Dana White has given out 15 contracts in three weeks. He is adding a lot of young talent to the UFC, with one from each week's three fights. Of course, the most surprising contract awarded was to Alex Apodaca. She defeated Bella Mir, the -6000 favorite, via decision. It was the biggest upset in Contender Series history. Tuesday’s Week 4 card starts at 7:00 p.m. ET on Paramount+. Below are our top Dana White’s Contender Series picks for Week 4.
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Dana White's Contender Series Picks: Week 4
Heavyweight: Gabriel Lourenço vs. Charlie Cleveland
The second fight of the night is in the heavyweight division between Gabriel Lourenço and Charlie Cleveland. Both men are athletic, with strong, muscular builds, which is not always the case in the heavyweight division. Lourenço is 7-1 as a professional, and his lone loss came against Igor Cavalcanti in his professional debut in 2021.
Cleveland is 6-1 as a professional and on a four-fight winning streak. He lost to RJ Harris via submission in 2025, but has rebounded nicely. His last two victories came at LFA 226 and LFA 230 in 2026.
Cleveland has sound defensive grappling, but is a competent striker. He has the power advantage, but is heavier on his feet. He weighed in at 245.5 pounds, while Lourenço came in at 229.5 pounds. Cleveland is the favorite for a reason. He is patient and has major advantages.
Lourenço is a Muay Thai striker who has solid leg kicks. His defense is the worrisome part of his game. He has not faced the highest level of competition, and some of his former opponents have hurt him. Cleveland hits too hard to have defensive woes and should win this fight by knockout.
Bet: Charlie Cleveland Moneyline (-185 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
Lightweight: Liam McCracken vs. Silvestre Sanchez
The third fight of the evening is in the lightweight division between Liam McCracken and Silvestre Sanchez. Both men have one loss on their resumes coming into this fight. McCracken is 8-1 as a professional, with five consecutive wins. His lone loss came at Bellator 291 in 2023.
Sanchez is 9-1 as a professional, and his only loss also came in 2023. Since then, he has won five consecutive fights. Both men are on a very similar trajectory, but they have different strengths. Sanchez controls the octagon well with his quick hands and solid takedowns. He is physically strong and has a wide arsenal. He is well-rounded in all phases.
McCracken is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but his wrestling needs some work. He lost in Bellator because he struggled with wrestling. He is a strong striker, but has weaknesses in his skill set. The main aspect is the wrestling, which is a problem in this division. You must have a well-rounded skill set in this division. This is a closer fight than the odds suggest.
Sanchez also has powerful counter strikes. He has won three of his last four fights by TKO and has multiple submissions that have opened up via his striking. He should find counter punches when McCracken is leaving the pocket. Sanchez can also control the fight with offensive wrestling if he cannot find his timing early.
Bet: Silvestre Sanchez Moneyline (+140 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
