Cage Warriors – Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation – is delighted to announce that Dublin welterweight Adam “The Plank” Darby has been selected to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series, where he will headline Week 4 of the 2026 season.

Darby will take on Patrick Rivera at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas on September 1, with a coveted UFC contract on the line.

The 27-year-old enters the biggest fight of his career riding a six-fight winning streak and boasting a professional record of 7-1, with six of his seven victories coming inside the distance. Fighting out of Team Ryano MMA, Darby has established himself as one of Ireland’s most exciting welterweight prospects since making his professional debut with Cage Warriors in 2022.

His latest victory came at the landmark CW 200 Dublin in February, where Darby delivered a statement performance against Thiago Habib, securing a first-round Ninja Choke in just 1:22. The victory earned him a Cage Warriors Performance of the Night bonus and extended his winning streak to six.

Darby’s rise through the Cage Warriors ranks has seen him collect notable finishes over the likes of Robert Alexandru Constantin, Tato Primera, Thorsten Jakobs and Jack Tucker, alongside a unanimous decision victory over Tomasz Łangowski. His only professional defeat came in his third professional outing against Mush Aslani at CW 147.

Standing at 6’3”, the Dublin native will now make the trip to Las Vegas with an opportunity to join the growing list of Cage Warriors athletes who have used the promotion as a springboard to the UFC.

Standing opposite him will be Patrick Rivera, who brings a 13-4 professional record and a six-fight winning streak of his own into the contest. The American welterweight has won five of his last six fights by stoppage, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash between two of the division’s most dangerous finishers.

With a UFC contract up for grabs, Darby will headline Dana White’s Contender Series Week 4 on September 1, live from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.

A victory would see “The Plank” take the next step in his remarkable journey and potentially become the latest Cage Warriors standout to earn a place on the UFC roster.

Dana White’s Contender Series Week 4 takes place on September 1, with Darby vs Rivera headlining the card. The event will be available to watch live on UFC Fight Pass.