Bantamweight: Fernando “Ben 10” Laurenço (15-3)
Laurenço has been on a nice run recently as he is riding a win streak of nine. He’s the current SFT bantamweight champion, capturing the belt earlier this year along with being a formal regional champ of a smaller show. I was never high Laurenço in the past but I do recognize he’s competing really well. His last seven opponents had a combined 65-22 record. “Ben 10” has an awkward style but it’s a style he’s mastered. Although he’s vulnerable in all areas he’s capable no matter where the fight goes. Better than I initially thought for sure.
Flyweight: Felipe “Lipe Detona” Dos Santos (7-0, 1 NC)
Felipe dos Santos comes from the Chute Boxe Diego Lima gym with a ton of excellent fighters. He’s been training with the best fighters out of Brazil and is a prodigy of UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. Santos brings that Brazilian savagery when he steps into the cage. Detona conducts a muay thai fighting style when he’s competing. He excels in the clinch with his elbows and knees while his muay thai plum is stellar. I’d put Detona into the violent category and not just exciting but a lot of upside. Especially at flyweight, I really like the career trajectory of Detona. The kid is only 21 too so the future looks bright.
Featherweight: Gabriel Alves Braga (8-0)
I’ve been on the hype train of Braga since early 2019. Today people are starting to jump on that train as well. Brazil has tons of highly regarded prospects and Braga has been flying under the radar. Braga is very technical, as he loves to throw from all different kinds of angles. He throws a bit of everything including knees and elbows, putting all his strikes together perfectly. Braga rips the body frequently and he mixes that into combinations very well too. He’s always throwing output, mixing in all his weapons.
Heavyweight: Eduardo Neves (5-1)
Neves is coming off a disappointing loss on the Contender Series to Michael Parkin. He was winning that fight until he wasn’t and it’s a fight he wins 90% of the time. Neves has beaten three undefeated fighters and has experience in LFA. Neves can be too willing to brawl and it’s benefited him more times than not. He’s a fast starter slinging heavy leather in dangerous exchanges. Neves has good output and although he hasn’t shown it much he has a competent ground game. Even though he’s coming off a bad loss I still like him, especially at heavyweight.
Flyweight: Alessandro Costa (12-2)
Costa is coming off a win in this past season of the Contender Series. Although he won the performance wasn’t good enough to earn a UFC contract. He’s much better than he showed that night and hopefully he gets another chance soon. He did rebound off that defending his LUX title in just twelve seconds. I really like Costa as a prospect in the flyweight division. His speed, explosiveness, and athleticism match what a top-level flyweight should be. His jiu-jitsu/grappling is a real treat and he can compete in the UFC in just that one area. I’m really impressed with his striking as well as it’s becoming more and more of a threat. His hands are very sharp and his shot placement is pretty good. Costa is a well-rounded fighter with tons of potential.
Heavyweight: Talisson “Xicao” Teixeira (3-0)
Not many people know of Teixeira but those unaware need to start paying attention. This 22-year-old is towering at six-foot-eight. He’s already a BJJ black belt and is fighting under and is training under a high-level boxing coach. It’s very nice to see a guy the size of Teixeira know how to use his reach. He throws long jabs and chopping leg kicks while being able to snipe his opponent at any time. There is hardly any footage of his jiu-jitsu but with his size and black belt abilities, I imagine it’s good.
Flyweight: Davi”O’Black” Costa (12-3)
Costa was just another Brazilian fighter beating cans until his most recent fight. It was last July in LFA when he made a big statement beating a good prospect in Eduardo Henrique. He trains out of Paraná Vale Tudo and is on a nice eight-fight win streak. He’s got an awkward striking style with some tricky kicks in his arsenal. Costa is a Brazilian kickboxing champion so you can see why. Costa is a BJJ purple belt and a CBJJO world champion. He’s a better grappler than anything and has some decent wrestling. Costa just barely makes the cut so I do think he deserves to be listed.
Lightweight: Manoel “Manumito” Sousa (9-0)
Sousa has never fought anyone with a losing record which is a great feat. Wins over Mauricio Ruffy and Brendo Bispo are legit wins. His last two fights were in the States fighting for CFFC. Crazy enough, he fought with a torn MCL leading into his last fight. Sousa is a heavy-handed fighter who slings powerful right and left hooks. He does a good job going to the body and throwing kicks behind his strikes. He has good head movement and good footwork as well. The very athletic Sousa also has a strong wrestling attack and is a submission threat that he can use all fight.
Bantamweight: Vinicius “Lok Dog” de Oliveira (17-3)
Oliveira did recently lose his UAE Warriors title to Ali Taleb but was winning that fight until he got knocked out. I do believe he wins that fight more times than not. Oliveira has a ton of high-level experience being one of the most proven fighters on this list. With an impressive MMA resume, Oliveira is also a black belt in Muay Thai and a purple belt in jiu-jitsu. Oliveira is an absolute wild man when he’s in the cage. Oliveira is an all-action freestyle-type athlete who will always put on a show. Being the diverse athlete he is, the Brazilian loves to go for broke throwing a lot of switch kicks, wheel kicks, going off the cage, and flying knees. He really brings that Brazilian capoeira style.
Bantamweight: Felipe Lima (11-1)
Lima is a stud at 135 and has looked outstanding thus far. While he lost his pro debut, he hasn’t lost since, winning eleven straight. Lima trains out of a top gym at Allstars Training Center. He’s a former champion of Fight Club Rush, which he recently was stripped from it due to inactivity. He’s gone the distance five times and that doesn’t mean he lacks the killer instinct, because he goes after it. Lima is a dynamic striker. He’s an athletic fighter that favors the flying knee. He goes body to head better than most. Lima is also very well-rounded, as his grappling and wrestling are up to par.
