UFC employee Sal Everett stuns Contender Series with brutal first-round knockout to earn contract

Sal Everett, who works as UFC CEO Dana White’s personal runner, earned himself a UFC fight contract at Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, Week 9 on Tuesday night at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas — delivering one of the most devastating knockouts of the entire season against Ozzy Martin in the co-main event.

Everett has held various roles within the UFC organisation over the years, but has continued to compete as a fighter on the side. Against Martin, he wasted no time making his case, working his jab to pick apart his opponent before landing a thunderous right hand that put Martin down and out in the first round. White followed the finish with a speech praising Everett as a person before awarding him the contract.

The main event saw Preston LaGrange earn his own UFC deal by knocking out Nell Ariano. LaGrange walked down the accomplished French judoka, absorbing a notable throw before getting back to his feet and ending the fight with a clean right hand.

Roque Conceicao made the most of his second opportunity on the Contender Series in the swing bout, submitting Alexander Chavez in the first round via triangle choke. Conceicao attacked relentlessly with fast right hands and body kicks before locking in the choke — a slam attempt by Chavez only tightened the hold, forcing the tap and earning Conceicao a UFC contract.

Mateus Soares also impressed, stopping Ryuho Miyaguchi by TKO in just over a minute in the second bout of the night. Billed as a fighter in the mould of Jose Aldo, Soares stormed across the cage and overwhelmed Miyaguchi with fast, heavy combinations to claim the finish and a contract of his own.

In total, four fighters received UFC contracts on the night, with Everett’s story providing the most memorable moment of the evening — a UFC employee quite literally fighting his way onto the roster he already works for.