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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
Alvi Dasuyev got what every fighter comes looking for on Dana White’s Contender Series: a UFC contract. Yet after his victory over Jaden Ortega, the Belgian did not look like a man fully satisfied. A unanimous decision winner after fifteen intense minutes in Las Vegas, he convinced Dana White, but not really himself. This discrepancy gives his arrival in the big league a rare flavor: that of a promotion earned, already accompanied by harsh self-criticism.
A Clear Victory, Not a Walk in the Park
The judges awarded him the fight against Ortega unanimously, with two 30-27s and one 29-28.
On the scorecards, Dasuyev got the job done. The judges awarded him the fight against Ortega unanimously, with two 30-27s and one 29-28. The opening of the bout mainly confirmed what intrigues people about him: fast hands, sharp counters, and an ability to make his opponent pay whenever he advances without protection. Ortega faced several scares, especially in the early exchanges, when Dasuyev found his target with a precision that immediately woke up the arena.
The rest was less straightforward. Ortega, despite the shots he absorbed, refused to leave the fight and turned the closing stages into a test of resilience. Dasuyev maintained the advantage, but he did not slam the door shut as he had hoped. In a show where visual impact carries almost as much weight as the result, that detail matters. Winning is not always enough; you also have to make the UFC want to invest. This time, he managed both, but not with the performance he had prepared.
Dana White Signed Generously
The evening had one notable feature: six contracts were handed out. Dasuyev, Damian Piwowarczyk, Piero Guaylupo and Marcos Degli were rewarded after their victories, while Callum Connor and Jaden Ortega also received an offer despite their defeats. For Ortega, beaten by Dasuyev, it was even a sign that his courage and third round carried significant weight in the discussion.
This context makes Dasuyev’s signing less isolated, but no less important. Contender Series remains a narrow door, especially for fighters who get through by decision rather than with a spectacular finish. Dana White approved of the potential, and the UFC is acquiring a still-raw profile: dangerous on the feet, explosive in bursts, but tasked with proving that he can maintain his pace when his opponent refuses to go down.
Frustration as Fuel
After the fight, Dasuyev admitted that he had been aiming for a stoppage before the final bell. He mentioned the time difference to explain part of his drop-off, while repeatedly insisting that he was better than what he had shown. The statement may sound harsh the day after a victory, but it also says something about his temperament: he does not view the UFC contract as a finish line.
This kind of high standard can become valuable, provided it does not turn into impatience. The UFC level is unforgiving of lapses, especially among welterweights, a stacked division where every technical mistake comes at a price. Dasuyev arrives with an unbeaten record, new exposure and a first story to tell. The next step will be colder: turning potential validated on a Tuesday night in Las Vegas into sustained form against established opponents.
