Dana White Contender Series Week 8 Odds, Picks & Predictions (Sep 30)

• Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 goes down from the UFC Apex on Tuesday, September 30
• Middleweights Vitor Costa and Damian Pinas collide in Tuesday’s main event
• See all the Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 odds, picks and predictions below

---

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9 reaches Week 8 on Tuesday, Sept. 30, with some massive favorites and a few interesting underdogs. When you see lines this wide on DWCS, there’s usually an upset brewing somewhere.

The middleweight main event showcases Vitor Costa against Damian Pinas, two finishers who rarely need the judges. Action gets underway from the UFC Apex on Tuesday at 8:00 pm ET on ESPN+.

Here are my Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 predictions, betting picks and odds for Tuesday’s card.

Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 Odds

Odds as of September 30, 2025, at DraftKings Sportsbook. Claim a DraftKings promo code to wager on the DWCS.

Rashid Vagabov leads the favorites at -650, while Kurtis Campbell sits at -575. Those prices are too rich for our Dana White picks, but there are other angles to attack on Tuesday’s DWCS card.

Vitor Costa vs Damian Pinas Prediction

Vitor Costa (8-1) brings championship experience as the Jungle Fight double champ at middleweight and light heavyweight. Now training with the Fighting Nerds, he’s finished six of eight wins, including three guillotine chokes. His lone loss came to current UFC fighter Cesar Almeida back in 2021.

Damian Pinas (7-1) has finished all seven of his victories, with six coming by knockout. The Suriname fighter throws bombs and has legitimate one-punch power. His only setback was a DQ loss for an illegal kick. The problem? He’s reportedly still a white belt in BJJ and gets taken down frequently.

Costa walks forward with pressure and eats shots to land his own, which could be dangerous against Pinas. But Costa has more tools. If he mixes in his wrestling and threatens with the guillotine, Pinas will have to think twice about loading up on punches.

Neither fighter has a great defense, and both aim to finish their opponents. I’m predicting this won’t reach the second round, so the Under is my strongest play in the Contender Series odds.

• Pick: Fight Under 1.5 Rounds (-230)

Rashid Vagabov vs Paulo da Silva Pick

Rashid Vagabov (13-2) trains with Team Khabib and brings that classic Dagestani wrestling style. He’s won four straight by submission and consistently dominates on the mat. At 13-2, he’s faced real competition and passed every test against fighters with winning records.

Paulo da Silva (11-1) has an impressive record but it’s built on weak competition. His opponents have a combined record that includes guys at 0-2 and 2-17. He trains with Charles Oliveira and plays a similar guard-heavy game, but that rarely works against elite wrestlers.

Rashid "Rambo" Vagabov (13-2 Pro) looks like he can wrestle & grapple at a UFC level. He is capable of putting his opponents to sleep 😴 pic.twitter.com/TvbeGauhQ3

— Liam Picks Fights (@LiamPicksFights) September 30, 2025

Vagabov should control this fight from start to finish. His wrestling neutralizes da Silva’s submission threats, and he’s shown the ability to finish with ground-and-pound or submissions. The line is massive, but he’s the safest play on the card for our Week 8 Dana White picks.

To get better value, take Vagabov by finish rather than straight up. He’s finished his last four and should make it five.

• Pick: Rashid Vagabov to win by finish (-150)

Kurtis Campbell vs Demba Seck Prediction

Kurtis Campbell (7-0) is undefeated with five finishes. “The Pink Panther” has wild striking but elite grappling, including a recent rear-naked choke win after hitting a Berimbolo. His transitions are lightning quick and he constantly hunts for the back.

Demba Seck (10-2) brings a taekwondo background with excellent kicks and speed. The problem is his wrestling defense looks shaky, and Campbell will test it immediately. Seck needs to keep this standing to have any chance.

Really impressed with the ground game of Kurtis Campbell (7-0 Pro). A prospect to watch at 23 years old, and I think he is ready to earn his UFC contract. The more tape I watch, the more impressed I am. Fought a tough schedule in the amateurs & went 8-1 pic.twitter.com/4FKFzEPesB

— Liam Picks Fights (@LiamPicksFights) September 30, 2025

Campbell’s path is clear. Get the takedown, advance position, hunt for the back or an arm. Seck has shown decent scrambling ability, but nothing that suggests he can handle Campbell’s level of grappling for our DWCS picks Tuesday.

The -575 odds are tough, but I see good value in picking Campbell to win inside the distance. He almost never goes to the judges’ scorecards.

• Pick: Kurtis Campbell to win by finish (-185)

Eliezer Kubanza vs Christopher Alvidrez Pick

Eliezer Kubanza (7-0) competed in Brave FC and brings serious knockout power. Six of his seven wins have come by KO/TKO, and he’s beaten legitimate competition. The Congolese fighter has a 75-inch reach at 5’9″ and throws heat from both stances.

Christopher Alvidrez (6-1) has won four straight by knockout and brings a karate-based style with good footwork. He beat UFC veteran Takashi Sato in his last fight, though Sato was on a six-fight skid. Alvidrez leaves his hands low and relies on speed to avoid damage.

Undefeated prospect Eliezer Kubanza (7-0)🇨🇩 will face Christopher Alvidrez (6-1) at #DWCS week 8 on September 30th.#MMATwitter #DRCongo pic.twitter.com/MWQTFgBWtS

— UFC Africa (@HoussamNasr2) September 10, 2025

Kubanza has the power edge and better competition. He’s patient, sets up his strikes, and has shown solid takedown defense when tested. Alvidrez is fast but reckless, and that’s a bad combination against someone with Kubanza’s finishing ability.

Look for Kubanza to catch Alvidrez coming in and land something big. The KO prop is one of my more confident Dana White Contender Series picks for Week 8.

• Pick: Eliezer Kubanza by KO/TKO (-135 at BetMGM)

Louis Jourdain vs Magno Dias Prediction

Louis Jourdain (8-3) is the brother of UFC fighter Charles Jourdain and trains at Brazilian Top Team Canada. He’s won three straight, showing improved boxing and good takedown defense. His technical striking and reach advantage should be factors here.

Magno Dias (6-1) represents the Fighting Nerds camp and has finished all six wins. He’s aggressive with submissions and heavy hands, but can be sloppy technically. Limited tape makes him hard to assess fully for Tuesday’s DWCS betting picks.

Mad Prince ⚜️🇨🇦 Louis Jourdain looks to earn himself a UFC contract TONIGHT! #DWCS pic.twitter.com/3GMfamrjo9

— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) September 30, 2025

Jourdain has faced tougher competition and shown he can weather early storms to win late. His cleaner technique and ability to win minutes should carry him through if he avoids Dias’ submission attempts.

This feels like Jourdain’s fight to lose, though Dias has the power to change things quickly. I’m sticking with the favorite, but this is my least confident DWCS pick.

• Pick: Louis Jourdain to win (-225)