Dana White’s Contender Series 2025 Week 9 Predictions, Picks and Betting Odds October 7

Dana White’s Contender Series Week 9 Betting Preview

UFC WagerTalk handicapper Andy Lang gives his Week 9 Dana White’s Contender Series picks and predictions for October 7, 2025 with the main event headlined by Lucas Caldas vs Magomed Zaynukov in a lightweight fight. The main card starts up at 8:00pm ET from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, NV.

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Lucas Caldas vs Magomed Zaynukov: Dana White’s Contender Series Main Event Week 9

Tuesday, October 7	Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 (Courtesy of Caesars)
Moneyline:	Lucas Caldas +300 vs Magomed Zaynukov -475
Rounds:	1.5 (Over +135 / Under -175)
Fight Time:	Main Card Starts at 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT
Arena:	UFC APEX in Las Vegas, NV
TV:	ESPN+

Dana White’s Contender Series Week 9 Predictions

Luke Fernandez -720 vs Rafael Pergentino +450 

I can’t explain how big of a mismatch this is. Pergentino looks like he has no formal training — all his fights are in empty warehouses against nobodies he’s knocked out, but they hardly qualify as “professional.” He swings wildly, gasses out after the first round, and has been dropped multiple times.

Fernandez, on the other hand, is a dynamic striker who can also wrestle. The UFC clearly set this up for a highlight finish — Fernandez should dominate from start to finish.

Danavon Hedrick -115 v Luis Dias -105 

All of Hedrick’s fights have ended in early knockouts, so we haven’t seen much of his full game, but he clearly has power and aggressive takedowns.

Dias has 20 pro fights but hasn’t competed  in over two years, and his recent wins came against very low-level opponents.

He’s been inconsistent and struggled when facing decent competition. Hedrick’s explosiveness should be the difference — expect violence and a finish. The fight not going the distance is the best bet.

Imanol Rodriguez -260 vs Roque Junior +195 

This should be a competitive fight. Rodriguez brings solid experience from The Ultimate Fighter, where he narrowly lost a split decision to the eventual champion.

He’s the more polished striker with good movement, clean feints, and sharp hands. Roque Junior has  comparable power but tends to get wild and off-balance. Rodriguez’s composure and speed should earn him the win, though the price isn’t great for betting.

Mark Vologdin -140 v Juan Adrian Luna +120 

This fight is a clash of styles. Vologdin is short and powerful, with heavy hands and explosive  combinations.

Luna is tall and lanky, using long jabs and kicks to set up takedowns before working submissions on the mat.

If Luna can drag this fight to the ground, his grappling and  length could take over. The line is fair, but the underdog offers better value — Luna or nothing.

Dana White’s Contender Series Event: Lucas Caldas vs Magomed Zaynukov

These odds feel inflated. Zaynukov has a solid ground game and prefers positional control, but it’s questionable whether he’s truly dominant enough to justify this price.

Caldas is a dangerous striker with real knockout power and a capable ground game, though his cardio is a concern since most of his fights end early.

Still, his aggression gives him a live shot at the upset if the fight starts fast. Zaynukov remains the pick, but Caldas is a sneaky early threat.

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