Sanchez knocks out McCracken at DWCS to earn UFC deal and hail Mexico P.I. talent

Silvestre Sanchez earned a UFC contract at Dana White’s Contender Series 2026 Week 4 on 2 September, knocking out Liam McCracken with a left hook in the final round of their lightweight clash to improve his record to 10-1.

The fight was an instant classic by most accounts, with McCracken — entering at 8-2 — having his own moments before Sanchez landed the decisive blow that put him out cold. It was the ninth finish of Sanchez’s ten career victories, a statistic that speaks to a style he says is shaped by where he trains.

Sanchez is based at the UFC’s Performance Institute in Mexico City and wasted little time crediting the facility and its culture after securing his contract.

“We train a lot at the P.I. in Mexico and we say that we’re finishing fights,” Sanchez said. “What better place to finish a fight than in the Contender Series? I’m Mexican, I got the hunger and I got those balls. What better opportunity than to be here with my team from the P.I. There’s so much going on there, so much talent, so much coaching.”

Known by the nickname “Gorilla”, Sanchez went further, suggesting the UFC need look no further than the Mexico P.I. when scouting for emerging talent. The Performance Institute in Mexico City is one of several regional facilities the UFC has established to develop fighters outside of its Las Vegas headquarters, and Sanchez’s performance on the Contender Series adds weight to the argument that it is producing prospects ready for the main roster.

With nine finishes from ten wins and a statement knockout on the sport’s most prominent developmental stage, Sanchez arrives in the UFC with both the record and the backing of a programme he believes is only beginning to make its mark.