Unbeaten Staines faces first career test as Abushaar targets DWCS contract

George Staines, unbeaten in eight professional bouts, faced the stiffest test of his career at the Dana White Contender Series event headlined by Abushaar vs. Staines at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. Standing across from him was Loai Abushaar (7-1), who arrived on a four-fight winning run with every victory coming by finish.

The lightweight main event carried the highest stakes on the card: a UFC contract for the winner, with Dana White watching from cageside as he has throughout Season 10 of the Contender Series.

In the co-main event, heavyweight Adama Diop brought his own finishing pedigree to bear against the undefeated Zaurbek Sabanov (4-0). Diop has won five consecutive fights, four of them by knockout — three of those stoppages coming inside the opening round — making him one of the more dangerous prospects on the night’s card.

The full five-bout main card also featured Ian Escuza vs. Luca Borando, Aieza Bertolso vs. Camila Reynoso, and Ilias Bulaid vs. Erick Visconde, each fighter competing for the chance to earn White’s attention and a place on the UFC roster.

Heading into Tuesday’s show, White had awarded 34 contracts across Season 10 of the Contender Series, including five during the previous week’s episode, underlining the genuine opportunity on offer for every fighter stepping into the APEX octagon.