Dana White’s Contender Series Predictions, Picks Tonight – Week 7 (9/22/26)

Not many sports have a job audition on live television. Mixed martial arts and the UFC aren’t many other sports.

Every summer, Dana White scours local regional MMA scenes for the future stars of UFC, pitting the world’s top prospects against each other on Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) for 10 weeks.

These prospects can’t just win. To get a contract, they’ve got to impress the boss, making the bouts even more action-packed than weekly UFC events. As an even more unique twist, sometimes even losers of wild fights get signed.

The action goes down every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET on Paramount+, and we’re breaking down Season 10, Episode 7 with predictions, predictive analysis, and PrizePicks UFC picks.

Make your Dana White’s Contender Series predictions on PrizePicks on winners, method of victory, significant strikes, and more!

{{ufc_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}

Dana White’s Contender Series Predictions Tonight for Week 7 – Tuesday, September 22

Before we get into our Dana White’s Contender Series predictions for tonight, here’s a brief intro on what you'll find below.

Season 10, Episode 7 of the Contender Series is expected to start at 7:00 p.m. ET, with the first fight on Paramount+. As usual, there are five fights scheduled. Here’s a full rundown of the proceedings:

• Featured Bout: Norbert Novenyi Jr. vs. Theo Haig — Middleweight
• Jaden Ortega vs. Alvi Dasuyev — Welterweight
• Marcos Degli vs. Paris Moran — Flyweight
• Callum Connor vs. Piero Guaylupo — Lightweight
• Emilio Quissua vs. Damian Piwowarczyk — Light Heavyweight

We’ll list the payouts for who will win each of these featured Contender Series fights, via PrizePicks Team Picks. For example, a 2x means the result will payout $200 on a $100 entry. A lower payout multiplier signals a higher implied probability of that result based on user picks.

PrizePicks Team Picks payouts are live at the time of writing and are subject to change. UFC winner markets are available in 36 states, including Florida, California, and Texas!

Emilio Quissua vs. Damian Piwowarczyk Prediction for DWCS Tonight – Tuesday, September 22

Fight Winner Payouts: Emilio Quissua 2.08x | Damian Piwowarczyk 1.69x (via PrizePicks Team Picks)

Weight Class: Light Heavyweight (205 lbs.)

Emilio Quissua from Germany is in a very unusual position as an undefeated underdog against a foe with several pro losses. But, it's because his resume just isn't that strong.

His two wins in OKTAGON came via an unforced knee injury and against a fighter with 10 (!) knockout losses. He also won a decision over a 40-year-old fighter, Juscelino Ferreira, in UAE Warriors less than 20 months ago.

Stylistically, it makes sense why. “Sniper” just doesn't really load up on his shots for a light heavyweight, choosing to pluck away at foes with his boxing. Quissua carries his hands a little low for my liking in these larger divisions, and there really isn't any grappling offense.

With that said, he was taken down by Ferreira but displayed really solid knowledge to get on a hip and work back to his feet.

On the other side, Damian Piwowarczyk is to build momentum for his teammate, Robert Bryczek, who faces Rodolfo Vieira in this weekend’s UFC co-main event.

Piwowarczyk is far from undefeated. He got blinked in 5 seconds via (T)KO, which was a little fluky with how his head hit the canvas. Polish regional standout Marcin Wojcik also found a Round 1 rear-naked choke in 2024.

With that said, he's also got wins in KSW that grade out significantly higher than his opponent's, including a first-round KO of Bartosz Szewczyk, who lost to Diyar Nurgozhay on DWCS two years ago. He put out Szewczyk faster than the rising light heavyweight from Kazakstan.

"Damsyn" is an all-offense kickboxer who also has four pro submissions, but three came off his back. I'd love his chances if this fight somehow spilled to the floor, but offensive wrestling isn't really his gameplan.

Quissua is the more technical striker, but without sitting down on shots, I’m not sure if he gives himself the opportunity to put Piwowarczyk out. If this is chaos, that's great news for the favorite.

