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.
Mahamed Aly (5-1 MMA)
Age: 32 years old
Height: 6’3″ / Reach: ?″
Weight Class: Light heavyweight (205lbs.)
First DW’s Contender Series Fight: 2025 (Week 6)
Old DW’s Contender Series Opponent: Iwo Baraniewski (9-0 MMA)
Second DW’s Contender Series Fight: 2026 (Week 2)
New Opponent: Alik Lorenz (7-2 MMA)
First Contender Series Fight
Mahamed Aly began his combat sports career as an incredibly decorated grappler. Aly was a 2018 IBJJF World Champion among other accolades.
Mahamed began his pro MMA career in early 2024. Aly stopped his first two opponents with head kicks before logging a TKO in his third fight. The combined record of opponents faced up to this point was: 17-31
In his fight prior to getting a shot on the Contender Series, Aly took on 2-5 UFC veteran Jared Gooden. Jared had just been released from the UFC in the fight prior to that. Aly scored a unanimous decision victory against the then 23-10 fighter.
In the first Contender Series fight Aly was swiftly floored with an overhand and stopped with the follow up ground n pound. The fight lasted just 20 seconds.
First Contender Series Opponent
Iwo Baraniewski earned a UFC contract for his lightning-fast finish of such an accredited grappler. Nearly three months later, in March, Iwo made his UFC debut opposite of a then 14-3, Ibo Aslan. Iwo, once again, got the job done in a hurry taking less than 90 seconds to finish his opponent. Baraniewski earned a performance bonus for his finish.
In his next bout, back in March, Iwo took on then, 13-7, Austen Lane. Iwo needed less than 30 seconds to stop Lane and earn yet another performance bonus. This bout was also on the main card, so huge outing for Iwo.
And in his most recent bout, Iwo drew Junior Tafa after his original opponent, Billy Elekana withdrew from the bout. Iwo smoked Tafa in 85 seconds to earn his third performance bonus with the promotion. Another fight that was on the main card as well.
Iwo is currently ranked at #15 in the UFC’s light heavyweight division. He has a bout schedule against the #13 ranked Alonzo Menifield for September on the main card of UFC 331.
Iwo has rocketed in stock within the promotion; you’d be hard pressed to find a loss on the Contender Series that has aged as well in such a short amount of time.
The Road Back
Since losing to Iwo Baraniewski last September, Aly has competed one time.
Back in March Aly took on a then 7-9-1, Diego Peclat at Shogun Fights 32. Aly secured the first-round victory with a body shot and that result, in combination with his history and former opponent wreaking havoc within the UFC, was enough to birth a second opportunity.
Gameplan/New Opponent
For his shot at redemption on the Contender Series, Mahamed will be taking on Alik Lorenz. Alik is a fighter that is going for redemption himself. Win or lose, he’s never heard the final horn in any of his six pro bouts. And he’s only been outside of the first round one time.
This has the potential to be a very short, high level and violent fight as the winner has all but a guarantee that they will be signed to the promotion.
