Ananias Mulumba seeks redemption in Contender Series return

Ananias Mulumba is returning to the Dana White’s Contender Series to attempt to secure a UFC contract. He will face Tom Pagliarulo in a bout scheduled for August 11. This appearance serves as a second chance for Mulumba after a difficult debut in the series in October 2025.

During his first Contender Series appearance, Mulumba faced Marwan Rahiki. Rahiki secured a victory via a second-round finish involving a knee, elbows, and an uppercut, which earned a standing ovation from Dana White. Rahiki subsequently moved to the UFC, where he defeated Harry Hardwick and Ollie Schmid before being booked against Tommy McMillen for UFC Noche on September 12.

Since that loss, Mulumba has competed once in UAE Warriors. He secured a first-round victory against Ahmed Faress, who held a 23-8 record at the time. This recent performance helped earn Mulumba his return to the Contender Series platform.

His upcoming opponent, Tom Pagliarulo, is 29 years old and stands 6'0" tall. Pagliarulo enters the contest on a four-fight winning streak, with all four victories coming via first-round finishes. His recent wins include bouts against Cody Jenkins, Don Shainis, Elijah Harris, and Matt Turnbull. Pagliarulo's last fight against Turnbull took place in the PFL in August of last year.

Pagliarulo's professional record includes two losses, one of which was to Olivier Murad in 2023. Murad previously competed in the 2021 Contender Series season. Both fighters possess high finishing rates, as Mulumba has only one decision on his record while Pagliarulo has only gone to the judges twice.