Dana White handed out five UFC contracts following a night of finishes at Meta APEX in Las Vegas on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. The Season 10, Week 4 event featured four stoppages across five fights, highlighted by Adam Darby earning a third-round TKO over Patrick Rivera in the main event.
Adam Darby Outlasts Patrick Rivera in Main Event TKO
In the main event of the evening at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Adam Darby entered the cage as the heaviest betting favorite on the card, wailing on Patrick Rivera for the better part of 15 minutes before securing a stoppage. Darby chewed up his opponent with low kicks and sharp punches from the opening bell. By the third round, Rivera’s face was heavily damaged, and Darby landed what would have been a record for low kicks in a UFC welterweight fight if Contender Series bouts officially counted toward organizational records.
Rivera absorbed immense punishment before referee Kerry Hatley intervened midway through the final frame. Hatley brought in the cageside doctor to check Rivera’s visibly swollen eye and upper eyelid, ultimately halting the contest at 2:42 of the third round (Darby defeated Patrick Rivera by TKO in Round 3 at 2:42). The victory sealed Darby’s spot on the UFC roster alongside every other winner on the card.
Modestino Rodrigues Delivers Quickest Finish of the Night
The penultimate bout of the card provided a stark contrast to the grueling main event. Modestino Rodrigues needed just 15 seconds to dismantle Brandon Holmes in their middleweight clash (Rodrigues def. Holmes by knockout in Round 1 at 0:15). A former K-1 kickboxer out of Brazil, Rodrigues immediately caught Holmes with a low leg kick before unleashing a rapid blitz of punches that forced the referee to jump in almost instantly.
Rodrigues capitalized on a pre-fight prediction for a fast finish, extending his winning streak to five fights with all five victories coming by way of knockout. The 32-year-old striker secured his UFC contract with the fastest stoppage of his professional mixed martial arts career.
Silvestre Sanchez and Gabriel Lorenco Secure Stoppage Wins
In the lightweight division, Silvestre Sanchez overcame early speed from Liam McCracken before finishing the contest in the third round. McCracken utilized his jab and movement early on, but Sanchez relied on persistent pressure, power shots, and three takedowns to wear down his opponent. In the final frame, Sanchez dropped McCracken with a thudding left hook at 2:44 of the third round to earn his contract.
Heavyweights Charlie Cleveland and Gabriel Lorenco opened their matchup trading heavy strikes. Gabriel Lorenco dropped Cleveland in the first frame with a solid right hook, and though Cleveland briefly returned to his feet, a subsequent series of hammerfists and elbows ended the bout at 2:02 of the opening round.
Adam Livingston Edges Hunter Smith in Split Decision
Adam Livingston returned to the Contender Series following a previous loss on Season 9, facing Hunter Smith in a back-and-forth lightweight battle. Livingston utilized his length and spinning attacks in the opening frame to stun Smith repeatedly.
Smith answered with relentless pressure, heavy leg kicks, and body work across the second and third rounds to shift the momentum. After 15 minutes of non-stop action, Adam Livingston edged Hunter Smith via split decision with judges scoring it 29-28, 28-29, and 29-28. Impressed by the overall level of competition throughout the event, Dana White awarded contracts to all five victorious fighters.
