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While victory is the ultimate goal for fighters on Dana White's Contender Series, sometimes it's the resilience and unwavering spirit of a defeated athlete that truly captures the heart.
Last week's Contender Series event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas witnessed such a moment – an extraordinary display of compassion and determination that led to not one, but two defeated fighters receiving coveted UFC contracts.
Angel Pacheco, a featherweight fighter, found himself on the losing side of an all-time battle against Danny Silva. Typically, a loss on the Contender Series means the end of the road, but Angel's story was about to take an unexpected turn.
What unfolded backstage was an emotional encounter between UFC CEO Dana White and a heartbroken Pacheco. In a post-fight news conference, White shared the poignant details of their conversation.
"When I went back there, his ear is hanging off. He's crying," White revealed to the reporters. "He looks at me … I told him, 'I'm going to pay your win money.' He (couldn't) give a f*ck that I'm going to give him his win money. He's crying and he said, 'I wanted to win this fight so bad. I want to be in the UFC so bad. If there's ever a late-minute pullout or anything, please think of me.'"
Moved by Pacheco's unshakable desire and the raw emotion on display, White made a spontaneous decision.
"I said, 'Oh yeah.' I said, 'Dude, you are right up my alley. We're going to pay you your win money.' I went back and told the boys, 'We're signing this kid.' If you want to be in the UFC that bad, if you want to win this fight that bad, how bad do you think he wants to win his first UFC fight?"
The heartwarming backstage interaction between Dana White and Angel Pacheco was captured on video and later shared by Pacheco's manager and coach, Tyson Chartier. This remarkable moment serves as a testament to the indomitable spirit of fighters who dare to dream and the compassion of a UFC president willing to give a fighter a second chance to chase their ultimate goal.