Smilla Sundell Beats Alex Pereira's Sister, Leads Four UFC Signings at DWCS Finale
Four fighters earned UFC contracts at the DWCS Season 10 finale, including 21-year-old Smilla Sundell after beating Aline Pereira.
The final episode of Dana White's Contender Series Season 10 delivered four new UFC contracts and one of the best stories of the season, as 21-year-old Smilla Sundell earned her deal by dominating Alex Pereira's older sister Aline Pereira at Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Tuesday night.
Sundell, a former One Championship muay Thai titleholder who has been fighting since she was 12, won a unanimous decision (29-28 across all three scorecards) in a women's bantamweight bout. She pressured Aline Pereira from the opening bell and outstruck her throughout, though Pereira landed some clean counters and scored a takedown in the third round.
Dana White initially wanted Sundell to gain more experience before signing her, but matchmaker Mick Maynard overruled him. "I've been outvoted tonight. Welcome to the UFC," White said.
The rest of the card produced three more contracts. Douglas Lapa (7-0) stopped Davi Cabral with a third-round TKO at middleweight after dropping him early in the final frame. Luis Francischinelli, a 6-foot-6 welterweight, finished William Rentz with a first-round TKO after dropping him with a left hook. Gregory Foster (9-1) earned his deal with a unanimous decision over Jason Asher in a back-and-forth lightweight fight where both men scored knockdowns. Foster's mother watched the fight from a hospital bed on her birthday, per Sherdog.
The main event went to Erick Visconde, who dominated Ilias Bulaid with grappling but drew boos from the crowd and did not receive a contract. White told Visconde he had put on a grappling masterclass but had not done what was expected.
Four contracts in one night, and Dana getting overruled on the biggest one. You don't see that often. Mick Maynard stuck his neck out for Sundell, and I think he's right. She's 21 with a muay Thai world title and three straight MMA wins. The women's divisions need talent, and this kid has been fighting since middle school.
The Aline Pereira situation is tough. Being Alex Pereira's sister gets you the DWCS slot, but it doesn't get you the win. She's 3-3 now and looked outclassed against a younger, faster fighter. That last name opens doors, but at some point you have to walk through them on your own.
Francischinelli at 6-foot-6 fighting welterweight is something I need to see in the Octagon. That's a different kind of problem for 170-pounders. And Foster's mom watching from a hospital bed on her birthday? That's the kind of moment the Contender Series was built for.
KEEP TALKING FIGHTS.
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