LAS VEGAS — Canadian lightweight Mandel Nallo won a UFC contract in impressive fashion Tuesday night, stopping Brazil's Samuel (Caveira) Silva in the first round on Dana White's Contender Series.
The 36-year-old Nallo dropped Silva with a right to the chin and then finished him off on the ground with four straight blows before referee Jason Herzog stepped in three minutes 29 seconds into the round.
"I do not love your age but I love your style," said UFC president Dana White. "Get over here, I'm going to give you a shot."
Dana White's Contender Series gives up-and-coming fighters a chance to win their way into the UFC if they can impress the UFC president.
Canadians (Proper) Mike Malott, Jasmine Jasudavicius, Chad (The Monster) Anheliger, Yohan (White Lion) Lainesse and T.J. (The Truth) Laramie all won UFC contracts on the show. So did Serhiy Sidey, who was born in Ukraine but moved to Canada when he was six.
Nallo also referenced his age in his post-fight interview before White delivered his verdict.
"I know you guys aren't looking for 36-year-old prospects. But I'm not a prospect, I'm a finished product," said Nallo, who made his MMA pro debut in November 2012. "You can plug me in anywhere."
The Vancouver-born Nallo, who trains at Montreal's Tristar Gym under noted trainer Firas Zahabi, had won his four previous fights in a combined 12 minutes 15 seconds. Twelve of his 16 previous fights did not make the second round.
"It feels like all my other fights, honestly. I fight quick. I like to kill right away," Nallo said after the win. "I'm not a mean guy in life but in the cage I'm pretty nasty. So it felt good."
Both Nallo and Silva came out hard at the UFC's Apex production facility.
Nallo connected early with some punishing low kicks, mixed with kicks to the face, with Silva answering with a couple of powerful strikes of his own, buckling Nallo at one point. But the Brazilian was taking the worst of it, showing damage on his lead leg and face midway even before Nallo put him down.
Nallo (14-3-0 with one no-contest) fought in the Bellator promotion from 2018 to 2023, posting a 4-3-0 record with one no-contest. He has won five straight since exiting Bellator on a loss to American Adam (The Bomb) Piccolotti.
The 29-year-old Silva (13-5-1) had won his five previous bouts. The Cage Warriors lightweight titleholder has eight first-round finishes on his resume.
Welterweight Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani won his contract in emphatic fashion, stunning fellow American Jack Congdon with a head kick and then felling him with a piston-like right to the face. Also earning UFC deals were Polish middleweight Cezary Oleksiejczuk and American featherweight Tommy (Gun) McMillen.
McMillen and his opponent David Mgoyan were both taken to hospital to be checked out after their bruising three-round fight.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 2, 2025.
The Canadian Press
