“I come from a wrestling background and it all starts at high school. My coach in high school, Robbie Doughty, he was a general when it comes to wrestling,” Riles explained. “He had us wrestling maybe about like 70 matches a year, you know? And I mean, why am I going to wait for the opportunity to arrive?”

While his time as a high school wrestler helped shape his work ethic, the seeds of MMA were in far before he even knew what wrestling was. He grew up in a family that loved to watch MMA and had it on the screen all the time. Although he never made plans to chase that as a dream, it definitely started him on this path.

“I didn’t know what wrestling was until I got to high school. All I did growing up with my family, my uncles, heavy Latino family, and we were always watching fighting, you know?” he said. “I grew up watching Rashad Evans, Rampage Jackson, Chuck Liddell and all them – we were always just watching it, and I just knew I liked it. Didn’t know I was going to go towards it. I didn’t think of it. I didn’t think I’d be in this position today. But it goes all the way back then. It’s just a little seed that was planted.”

And with that seed planted, he’s pushed forward in a career that has led him to the top of the regional scene. This Friday he takes on Fury FC lightweight champion Hector Saenz in a fight that could set the winner up for a shot at the big show. Despite the elevated stakes, Riles is as confident as ever.

“It’s going to come, it’s going to end with a dominant performance from me. That’s for sure,” Riles said. “I’m going to dominate. That’s what I’m going to do. That’s what I plan on doing every single fight.”

You can catch Riles as he chases the Fury FC lightweight belt on Fury FC 116 this Friday. The fight is the main event with the card beginning at 9pm EST on UFC Fight Pass.

The post Fury FC 116’s Yehia Riles: Built for This Moment appeared first on Cageside Press.

UFC President Dana White attended Fury FC 53 two weeks ago, filming his Youtube show Lookin’ For A Fight. Some good talent has come off that show, and when White is in town, the fighters that are showcased fight for a potential UFC contract. On a night with many decision victories, Tokkos (6-2) stood out.

The Sanford MMA fighter choked his opponent Clayton York unconscious in the first round. It was his first time putting someone to sleep with a choke, and he enjoyed it. With the UFC president watching his win, Tokkos recalled his reaction.

“So yeah, I was pretty hyped up after the choke. I ran straight to the cage and kind of regressed to my London goon roots, and Dana was a bit shocked. I was yelling at him; most guys are trying to appeal to him and pitch themselves. I was like, WHAT! Blah, blah, blah-screaming and shouting. They were like goodness, this guy is crazy,” Tokkos told Cageside Press in an exclusive interview.

Tokkos wasn’t signed by the UFC that night, but hope was not lost. He was told that he is one win away from getting to the UFC, and Fury FC is trying to book him again for their December show in Texas. Tokkos is all for it.

“Tuco” is also a Bellator veteran, fighting for the promotion twice before being cut. But, unfortunately, his time with the promotion wasn’t a very pleasant experience.

“It wasn’t all because of [Bellator]. When I moved to the United States, I got a green card, but the application process was lengthy, and they had to freeze my contract because I wasn’t able to fight in the US for a whole year. They were like, well, let’s book you in Europe, but if I were to do that and leave the States, then my green card application would have been abandoned. So I couldn’t leave, and I couldn’t fight here; it was a nightmare,” Tokkos said. “Some regional shows said they could get me fights off the books, but Bellator wouldn’t approve of it. I was in limbo for a while, but then I finally got my green card. I wanted to fight in the States, but then they shipped me to my home country at Wembley Stadium, and I felt the ring rust in that fight. It was a lousy fight that went to decision.”

“Then the pandemic hit, and they called me again on short notice to fight in Connecticut,” he continued. “I was 231 when they called me, and I made 185 in 20 days. If I sent you the picture, you wouldn’t believe it. I almost died that week; it was crazy.” Tokkos would end up losing to Ty Gwerder via TKO and was cut as a result.

Trying his luck on the regional scene didn’t go his way either because he couldn’t get a fight, which is a huge problem for fighters coming from the more prominent organizations. That won’t be a problem if he gets to the UFC, which could be as soon as next year if being one win away holds true.

Watch the rest of our interview with Fury FC 53’s George Tokkos above.

The post George Tokkos Is One Fight Away From The UFC After Fury FC 53 Win appeared first on Cageside Press.

Here’s a look at that, and other key prospects in action this week.

