Welterweight, Carlos Prates (19-6):
Prates is a high-level striker that’s carved out two knockouts in his UFC career. He first slept Trevin Giles with a left hand and then Charlie Radtke with a brutal knee to the body.
Prates has grown into a very dangerous fighter over time. His biggest issue in the past was his takedown defense. He has tightened that up over time. In his last eight fights he was only taken down once and he popped right back up. Prates is an excellent striker. He has top-notch kickboxing and dangerous Muay Thai practitioner. Someone with his distance control and level of striking is a dangerous man to stand across.
Welterweight, Danny Barlow (8-0):
Barlow has been a breath of fresh air in the welterweight division. When Barlow was set to compete in the Contender Series I thought it was too soon because he had fought lackluster competition prior. However, he beat a former CFFC champion in Raheam Forest knocking him out in round one.
To build off that he had a superb debut against Josh Quinlan. Barlow is a technical striker who uses a ton of feints to create openings. He has five KO/TKO’s and it’s not because he’s letting it go but because he’s patient and breaks down every move bit by bit. Sure, there are questions about his ground game but it hasn’t held him back yet.
