Looking to Rebound
Not all of the top prospects in the division are riding big win streaks. Some are coming off a loss looking to get back on track for their next fight. Aleksander Doskalchuk (10-3), Daniel Barez (12-5), Mitch Raposo (5-1), Mark Climaco (6-1), Santo Curatolo (6-2), Abdul Hussein (7-2), and Luke Shanks (8-3) are down on the board but still have a lot of time to catch up to everyone else.
The last two years for Aleksander Doskalchuk have been difficult. In 2020 he was signed to the UFC but would pull out of a fight, and his contract was pulled. Last August he lost his first fight in six years to Asu Almabaev. Doskalchuk is a nine-time champion in pankration, a 2007 karate champion, took first place in the European pankration championship, and was winner of the world cup in pankration in 2011.
Daniel Barez was on the UFC’s radar earlier this year fighting on the Contender Series. He lost a split decision to Carlos Hernandez in a fight many thought he had won. The native of Spain is an underrated fighter with a solid resume. Barez has both lost to and beat some good competition and is a former BAMMA flyweight champion. He’s a really good striker that would give anyone he fights fits.
Mitch Raposo had a tough year. He came up short on the new season of TUF. He was fighting up a weight class so was given a fight on the Contender Series at 125. Unfortunately for him he fought Jake Hadley and fell short. If there’s any knock on Raposo, it’s that he hasn’t fought the best competition. In his Contender Series and TUF fight, he showed a lot of promise in defeat.
Mark Climaco was riding a lot of hype into his fight last May and was derailed a little bit. He was clipped by Yuma Horiuchi early in round one so really no shame in that. For a young flyweight prospect, he’s oozing with potential. The young 22-year-old is already very well-rounded.
Santo Curatolo is 1-2 in his last three fights and lost this past season on the Contender Series by decision. Curatolo is a former champion for CFFC. He did lose it but is probably the front-runner to fight Phumi Nkuta for the strap.
One quick left and that is all she wrote!!! #CFFC82
Santo Curatolo is the @CFFCMMA flyweight champ! pic.twitter.com/e04z3aw2Ku
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) August 13, 2020
Abdul Hussein is one of the most underrated prospects in the division. His three-fight win streak was snapped last March by none other than Muhammad Mokaev. Hussein won the 2016 IMMAF world championship gold medal in the bantamweight division. Also, he was a 2015 IMMAF European Open Champion as well. He is well-rounded being dangerous both on the feet and on the mat.
Luke Shanks is 1-2 in his last three but those losses are to Jake Hadley and Sam Creasey so those aren’t bad losses. He is the former cage warriors champion and his strong wrestling base has brought him this far.
