A contract was almost a certainty after that performance, even though the 26-year old from Poland didn’t show any of his famous Judo skills.

That was by design, he added, noting that the plan was to keep the fight on the feet. “We have plan to fight in boxing, we planned to knock him out,” Baraniewski (6-0) said during his post-fight media appearance with outlets including Cageside Press. “That was the plan.”

Despite his accolades, Baraniewski was the biggest underdog on Tuesday’s card.

“When I’m the underdog, this is motivation for me,” he admitted, even if it wasn’t in this case. “Before the fight, I didn’t know that I’m the underdog. After the fight, in the interview, I heard that,” he revealed. “I very [much] like [being the underdog].”

From here, Iwo Baraniewski is looking to take a wee bit of time off before booking his UFC debut. “I stay here. I stay here, and I come to California with my girlfriend, we’re sightseeing, something. A few days break, a few days rest, I can eat something, more than like diet,” he explained.

As for when he wants to debut, “after my little holiday, I will be ready to come back and train, and I will be waiting for the fight.”

Watch the full DWCS 2026 Week 6 post-fight media appearance by Iwo Baraniewski above.

The post DWCS Winner Iwo Baraniewski: Depsite Judo Background, Plan Was to Box appeared first on Cageside Press.

That led to an emotional couple of days for the Spanish fighter, who opted not to withdraw from the bout.

Speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press following the event, Sosa (14-1) explained that “I have more [strength], because I fight for this. For my family, for my dreams, for my father, for my sister, for my country, for my sister. I fight for everybody. With them, with [their] support, it’s more easy for me, because I am bad, but with your support, I have strength.”

He would go on to add that “this was a roller coaster of emotions of a week. It was obviously a hard week, and before I left home, I basically said goodbye to him, because I didn’t know if it was going to be the last time I was going to see him or say things. There were many things left unsaid. I’m very proud of the fact I represented him the way he’s always said – always strong, always fair.”

Sosa carries a memento of his father in his necklace, he added. Later, he’d touch on when he realized he needed to put his emotions in check.

“It all started for me when I got the call from my brother that my dad passed away on Sunday. At that moment, it’s like ‘okay, we started this together, we’re going to finish it together.’ That’s what my dad used to say.”

As Sosa sees it, his father came to his side “mind and body,” adding “he passed away, and came here quicker than he could ever be. And I noticed at that moment, I needed to just put everything together, put emotions aside, and say ‘nobody’s going to beat us. It’s going to be two on one.’ I had him with me.”

Watch the full DWCS 2026 Week 6 post-fight media appearance by Hecher Sosa above.

The post Hecher Sosa Knew DWCS Fight Was Going to Be “Two on One” After Father’s Passing appeared first on Cageside Press.

Originally hailing from Petrolia, not far from the Michigan border, Chovancek (9-0) now trains with Niagara Top Team, the same gym that has helped develop the careers of Jasmine Jasudavicius, Aaron Jeffery, and Mike Malott.

“Now that the UFC is coming back to Canada more often, we’ve got to get more guys on the show. It’s a talent-packed regional scene, and you’re going to see more guys like me coming up, representing Canada,” predicted Chovancek, speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press following his fight with Raphael Uchegbu, which he ended via knockout early in the third round.

“It means the world to me to be able to represent my country,” the bantamweight added.

There was no concern about losing out on a contract, “not after a KO like that,” Chovancek added. “Dana [White, UFC CEO and President] said to me ‘it takes two to tango,’ and I felt like my opponent was kind of trying to stall a little bit. But I knew I’d be able to find that finish.”

In his down time, Chovancek enjoys the outdoors, and brags he’s the best fisherman in the sport. “I’m the real best fisher in MMA, and I’ll fight or fish to prove that,” he exclaimed. Gregor Gillespie might have something to say about that, but you can check out Cody’s fishing exploits via Octagon Outdoors, he noted, adding a little plug.

With UFC Vancouver arriving next month, there’s a big opportunity for Chovancek to make his promotional debut there. “It’s a little soon, there’s some things, I’ve got to talk to my coaches and talk to camp and everything, but I would love to get on the next Canadian card for sure,” he said on that front. “I’ll be there regardless; my teammates both Jasmine and Mike are fighting on that card, and I don’t know if he’s been announced yet, but I hope they get Serhiy on that card too, Serhiy Sidey. That’s just another stacked card coming to Canada, so it’s great for Canadian MMA fans. There’s such a huge fan base there. it’s going to be a great card.”

Watch the full DWCS 2025 Week 6 post-fight media appearance with Cody Chovancek above.

The post Cody Chovancek Eyes UFC Vancouver Card, Says He’s the Best Fisherman in MMA appeared first on Cageside Press.

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

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

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.

The post DWCS 2025: Episode 6 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.