Dana White signs two to UFC deals, offers Contender Series to third after scouting Houston event
The UFC roster is two fighters deeper after promotion president Dana White scouted Fury FC 46 in Houston this past Sunday.
Following their knockout victories in title fights, bantamweight Mana Martinez and featherweight Fernando Padilla were offered UFC contracts by the boss himself, who was there for the filming of a yet-to-be-released episode of “Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight.”
Additionally, welterweight Nikolay Veretennikov, who headlined the event and won by first-round TKO, was offered a shot on the upcoming season of Dana White’s Contender Series, which is expected to launch in August.
Head coaches Saul Soliz (Martinez) and Colin Oyama (Padilla) confirmed the signings on social media after the event around the same time UFC welterweight and MMA photographer Mike Jackson posted a video he captured of Veretennikov’s interaction with White on video.
Martinez (8-2) joins the roster having won seven of his most recent eight professional fights by TKO. His only loss in that stretch came on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020 when he was submitted by eventual signee Drako Rodriguez. He is a main training partner of surging UFC up-and-comer Adrian Yanez.
Padilla (14-4) has had 18 professional fights but is still just 24 years old. Since his pro debut in 2015, Padilla has competed in LFA, CFFC and KOTC, among other notable regional promotions.
As for Veretennikov (9-3), on Sunday, he defeated UFC alumnus Anthony Ivy in order to get the invitation from White. The Kazakhstani fighter rides an eight-fight winning streak with six finishes during that time.
Fury FC 46 took place in Houston, the same city that had hosted UFC 262 the night prior. Also on hand for the event was Hunter Campbell, the UFC’s chief business officer, former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra, UFC alumnus Din Thomas, UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis, and UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush.
Dana White signs two to UFC deals, offers Contender Series to third after scouting Houston event