But, even if the fight is a bit more tame, the Polish fighter has a little grappling upside here, and I don't think Quissua is particularly experienced or comfortable walking backward. I know a certain someone who isn't taking a step back.

Predict the Quissua vs. Piwowarczyk winner for DWCS Week 7 on PrizePicks

Quissua vs. Piwowarczyk Pick for DWCS Week 7 on PrizePicks

Quissua vs. Piwowarczyk – 8.25 Minutes Fight Time

Do not blink in a Damian Piwowarczyk fight.

The powerful kickboxer has seen a first-round finish in seven of his last nine fights, and two were defeats. His abandonment of defensive fundamentals reminds me a lot of Jiri Prochazka in this same division.

Quissua has a 50% rate (4 for 8) himself, and as mentioned, it’ll be interesting to see how he responds to striking pressure for, arguably, the first time in his young career.

Make Your Quissua vs. Piwowarczyk pick for DWCS Week 7 on PrizePicks.

{{ufc_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}

Callum Connor vs. Piero Guaylupo Prediction for DWCS Tonight – Tuesday, September 22

Fight Winner Payouts: Callum Connor 1.88x | Piero Guaylupo 1.85x (via PrizePicks Team Picks)

Weight Class: Lightweight (155 lbs.)

Sometimes DWCS pick 'ems are fun because there are two elite prospects, and we don't know who is going to win. This probably is just a pick 'em because we don't know whose iffy resume will translate.

FCC is one of the fastest-rising English MMA promotions, and Callum Connor is the latest attempting to earn a contract. Kurtis Campbell won his in 2025, but Liam McCracken was unsuccessful earlier this season.

As a teammate of Lerone Murphy at Manchester Top Team, the 6'0" lightweight is extremely long for the division, and he uses that length particularly well with elbows and knees in the clinch. 

We've seen iffy competition take "007" down, though. That matches the physiological challenges of being so long and slender for the weight class. He did maintain a whizzer and reverse position once in less than 30 seconds, though, so he may not be a scrub on the ground.

That’s not a surprise for a guy who likes fighting in close to land his most dangerous weapons — especially to the body. His length also gives him great potential in back-take situations.

“Growing into his potential” is the case for 21-year-old Piero Guaylupo from Peru, too. He’s already got 11 fights in a pro career dating back to 2023, but he’s only fought one guy with a winning record. It was his last fight against Maicon Miller, who is 10-6 as a pro at 37 years old. "El Lobo" physically looks the part in the weight class with a dense, 5’8” frame.

Former UFC bantamweight Daniel Marcos' training partner is primarily a kickboxer who has fought with confidence, but Marcos' patented striking defense (61%) isn't quite there yet. He was clipped often in extended exchanges.

The Peruvian’s against-the-fence takedown defense is solid, though. That was the formula to tire out Miller and get a Round 4 (T)KO, but it was honestly not an impressive performance. The veteran was dropped and hurt in Round 1, and over 10 uneventful minutes transpired before a Guaylupo body shot had him covering up.

Nothing should be surprising here with both fighters incredibly untested, but Connor’s length also comes with more diversity in the weapons he throws. In the clinch, I trust his ground-and-pound, body lock, and backpack game. It's definitely an area where he's more comfortable, even if Guaylupo's defense has been pretty good so far.

I think this is a longer fight, which could be problematic for both men's contract chances. But, if Connor has the advantages I believe he has, he could impress enough in a clean decision to still get one.

Predict the Connor vs. Guaylupo winner for DWCS Week 7 on PrizePicks.

Connor vs. Guaylupo Pick for DWCS Week 7 on PrizePicks

Callum Connor – 32.5 Significant Strikes

Two undefeated fighters definitely come with the context of no attrition. That’s excellent news for a longer bout, but there are other signs these guys probably aren’t huge finishers in the UFC, either.

Connor’s slender frame has led him to a full decision in two of his last four, and one of the exceptions was a perfect body shot with a knee. He lacks one-shot-and-go power.

