UWC 28 | Mexico | Thursday

Bantamweight, Christian Quiñonez (15-3)

Quinonez has some solid wins including one against Vinicius de Oliveira who is a top Brazilian prospect. In fact, the combined record of the opponents he’s beat is 98-36. Quinonez is a strong wrestler and grappler with a submission base and very good ground and pound. With all the experience he has Quinonez is still only 25-years-old. He fights Jaime Londono Alvarez (4-1).

Bantamweight, Braian Gonzalez (8-1)

Gonzalez is a good striker that does a fine job cutting off the cage and firing at his opponent. On his back foot, he’s a solid counter striker as well. He’s very technical and precise but once he sits on his punches he has some big power in his hands. Gonzalez is a decent wrestler with a better top position. He fights Brandon Uruchurtu (0-3).

PFL 2021 #7 | US | Friday

Welterweight, Magomed Umalatov (10-0)

Fighting out of Russia, Umalatov is a very good wrestler. Umalatov has a good jab, a bomb of an overhand right, and strikes to wrestler so well. When Umalatov gets the fights down his positional grappling really shows out. The ground and pound is his best feature as it’s steady, heavy, and fight-ending. A really good prospect PFL has here. He fights Micah Terrill (15-8).

Welterweight, Michael Lombardo (11-2)

Lombardo has been on the Contender Series twice and won his last time out. He was never awarded a UFC contract after that win because it was frankly a boring performance. That having been said, it was a very dominant performance from Lombardo. Wrestling comes first with the style of Lombardo. He does have really sound wrestling and has solid chain wrestling as well. Along with the wrestling, he has good grappling as well. Lombardo fights Kyron Bowen (9-6).

Lightweight, Elvin Espinoza (5-0)

Espinoza is a strong wrestler who has manhandled guys lifting and slamming them down to the mat. He is a grinder on top who is heavy with position and will take anything his opponents give him. On the feet, I want to see him move his head more but he’s held his own. He has good hands that are improving with each fight. He fights Hopeton Stewart (5-1).

Bellator 264 | US | Friday

Bantamweight, Magomed Magomedov (18-1)

Magomedov is a good striker that has improved over the years but owns a better kicking game. He likes to get flashy at times, throwing a lot of spinning kicks which may be his best weapon. He is an excellent wrestler with superb grappling and can wrestle/grapple during the duration of the fight with his tremendous endurance. His only loss has been to the former UFC bantamweight champ Petr Yan. But he also has beaten Yan in the past so that says a lot about him. He fights Raufeon Stots (16-1).

Bantamweight, Raufeon Stots (16-1)

Stots is a former NCAA Division II national champion in wrestling at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Stots is a fantastic wrestler but his stand-up has come along nicely with some good Muay Thai and a developing jab. Still, the Roufusport product is primarily a wrestler. His timing on his shots is excellent and the execution is perfect. It’s going to take a good fighter to beat Stots and to neutralize his wrestling. He fights Magomed Magomedov (18-1).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6VZNGnoxi0&t=2s

Heavyweight, Davion Franklin (3-0)

I’m not too sold on Franklin due to his showing against Ras Hylton last year. The fact is Franklin has not been built up slow and right away has been tested. His three opponents had thirty-eight fights combined. That’s pretty good for someone that made his MMA debut a little over a year ago with no prior MMA experience. Franklin has huge power in his hands, athletic, an explosive double-leg, and is dangerous on top. He fights Everett Cummings (15-0).

Combate Global | US | Friday

Strawweight, Yasmine Jauregui (5-0)

Born and raised in the same area as UFC flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno, Tijuana, Mexico is where Jauregui calls home. Still very green, Jauregui has really impressed in her career thus far. Her style is reminiscent of UFC fighter Maycee Barber in a few ways. Jauregui is still very young at only 22 so to think she’s even near her prime is silly. She will throw a lot of volume with her kicks and punches putting it all together well. Yasmine is always throwing and looking to end the fight. She does need to work on some things like her movement and striking defense. With that said, she can be very good. Jauregui fights Stephanie Frausto (8-7).

Strawweight, Criszaida Adames (4-0)

Going 4-0 as an amateur, Adames is 4-0 as a pro as well. Adames is a spitfire blitzing in and out with offense. She could be more technical but is active enough to create issues. Adames has taken down opponents as well as being able to mix it up on the feet. Her best aspects are her striking coming forward and her work rate. She’s still raw but has potential. She fights Yajaira Cunningham (3-2).

