21 UFC contracts have been handed out through the first five episodes of Dana White’s Contender Series so far this year. What does DWCS have in store for fight fans this week?
Last week, DWCS 2025 Week 5 saw four contracts awarded, including one to Steven Asplund, who rattled off a rather unique post-fight interview that featured an offer to suck Dana White’s toes. We… probably won’t see that in week six. Probably.
What we will see is the return of Ireland’s Paddy McCorry, a Cage Warriors veteran who may be familiar to UFC fans after he appeared on The Ultimate Fighter 32 last year. Judo champ Iwo Baraniewski also appears, boasting an undefeated record with a 100% finish rate.
We’ve got all the action scouted, so let’s get to our latest breakdown for Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9.
Bantamweight, Hecher Sosa (13-1) Vs. Mackson Lee (9-0)
Notable Notes
- Lee has a five-inch height advantage
- Sosa is 4-0 against Brazilians
- Sosa has 25 more fights than Lee as a pro and amateur
- Sosa is 4-0 to the decision
- Lee has never seen the scorecards
- Sosa and Lee have finishes in rounds one, two, and three
- Lee has fought seven guys with a losing record. Five of those without a win
- Lee has split wins via KO/TKO and submission
- Sosa has finished his last five opponents
- Lee has just three fights in five years
- US debut for both men
Hecher Sosa
-Chopping leg kicks
-Dangerous knees
-Explosive
-Active ground and pound
-Mixes up striking patterns
-Vulnerable in exchanges
-Hands low
-Sloppy hands at times
It was only a matter of time before Sosa earned this opportunity—or a direct UFC signing. With Ilia Topuria flying the flag for Spain and the UFC eyeing a potential event there, Sosa stands out as the country’s top prospect.
Primarily a striker, Sosa also poses a real threat on the ground with heavy ground-and-pound and a knack for snatching the neck in scrambles. While he’s been taken down before, his overall takedown defense has mostly held up.
On the feet, Sosa’s striking is a bit unorthodox. In extended exchanges, his technique can get wild, and his hands tend to stray from textbook form. That said, he’s got a crisp lead left hook and is slick when fading out of the pocket with that left. He also throws heavy leg kicks, though he could benefit from setting them up more consistently.
Defensively, he keeps his hands low, but so far, his head movement and footwork have been enough to avoid major damage. Sosa fights at a high pace, carries real power, and has the explosiveness to shift the momentum of a fight in an instant. Still, there are questions about how well his style will translate to the UFC level, as his wins have mostly come against lower-tier opposition.
Mackson Lee
-Uses length well
-Good kicks
-Active feints
-Dynamic
-Submission threat
-Explosive
-Hands low
Lee burst onto the scene with his LFA debut last August, where he made an immediate impact by knocking off the highly regarded Mateus Soares. At the time, Lee was virtually unknown, having fought just once in the previous four years and competing only on smaller regional shows.
Standing at 6’1″, Lee is a massive bantamweight who uses his length well, both on the feet and when attacking submissions. His record is evenly split between knockouts and submissions, showcasing his dual-threat finishing ability. Although footage from his earlier career is hard to find, it’s clear he’s evolved significantly from the fighter he was five years ago.
Lee is primarily a striker who fights almost exclusively at range. Most of his offense comes from his legs—he works the teep to the body, chops at the legs, and frequently throws spinning kicks to both the body and head. One area for growth is his jab; at his size, a consistent jab would be a major weapon and could open up the rest of his game.
So far, no opponent has been able to close the distance and disrupt his rhythm, which leaves some unanswered questions—specifically, whether it’s his skill or size advantage that’s driving his success. That said, when opponents do shoot on him, Lee uses his long limbs effectively to attack submissions in transition.
At just 26 years old, Lee is clearly talented but still rough around the edges. With continued development, he has the tools to become a serious contender in the division.
Prediction: This should be a fun fight while it lasts—I don’t expect it to go the distance. Both fighters are primarily strikers, and I see the action staying on the feet. Stylistically, I think Sosa will struggle to consistently find his range against someone with Lee’s length and movement.
Sosa could have some success with leg kicks, but he’ll need to be cautious—Lee is a sharp counter-striker and will be ready to fire back. Sosa tends to fight in bursts and likes to throw that switch knee, but landing something like that against a tall, rangy striker like Lee is a tough ask.
What I see happening is Sosa getting frustrated as the fight wears on, forcing an entry that leaves him exposed. Lee catches him rushing in—likely with a check hook or something over the top—and follows up with ground-and-pound for the finish.
