Russia
There are a lot of talent-filled countries but Russia is where the catalog is as deep as it gets. It’s tough to narrow it down to one but at least for this week, I’ll say Islam Omarov (14-0) even though he is signed with ACA. Omarov is a legit prospect and a possible champion one day in a bigger promotion. He’s currently under contract with ACA but he’s fought there for almost four years so he has to be close to fighting out his deal, if he hasn’t re-signed. It’s no surprise Omarov is from Dagestan because his wrestling is so damn good. His wrestling, cardio, and ground game is extremely legit. Omarov is the guy nobody would sign up to fight because he’s a danger to beat just about anyone in the cage.
Serbia
To my surprise, Serbia actually has a number of prospects that stood out. The best one though is the all-action lightweight, Marko Bojković (5-0). Bojković is someone who’s popped on a lot of people’s radar recently. The only concern with me besides the unknowns is the cardio. The reason is because of the amount of effort he puts into his offense. Bojković is well-rounded. On the feet, he throws with big pop in his hands and does a fine job of mixing it up going to the body and head. He’s not someone you want to land clean on your chin. I think Bojković is even better on the mat. His wrestling has checked out and so has his grappling and heavy ground and pound. With the right push, Bojković can be a serious problem.
Slovakia
The best prospect for the last few years has been Lucia Szabova (6-0). The only reason she hasn’t become a bigger name is that she’s been out of the cage for over two years due to child birth. Szabova, although with little experience in MMA, has a ton in Muay Thai. She has a 39-5 record in Muay Thai and is a national champion. The Muay Thai has shown out so far for Szabova, but she’s actually had just as much success on the mat. Still, with an underrated ground game, she prefers to keep the fight standing. In the clinch, she does excellent work with knees and smashing elbows. There is room for improvement, but she could be in the UFC by the end of 2024.
