Andreas Gustafsson highlights newest group of UFC fighters from DWCS Week 2

Of the fighters who received contracts, Gustafsson, Kuniev and Haddon all won their fights with early finishes. White was decisively sold on all three and was tentative on his decision with Romious, but ended up giving four of the five winners on the night an offer. Fan favorite and undefeated wrestler Torrez Finney was the only winner of the night to not get signed.

White said on the show in Week 1 that he does not like signing fighters off the show over the age of 30, but both Gustafsson and Kuniev fit that description. Gustafsson was the second-oldest fighter of the night at 33 with his opponent, Pat Pytlik, being the only one older than him at 35.

Regardless, Gustafsson's grueling performance against Pytlik was one that White admittedly was not fond of at first, but he was impressed by the brutal finish. After eight tough minutes of clinch fighting, Gustafsson kneed a visibly gassed-out Pytlik in the face to start the beginning of the violent end to the fight, leaving the arena in stunned silence.

Gustafsson's TKO victory was arguably the second-best of the night behind Haddon's submission win to begin the night. In what was supposed to be a competitive affair between two high-level bantamweight prospects, Haddon landed an early knockdown of Billy Brand before taking his back and ending the fight early with a rear-naked choke.

In a division as loaded as a bantamweight, Haddon is an undeniably bright prospect who excited UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby, whom White noted does not get enthused by much anymore. Romious joined Haddon as the newest additions to the 135-pound division.

The third episode of Dana White's Contender Series season eight will air on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The event will begin one hour later than the first two episodes of the 2024 season.