Lux Fight League 17 | Mexico | Friday

Lightweight, Francesco Patron Manzo (8-0)

Manzo is only 22-years-old and is a well-rounded young man with tons of potential. He’s a diverse striker that’s still really technical. Manzo is always throwing in volume mixing in kicks and punches. He has an underrated ground game as well as shown in his last fight with a beautiful armbar finish transitioned from the back. He fights former UFC veteran Marco Beltran (16-7).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwwUDvnyC4Q&t=20s

RCC: Intro 16 | Russia | Saturday

Heavyweight, Kirill Kornilov (10-0-1)

Kornilov has a kickboxing background but in his MMA career, it’s the hands that he has got the job done with. He has a really good jab and uses a lot of feints to produce openings for him to exploit. Where he is most effective is when his opponents come forward, catching them as they come in. He’s a dangerous guy off his back foot, so not someone you want to advance on carelessly. His takedown defense isn’t at all where it needs to be however. Even worse, he’s way out of his realm on the mat off his back. Kornilov fights Ednaldo Oliveira (21-8-1).

FEN 36 | Poland | Saturday

Lightweight, Mateusz Rębecki (13-1)

Rebecki is a BJJ black belt and is a two-time gold medalist in ADCC (Poland). He trains out of Berserker Team with fighters like Michal Materla, Tomasz Narkun, and many more established veterans. Rebecki is a bit one-dimensional being solely a grappler but in that area, he’s just so dangerous and that’s on top or bottom. While on a ten-fight win streak at the time he fought them, the combined record of his opponents was 135-46-3. Of thirteen victories he’s finished all but one fight. Seven stoppages by KO/TKO and five by submission. He fights Aigun Akhmedov (22-2).

AMC Fight Nights 105 | Russia | Saturday

Middleweight, Vladimir Mineev (15-1-1)

Mineev has several good wins, the most notable being against former UFC fighter Maiquel Falcão. There have been doubts in the past about his cardio, takedown defense, and head movement, but he has grown into a well-rounded martial artist. The Russian has a dynamic offensive striking attack with excellent output with his hands and kicks, and his wrestling is underrated as well. Mineev fights Magomed Ismailov (17-2-1).

Featherweight, Mukhamed Eminov (17-1)

Eminov is someone I scouted a few years ago and is much better today than he was then. The Russian hasn’t displayed much on the feet but he does have a solid ground game. Eminov is a very technical grappler who transitions through guard beautifully and excels at passing positions as a whole. He also brings a very intelligent submission base with eleven submission wins. He fights Roman Silagadze (4-1-1).

Middleweight, Sharaputdin Magomedov (5-0)

Magomedov is a kickboxer with an extensive background. In MMA that’s what he showcased so far. Even going backwards Magomedov has light footwork and can still land effectively. In the clinch he’s good at landing knees as shown in his last fight. Magomedov has a lot of dexterity in his legs being able to throw head kicks in tight spaces. He can throw with both legs and is hard to read on what he’s going to throw. He’s dangerous at distance and even though his takedown defense does need work, he’s dangerous to close the distance on. Magomedov fights Mikhail Allakhverdian (9-2).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbyPMAy4Uj8&ab_channel=FIGHTNIGHTSGLOBALTV

Middleweight, David Barkhudaryan (13-3)

Barkhudaryan is mainly a striker and a very dangerous one at that. He has a one-two he loves to throw, chopping powerful leg kicks, and a firing straight jab. Beware of rushing in on him as well as he’s a dangerous counter-striker. Barkhudaryan has lights out power in his hands and can stop the fight at any time. He’s currently on a seven-fight win streak and looking at the peak of his career. He fights Artur Alibulatov (21-4).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4xIEli46UM&ab_channel=FIGHTNIGHTSGLOBALTV

Bellator 268 | US | Saturday

Light heavyweight, Julius Anglickas (10-1)

Anglickas has a strong wrestling base, that being his best weapon for sure. He can wrestle all fight as his cardio has proved to be very good. He also has a dangerous submission attack, holding four submission wins in his career. On the feet, Anglickas bull rushes opponents and beats them up in the clinch. He also throws good leg kicks and a good jab.  He’s got a solid work ethic and eventually breaks your will. He fights the champ Vadim Nemkov (14-2) for the title.