EFC 88 | South Africa | Saturday

Bantamweight, Cameron Saaiman (3-0)

Saaiman is a young bright prospect who is a protege of UFC fighter Dricus Du Plessis. Saaiman is so comfortable on the feet with his creative striking and diverse kickboxing while having really light movement. He will make it seem like he’s only a kickboxer before changing levels for a takedown. Saaiman is a really talented grappler who constantly hunts to end the fight. His ground and pound and RNC is his best weapon on the mat. He fights Roevan De Beer (3-4).

RCC Intro 15 | Russia | Saturday

Lightweight, Milson Castro (13-3)

Castro is on a big 12-fight win streak and not only is he successful in Brazil he’s highly regarded in Mexico fighting there multiple times. Having fought for years Castro has won three different regional titles. Castro is a stand-up fighter with a solid Muay Thai base. He is a scrapper that will stand toe-to-toe with anyone he stands across from. He does take a lot of shots on the chin but he can take one to give one. He fights Timur Nagibin (18-5).

Middleweight, Arseniy Smirnov (9-1)

Smirnov is a dangerous guy who is well-rounded. On the feet, he’s technical with his hands always throwing in twos with big power. He will throw combinations up to four strikes. Smirnov is always throwing a lot of output and with multiple weapons including front kicks, body kicks, knees, and elbows. Everything he throws is with fight-ending intention. Smirnov has strong wrestling and smashing ground and pound on top. He fights Lucas Alsina (8-2).

CFFC 99 | Saturday | US

Featherweight, Deandre Anderson (4-0)

Anderson is undefeated as a pro and went 5-1 (1 NC) as an amateur. He’s also competed in other disciplines, i.e. boxing and kickboxing. Anderson was a standout wrestler in high school and that has been his most valuable weapon in MMA. His striking has looked good with each fight but the wrestling is his bread and butter. Anderson is a strong athletic wrestler who will explode on the double leg. There isn’t a lot of pro footage but he has some hype behind him.

WFL MMA 6 | Sunday | Netherlands

Welterweight, Losene Keita (5-0)

I’m not fully sold on Keita due to his poor level of competition but the talent is there. He seems to be a well-rounded fighter who has no issue taking fights to the mat. Keita is more of a dangerous guy on the feet. His speed, athleticism, and explosiveness is scary. I’d like to see him show more footwork but makes up for it in blitzes and explosions. Once he gets going he’s throwing a lot of volume as well. He fights Maarten Wouters (12-8).

The post Weekly MMA Prospect Report: Bellator, PFL Shine appeared first on Cageside Press.

ONE on TNT 4 | Singapore | Wednesday

Heavyweight, Reinier de Ridder (13-0)

Don’t let Reinier de Ridder’s stand-up game fool you: ten of his twelve finishes have come by submission. He’s great in the clinch, and Ridder fights well at a distance as he has an excellent jab. When he lets his hands go, he is really accurate. de Ridder throws good long strikes and puts together strikes and kicks well. The mat is where de Ridder wants to be, as he is an expert jiu-jitsu practitioner — the sort who can time perfect double-leg takedowns. If de Ridder is in the clinch, expect him to get the takedown as his hips are excellent and judo tosses are his best weapon. On top, or even on the mat in general, Ridder is the one in control. He is always moving and searching for submissions and that’s why he has eight submission wins. He fights Aung La N Sang (26-11) who he recently beat.

Heavyweight, Oumar Kane (3-0)

Kane is an undefeated Senegalese Wrestling Champion and he has displayed just that in his MMA career. Kane is only 3-0 but has beaten experienced guys in his first two fights (his third opponent was a short-notice situation). So far, he’s blitzed through guys. He has problems on the outside but he’ll bull rush his way in with big powerful hands. Once Kane closes the distance he has a knack for suplexing guys to the mat in emphatic fashion. When he bullies guys to the mat a barrage of relentless ground strikes comes until the ref steps in. Still green but he’s looked the part. He fights Kirill Grishenko (3-0).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXLPaXQdeyg&t=449s

PFL #2 | US | Thursday

Welterweight, Nikolay Aleksakhin (25-5)

Aleksakhin is on the verge of shaking the prospect label. With thirty-one fights now on his record this will be the last time I consider him a prospect. His only loss is to high-caliber fighters, including Ben Askren. Now he is on a six-fight win streak with victories over Mike Graves, Dominique Steele, and Elias Silverio, who are all former UFC fighters. He also has a win over current UFC fighter Jesse Ronson. Aleksakhin is an excellent talent who is solid all around. He has superb timing with big power in everything he throws. The Russian does a great job throwing his strikes and kicks together and has proven that once he lets go, he’s dangerous in bursts. He fights Sadibou Sy (8-5-2).

