Kaik Brito Gives Up Oktagon Belt Again for DWCS Shot

Kaik Brito has vacated his Oktagon welterweight title for the second time to chase a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series, facing Namo Fazil on Tuesday night at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.

This is not new territory for Brito. He gave up the same belt back in 2023 for a shot on the show, only to drop a majority decision to Oban Elliott. He believes he did enough to win that night and says he carries no baggage from the setback into this rebooking.

Why Brito Walked Away From the Belt Again

Brito's path back to Oktagon gold makes the second vacation even more notable. After the DWCS loss to Elliott, he picked up a quick finish on the Brazilian regional circuit, returned to Oktagon, and won the title back with a spinning back knockout of Ronald Paradeiser this past February. He was lined up to defend that belt against Amiran Gogoladze in September before the call to Las Vegas came in.

Brito described the decision to leave the title behind as difficult given everything he'd rebuilt to get there, but said the UFC has been the target from the start. He was already deep into fight camp for his scheduled defense when the DWCS opportunity materialized, and he said he'd mentally prepared for that possibility even while locked in on the Oktagon fight.

Who Is Namo Fazil, Brito's DWCS Opponent

Namo Fazil brings a seven-fight winning streak into the Contender Series cage, built across ONE, UAE Warriors and MVP MMA, where he most recently finished Jake Babian by submission. Brito flagged him as a live threat who likes to talk during fights, but said the mental gamesmanship won't be a factor once the cage door shuts.

For bettors, DWCS fights rarely draw deep markets, but the storyline here cuts both ways. Brito is the more tested name here, having already gone the distance once on this exact stage against Oban Elliott, while Fazil arrives on momentum but without a prior test at this level. That gap in experience against elite competition is usually what separates contracts from close losses on this show, and it's the same margin that cost Brito last time.

Brito has already shown he can finish fights in dramatic fashion, and Contender Series bouts that stay standing tend to favor the fighter forcing the pace rather than the one playing defense against a trash-talking opponent. If Brito can dictate range and avoid getting pulled into exchanges he doesn't need, his path to a UFC deal looks clearer than it did against Elliott two years ago.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Kaik Brito give up his Oktagon title?

Kaik Brito vacated the Oktagon welterweight championship to take a fight on Dana White's Contender Series against Namo Fazil, prioritizing a shot at a UFC contract over defending the belt.

Who is Kaik Brito fighting on Dana White's Contender Series?

Kaik Brito faces Namo Fazil, who carries a seven-fight winning streak, on the August 18 DWCS card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Has Kaik Brito fought on DWCS before?

Yes, Kaik Brito previously competed on Dana White's Contender Series in 2023 and lost a majority decision to Oban Elliott before returning to Oktagon and reclaiming the welterweight title.