough to secure him an invitation to another appearance on the Contender Series.
Gameplan/ New Opponent
In his second appearance on the Contender Series and shot a redemption, Dylan Mantello will be taking on Ahmad Suhail Hassanzada. Ahmad is a fighter that is also looking for his own shot at redemption on the CS after he competed on the show back in 2022.
Hassanzada has gone 2-1 since his last Contender Series appearance and missed weight ahead of his most recent bout. Hassanzada has competed at once at both 145lbs. and most recently, 170lbs. in December of 2023. Mantello has a couple of inches of height on his opponent but could potentially give up some size as the heaviest weight he’s competed at as a pro is 160lbs.
