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Roman Puga Eyes UFC Gold After DWCS 88 War With Taner Trembley Lands Both Contracts | MiddleEasy

MiddleEasy · Jake Blend · 2026-08-22T02:12:23+00:00 · nguồn gốc

Roman Puga is not easing into UFC life with the usual humble prospect script. After a wild DWCS Week 2 card, Puga already has the big shiny thing circled, and he is saying the quiet part loud. Puga defeated Taner Trembley by unanimous decision at DWCS 88 on Tuesday, moving to 6-1 and earning a multi-fight UFC deal. Trembley also left with a contract, which made their bout just the sixth fight in Contender Series history where both athletes were signed afterward. That is not normal. That is the kind of scrap where everyone in the room knows the damage was worth the paperwork. Watch Puga’s interview below: Puga missed the immediate media scrum because he was transported to the hospital after the fight, but he said the scary-looking aftermath did not come with a serious injury. The damage was mostly facial bruising, which checks out because that fight looked like two guys trying to kick down the same UFC door at the same time. “It still feels like Cloud Nine kind of,” Puga said. “It’s almost unreal. I knew right after I won that fight that I got my contract, and I got the feeling that so did he. We went the distance, we went to war and showed a lot of heart and showed what Dana White wants to see.” He added, “Tuesday night, It was one of the books for sure. It answered a lot of questions and showcased I am that dog. I can do it.” Puga Wants The Featherweight Belt, Not A Slow Tour The important part is what comes next. Puga turns 30 next month, so he is not talking like a 22-year-old prospect with five years to figure out his lane. He wants an official UFC debut before the end of 2026, and he wants to make noise immediately at featherweight. That is a crowded shark tank, but Puga at least has the right opening argument. He went through a hard three-round fight, got signed, and watched Trembley get rewarded too. It is a cleaner launch than most Contender Series winners get, especially on a card that pushed the results lane into overdrive with six contracts. “Quickly, I want to stay active and become a household name in the sport,” Puga said. “Showcase that I’m here to make history. I’m here to leave my own legacy in the UFC and I’m willing to fight anyone and everyone in front of me to show I can become a top contender. Then when I become a top contender, we’ll have the discussion of what’s next. We already know what I want, and that’s the UFC gold belt. I’m not going to beat around the bush about it. I want that UFC belt around my waist. The featherweight division.” The UFC will decide how fast to move him, but Puga is already selling urgency. That matters on Contender Series nights, where one good win gets you signed and the next bad one can send you right back into the regional grind. Puga’s next booking will show whether this was just a gritty arrival or the start of a real push in a division where every step up gets mean fast. With the next wave of contract chasers already lining up, Puga now has the same problem every signed prospect wants. He got through the door. Now he has to prove he belongs in the room.