Kayla Harrison leads the way in this week’s MMA Prospect Report, as she looks to earn her shot at a million dollars in the PFL playoffs. RIZIN 19, meanwhile, is overflowing with talent.
We’re back with another installment of the Weekly MMA Prospect report, and this time out, an Olympic gold medal winner leads the pack. Kayla Harrison returns at PFL 7 2019, where she’ll look to earn a spot in the finale on New Year’s Eve. Bellator, ONE Championship, and RIZIN are also in action, plus any number of regional shows. Here’s who to keep an eye on!
PFL #7 | Friday | Nevada
Lightweight, Kayla Harrison (5-0)
Kayla Harrison is a very accomplished grappler who won the gold medal in judo at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and gold at the 2011 and 2015 Pan-American Games. The judo practitioner also holds a black belt in judo and has won two national championships. Harrison has been dominant thus far in her MMA career. Her wrestling has been solid and once on top, she’s a nightmare. She has two submissions wins but it’s her constant ground and pound which is super impressive. She fights Genah Fabian (2-1).
Welterweight, Magomed Magomedkerimov (25-5)
Magomedkerimov is a PFL champion currently on an 11-fight win streak. The Russian is well-rounded but his wrestling is outstanding. Magomedkerimov is an excellent chain wrestler who has a strong work ethic and solid cardio. He’s super aggressive and strikes well to enter the clinch. Always making it a gritty fight, Magomed is a big problem always the one setting the pace. He fights Chris Curtis (21-5) who he just beat.
Featherweight, Brendan Loughnane (17-3)
If you look at his Loughnane’s three losses, they are to the likes of Pat Healy, Tom Duquesnoy, and Mike Wilkinson. Loughnane would later avenge his loss to Wilkinson many he won his fight against Duquesnoy. Brendan is a high-level featherweight who should be in the UFC already and who has improved tremendously throughout his career. He shows a bit of everything when he fights, including good wrestling with nice level changes that he mixes into exchanges on the feet. On top, he has decent ground and pound and on the feet, he is explosive as he comes forward with barrages of strikes. His striking features some speed but mainly power, and Loughnane has won some fights with just one punch. He also has a few knockouts with a knee and can sit on the outside and use his kicks – he has a really solid skill set overall. He fights Matt Wagy (13-6).
Welterweight, Nikolay Aleksakhin (24-5)
Aleksakhin has only lost to high caliber fighters, including to UFC fighter and multi-promotion champ Ben Askren. Now he is on a five fight win streak with victories over Mike Graves, Dominique Steele, and Elias Silverio, who are all former UFC fighters. Aleksakhin is an excellent talent who is solid all around. He has superb timing with big power in everything he throws. The Russian does a great job throwing his strikes and kicks together and has proven that once he lets go, he’s dangerous in bursts. He fights former UFC fighter Jesse Ronson (20-9).
