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.

Ananias Mulumba (10-3 MMA)

Age: 27 years old

Height: 5’5″ / Reach: 70.5″

Weight Class: Featherweight (145lbs.)

First DW’s Contender Series Fight: 2025 (Week 10)

Old DW’s Contender Series Opponent: Marwan Rahiki (9-0 MMA)

Second DW’s Contender Series Fight: 2026 (Week 1)

New Opponent: Tom Pagliarulo (10-2 MMA)

First Contender Series Fight

Ananias Mulumba first competed on the Contender Series in October of 2025 on what was Week 10 of that season. Ananias entered that bout at 9-2 as a pro. He was a veteran of multiple notable regional promotions including Brave CF and UAE Warriors. Mulumba’s losses came against Steve Endom Bikim (then 2-1) and Ylies Djiroun (then 21-8). Yiles is now a 3-fight veteran of the PFL with another fight in the promotion scheduled in October.

Heading into his first Contender Series bout, Ananias had five finishes via rear naked choke.

In the Contender Series fight itself, Mulumba was simply out-struck by his opponent with devastating consequences.

The finish, a combination of a knee, elbows and a perfectly placed uppercut was the highlight reel of the night and earned a standing ovation from Dana White. It came before the midway point of the second round.

First Contender Series Opponent

Mulumba’s first Contender Series opponent Marwan Rahiki, received a contract for his brutal finish of Ananias.

At 7-0, Rahiki made his UFC debut in March of this year taking on 13-4-1 Harry Hardwick. Rahiki brutalized his opponent and forced a retirement in between rounds two and three. Hardwick was also released from the UFC after this loss. (0-2 promotional record)

At 8-0, Rahiki was matched up against Jack Jenkins who has a 4-2 UFC record. Unfortunately, Jack withdrew from that schedule May 2 bout due to an injury. So instead, Marwan took on Ollie Schmid in what was his first UFC fight. The 4-2 fighter answered the call valiantly but made it just midway thru the first round before being dropped and finished.

Recently the UFC announced that Marwan’s next fight would be against the red-hot prospect Tommy McMillen on the prelims of UFC Noche on September 12. Massive matchup on a primetime card as McMillen has a ton of clout right now. A 2025 Contender Series alum himself, Tommy is already 2-0 in the UFC with two huge finishes. Massive clash of prospects here.

Considering that, at this moment in time, Mulumba’s loss from last year could not have aged more gracefully.

The Road Back

Since his loss to Marwan Rahiki in his first Contender Series appearance last year, Ananias has only competed once and had no other scheduled bouts. Ananias returned to UAE Warriors and took on Ahmed Faress who entered the bout at 23-8. Mulumba flattened Faress in the first round in that fight back in late March.

That, in combination with the work that Rahiki has been putting in within the UFC, was enough to get the invitation back to the Contender Series by UFC brass.

Gameplan/New Opponent

For his shot at redemption on the Contender Series, Ananias will be taking on Tom Pagliarulo.

One of Tom’s two pro losses is to Olivier Murad who went on compete on the 2021 season of the Contender Series. Olivier won his fight against Bin Xie via split decision and didn’t win a contract.

Tom is 29 years old and has a large frame for the division standing at 6’0″ tall. He’s riding a 4-fight win streak, all first round finishes, since his 2023 loss to Olivier Murad. Cody Jenkins (then 2-9), Don Shainis (then 15-7), Elijah Harris (then 6-11) and most recently Matt Turnbull (9-6). Tom’s most recent fight, against Matt, was actually under the PFL banner in August of last year.

Ananias will have the advantage of having already fought this year as well as already having been on the Contender Series. This should be a good matchup for fans to get excited about and one that has a high potential for a finish with how these two matchup stylistically. Ananias has just one decision on his record and Tom has heard the final bell just twice. Tune in to the Contender Series on August 11 to find out if Ananias is successful.