Is Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat the new funnel promotion to the UFC?

Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat made an appearance with “A1C 1” back in May of 2022. Since then, there have now been 21 installments of the show finding success in combat sports “hot spots” such as Sacramento California, the home of UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber’s MMA Career, the Leemore/Visalia California area and now venturing out to Reno, NV.

In the short amount of time, A1 Combat has given a platform to now UFC rising star, Payton Talbott, who held the A1 combat bantamweight title since A1 combat 2, later relinquishing the title to compete on Dana Whites Contender Series in 2023 ultimatesly winning his fight to secure a contract to the UFC Roster.

Now, in June of 2024, it seems as though A1 Combat has began a sort of funnel system into the Contender Series fights as a handful of undefeated fighters and champions on the A1 Combat roster are getting the call to compete in Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8 beginning in August 2024 and ending in October of 2024.

Current A1 Combat Featherweight Champion and undefeated fighter, 8-0 Ernie Juarez out of Stockton California, was one of the first to make it public that he would be competing in season 8. Juarez has successfully defended his A1 Combat title twice after winning it back in July of 2023. He has became one of the most dominant featherweights on the regional scene.

Undefeated Team Alpha Male and Nexus Jiu Jitsu fighter at 7-0 , Jack Duffy, made famous on the regional Pro scene for his slick post-fight dance moves in the cage, has now gotten the call as well. He will take on Jose Ochoa, a former Combate Global Champion and also 7-0 in his career in a Flyweight Bout on August 27, 2024.

5-1 Pro Bantamweight fighter, Billy Brand with Team Alpha Male and Main Event Muay Thai, has also been called to compete on DWCS. Brand has shared the octagon with former A1C Champ and current UFC Bantamweight, Payton Talbott, in what some would say was Talbott’s most challenging fight to date. That shows the skill that Brand possesses going into Week 3 of DWCS.

We look forward to hearing A1 Combat producing more Contenders for the Contender Series in the future.

FOLLOW A1 Combat Instagram, @a1_combat

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