Contender Series 2026 Week 1 Breakdown and Predictions

Shawn Bitter- Adams earned this opportunity after losing an LFA title shot in January. Maybe he’s getting this fight just because they assume he has diabetes. Wint is one of the few promising heavyweights, but that statement can only go so far. He has looked good and is definitely in shape as a former NFL linebacker for the New York Jets. He’s only 5’11” but makes up for it with athleticism, power, and explosiveness. I believe Wint could just overwhelm Adams with his power. He could also use his wrestling background to take down and maul Adams. I have Wint by TKO in round one.

Cedric Dumas- This is another matchup where the UFC’s intentions seem pretty clear. Matt Adams is a genuinely great individual with an inspiring story, but from a pure fighting perspective, I have major questions about whether his skill set is at the level required for this stage. He has looked significantly better coming into this fight, fitness-wise, and he has been adamant that injuries and poor preparation affected his LFA title fight performance, but his career trend remains difficult to ignore. Every time Adams has faced a major step up in competition, he has struggled.

Standing across from him is Anthony Wint, a far more athletic heavyweight with the physical tools to make things difficult. The former NFL linebacker brings elite explosiveness, strength, and legitimate knockout power, while also having defeated a slightly better level of opposition. Even if Adams looks to rely on his wrestling, keeping Wint grounded will be a difficult challenge. I expect Wint’s athleticism and power to take over and create serious problems for Adams.

Pick: Wint by Round 1 KO/TKO.

Nicholas Holt- This is another rough matchup – I don’t really believe Matt Adams deserves to be on DWCS. Losing in the first round to your first credible test in Arslan Bilalov and then following it up with a finish over a 1-6 opponent simply isn’t enough for me.

Much like Mridul Saikia, though, Adams appears to be playing an integral role in boosting one of the most exciting prospects of the season. I currently rate Wint as the #1 heavyweight prospect in the world, and for good reason- the guy is an absolute beast. The athletic gap between these two is glaring, and I don’t see any scenario where Adams survives the opening five minutes.

Anthony Wint is definitely a name to circle for the future. I don’t expect the former New York Jet to take much damage.

Pick: Wint by Round 1 KO/TKO.

Patrick Danna- Wint is a prospect I’ve written about and spoken to in the past, and I’ve been high on him for a bit. A former NFL linebacker, Wint is an athletic and physical heavyweight that’s developed some serious power. On top of that, his successful college wrestling background gives a great base to his ground game. I’m not normally excited about heavyweight prospects, but Wint is an exception as my current top HW after the signing of Gable Steveson.

On the other side, I have no clue why Adams is here. He lost a lot of weight, so I give him credit, but he was brutally beaten down seven months ago in an LFA title fight. Beating a 1-6 opponent should not get you this opportunity, so it’s pretty clear this is a stepping stone for Wint to get a highlight. Adams has some decent GnP and a heavy mount, but is otherwise nothing noteworthy. Wint should be able to win wherever he wants here, and get a statement finish for some pre-UFC hype.

Pick: Wint by Round 1 TKO

Chase Gurotsky- Before 2026, Matt Adams was 5-1 and one of the biggest Heavyweight prospects on the regional scene. However, after his second loss to Arslan Bilalov in the 1st round, his stock dropped a lot. He got a win back versus a 1-6 opponent and comes into this matchup as the big underdog. Adams definitely has a puncher’s chance, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he finds it.

Anthony Wint at 6-0 is one of the hottest Heavyweights out there. He is riding a 3-fight KO streak, with the last two coming in 31 and 37 seconds. Wint’s resume isn’t the best; however, I do think it’s a bit better than Adams’. The former NFL player has a big chance to get his name out there with a big TKO win, and that’s what I think will happen.

Pick: Wint by 1st round TKO 

Xavi Ryder- Unfortunately, this season there seems to be a lot of mismatches, and this is our second of week one. Off the back of losing against his first real opponent in an LFA title fight, Matt Adams beat a 1-6 opponent to get this chance on Contender Series. Wint is a former NFL player who has looked good in MMA so far. The gap in athleticism between the two fighters is huge, and that is a big problem for Adams. Wint has an easy path to victory by taking Adams down, but I believe he can also find the knockout on the feet.

Pick: Wint via Round 1 KO/TKO

Drew Beaupre – Wint is one of the latest examples of the tried-and-true formula of former American football players finding success in heavyweight MMA. It’s a division that’s always in need of new talent, and you don’t often see fighters of that size with the kind of standout athleticism that Wint clearly possesses.

It’s unfortunate that the UFC has pretty clearly put this matchup with Adams together as a bit of a showcase fight for Wint, and I look forward to seeing him tested against more credentialed fighters after he presumably secures a UFC contract with another finish.

(Pick: Wint via Round 1 KO/TKO)

Cangrejo Ruiz- Uncompetitive fight, Wint is one of the best prospects in the division, being highly athletic in addition to a well-developed toolset. His main criticism is that he is a bit undersized, but that’s not a weakness Adams will be able to exploit, as he is quite unathletic and lacks the size and range. Wint’s skills and level of competition are also higher than Adams’.

Pick: Wint by R1 KO