Julieta Martinez, the 20-year-old MMA prodigy from Argentina, is making waves in the fight world following her recent victory over Mexico’s Leslie Hernandez in the Dana White Contender Series (DWCS). Often considered a launching pad to the UFC, the DWCS offers young fighters a unique opportunity to showcase their skills. Though Martinez emerged victorious in her hard-fought strawweight bout against Hernandez, she fell just short of a UFC contract.
Martinez started cautiously, taking time to find her rhythm, but dominated in the final two rounds, outworking Hernandez to win by split decision. While DWCS winners are frequently awarded UFC contracts, Martinez’s journey was momentarily paused. UFC President Dana White acknowledged her talent but cited her youth and size as reasons for delaying a contract.
“Julieta, let me just say this: I cannot express how much we like you, and there is no doubt that you are incredibly talented, but you’re just too young right now. White stated in a media interview after the event, “You just turned 20 and are undersized for the division.”
Despite the setback, White hinted at the possibility of an atomweight (105 lbs) division in the UFC, as demand grows in South America and East Asia, regions known for lighter-weight female fighters. The current minimum weight class for women in the UFC is strawweight (115 lbs), but a shift could open new doors for Martinez and others in her weight class.
On the other side of the octagon, Bo Nickal, a standout American wrestler and NCAA Division 1 National Champion, is steadily climbing the ranks within the UFC. After an outstanding collegiate wrestling career, Nickal shifted to MMA, where his debut in the iKON Fighting Championship propelled him into DWCS’s sixth season in 2022.
Nickal’s success continued to snowball after an impressive UFC debut at UFC 285, where he secured a first-round victory over Jamie Pickett, earning a Performance of the Night bonus. Most recently, at UFC 300, Nickal extended his undefeated record to 6-0 with a first-round TKO against Val Woodburn, followed by a submission win over Cody Brundage.
With UFC stars like Sean O’Malley and Jamahal Hill having launched their careers in DWCS, Nickal’s potential trajectory is promising. Next, he faces Paul Craig at UFC 309 in November, a match that could further cement his standing as one of the UFC’s top rising contenders.
