Week 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series (2022) took place Tuesday in Las Vegas, and we’re grading the winners from the five-fight card, which streamed on ESPN+ from the UFC Apex.

With a simple but digestible format that has had the MMA fanbase responding, this series has shown to have legs in multiple ways while serving as a crockpot for contenders whom the UFC matchmakers can use for future events. So, with that trend in mind, I will once again be taking a look at the winning fighters regardless of whether or not they won a UFC contract, grading their performances in regards to their probability of returning to a UFC stage.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 13: Daniel Marcos of Peru reacts after his victory over Brandon Lewis in a bantamweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six, week eight at UFC APEX on September 13, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Bantamweight Result: Daniel Marcos def. Brandon Lewis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Grade: A Summary: Kicking off the night in style was Daniel Marcos, who earns a well-deserved A for styling on Brandon Lewis as an underdog.

Marcos looks to have solid muay Thai, smartly utilizing the art of eight limbs to accentuate his long frame. The Peruvian also appears to have some solid answers in the clinch, whether he’s looking to strike off collar ties or use the cage to stand and separate.

That said, it was the leg kicks and front kicks that hurt Lewis the most, but the American demonstrated incredible heart and toughness to persevere to the final bell.

I’m glad that Dana White was also impressed with Marcos. The undefeated Peruvian reminds me of Edwin Figueroa (who is an action fighter who used to fight in the UFC’s bantamweight division). I say pair Marcos up with someone like Saimon Oliveira for a proper muay Thai maelstrom.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 13: Bruna Brasil of Brazil reacts after her knockout victory over Marnic Mann in a flyweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six, week eight at UFC APEX on September 13, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Women’s strawweight Result: Bruna Brasil def. Marnic Mann via knockout (head kick) – Round 2, 4:33 Grade: A Summary: After Dana White anointed Bruna Brasil’s highlight-reel head kick as the best women’s knockout in the show’s history, it’s hard to deny the Brazilian anything short of an A for her efforts.

Aside from setting up the fight-ending head kick with effective bodywork in the form of front kicks (which was a quiet theme throughout the card), Brasil showed solid skills in multiple phases. Although Brasil is not beyond being taken down, the 29-year-old demonstrated a decent first layer of defense on the feet and a competentcy along the cage.

Even when Marnic Mann grounded her, Brasil displayed excellent leg dexterity, using butterflies to reverse from bottom position. I wasn’t surprised to see another winner receive a contract. I suspect we’ll see her paired up with someone like Victoria Leonardo next.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 13: Trevor Peek reacts after his TKO victory over Malik Lewis in a lightweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six, week eight at UFC APEX on September 13, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Middleweight Result: Trevor Peek def. Malik Lewis via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:37 Grade: A Summary: In what was easily the most entertaining fight of the night, Trevor Peek almost earns the ever-elusive A+ for walking through the fire en route to upsetting Malik Lewis.

Peek started the fight fairly well by steadily working Lewis’ body before getting hurt to the body himself. Peek also took a slew of solid headshots for good measure, which included a flush knee to his head. That said, the Tennessee native somehow found a way to keep pushing on, perhaps feeding off the visuals of a fatiguing Lewis.

Lewis is incredibly large for a lightweight. His gas tank seemed to reflect the cost of both his weight cut and aggressive output.

By the time the bell sounded for the first, Peek had already started to turn the tide of the fight. And by the start of the second, the 27-year-old was able to hit a level-changing takedown and take a tiring Lewis out via ground strikes. Signing Peek was a no-brainer. I’d like to see him matched up with someone like Michal Figlak or Hayisaer Maheshate.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 13: Ikram Aliskerov of Russia reacts after his submission victory over Mario Sousa of Brazil in a middleweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six, week eight at UFC APEX on September 13, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Middleweight Result: Ikram Aliskerov def. Mario Souza via submission (Kimura) – Round 1, 2:09 Grade: A Summary: Although there wasn’t much to grade, I had a hard time denying Ikram Aliskerov anything less than an A for disposing of Mario Souza in the first round.

Aliskerov did not look too comfortable striking on the feet, but Souza is a long striker so I suppose early discomfort is expected. The Brazilian, to his credit, was able to shut down the first takedown attempt, but Aliskerov was able to eventually get the fight to the floor.

Once establishing top control, Aliskerov immediately targeted Souza’s wrist and worked toward his patent Kimura, which appeared to do some serious damage to Souza given his defensive choices.

I’m not sure how deep Aliskerov’s striking is, but the multiple-time sambo champion is certainly competing in the right division if he wants to be a specialist. Aliskerov claims to be top-five ready, but I suspect the matchmakers will start him off against someone like Dusko Todorovic first.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 13: Farid Basharat of Afghanistan reacts after his victory over Allan Begosso of Brazil in a bantamweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six, week eight at UFC APEX on September 13, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Weight class: Bantamweight Result: Farid Basharat def. Allan Begosso via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27) Grade: A Summary: Closing the show in style was Farid Basharat, who earns an A for out-classing Allan Begosso en route to a contract-winning performance.

Basharat has a similar linear striking look to his brother, beautifully mixing kicks in off of his punches. Well-rounded to boot, Basharat appears to have little issue when it comes to changing his level and looking for single-leg snatches (a position that he was able to score well from in this fight).

Once able to ground Begosso, Basharat demonstrated excellent work from topside, whether he was passing and advancing or defending submissions. Basharat also incorporated a ton of ground strikes to the body, which is low-key one of my favorite things in MMA.

I’m excited for Basharat’s future. I wouldn’t mind seeing him paired up with other well-rounded fighters like Jay Perrin or Chad Anheliger.

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