Dana White’s Contender Series Picks & Predictions (Week 8)
It's a Tuesday during the fall, which means we have a Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS) episode on the docket. It's Week 8 of the 2025 season, and we have another 10 brawlers battling it out for a chance to compete in the UFC. I've narrowed in on two of the bouts from a sports betting perspective, and below you'll find my top DWCS bets for Week 8.
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Dana White’s Contender Series Picks & Predictions: Week 8
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Vitor Costa (+105) vs. Damian Pinas (-135)
All roads lead to a main event clash at 185 Lbs., which pits Vitor Costa against Damian Pinas. It's the tightest-lined fight from a betting angle, with Aruba's Pinas sitting at -135 on the moneyline. Costa comes back at +105 to secure his ninth consecutive victory.
There's a case to be made for the underdog in this fight, and I'm going to take a flier on Vitor Costa in the main event. The Brazilian enters this contest at 8-1-0, with his lone loss coming against current UFC fighter Cesar Almeida (KO) back in 2021. Almeida's now 3-1 in this UFC, so there's no shame in dropping your professional debut to a brawler of that caliber. Costa has since rattled off eight consecutive wins, including three knockouts and three submissions.
Mostly, it's Costa's versatility that has me confident in him getting his hand raised in this fight. It's true that he prefers to stand up and bang, but his ability to take the fight to the mat is going to be the difference maker in this one. Pinas (7-1-0, 6 KO) is a beast on the feet, but perhaps he's a bit untested with his grappling. If Costa can survive the heavy blows early and eventually take this fight to the ground, this is where he'll gain an edge. Let's take a +105 shot on Costa to log his ninth straight win.
Bet: Vitor Costa Moneyline (+105)
Rashid Vagabov (-810) vs. Paulo da Silva (+500)
Tuesday's card opens up with a Flyweight showdown between Rashid Vagabov and Paulo da Silva. Russia's Vagabov is out to a massive -810 moneyline favorite, making him the largest favorite on the board. Da Silva, who is a solid 11-1-0, is priced at +500 to pull off the upset.
I will not be sounding the "upset alarm" in this DWCS opener on Tuesday night. In fact, I think we're going to see Rashid Vagabov make quick work of da Silva and end this fight within seven minutes and 30 seconds. I'm taking the under 1.5 round, which comes with a nice +124 payout.
Vagabov has been cruising past very solid competition en route to his DWCS appearance. He's 5-0 in his last five fights, racking up three first-round finishes. Four of the fights finished under 1.5 rounds. His opposition's record during the five-fight winning streak, which played out across Eagle FC and UAE Warriors, was 61-22. Meanwhile, da Silva is four years younger than Vagabov, and a vast majority of his wins were against inexperienced fighters. This is a massive step up in competition, and I just can't see the Brazilian lasting more than 1.5 rounds against the battle-tested Vagabov. Give me the Under.
Bet: Under 1.5 Rounds (+124)