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The Next Generation - Vol 7
Theo Haig (Middleweight, USA)Haig brings a breath of fresh air to a division that needs all the talent it can get. He started his pro career in Bellator and started 2-0 before he went elsewhere. He fights out of San Jose, California, and is affiliated with the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), a renowned MMA gym. He's 6-0, and he has never seen a third-round finishing all six opponents by submission. Haig is someone to keep a close eye on.For the fans that's never watched you, what woul...
DWCS Season 9 Breakdown (updated frequently)
Flyweight, Shanelle Dyer (6-0) Vs. Carol Foro (9-1)DyerPros:-Excellent kickboxing-Stays busy/Good output-Diverse kicking attack-Explosive-Solid movement-Good distance management-Attacks from both sides-Uses feints nicely-Excellent bodywork-Super athletic-Slick counter kickboxing-Well conditioned-Good Muay Thai-Good TDD-Damaging leg kicks-Excelling teep-Good jabCons:-Can lack head movementDyer might’ve lost some hype after her last fight, but not in my eyes. You're not going to look flawles...
The Next Generation - Vol 6
In this piece, I highlight three promising fighters on their journey to potential UFC stardom, giving them well-deserved recognition before they reach the big stage. Each fighter is introduced with a brief background, followed by their responses to three key questions—offering insight into their mindset, expectations, and what fans can look forward to in their careers.Radley Da Silva (Featherweight, Canada)Da Silva is arguably Canada’s top MMA prospect—a notable distinction given the count...
Road to UFC 4 Fight Breakdowns (Updated frequently)
Flyweight, Wataru Yamauchi (7-1) Vs. Namsrai Batbayar (7-1)Wataru YamauchiPros:-Combination striker-Strong kickboxing combinations-Goes to the body well-Accurate-Good jab-Excellent teepsCons:-Sits in the pocket too long-Poor head movement-Questionable cardio-Will get drawn into brawlsI see Yamauchi as a strong prospect, but his lone loss to Jo Arai raises some concerns. In that fight, he noticeably slowed down, absorbed too many clean shots, and suffered a brutal knockout. While that decline has...
Prospect Exclusive: Juan Pablo Vieira
Pros-Manages distance well-Submission threat-Uses length well-Dangerous off his back-Times takedown entries well-Good head movement-Good counter striker-Athletic-Combination striker-Good use of kicksCons-Pulls guard-Can get overzealous with his handsVieira comes from the lesser-known Centro de Lutas Dyogo Teles, a small gym in Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil. That hasn’t held him back in the slightest—he boasts an 8-0 professional record and a 3-0 run in LFA, solidifying himself as a notable talen...
The Next Generation - Vol 5
In this piece, I highlight three promising fighters on their journey to potential UFC stardom, giving them well-deserved recognition before they reach the big stage. Each fighter is introduced with a brief background, followed by their responses to three key questions—offering insight into their mindset, expectations, and what fans can look forward to in their careers.Luke Fernandes (Light-heavyweight, USA)Fernandez turned pro in 2023 and has been tearing it up, racking up three wins. To cap i...
The Next Generation - Vol 4
In this piece, I highlight three promising fighters on their journey to potential UFC stardom, giving them well-deserved recognition before they reach the big stage. Each fighter is introduced with a brief background, followed by their responses to three key questions—offering insight into their mindset, expectations, and what fans can look forward to in their careers.Brayan Aspegren (Middleweight, Finland)Aspegren by default is a middleweight to watch for due to his undefeated 4-0 record. Thi...
Career Forecasting: AJ Hotchkins
In this piece, I will take a young/raw/inexperienced prospect. I'll break down the said fighter and give my prediction on the career trajectory of the highlighted fighter, AJ Hotchkins. Hotchkins has an athletic background as a former D1 college linebacker, playing for both Oregon and UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso). He was known as a hard-hitting and versatile defensive player, traits that have carried over into his MMA career. After college, he pursued professional football, playing ...
The Next Generation - Vol 3
In this piece, I highlight three promising fighters on their journey to potential UFC stardom, giving them well-deserved recognition before they reach the big stage. Each fighter is introduced with a brief background, followed by their responses to three key questions—offering insight into their mindset, expectations, and what fans can look forward to in their careers.Rafael Tobias (Light-heavyweight, Brazil)Tobias has been fighting since 2022 and has been very active as he's fought multip...
The Next Generation - Vol 2
In this piece, I highlight three promising fighters on their journey to potential UFC stardom, giving them well-deserved recognition before they reach the big stage. Each fighter is introduced with a brief background, followed by their responses to three key questions—offering insight into their mindset, expectations, and what fans can look forward to in their careers.Martin Kozak (Middleweight, Slovakia)At just 22 years old, Martin Kozak remains undefeated, boasting a 6-0 amateur record and a...
The Next Generation - Vol 1
In this piece, I spotlight three rising prospects on their journey to potential UFC stardom. My goal is to give these fighters well-deserved recognition before they reach the big stage. Along with a brief introduction to each fighter, I asked them all the same three questions—offering insight into their mindset, expectations, and what fans can anticipate from their careers.Dominykas Norkusis an under-the-radar prospect with a quietly impressive resume. As an amateur, he went 7-1, competing eig...
