DWCS 86 is upon us. After nine amazing weeks of MMA action on Tuesday night, the ninth season of the midweek promotion comes to an end in the midst of the spooky season. In the spirit of the spooky season, Dana White and company give us a pre-Halloween treat this week:
Tuesday night’s season-ending card (8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT, ESPN+– United States only) features a sixth fight on the schedule as opposed to the customary five. As always, UFC Fight Pass will carry the event internationally.
DWCS 86 is the last DWCS event to stream on ESPN+ in the expiring UFC United States television and streaming media package. Effective in 2026, all UFC events move to Paramount Plus in a seven-year, $7.7 billion (USD) rights deal for United States subscribers only. Premium live events are included for no additional cost. At press time, there’s no word on where future seasons of Contender Series will end up.
August 12, 2025, Las Vegas, Nv, Las Vegas, Nv, United States: Baisangur Susurkaev and Murtaza Talha meet in the octagon for a 3-round bout at UFC Apex for UFC – DWCS – Dana White Contender Series Ep. 1 on August 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, NV, United States. /PxImages Las Vegas, Nv United States – ZUMAp175 20250812_zsa_p175_065 Copyright: xLouisxGrassex
DWCS 86 Main Event: Michael Oliveira vs. Victor Valenzuela
At the top of the bill on the season finale, you’ll be seeing a welterweight fight between Michael Oliveira (8-0 MMA) and Victor Valenzuela (12-3 MMA.) As has been the case throughout the season, all fights on DWCS 86, main event included, will be an advertised maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round.
Oliveira has yet to lose thus far in his professional career. A six-fight veteran of the LFA, he secured the only decision win of his tenure last November with a unanimous decision over Aldo Pereira (12-9-2 MMA) after three rounds of action in LFA 197.
This young man is just nine fights into his run as an MMA fighter and he hasn’t missed a step yet. At only 27, Oliveira is on the cusp of securing a UFC promotional contract in his ninth professional appearance on DWCS 86. Can he get the job done in the final fight of the season?
Meanwhile, Victor Valenzuela comes into the finale having gone 5-0 in his last five fights as part of an ongoing six-fight winning streak. Last time out, he secured the Fury FC Interim Welterweight Championship by way of first-round knockout (knee) on June 22 versus Bruce Whitehead (6-2 MMA.)
Prior to being booked to appear on DWCS 86 this Tuesday, Valenzuela had been scheduled to fight on Sunday, Nov. 9 against Sam Kilmer (9-4 MMA.) Since then, Kilmer’s new opponent for Nov. 9, Dmytrii Hrytsenko (9-1 MMA,) withdrew from Fury FC 111 himself.
He won a title this past summer, but now can Valenzuela win a UFC contract?
DWCS 86 Co-Main Event: Freddy Vidal vs. Levi Rodriguez
Immediately prior to the headliner, the DWCS 86 co-main attraction takes place in the light heavyweight division when Freddy Vidal (4-0 MMA, 1-0 DWCS) makes his second Contender Series appearance this season vs. Levi Rodriguez (5-0 MMA.)
Vidal remains unbeaten inside the cage as a professional. On Sept. 9, he finished Felipe Franco (8-1 MMA) with a rear-naked choke inside the final seconds of round three. At night’s end, UFC CEO Dana White guaranteed Vidal a spot on the season finale this Tuesday.
It isn’t too often that life gives someone a second chance, especially after Vidal weighed-in 4 lbs over the light heavyweight nontitle maximum last month for his initial appearance inside the UFC Apex Octagon. Will he go 2-for-2 on DWCS this year and secure a contract?
Across the way, Levi Rodriguez makes a quick turnaround for DWCS 86 on Tuesday having started his pro MMA career with five successive wins. Back on Sept. 5, he finished Alan Ribeiro (3-2 MMA) inside the opening round with a left hook.
This fight is pretty even on paper, with both fighters having had close to the same amount of rest time between appearances. Will Rodriguez send Freddy Vidal from the ranks of the unbeaten?
DWCS 86: Kwon Won Il vs. Juan Diaz
Also on DWCS 86 this Tuesday night, the featherweights go to war when ONE Championship alumnus Kwon Won Il (14-5 MMA) collides with Juan Diaz (14-1-1 MMA.) Kwon returns to action after dropping a defense of the ONE Championship Bantamweight (145 lbs) MMA Championship this past January by way of first-round knockout (body shot) to Fabricio de Andrade (10-0, 1 NC MMA, 7-0, 1 NC ONE Championship.)
In his last five fights, Kwon has gone 3-2. He’s had a taste at the big leagues of MMA with a 9-5 record in ONE. Can he earn his place in MMA’s No. 1 promotion in the world?
In the other corner, Juan Diaz, a veteran of LUX Fight League out of Mexico, has posted a 5-0 record in his last five fights. At the moment, he’s won six fights in succession.
Last time out, he successfully defended the LUX Fight League Bantamweight Championship with a unanimous decision victory over Uriel Cossio (14-10 MMA) after five rounds in Monterrey this past February. Since then, he’s kept himself busy by competing in grappling contests under the Eddie Bravo Invitational banner, going 1-1.
He hasn’t had an MMA fight in close to eight months’ time. Will he trade in his LUX championship for a UFC deal?
Rest of the Card:
DWCS 86 is rounded out by the following fights:
A featherweight contest between Marwan Rahiki (6-0 MMA)Â and Ananias Mulumba (9-2 MMA,)
a heavyweight affair pairing Azamat Nuftillaev (17-1-1 MMA) with Jovan Leka (10-2 MMA,)
and a middleweight fight versing Mario Mingaj (7-0 MMA) against Wes Schultz (7-2 MMA.)
Which fight or fights are you looking forward to on DWCS 86? Let us know in the comments.