White On Why He Passed On Contender Series Main Event Winner

Dana White handed out six UFC contracts following Week 7 of Dana White's Contender Series at the APEX but declined to sign main event winner Norbert Novenyi Jr. despite his decision victory over Theo Haig.

Alvi Dasuyev, Jaden Ortega, Marcos Degli, Piero Guaylupo, Callum Connor, and Damian Piwowarczyk all earned deals on Tuesday night. White told reporters afterward that he wanted both Dasuyev and Ortega signed after watching their fight, per the UFC's official transcript. "I hope this goes to a third round; I want both those guys in the UFC," he said.

White Explains Novenyi Decision After Grueling Main Event

The featured bout between Novenyi and Haig turned into a wrestle-heavy grind that left White cold. "I didn't like the fight," he said. "You don't want to be the main event on this card tonight and go out and fight that fight." White noted that Novenyi, now 11-1 at 25 years old, still has time to earn a UFC slot down the line.

White signed Connor despite the Englishman losing a decision to Guaylupo in what he described as a potential Fight of the Year candidate. "I don't want that guy fighting anywhere else. I want that guy fighting here," he said. White called 21-year-old Guaylupo the most impressive performer of the night, citing his fight IQ and undefeated record.

Asked about Gable Steveson's knockout loss to Sean Sharaf at UFC 331, White downplayed the upset. "People lose. It happens," he said, adding that the Los Angeles crowd's hostile reaction to Steveson showed how educated UFC fans are about the sport. "Our fans know who they like and who they don't."

Week 8 of Dana White's Contender Series takes place next Tuesday at the APEX.

Source: ufc.com