Outside Source
Dana White signs Adam Livingston, Gabriel Lourenco, Silvestre Sanchez, Modestino Rodrigues and Adam Darby
Week 4 of DWCS 2026 went down on Sept. 1 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. Adam Livingston (8-1) and Hunter Smith (8-2) kicked off the action in a lightweight bout. Livingston edged out a split decision victory after a back-and-forth slugfest, earning a UFC contract in his second DWCS appearance after a failed attempt last year. Dana White said that he had no idea who won the fight before the result was announced.
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“Great fight. I had it 1-1 going into the last round,” White said. “Me and the matchmakers had no idea who won. Split decision announced. Congratulations, we’re bringing you [Livingston] into the UFC.”
Gabriel Lourenco (8-1) took on Charlie Cleveland (6-2) in a heavyweight matchup on Week 4 of DWCS 2026. Lourenco looked flawless, dropping Cleveland with a right hand and finishing him with hammer-fists in the first round. White hailed Lourenco as a new threat in the heavyweight division, awarding him a UFC contract.
“Gabriel, all I can say to you is incredible performance,” White said. “UFC has a new 26-year-old heavyweight beast. Welcome, Gabriel.”
Silvestre Sanchez (10-1) and Liam McCracken (8-2) delivered a barnburner in their lightweight tilt. Sanchez found momentum in the second round before knocking McCracken out cold in the final round. White gave Sanchez a UFC contract while admitting that he initially thought the Mexican was too green for the big stage.
“Sanchez, this was a tough one for me,” White said. “I swear to God, there was like 2:15 left in the round, and I was sitting there thinking, ‘This is a great fight, Liam’s a tough kid. But Sanchez is only 24 years old. Maybe he needs some more experience.’ And then boom! When you come on this show, don’t let me say. ‘Maybe he is too young, maybe he is this, that.’ Get your a** over here, you’re in the UFC.”
Modestino Rodrigues (8-1) came out all guns blazing from the opening bell of his middleweight bout against Brandon Holmes (6-2). Rodrigues took just 15 seconds to drop Holmes with a right hand before referee Chris Tognoni called a highly controversial stop to the fight. While White called it one of the worst stoppages in DWCS history, he gave Rodrigues a UFC contract for doing his job perfectly.
“Rodrigues, one of the worst stoppages I’ve ever seen on the Contender Series,” White said. “Horrible stoppage by the ref. Not your fault. You were doing your job and doing what you were supposed to do. You were all over this guy. Come on over here.”
Adam Darby (8-1) and Patrick Rivera (13-5) met in a welterweight clash in the main event. Darby brutally beat Rivera down, leaving him damaged enough for the cageside doctor to stop the fight midway into the final round. White acknowledged Rivera’s grit while awarding Darby a contract for his destructive masterclass.
The UFC CEO admitted that he had predicted Darby would finish the fight with leg kicks before he saw Rivera absorbing them without any reaction. White believes Rivera’s corner should have thrown in the towel.
“Patrick Rivera, you’re one of the toughest human beings that I’ve ever seen in my life,” White said. “And Adam, I told the matchmakers in the first round, ‘This guy is gonna finish this fight with leg kicks.’ An absolute masterclass with leg kicks. And setting up other ways to do damage off the leg kicks. That was before I realized Patrick Rivera was a cyborg. The guy never limped, he never flinched; he didn’t switch stances. Thank God the ref stopped that fight; his corner should have stopped that fight. But you systematically just broke this guy down. Absolutely surgical. Welcome to the UFC.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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