Tariq Ismail
Bantamweight
7-1
Sudan
33
Ismail has a lot of experience in combat sports other than MMA. He has a background in muay thai winning multiple fights. He was also a two-time Canadian boxing champion. Ismail was red hot in 2020 but took a loss to a talented Bernardo Sopai. He took over a three-year layoff and returned last month. It was former UFC fighter Walel Watson he fought and ended up finishing. He’s a very technical striker and although he has never finished an MMA fight he’s been dominant. He utilizes a lot of tools in the clinch with knees and elbows and from the range with his slick boxing overall.
Chad Hanekom
Middleweight
9-2
South Africa
33
Hanekom has been in the sport for a while grinding against fair competition. He started fighting as a pro in 2015 and currently has won his last three. Hanekom is a pure athlete who comes from a background in rugby. He’s been fighting over in Brave CF and has clawed his way up to a UFC contract possibly on the Contender Series this season. Hanekom is well-rounded but is a better wrestler. On top, he has some slick jiu-jitsu and is a submission threat with four of his six wins by submission. Hanekom hasn’t shown much on the feet yet but is athletic and has shown power with a knockout in his career.