Combate Global | US | Thursday

Strawweight, Criszaida Adames (3-0)

Going 4-0 as an amateur, Adames is only 3-0 as a pro but has looked good. Adames is a spitfire blitzing in and out with offense. She could be more technical but is active enough to create issues. Adames has taken down opponents as well as being able to mix it up on the feet. Her best aspects are her striking coming forward and her work rate. She’s still raw but has potential. She fights Karen Cedillo (4-1).

UWC Mexico 26 | Mexico | Thursday

Welterweight, Michael Morales (10-0)

Morales did all he could possibly do in 2020. The young 20-year-old secured three wins in the year and all three came with Morales finishing his opponent. In his last bout, he won the vacant EMMA welterweight title. Morales is a tall welterweight at 6’3″ using his length well. He throws good leg kicks and long straight strikes. He does hold his hands low but he’s comfortable with his distance control. Morales don’t have the power but does have the output and volume. He fights Romario Orozco (3-0).

Oktagon 23 | Czech Republic | Friday

Strawweight, Ewelina Woźniak (4-0)

At only 4-0, Wozniak has still had some solid experience. She had an impressive 7-2 amateur record. As a pro she hasn’t fought anyone with a losing record. Wozniak is the former Contender Norwich champion going five rounds. In her last fight, she beat Magdaléna Šormová who is a top prospect. On the feet, she has a good one-two and her right hand is like a cocked gun. She already has a highlight-reel right-hand knockout which was a sensational knockout. Wozniak has solid wrestling and holds her own in the grappling. Her takedown defense struggles but she scrambles well. She fights Elizabeth Rodrigues (4-2).

Bantamweight, Tereza Bledá (2-0)

Bledá is only 2-0 but prior to turning pro she took part in the Oktagon Underground tournament. Bleda won three fights in three months and was crowned as the Underground winner. In that tournament, she beat good prospects in Magdaléna Šormová and Lucia Szabová while also beating former UFC fighter Lucie Pudilová. Doing that with little experience is super impressive. Outside of some nice leg kicks she utilizes Bleda doesn’t have much to offer on the feet. Where Bleda excels is when using the excellent wrestling she has. Once she gets it to the mat she has nasty ground n’ pound and smooth jiu-jitsu. She fights Karoline Martins (7-3).

Lightweight, Leo Brichta (7-3)

Like Tereza Bleda mentioned above, Brichta is an Oktagon Underground tournament winner. Brichta is a very talented, skilled guy who is well-rounded. He’s a volume fighter throwing frequent combinations with his hands and has dangerous kickboxing. Brichta has solid wrestling and his best work is on the mat on top. He passes guard easily and transitions very well. He has ferocious damaging ground and pound with smashing elbows. If he doesn’t send the ref in to stop the fight he will create openings and take the neck for the sub. Brichta fights Kirill Medvedovski (12-8).

LFA 106 | US | Friday

Light-heavyweight, Joshua Silveira (4-0)

Living in Coconut Creek, Florida Silveira trains out of American Top Team under head coach and his father Conan Silveira. He’s only 4-0 but went 4-0 as an amateur so he does have experience. Not high-level experience but in the gym every day with some of the best at ATT. Silveira wrestled in College for Arizona State University and was a Florida high school state champ. With that wrestling pedigree always in his back pocket, he’s able to let loose on the feet. His shot selection is very on-point with his hands and his left high kick is very sneaky and dangerous. Silveira really checks all the boxes and is a major prospect. He fights Rafael Viana (6-1).

Heavyweight, Trevor Wallace (4-0)

There isn’t a lot of footage on Wallace but he has looked good in his last two fights. Though he did look good it’s tough to get a read off two finishes in under a minute. He comes from playing football and bodybuilding so the athleticism is there. Wallace also has competed in Muay Thai. Wallace throws heavy leg kicks and has big power in his hands. He still needs to show a bunch more but he may be a top prospect in the making. He fights Bubba Grant (7-6).

Don’t miss our interview with Wallave ahead of LFA 106.

FFC 45 | Ecuador | Saturday

Flyweight, Jose Ochoa (4-0)

Ochoa is extremely wild in his approach but he comes in like a tornado hitting from everywhere. Ochoa is all about output and will walk guys down and lunge across the cage with superman punches and switch knees. Ochoa does a nice job mixing in kicks and punches and hides kicks behind his punches well. If he settles down more he will be a threat in the coming years. He fights Franklin Grifo (2-3).

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