UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya spent all week talking up his City Kickboxing teammate Carlos Ulberg, ahead of Ulberg's appearance on Dana White Contender Series.

Odds on Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series according to Bovada Sportsbook Schedule for Every Tuesday Location: UFC Training Centre, Las Vegas. Updated on November 17, 2020. Chelsea Hackett vs Victoria Leonardo Chelsea Hackett -235 Victoria Leonardo +185. Gloria de Paula vs Pauline Macias Gloria de Paula -185 Pauline Macias +150. The 25-year-old heavyweight was one of 10 fighters competing on White’s Contender Series, a show designed to funnel talent into the UFC. Nchukwi fought in the main event against the more.

It turns out, the champ wasn't lying about his buddy's potential.

Ulberg (3-0) joined Adesanya among the UFC ranks on Wednesday, as he earned a UFC contract by knocking out Bruno Oliveira (8-2) at the UFC's Apex facility in Las Vegas. Ulberg was one of four athletes to sign with the promotion, as UFC president Dana White awarded a contract to every winner on the four-fight card.

'Tonight is what you call a no-brainer,' said White, on handing out the four contracts.

Even on a high-quality Contender Series card, Ulberg, of Auckland, New Zealand, stood out. A former rugby prospect-turned-kickboxer-turned MMA fighter, Ulberg knocked Oliveira out cold with a left hook at the 2:02 mark of the opening round. He caught Oliveira with a counter left hook as he came in, then doubled up on the punch for the knockout. Ulberg's second left hook sent Oliveira crashing to the floor.

'This kid is 2-0 and fought a guy who was 8-1 tonight,' White said of Ulberg, a 29-year-old light heavyweight. 'He has a ton of kickboxing experience and beat a guy easily, who has six knockouts and one submission. And you think he's marketable? He's a good-looking kid.'

In addition to Ulberg, who was cornered on Wednesday by Adesanya, the UFC signed Chilean welterweight Ignacio Bahamondes, American featherweight Luis Saldana and American heavyweight Jared Vanderaa.

Bahamondes (11-3) knocked out Edson Gomez with a viral-esque front kick to the face at 2:31 of the second round. Gomez, who missed weight for the welterweight bout, showed heart in taking a ton of damage throughout, but he was clearly out of his league against the talented 23-year-old striker. White raved over the finish, saying, 'There is no way in hell that isn't the [No. 1 play] on SportsCenter tomorrow.'

Saldana (14-6) also scored a front kick finish at the 44-second mark of the third round against Team Alpha Male's Vince Murdock. Saldana, 29, looked great in the first and second rounds but came out on a mission in the third, stunning Murdock with the jab and then hurting him with a front kick to the face. Referee Herb Dean gave Murdock time to recover, but Saldana finished it moments later with strikes on the ground.

And in the heavyweight division, Vanderaa (11-4) picked up a convincing first-round TKO over late-replacement opponent Harry Hunsucker. Hunsucker went for the knockout early and had some success with the left hook, but Vanderaa, 28, weathered the brief, early storm, took Hunsucker down and quickly finished him with strikes along the fence.

Wednesday's episode was the first of Dana White's Contender Series since Season 2, Week 8, with a 100% finish rate. This episode was Season 4, Week 8.

Dana White’s Contender Series gives up-and-coming MMA fighters a chance to wow the UFC boss and earn a fight contract that could change their lives.

The best way to accomplish that is to win in stunning/violent fashion, which is exactly what Aalon Cruz did Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

And Dana White, who was sitting cageside, absolutely loved it.

With just under 30 seconds in his fight with Steven Nguyen, Cruz fired off a beautiful flying knee that immediately knocked Nguyen out and gave Cruz an impressive win and likely a contract with the UFC.

Check out how sneaky and powerful this knee was:

WOW.

Then in the next fight there was another flying-knee KO, this time by Aleksa Camur:

Dana White's Contender Series Tonight

The UFC world loved ’em: