Torrez Finney Earns UFC Contract After Third DWCS Win
Torrez Finney earned a UFC contract after winning three Dana White’s Contender Series bouts, the first fighter to do so. In his third, on October 1, 2024, he stopped Abdellah Er-Ramy with strikes at 4:10 of round one. Finney later made his UFC debut in April 2025 and won a split decision over Robert Valentin; he lost a unanimous decision to Jacob Malkoun in January 2026.
The Road to UFC
Finney’s three DWCS wins came in 2023 and 2024. The UFC described him as the first Contender Series fighter to earn three victories before receiving a contract. His third win secured the opportunity, but results after signing have been mixed.
Feeling at Home in the Octagon
After his first-round TKO victory over Abdellah Er-Ramy, Finney shared his thoughts on his experiences leading up to this moment:
“I’m going to be honest with you, I feel like I was already UFC,” Finney stated during the post-fight news conference. He attributed this feeling to his multiple appearances on DWCS, explaining that fighting three times on the show was equivalent to a four-fight deal in the UFC.
Comfort in Familiarity
Finney’s comfort level in the UFC environment was evident as he described his experience:
“Going through the walk, all this stuff – I felt comfortable. I was like, I’ve done this enough times. When that UFC debut comes, obviously, there’s some more added things to that week and to that day, but it’ll be the same for me. It’s like I’ve already looked forward to this. I know what I’m ready for.”
Staying True to His Game
Despite the pressure to impress UFC CEO Dana White, Finney remained focused on his primary goal: winning. He emphasized that victory was always at the top of his list, and he trusted that everything else would fall into place if he stayed true to his style.
“As long as I was going to go out there to win, everything else was going to play into itself, and I just made sure of that. I was like, if we go out here and just do Torrez Finney, nobody can deny you,” he explained.
Overcoming Rejection
Finney’s journey to the UFC wasn’t without its challenges. He had been denied a contract twice before, with Dana White reportedly telling him he would get “absolutely decimated” in the UFC. However, Finney took this criticism in stride and used it as motivation to improve.
A Historic Achievement
By securing his third win on DWCS, Torrez Finney has not only earned his place in the UFC but also etched his name in the show’s history books. His perseverance and dedication serve as an inspiration to aspiring fighters, proving that sometimes the path to success requires multiple attempts and unwavering determination.
Finney’s story is now a completed signing milestone rather than an upcoming debut: he entered the UFC in April 2025, won his first promotional bout, then lost to Jacob Malkoun in January 2026. The three Contender Series victories remain the unusual path that earned him his contract.
Sources: UFC’s official Week 8 results and scorecards; Torrez Finney’s official UFC record; MMA Fighting’s report on Finney’s third DWCS win and contract