Light heavyweight, Karl Albrektsson (12-3)

Albrektsson has only three losses in his career, all three to stellar fighters in Valentin Moldavsky, Phil Davis, and Jiri Prochazka. He has also beaten good competition such as former UFC fighter Josh Stansbury and Bellator light heavyweight champ Vadim Nemkov. “King” has a background in BJJ and in Sanshou, in which he was the 2014 European champion. His weak point would be on the feet, as he’s often seen fighting too stiff. He excels on the mat though, looking better in each fight. He fights Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (18-6-1).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIkjRjnY3-U&ab_channel=That%27swhyMMA%21

Lightweight, Nick Browne (11-1)

Browne’s sole loss is to John Gunther, and while that looks… not so good in hindsight, he does have a few good wins. He’s beat opponents like Sidney Outlaw, Troy Lamson, Ben Egli, and Trey Ogden who are all good fighters. Browne doesn’t have much to offer on the feet but strikes well to close the distance to wrestle. He’s a strong grappler being a big submission threat with five submission wins. Taking the back and finishing with the RNC is what he’s best at. He fights Bobby Lee (12-6).

Bantamweight, Jaylon Bates (3-0)

Bates made his pro debut for Bellator and is one of their best and brightest up-and-comers. He’s the full package and besides being a wrestler first his striking is good. He has good hands and good use of his range. Bates is a fantastic wrestler and can wrestle three rounds no problem. Being an aggressive wrestler he can keep taking guys down despite them getting to their feet. Bates has a slick submission game no matter where he’s at. Still not enough has been shown but he looks like the real deal. He fights Raphael Montini (6-4).

Welterweight, Mukhamed Berkhamov (14-1)

Berkhamov is a very solid fighter that can go the distance or finish. He has solid cardio going the distance three times but mainly ending the fight with his striking. He only throws one strike at a time but he is very explosive and is very hard to read as he throws hooks, jabs, leg kicks, and head kicks and his timing is perfect. Berkhamov has solid wrestling as he changes levels great and always gets the takedown. He is very good on top moving well and stays heavy and gets dominant position frequently. He fights Jaleel Willis (15-2).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NutEIBQIztI&ab_channel=MMATROLL

The post Weekly MMA Prospect Report: Anglickas Moves from Prospect to Title Challenger appeared first on Cageside Press.

“The Kraken” picked up a heavyweight title win at Fury FC 49 on August 28 against Richard Odoms. He dominated Odoms for three rounds and ended up winning via doctor stoppage.

Adams (8-3) was proud of his performance.

“I thought it was really good, very dominant. [Odoms] was a guy that had fought all over the world. He fought Jeff Hughes, who is in the UFC, and he beat him 50-45. I made the fight look significantly less competitive, I finished the guy, and I took way less damage. So, I’m very happy with that performance, and I thought the ref let it go on much longer than it needed to,” Adams told Cageside Press in an exclusive interview.

The win over Odoms was Adams’ third win in a span of three months. He finished Jeremy Hardy in May and then Eric Lunsford in July, both in the first round.

Adams was released from the UFC in 2020 after going 1-3 in the promotion. The release hit the 29-year old heavyweight hard, mostly because he sees his time in the promotion as a failure.

“It’s one of the only things in life that I’ve done that I still view as a failure for me. Going 1-3 really damaged my ego a lot, and as much as I try and live outside of my ego, it still burns me. Every time someone says, ‘oh, you fought in the UFC, or hey, I remember you from your time in the UFC, like, that feeling or the connotation of failure accompanies it,” Adams said. “If I were to go back, it would be about evening out my record. The way I see it, I need to go back and win at least two fights in the UFC. That’s what I need to do.”

If Adams keeps winning, a trip back to the UFC could be in the future, especially because the UFC always needs heavyweights.

For the immediate future, another fight is coming his way. He has said that he has signed a contract to defined his newly won title, now he is just waiting for someone to accept, which he says is a headache because so many people turn down fights.

You can watch the rest of the interview with Juan Adams above, where he speaks about finding the love to fight again, his 2020, depression, and what he wants next.

The post Juan Adams Talks Fury FC 49 Title Win, Sees UFC Run As Failure And Would Like Another Shot appeared first on Cageside Press.

SFT 29 | Brazil | Thursday

Heavyweight, Acácio dos Santos (13-3)

Acacio dos Santos is a very dangerous and sloppy striker all at the same time. He has the power, speed, and output but lacks badly when it comes to technical ability. His kicks are slightly better, as he doesn’t throw them as carelessly. Santos will get flashy at times but is best when he attacks the lead leg. Santos is usually in control while in the clinch. It’s another position where he uses his size to his advantage, muscling opponents around and making it look easy to land knees.

