Featherweight, George Mangos (7-0) Vs Radley da Silva (7-1)
Notable Notes
- Mangos is eight years younger (21 to 29)
- Four of Mangos’ seven pro fights are title bouts
- Mangos is the HEX featherweight champion
- Five of Radley’s seven pro fights are title bouts
- Radley is the current BFL featherweight champion
- Radley lost his pro debut and hasn’t lost since
- Mangos has never lost as a pro or amateur (13-0 combined)
- Silva is 3-0 to the decision
- Mangos has a 100% finish rate
- Both have a combined nine wins by decision
- Mangos and Silva has never fought someone with a losing record as a pro
George Mangos
Pros:
-Good volume
-Slick back take
-Sticky ground control
-Submission threat
-Good kicks
-Strong defensive grappling
-Good clinch control
-Good cardio
Cons:
-N/A
Last season, we were introduced to Cody Haddon, a standout talent representing Australia. This season, another bright prospect has emerged in George Mangos.
I first scouted Mangos when he was 3-0 and thought his fight against Justin Van Heerden might have been too much, too soon. Van Heerden was significantly more experienced, but Mangos proved me wrong, stopping him in the third round. Since then, he’s captured and defended the HEX title, finishing all his opponents.
His last two victories (a sub-minute TKO and a head-kick knockout) highlight his striking, but it’s his grappling that truly sets him apart. Mangos has faced quality grapplers and consistently handled them well. He’ll get pressed against the cage and taken down at times, but he never accepts bad positions. He fights wrists, works his hips to the mat, and scrambles intelligently.
On top, he’s sticky and composed, especially when he takes the back. His instincts around the neck are excellent, and while early signs pointed to him being just a neck hunter, his flying triangle finish showed his submission game is versatile. He doesn’t rush positions, rather he builds them methodically.
Whether he makes it this season or not, Mangos is a UFC-level talent. It’s not a question of if— just when.
Radley da Silva
Pros:
-Excellent conditioning
-Athletic
-High work rate
-Uses feints/traps well
-Explosive
-Kicks to wrestle well
-Combination puncher
-Good cage wrestling
-Strong top position
-Light movement
-Diverse
-Good clinch control
-Unpredictable
-Good head movement
-Relentless pressure
Cons:
-N/A
Da Silva is a high-level prospect and one of my personal favorites. He’s the kind of fighter who checks a lot of boxes: athletic, creative, and composed. Fighting out of a capoeira stance, he brings a dynamic and unpredictable style. You can expect spinning kicks to the body, wheel kicks, hook kicks, and even the occasional tornado kick. He thrives on flair and creativity.
What makes Da Silva unique is how he blends his kicks into wrestling entries. It’s not traditional wrestling, but his MMA-specific grappling, especially along the cage, is incredibly effective at a high level. He’ll shoot right off a flashy strike, and once he gets you down, it’s nearly impossible to get him off.
On top, Da Silva applies steady pressure without rushing. He passes methodically using shoulder pressure, threatens the neck, and chips away with short elbows. He’s never been out-grappled, and even getting him to the mat is a serious challenge.
I’d love to see him strike more because his stand-up is so smooth: fluid footwork, sharp angles, and a seamless mix of feints, kicks, and punches. He pushes a high pace and maintains it for five rounds with ease. Maybe he hasn’t been pushed defensively yet, but his cardio looks bottomless.
He’s a nightmare matchup, as he’s well-rounded, unrelenting, and technically dominant.
Prediction: I hate that these two are matched up because I’m high on both prospects. It’s one of those fights that can be competitive while still leaving you confident in both fighters’ futures, and that’s how I feel about Da Silva.
Mangos is the more dangerous submission artist, no doubt, but I struggle to see many other clear paths for him in this matchup. While he’s a threat on the mat, I don’t see him taking Da Silva down consistently or catching something off his back.
On the feet, Mangos is solid fundamentally, but Da Silva is just smoother and has a far deeper arsenal. Mangos has recently shown strong grappling when opponents initiate wrestling, and it’s possible that could come into play again here. Still, I think Da Silva can control the clinch exchanges and be the one landing takedowns.
Of course, Mangos is always live with his submission game, but I trust Da Silva’s defensive grappling. He’s already survived tight guillotines and heel hook attempts, so even if things get dicey, I believe he can weather it.
I love the matchup, but I’m siding with Da Silva by decision.
