George Staines Secures UFC Contract With First-Round Slam KO

George Staines, a teammate of Paddy Pimblett, earned a victory at Week 8 of Contender Series Season 10 on September 29, 2026, in Las Vegas. Competing in the featherweight division, Staines defeated Loai Abushaar by knockout. The fight ended when Staines lifted Abushaar and performed a mat return that rendered him unconscious.

The 26-year-old Englishman improved his professional record to 11-0 with the win. Staines trains at Next Generation MMA Liverpool and previously competed in Cage Warriors and OKTAGON MMA. The loss for Abushaar ended his four-fight winning streak, leaving his professional record at 11-0 prior to this encounter.