Overview

• Diaz stopped Won Il Kwon at 4:58 of Round 2 with the Contender Series’ first spinning-back elbow knockout, securing a UFC contract on the spot.
• Dana White reacted audibly cageside and later lauded the finish on air, calling it one of the series’ standout knockouts.
• White urged ESPN to place the clip atop its Top 10 Plays of the Day, as the highlight spread quickly across UFC and ESPN social channels.
• Five fighters were signed on the finale card, bringing Season 9 to a record-tying 46 total contracts and reinforcing the show’s finish-first reputation.
• White indicated at the post-event press conference that the Contender Series is likely to move to Paramount in 2026, prompting fresh discussion of format tweaks and roster thresholds.