Flyweight, Sora Rakhmonova (4-1):
Sora is the sister of UFC top contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, arguably the most notable name out of Kazakhstan. The UFC already has an interest in her as she was supposed to fight last season on the Contender Series but she had to pull out. Outside of some TDD issues, Rakhmonova could be a problem in the future. She is good off her back but where she wants to be is on the feet. Sora hits hard and thrives on the inside as a pocket striker. She mixed in a lot of knees and bodywork that plays dividends in the fight. She still needs at least one more win but I’m sure she’s UFC bound.
Lightweight, Vasiliy Takhtay (9-0):
It’s a shame Takhtay hasn’t been active because he’s legit. His last fight was in 2021 and before that, it was way back in 2017. Takhtay is an excellent talent who has the all-around skillset that you look for in a top prospect. There is no glaring holes as he just looks like the real deal. I won’t go too in-depth on him because there’s a question as to whether he will even fight again.
Flyweight, Yersultan Shakenbay (16-0):
This young man from Kazakhstan is still fighting as an amateur and has had an outstanding career. Shakenbay is a three-time Junior World Gold Medalist in the IMMAF. On the feet he’s comfortable but his ground game has looked great. Slick jiu-jitsu while displaying a submission-grappling fighting style. He’s already showed more as an amateur than most have as a pro. Hopefully, Shakenbay can go pro soon because he has nothing else to prove as an ammy.
