“You get absolutely decimated in the UFC” - Brutally honest Dana White rips DWCS fighter for failing to improve despite last year’s advice
Undefeated fighter Torrez Finney was perhaps the most acclaimed fighter leading up to the second week of the eighth season of Dana White’s Contender Series. However, the 25-year-old fell short of making a significant mark in his second appearance on the feeder series that offers fighters a chance to secure a UFC contract.
UFC CEO Dana White reacted to Finney's performance without mincing words, asserting that his performance in the 2023 edition of the Contender Series was "better" than his display against Cameron Rowston. Speaking to Laura Sanko following the conclusion of the week 2 fight card, White said:
"Finney, you were there here last year and my recommendation to you was to go out there and get some experience. You're young [and] you're obviously talented. You're now 9-0. You got out for one year and fought one fight."
He added:
"I'm always brutally honest with this stuff. You get absolutely decimated in the UFC with the performance that you put on tonight. Your performance last year was better than this year. You're 25-years old kid. You're obviously a talented athlete. Go and get three of four fights this year and then come back and talk to us about the UFC. You gassed out tonight and had a tough time getting through three rounds. You're not ready for the UFC."
Catch White's comments below:
Finney scored a unanimous decision win over Rowston in his second appearance on the show. He showcased his wrestling prowess through three rounds to scoop his opponent and dictate the terms of the fight. However, he was unable to mount significant offense in dominant positions.
The Tennessee native secured a second-round submission win over Yuri Panferov during his first appearance and registered a first-round TKO victory over Tyson Jeffries earlier this year.
List of fighters who secured a contract on the second week of Dana White’s Contender Series season 8
Several fighters managed to deliver a statement-making performance at the recently concluded episode of Dana White’s Contender Series season 8. Four fighters' efforts were rewarded with the coveted UFC contract.
Bantamweight prospect Cody Haddon's first-round submission victory over Billy Brand helped him secure a spot on the UFC roster. Lightweight fighter Cortavious Romious, who defeated Michael Imperato via unanimous decision, delivered one of the most dominant performances of the evening and laid hands on the UFC contract.
Andreas Gustafsson took on Pat Pytlik in a welterweight tilt in a battle of the heavy hitters. He walked away with a TKO victory in the second round and joined the ranks of the UFC's talent-stacked 170-pound division. Meanwhile, heavyweight sensation Rizvan Kuniev earned a first-round TKO victory over Hugo Cunha and will seemingly prove to be a valuable addition to the heavyweight bracket.
Check out the list of winners below: