Shawn Bitter’s Picks
Nate Landwehr
Date: June 28 | M-1 Challenge 102 | Method: Decision (Unanimous) | Opponent: Viktor Kolesnik (16-3-1)
Landwehr is the guy a big promotion needs as he has the exciting fighting style and his personality is one of a kind. His win in June came against Russian Viktor Kolesnik in a rematch from their fight in 2017 that went to a split decision. He wanted the rematch to prove he was the better fighter and after five rounds and getting dropped several times, he persevered and won the decision. That fight is a potential fight of the year candidate. This is also his second M-1 title defense which means his contract will open up to the UFC and that should happen.
Ideal Card: UFC San Francisco (October 12)
Ideal Opponent: Mike Trizano
Kyle Daukaus
Date: June 25 | Contender Series Week 2 | Method: Decision (Unanimous) | Opponent: Michael Lombardo (8-1)
Fighting recently on the Contender Series, I thought he had a solid performance always going for the kill hunting for many submissions. In my opinion, he did enough to earn a contract, especially in a division that needs it. Daukaus is the current CFFC 185-pound champ, which has been an organization that’s sent many fighters to the UFC. In that title fight, he beat Jonavin Webb, a former UFC fighter who was on a four-fight win streak before losing to Daukaus. While he didn’t get the contract, he could very well get snatched by another promotion or get the short notice call-up from the UFC.
Ideal Card: UFC 243 (October 5)
Ideal Opponent: Bevon Lewis
Mark O. Madsen
Date: June 8 | Olympian Fight Night | Method: Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) – Round 1 | Opponent: Patrick Nielsen (0-0)
Madsen is a little too old for a prospect at 34 but still is young in his MMA career. Madsen is a very accomplished Greco-Roman wrestler and is an Olympic silver medalist. He is also a five-time Greco-Roman wrestling champion and won a bronze medal in the 2014 Greco European Championships. “The Olympian” for the most part has run through his opposition making it look fairly easy. The competition he’s beat hasn’t been great but at his age, he is now ready to try to make an impact.
Ideal Card: UFC Copenhagen (September 28)
Ideal Opponent: Siyar Bahadurzada
Makhmud Muradov
Date: June 8 | Oktagon 12 | Method: TKO (Punches) – Round 1 | Opponent: Alberto Uda (14-3)
Fighting out of Prague, Czech Republic, but from Uzbekistan, Muradov has a lot of experience with a 21-6 record. After a few bumps in the road, he is now on a big 10-fight win streak which is the biggest of his career. Muradov is the first MMA fighter to sign with Floyd Mayweather’s management company, TMT, which gives him a lot of buzz. The UFC showed major interest in offering him a fight on short notice earlier this year but Muradov turned it down, wanting more time to prepare. He was also scheduled to fight on the Contender Series this Summer but due to miscommunications, he decided not to take that route either.
Ideal Card: UFC Copenhagen (September 28)
Ideal Opponent: Abu Azaitar
Ľudovít Klein
Date: June 8 | Oktagon 12 | Method: TKO (Punches) – Round 1 | Opponent: Willian Lima (13-1)
Klein has some good experience with a 14-2 record and some wins over some good competition. He’s only 25 as well. Klein has aspirations to sign with the UFC as he looks to become the first fighter from Slovakia to fight in the Octagon. He’s a fun fighter with only one fight going the distance. His last five opponents had a record of 57-17 at the time they fought.
Ideal Card: UFC Copenhagen (September 28)
Ideal Opponent: Danilo Belluardo
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