DWCS 2025: Episode 4 Breakdown and Predictions

Coming out of Labor Day weekend, with no UFC event, the Contender Series is back once again. With week four of DWCS 2025 comes a couple of very notable names, including An Tuan Ho, who appeared on the show last year, and Mandel Nallo, a TriStar product who previously competed for Bellator MMA.

You’ve got a couple of undefeated prospects facing off as well — here’s a look at week four as we approach the halfway mark of the season.

Welterweight, Jack Congdon (7-1) Vs. Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani (8-2)

Notable Notes

• The only career loss Congdon has is to RTU alum Jonathan Piersma
• Congdon has a win over Jay Ellis (16-111), who is more wins than any of his other wins
• Congdon has never gone the distance
  Six of his wins come in round one
• Lebosnoyani is undefeated at welterweight (4-0)
• Lebosnoyani is 2-2 to the TKO/KO
• Lebosnoyani has won by KO/TKO, Submission, and Decision

Jack Congdon

I understand why Congdon was brought onto the Contender Series. He has a 100% finish rate and consistently delivers exciting fights. But when you dig into his résumé, it’s immediately clear that the level of competition leaves a lot to be desired. He’s based out of Massachusetts, a region not exactly known for producing top-tier talent, and the fighters he’s faced have been, frankly, abysmal. The most “accomplished” opponent he’s beaten is Jay Ellis, who now holds a 16-111 record. Most recently, Congdon went to war with a 36-year-old journeyman sitting at 9-6. Not exactly ideal when scouting for legitimate prospects.

Congdon himself isn’t without talent, but his game is built on problematic traits. At 6’2″, with a karate background, he throws a lot of side kicks and wheel kicks, though they’ve largely been ineffective. His best weapon is a sharp teep, and at range, he can be productive, stabbing the body with teeps and jabs, throwing long strikes from distance.

However, his striking is riddled with defensive flaws. He tends to reach, leaving his chin exposed, and relies on a classic “tall man’s defense,” which becomes more pronounced as the fight wears on. He does carry power and can land from both range and the inside, targeting all levels, but he often has to step into the fire to find success— and that’s not a sustainable style.

Congdon is simply too hittable in the very areas where he prefers the fight to take place. He loads up recklessly, leaving himself wide open to counters. On top of that, his cardio is a major liability. After five minutes, his defensive flaws become even more obvious and exploitable.

Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani

Lebosnoyani might be the most underrated prospect on this season of the Contender Series. Early in his career, he fought with relentless aggression, constantly hunting for the finish. But since his 2023 loss to JaCobi Jones and subsequent move up to welterweight, he’s shown a much more composed, mature approach, without losing that killer instinct.

A black belt in jiu-jitsu, Lebosnoyani is at his most dangerous on the ground. He’s an aggressive submission hunter who attacks from both top and bottom, chaining together submissions and constantly threatening all limbs. His transitions are fluid, and he never stops looking for an opening. That said, like many BJJ specialists, his wrestling still lags behind. He’s not a strong offensive wrestler; most of his grappling entries come from scrambles, reactive sequences when he’s taken down, or club-and-sub scenarios.

While he’s clearly a jiu-jitsu specialist, he’s also fallen in love with his striking, and in his case, that’s not a bad thing. On the feet, Lebosnoyani is smooth and creative. He moves laterally with purpose, frequently shifts stances, and throws a wide variety of kicks from all levels. He sets them up with slick feints, often using his hands as a distraction before dipping his head and whipping a high kick upstairs.

He’s hard to close the distance on, thanks to his movement and ability to stick and move. He’s a subtle but effective counter striker with solid vision during pocket exchanges. While his style does carry some risk (he can be clipped), his head movement has steadily improved, and his hands are fast enough to beat most opponents to the punch.

Physically, he might be at a slight disadvantage at 170, but he’s 4-0 as a pro in the division and had prior experience there as an amateur. It may pose some challenges in the wrestling department, but most opponents won’t be eager to engage him on the mat anyway.

Prediction: Congdon is only live in this fight due to his size advantage. Beyond that, Lebosnoyani is leagues ahead in terms of skill. Congdon’s best (and probably only) path is to close the distance and land something big, but that’s easier said than done.

More than likely, Lebosnoyani will use his superior movement, speed, and cardio to pick Congdon apart from the outside. While Congdon’s takedown defense is a concern, I don’t think wrestling will be Lebosnoyani’s primary approach here. Even though he’s clearly the better grappler, it wouldn’t make sense to burn energy chasing submissions against a much bigger opponent.

Instead, I see Lebosnoyani staying technical on the feet, out-kickboxing Congdon early and gradually wearing him down. As Congdon starts to fade, look for Lebosnoyani to turn up the volume and score a late TKO. Lebosnoyani via TKO in round three.