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3h ago

Mandel Nallo Earns UFC Contract With First-Round Finish on Dana White's Contender Series

The 36-year-old Tristar veteran framed himself as a finished product, prompting an immediate offer from Dana White.

UFC branding on a glove at UFC 315 in Montreal, Saturday, May 10, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Overview

  • Nallo dropped Samuel Silva with a right to the chin and ended the bout at 3:29 of Round 1 with ground strikes at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, with Jason Herzog stopping it.
  • White acknowledged reservations about Nallo's age but praised his style before awarding the contract on the spot.
  • Nallo, now 14-3 with one no-contest, previously fought in Bellator from 2018 to 2023 and has won five straight since leaving the promotion.
  • Silva, 29, entered as the Cage Warriors lightweight champion on a five-fight win streak and with eight first-round finishes on his record.
  • Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani, Cezary Oleksiejczuk and Tommy McMillen also earned UFC deals on the episode, and McMillen and opponent David Mgoyan were taken to hospital for precautionary checks.