Guaylupo’s tendency for length is there, too. I mentioned the losing records he’s been facing, and even then, he’s started a 9th minute in three of his last four fights.

The Englishman has a four-inch edge in height, and it’s at least that in reach. Expect him to pepper the youngster.

Make Your Connor vs. Guaylupo pick for DWCS Week 7 on PrizePicks.

Jaden Ortega vs. Alvi Dasuyev Prediction for DWCS Tonight – Tuesday, September 22

Fight Winner Payouts: Jaden Ortega 2.77x | Alvi Dasuyev 1.38x (via PrizePicks Team Picks)

Weight Class: Welterweight (170 lbs.)

It is a shame that Jaden Ortega and Alvi Dasuyev are facing each other because they're two of the best prospects of the season.

Ortega, specifically, has extremely high potential as a well-rounded, homegrown American talent with a huge personality. Training out of "Sikjitsu" with Michael Chiesa and Brady Hiestand in Washington, Ortega is 6-0 as a pro, but his level of competition with Combate Global is just okay. 

Chiesa's training shows up from his grappling defense, and that'll be huge here. At striking range, he's extremely spry on his feet from a fluid southpaw stance. His bounce held into Round 3 in fights, too, showcasing good cardio.

Saying he wanted to "smack [Dasuyev's] big nose," there's clearly a willingness to talk trash that gives him a big fight feel:

His opponent, Dasuyev, is from Chechnya, and he's training out of Belgium rather than with Khamzat Chimaev, Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev, or others from the same region.

Wrestling is definitely the highlight of his skills, but he's got decent vision and mobility as a kickboxer. Like many Russian wrestlers, he relies much more on speed from intense training than precise technique to blitz (and usually clinch).

He’s only had one fight outside Round 1 that isn’t available on UFC Fight Pass, so what he looks like later in fights is a little sketchy when Ortega is very comfortable there.

From the perspective of trying to earn a contract, it may not suit Dasuyev to wrestle here, but it might be second nature to him.

Ortega would likely welcome that. His on-cage takedown defense is excellent, and it would potentially widen what could be a massive cardio advantage. At distance, this is a guy in Dasuyev who was also hurt in his very last fight against French striker Mohamed Soumah. Even though Soumah is a better pure striker than Ortega, that's a relative advantage for the American.

Above all with Ortega, there's literally nothing I don't like about his game so far — even if the competition level isn't great. We’ll see if he handles the bright lights.

Predict the Ortega vs. Dasuyev winner for DWCS Week 7 on PrizePicks.

{{ufc_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}

Ortega vs. Dasuyev Pick for DWCS Week 7 on PrizePicks

Alvi Dasuyev – 21.5 Significant Strikes

In Ortega’s toughest pro fight, he attempted one significant strike in the first minute. It’s even tougher now.

He’s very much an opponent who looks to feel things out, and that should allow Dasuyev to enter clinch situations early if he chooses.

As mentioned, I think a wrestling-heavy approach from the Belgian favorite probably suppresses striking totals across the board. But, this is also DWCS, and a “Less” encapsulates the early finish both of these dudes need to guarantee a UFC contract.

Make Your Ortega vs. Dasuyev pick for DWCS Week 7 on PrizePicks.

Make DWCS Predictions and Fight Picks on PrizePicks

For 10 weeks, Dana White’s Contender Series goes down every Tuesday, with a group of high-level prospects trying to impress the boss and earn a UFC contract.

Lock in your DWCS predictions for today's main card, which starts at 7:00 p.m. ET on Paramount+.

Just go to the PrizePicks app and pick More or Less on two or more UFC fighter projections for Dana White’s Contender Series and lock in your lineup to win real money on the fights if you're right.

Every week, you can predict UFC fight winners, method of victory, and more on PrizePicks Team Picks to earn real money, available in 36 states!

Stay tapped into Playbook for more UFC predictions, picks, and analysis for every card, every weekend.