Prospect Exclusive: Michael Aljarouj
Pros-Power jab-Good knees-Quick release-Scrambles well-Good ground and pound-Quick twitches/Subtle feints-Explosive-Heavy right hand-Credible TDD-Blistering one-twoCons-Rushes in recklessly/Over committing-Can be too willing to exchange-Oftenly gets out-timedAljarouj, originally from Syria, has spent most of his life living and training in France. He began his MMA journey in 2017, but it wasn’t until 2023 that he started gaining real momentum. His early career was marked by a couple of disappo...
Welcome to the UFC: Alice Pereira
t’s rare to see prospects signed straight into the UFC, but Pereira is an exception—largely because she’s a young female fighter in the bantamweight division. Women’s bantamweight is notoriously shallow, so when a promising fighter emerges, the UFC tends to snatch them up quickly.I understand why they signed Pereira. She’s just 19, competes at bantamweight, has a high finish rate, and possesses a solid frame for the division. She started as a raw athlete and is entering the UFC in the ...
Amateur Watch: Three Prospects To Watch For
Jake FerriFlyweight4-0USA25-years-oldLike many MMA fighters, Ferri comes from a strong wrestling background. A Division I wrestler, he was a four-time league all-star in high school, a two-time Division I state champion, and a two-time New England champion. His high school record—203 wins and 24 losses—is impressive. He continued his wrestling career at Kent State University, where he was a four-year starter, winning the 125-pound title at the Cleveland State Open and placing seventh at the ...
Prospect Exclusive: Muhidin Abubakar
Flyweight, Muhidin Abubakar (9-1)Pros-Submission threat-High work rate/Always working-Scrambles effortlessly-Strong kickboxing base-Good cage wrestling-Fluid hips-Dynamic-Excelling jiu-jitsu-Explosive takedown entries-Intelligent ground and pound-Solid positional grapplingCons-Can be flat-footed at times-Can lack useful feintsA lot of times you don't really know how good of a fighter someone is until you dive into their fights deeply. With Abubakar that is the case because he's a top fly...
My Top 25 Prospects Worldwide
-My personal top 25 fighters-Nobody signed to the UFC, PFL, KSW, and ONE.-Nobody 32-years-old and over-Updated regularlyAmru MagomedovRasul MagomedovAsaf ChopurovMarko BojkovicYryskeldi DuysheevSabrina Laurentina De SousaBilal HasanRamazan GitinovIsaac MorenoMichael OliveiraHarry HardwickSalamat IsbulaevTiago PereiraEduardo ChapolinRadley Da SilvaMagomed ZaynukovVasily RudenkoHarry WebbIcaro BritoGeorge MangosDamien AndersonCody ChovancekLany SilvaLuke RileyOtgonbaatar Boldbaatar
TUF 33 Cast Breakdown: Welterweight
Jeff CreightonUSA29-years-old11-2-154% finish rate (1 KO/TKO, 5 Submissions)A1 Combat welterweight championCombined opponents' record: 68-50Pros-Good use of elbows-Good knees-Gets better as the fight goes-Tough as nails/durableCons-Low volume-Advances in straight lines-Slow-Reaches on his punches-Terrible TDD-Struggles against the cageCreighton may not be the most exciting fighter but has been on a roll winning regional titles and beating some good regional guys. He's winning but I would...
TUF 33 Cast Breakdown: Flyweight
Alibi IdirisKazakhstan30-years-old10-055% finish rate (4 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission)Naiza flyweight champion (two title defenses)Combined opponents' record: 66-21-2Pros-Good vision-Scrambles really well-Useful teep-Good bodywork-Diverse-Good shot selection (never throws repetitive strikes)-Excellent timing on takedown entries-Good knees-Durable/Tough-Good cardioCons-Rushes in on straight lines-Offensive jiu-jitsu lacks-Sloopy striking at times-Questionable takedown defenseIdiris is primarily a st...
Welcome to the UFC: Colby Thicknesse
Thicknesse is stepping in on short notice, but the silver lining is that his opponent is also making his UFC debut and remains extremely raw. One of Australia’s most highly regarded bantamweight prospects, Thicknesse boasts a 3-0 professional record, following an 8-1 run as an amateur. In 2020, he secured the Oceania gold medal at IMMAF and has since been training extensively under Alexander Volkanovski and Craig Jones.My initial impression of Thicknesse was that he doesn't particularly ex...
Prospect In-depth: Christian Natividad
Flyweight27-years-oldFive-foot-fiveScottsdale, Arizona, US6-02KO/TKO'sCombined opponent's record: 11-8Boxing: A-Kickboxing: CKnockout power: B+Explosiveness: A-Footwork: BClinch: B+Wrestling: AGrappling: B+Ground and Pound: ASubmission threat: DStriking defense: C+Takedown defense: A+Grappling defense: ACardio: AFight IQ: BNatividad honed his wrestling skills in high school while growing up in Hawaii before continuing his career at Arizona State University. Midway through the season, he ...
