Preston LaGrange earns UFC contract with first-round knockout

Preston LaGrange secured a UFC contract after scoring a first-round knockout against Nell Ariano during Week 9 of Season 10 of Dana White’s Contender Series. The event took place at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas on October 6.

LaGrange entered the bout as a +400 underdog, having accepted the fight on only two weeks’ notice. He also moved up a weight class for the contest, weighing in at 199.5 pounds for the light heavyweight division. The victory, which occurred at 2:24 of the first round, ended Ariano’s undefeated 6-0 professional record.

Following the win, LaGrange expressed readiness for his official UFC debut, noting that while he would welcome a full training camp, he remains prepared to fight on short notice. The performance earned him one of the 38 contracts awarded through competition during the current season.