Featherweight, Ilias Bulaid
Den Bosch, Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands
29-years-old
6-0
3 KO/TKOs
Combined opponents’ record: 22-8
Still young in MMA years, Bulaid is a Dutch-Moroccan featherweight kickboxer. Competing in kickboxing for quite some time he has a 25-6 record with many accolades to his name. Bulaid has looked good so far in his MMA career putting complete clinics. We have been able to see the arsenal of Bulaid. He’s lit up his opponents with strikes and kicks mixing it up perfectly. We’d probably already see Bulaid in the UFC if he hadn’t tore his ACL and MCL a few years ago. He’s back though and has won two since.
“I’m bringing the excitement, explosiveness and speed people want to see.” Bulaid
Middleweight, Virgil Augen
Nice, Franc
27-years-old
8-0
1 KO/TKO, 4 Submissions
Combined opponents’ record: 39-14-2
With the UFC starting to visit France more it seems inevitable that they will eventually bring in Augen. Augen is the middleweight champion for Ares FC and has beaten good competition along the way. Augen lacks in height but he’s so strong and his wrestling and pressure are a compliment to all that. Although wrestling has been his base in MMA he has a background in boxing and Muay Thai. He had amateur Muay Thai bouts and competed in regional boxing tournaments. Augen is a sound representative of France and should be carrying that flag in the UFC.
“Virgil Augen is a standout prospect with a solid foundation in combat sports. He began his journey in judo at the age of five, which gave him an early understanding of discipline and technique. He has also gained valuable experience competing in IMMAF tournaments, showcasing his skills on an international stage. As a professional, he has secured five finishes in his eight fights, demonstrating his ability to dominate and entertain. Additionally, Virgil is a key training partner of Manon Fiorot, one of the UFC’s top athletes, which speaks to the level of his skill and the quality of his training environment. I truly believe he has the potential to make a significant impact in the UFC.” – Coach, Aldric Cassata
Light heavyweight, Cedric Lushima
Brussels, Belgium
29-years-old
6-0
2 KO/TKOs, 3 Submissions
Combined opponents’ record: 31-28
Lushima doesn’t get talked about enough and it’s odd because he’s had success. He went 12-4 as an amateur and is unbeaten as a pro. He’s the current Apollo light heavyweight champion but I hear he is looking to make the move down to 185. Prior to MMA Lushima won local medals in submission grappling and competed in regional kickboxing tournaments. Lushima has mainly leaned on his wrestling and ground game to get either the TKO or grab ahold of the neck. He hasn’t fought the best of fighters but fighters with experience. We need more blood at 205 and 185 and Lushima should fill a spot.
“I believe I can hang with the best and beat the best, so far my record proves it. The ultimate testing ground is the UFC and I can’t wait to prove myself against the best.” -Lushima
Featherweight, Marcio Barbosa
Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
26-years-old
16-2
13 KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions
Combined opponents record: 76-26-2
I’m surprised Barbosa wasn’t signed to the UFC in 2024 given how he fights and the fact that he’s fighting for LFA. Fifteen of his sixteen wins have come in the first round which is crazy impressive. With Barbosa, you’re going to have to survive a round to have a chance. At the same time, he is willing to get hit so it’s possible to crack him. The issue is, he likely hits harder than most people he’s fighting. I’d label Barbosa more of a brawler but when settled down, he has some good boxing skills. I’d imagine the Contender Series would be his route to the UFC and it makes all the sense in the world.
“I just want an opportunity to show my work at the biggest event in the world” – Barbosa
Featherweight, Jamie Siraj
Vancouver, British Columbia
30-years-old
12-2
4 KO/TKOs, 5 Submissions
Combined opponents’ record: 53-28
Siraj not being in the UFC is somewhat surprising. It’s surprising because he has a good record and being from Canada, that’s a market they like to go after. He also has the story as he was deadly sick at one point and has battled his way back. It’s also not too surprising because his style can be a bit slow. I enjoy it but I can see why it’s not as exciting as others. Siraj has finished more fights than not but is mostly a grinder/wrestler who builds up to an eventual finish. His two losses don’t look too great now, but he recently beat better competition.
“It’s baffling why Jamie Siraj isn’t signed to the UFC. The 30-year-old nearly made last season of The Ultimate Fighter, then racked off another three straight wins, including a 5th-round TKO finish over Nemat Abdrashitov earlier this month to capture the Tuff-N-Uff title. With a lack of Canadian talent in the UFC currently, Jamie would be a welcome addition to the featherweight roster.” – James Lynch, Canadian MMA journalist.