Prospect In-depth: Geovanis Palacios
Welterweight28-years-oldSix-foot-twoSao Paulo, Brazil/Santiago de Cuba, Cuba7-06KO/TKO'sCombined opponent's record: 20Boxing: C-Kickboxing: CKnockout power: CExplosiveness: AFootwork: BClinch: A-Wrestling: A-Grappling: BGround and Pound: ASubmission threat: FStriking defense: C+Takedown defense: A+Grappling defense: ACardio: BFight IQ: B-Geovanis Palacios, a native of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, now resides in São Paulo, Brazil, where he trains at Fighting Nerds, one of Brazil's most pr...
Amateur Watch: Three Prospects To Watch For
Damien McGuiganFlyweight9-1Ireland21-years-oldMcGuigan is currently on an impressive streak, having won nine consecutive fights. His last five bouts have all been title fights, and he now holds the flyweight gold for Cage Conflict, UK Fighting Championship, IUR Fighting Championship, and Akuma Fighting Championship.As a fighter, McGuigan brings a high-output style and a diverse skill set to the cage. He’s particularly known for his heavy reliance on kicks, which he throws in a variety of ways...
Welcome to the UFC: Aleksandre Topuria
It’s clear that Aleksandre Topuria is getting this opportunity largely due to his brother’s influence. It’s hard to argue that he earned it through fighting, given his lack of regional titles, notable wins, and extended periods of inactivity. After a six-year layoff, he returned in 2021 but fought only once a year from 2021 to 2023 and didn’t compete at all in 2024.There’s no solid indication of Topuria’s true level as a fighter. I’ve watched his last three fights, and while his pe...
Prospect In-depth: Yryskeldi Duysheev
Bantamweight23-years-oldFive-foot-sixOsh, Kyrgyzstan11-03Submissions, 8KO/TKO'sCombined opponent's record: 48-11Boxing: C+Kickboxing: C+Knockout power: CExplosiveness: B+Footwork: B-Clinch: AWrestling: AGrappling: AGround and Pound: A-Submission threat: AStriking defense: B-Takedown defense: A+Grappling defense: ACardio: AFight IQ: AI wanted to dive deeper into Duysheev's potential now that he's free from ONE Championship and available as a free agent. After reviewing his tape, I...
Blind Reacting to MMA Prospects Vol. 21
Featherweight, Israel Figueira (8-1)ProsStrong grapplingGood ground and poundDiverse submission attackScrambles wellTough to readConsAccepts bottom positionHands lowCardio lacksQuestionable fight IQWild strikingI'm usually on top of the Brazilian talent especially the more established ones. I slightly see why though as he is good but not on the level I expect. He doesn't have any good wins and his only loss is when he had a step up in competition. He's won his last four as all fights...
Blind Reacting to MMA Prospects Vol. 20
I wanted to go fully in the blind, watching someone I've never heard of. For in upcoming article I'm working on I stumbled across Lina Narvaez as I was scouting fighters from Colombia.Welterweight, Lina "La Zurdita" Narvaez (4-0)ProsSubmission threatVolume strikerGood muay ThaiLight footworkActive with the kicksUses feints wellConsQuestionable TDDThe first thing to note is that this is WMMA and Colombian MMA, so everything I’m about to say could look completely different a year...
Get to know prospect, Marwan Rahiki
First of all, what got you into MMA? What inspired you to start training in MMA?I started training kickboxing when I was 14 (in 2016) and started BJJ in 2021. I had a few amateur kickboxing fights and I wasn’t feeling like it was enough of a challenge. In kickboxing there are a lot of early stoppages before a fight is over, and not many KOs. I saw some videos of UFC fights and liked how if you are good enough you can finish the fight by KO or submission. When I started BJJ, I started understan...
Career Forecasting: Joe Fields
In this piece, I will take a young/raw/inexperienced prospect. I'll break down the said fighter and give my prediction on the career trajectory of the highlighted fighter, Joe Fields.I'm the flyweight division's biggest fan, so I was looking forward to watching Fields. I knew of him because of his last fight but I took a deeper look. As a pro, he initially moved up to 135 his first two fights but did move back down to 125. I will say I think he's better suited at 135 because he l...
Fighter Spotlight: Baysangur Susurkaev
I wanted to take a deeper look into Susurkaev considering he's coming off his first fight that went the distance. Prior to that, Susurkaev had finished his other fights in the first round and three of those were under a minute. After his fight with Artem Kuzmin for ACA Young Eagles out of Russia he took a layoff. The layoff was over two and a half years. While he was away he moved to the US and started training at Kill Cliff FC in Miami, Florida. There, he's been sparring with Brendan Al...
Blind Reacting to MMA Prospects Vol. 20
Instead of doing just one prospect, I decided to do three prospects I've never watched and give my honest review.Bantamweight, Lawrence Lui (5-1)ProsUses feints wellGood ability to get back to his feetStiff jabGood elbowsConsCage wrestling lacksIs a bit stiffTurtles up against extended combinationsHead sits on the centerlineWill load up at timesIt won't be a surprise to anyone that someone from City Kickboxing is a primary striker. Lui is just that and being from that camp it's obvio...
