DWCS Week 8: Staines Smashes Abushaar, Earns UFC Deal

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George Staines earned a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series after brutally finishing Loai Abushaar in the first round of their lightweight main event during DWCS Season 10 Week 8. Dana White signed four fighters total off the card, even after publicly ripping into two of the winners before handing them contracts anyway.

What Happened In The Main Event

Staines closed the show with a nasty finish, dropping Abushaar with a slam before finishing him off with punches on the ground in round one. It was the kind of statement performance DWCS was built for: a prospect turning a showcase slot into a highlight reel and a UFC deal in the same night. Abushaar leaves the card without a contract, at least for now, while Staines heads into the UFC lightweight division with real buzz after a finish that looked far more decisive than a typical unanimous decision squeaker.

Why The Card Was Only Four Fights

Week 8 of DWCS Season 10 was trimmed down to just four bouts after a last-minute cancellation scrapped one of the scheduled matchups. That's a smaller slate than the show usually runs, which put extra weight on every performance left standing. Dana White still walked away handing out four contracts from the shortened card, and notably, he wasn't fully sold on a couple of the winners even as he signed them. White ripped into two of the fighters who got the call, criticizing their showings before still deciding they'd earned a spot on the roster. That's not unprecedented for DWCS, where White has a history of signing fighters whose paths to victory he isn't thrilled with if he likes the raw tools or the ceiling.

Betting Angle

For bettors, a finish like Staines' main event stoppage is the kind of signal that tends to move markets once his UFC debut gets booked. Fighters who come out of Contender Series with a violent finish, rather than a grind-it-out decision, often get priced as short favorites in their first UFC outing because matchmakers and oddsmakers alike lean on that tape. It's too early to price anything on Staines specifically since no opponent or date has been set, but expect sportsbooks to treat him as a live betting interest the moment his debut lands on a card. The two winners White criticized are worth watching too: contracts signed under a skeptical review from the boss sometimes translate into tougher opening lines, since matchmakers may test them against more seasoned UFC vets right out of the gate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the DWCS Week 8 main event?

George Staines won the DWCS Season 10 Week 8 main event, finishing Loai Abushaar in the first round with a slam followed by punches.

How many fighters were signed after DWCS Week 8?

Dana White signed four fighters to UFC contracts following DWCS Season 10 Week 8, a card that was reduced to four bouts after a last-minute cancellation.