Santos is an interesting talent with his size and is a dangerous fighter regardless of the deficiencies he has. With an impressive 13-3 record, an eight-fight win-streak, and having not lost a fight since 2015, Santos is seen as a top 205’er out of Brazil for a reason. He fights Marcos Brigagão (13-2).

UAE Warriors 21 | Abu Dhabi | Thursday

Welterweight, Wisem Hammami (5-0)

There isn’t tons of footage on Hammami but from what I’ve seen he’s set himself apart. He has good hands from the looks of things, and seems to have some knockout power. Hammami is more of a wrestler and on top is where he’s comfortable. In the fights I’ve watched he’s been able to quickly get into the mount. From there he’s got good finishing ability with his ground and pound. Hammami fights Omar Hussein (8-2).

ONE Championship | Singapore | Friday

Strawweight, Denice Zamboanga (8-0)

On the feet, Denice Zamboanga is consistent with pressure and output. She has a good right hand and is very accurate with her straight strikes. The jiu-jitsu of Zamboanga is just as good. Her takedown defense has been getting better and off her back, she’s shown to be very hard to keep still. She fights staple Seo Hee Ham (23-8).

Strawweight, Bo Meng (17-5)

Meng is the first person to beat former UFC strawweight champion Weili Zhang. Meng is a well-rounded combatant who has a lot of power in her hands. Enough to stop someone with just one punch. She’s rapid with her output throwing with her hands and mixing in kicks. She’s an even better wrestler with ferocious ground and pound. She fights Ritu Phogat (5-1).

Strawweight, Alyse Anderson (5-1)

Anderson is still very green on the feet, as she needs work on both offensive and defensive fundamentals. She does throw nice straight punches at least.  Her ground game is very dangerous though. Anderson has slick jiu-jitsu, is dangerous on top and bottom, and specializes in chaining from submission to submission. Her offensive wrestling isn’t too good but she is a pretty good counter wrestler. In her last two fights, she was able to score takedowns. She fights Itsuki Hirata (4-0).

Be sure to check out our interview with Alyse Anderson ahead of ONE Championship: Empower.

Combate Global | US | Saturday

Bantamweight, Kevin Cordero (11-2)

Cordero is an absolute action fighter that comes out with the same aggression every time he fights. Cordero is a scrapper. He’ll sit in the pocket and let his hands go and kick the lead leg. Both his right and left hand are dangerous and he doesn’t let up with his volume. He’s a problem on the feet and all that pressure will force opponents to shoot. That’s an issue itself because Cordero is even better on the mat. His offensive wrestling is good as well and holds six submissions. Overall he’s a dangerous guy all around and never in a boring fight. He fights a tough guy in Ricky Bandejas (14-5).

Bantamweight, Eduardo Matias Torres (11-0)

In all likelihood the best prospect out of Chile, Torres holds an impressive undefeated record. The competition Torres has beaten hasn’t been great but he’s disposed of his opponents the way he should. Torres is always bringing forward pressure as he looks to force his way into the clinch. His wrestling needs some work but he does a good job at utilizing trips in the clinch. On the mat is where Torres wants it, where he is dominant. He has very technical grappling where he makes all the right moves and his BJJ IQ is perfect at only 26-years-old. He fights former UFC fighter Nohelin Hernandez (11-5).

EFC 40 | Russia | Saturday

Welterweight, Khabib Nabiev (4-0)

Nabiev isn’t much in the striking department but is an outstanding grappler. Nabiev floats on top and transitions to dominant positions freely. His wrestling looks good enough so far. Even in positions where he’s off his back he’s scrambled and got back in control. All four of his finishes have come from what’s he’s done on top. Nabiev still has a way to come but his grappling alone is to be feared. He fights Aleksandr Verevkin (4-2).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ODwpvZvKXk

Bantamweight, Umar Kunakbiev (6-0)

Kunakbiev is a fun prospect out of Russia that’s well-rounded and fun to watch. On the feet, he has a flashy style. He throws a variety of kicks from different angles. Just a normal roundhouse is his best weapon but he will throw switch kicks and use the cage. He’s an even better wrestler and grappler. Kunakbiev has three submission wins and his ground and pound set it up. A talented guy that’s worth watching out for. He fights Ramazan Amaev (6-0)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T16XGa-IXIY

Road FC 59 | South Korea | Saturday

Featherweight, