White Rips Diop's Performance Before Awarding UFC Deal

Dana White awarded UFC contracts to all four winners at Week 8 of the Contender Series on Tuesday night, but two of them came with sharp criticism attached.

Senegalese heavyweight Adama Diop earned a stoppage victory over Zaurbek Sabanov at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, but the UFC president said the performance left him deeply unimpressed. "Your fight was horrible, sloppy and one of the worst fights I have ever seen on the Contender Series," White told Diop, per Sherdog. "Your stand-up is horrible; you tried to wrestle your way to a win till the crowd started booing you out of this place."

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to Dana White's Contender Series, Season 10, Week 8 on Ticketmaster →

White Warns Diop About UFC Competition

Despite the harsh assessment, White gave the 31-year-old a contract, explaining that age and limited options factored into the decision. "If you fought in the UFC, a UFC heavyweight will knock your ass out the way this kid didn't and get the win," White said. "And here's the even bigger problem: you're 31 years old. If you don't get this opportunity tonight, what are you gonna do? Where are you gonna end up? How's it gonna go?"

Ian Escuza also received a reluctant contract after stopping Luca Borando in 32 seconds with a sequence that included what White believed was an illegal knee to a grounded opponent. The UFC boss said the fight should have been ruled a no contest, but matchmaker Sean Shelby lobbied for the undefeated Peruvian featherweight backstage. "Sean Shelby just fought hard for you in the back," White told Escuza. "Sean Shelby said, 'This guy is great; he is very talented.' Don't make Sean regret this."

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to Dana White's Contender Series, Season 10, Week 8 on Ticketmaster →

Aieza Ramos Bertolso dominated Camila Reynoso with a first-round Brabo choke at strawweight, while George Staines finished the night with a slam knockout of Loai Abushaar in the main event. White praised both performances without reservation. The card originally featured five bouts but Ilias Bulaid fell ill on fight day, forcing the postponement of his featherweight matchup with Erick Visconde to Week 10.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Dana White rips 2 DWCS winners, then awards both with UFC contracts