MMA Prospect Watch: The Most Impressive Fighters from November

By
Shawn Bitter
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Usman Nurmagomedov
Usman Nurmagomedov Credit: Brave CF

Lightweight, Usman Nurmagomedov (8-0)

Honoring the last name Nurmagomedov, Usman looked good here. Taking on his biggest challenge to date in Roman Golovinov, Usman put him away in the first. Usman opened up with a head kick landing flush. He was slipping punches and countering as well. It was a flurry of strikes dropping Roman and Usman put him away with rights along the cage.
Grade: B-

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Lightweight, Akonne Wanliss (4-1)

Akonne Wanliss put himself on the map with a huge win over the well-known Tim Barnett. Wanliss ended the fight with a d’arce choke but all the damage was done on the feet. Early on Wanliss was utilizing many big outside leg kicks. He sat Barnett down with a right-left and the finish happened from there. It only took Wanliss 56 seconds to get it done.
Grade: B+

Bantamweight, Umar Nurmagomedov (12-0)

Another Nurmagomedov that impressed this month is top prospect Umar Nurmagomedov. The fight always starting on the feet, Umar had a bounce in his step. He threw a few front kicks and roundhouse kicks. Umar timed a double leg takedown and from there it was smooth sailing. Transitioning seamlessly into side control into mount he took the back and finished with the RNC.
Grade: B-

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Welterweight, Henri Lintula (5-0)

BJJ black belt Henri Lintula got it done yet again on the mat with another submission win keeping his finish rate at 100%. He got the fight down early and it was all him from there. Lintula stayed in dominant positions and worked for the finish constantly. It looked like he was going to finish a few times with an arm-triangle. It was the RNC he found the correct grip on in the end, and his opponent tapped. Another good first-round stoppage but Lintula needs a step up in competition.
Grade: C

Lightweight, Manoel Souza (4-0)

Manoel Souza’s opponent, Mauricio Ruffy was a fighter I was particularly high on and Souza beat him. Ruffy was actually looking really good countering Souza, dropping him, and cutting him. Souza was never intimidated however and always pressed forward throwing heavy hooks. As the fight went on Souza was landing more and more, and it was obvious he had the power advantage. In round two, Sousa landed a right to the body followed by a left hook to the jaw for a clean, awesome knockout.
Grade: C+

Flyweight, Jean Matsumoto (8-0)

Jean Matsumoto fought an opponent in André Azevedo who isn’t great, but has a lot of experience. He mixed it up very well in this fight. He scored a few takedowns but it was on the feet he impressed. Sitting in the pocket Jean found success with his hands landing at a high rate and countering Andre at ease. Jean mixed in a lot of outside leg kicks as well really just keeping busy and beating Andre up. He easily won all three rounds and put on a technical display.
Grade: B

Lightweight, Chris Brown (5-1)

Chris Brown was a bit awkward in his output, especially with the way he slings his kicks around with his hands low. With that said, it worked in his favor big time in this fight. It was hard to tell what Brown was going to throw as he threw his kicks and punches together very well. He landed that front kick to the face many times and would come over the shoulder landing a roundhouse. He dropped his opponent early and would land some big ground and pound where it could have been stopped. Shortly after, Brown landed another front kick to the face followed up with other strikes and the ref stepped in. The man he beat was Contender Series veteran Austin Tweedy, who is no joke.
Grade: C+

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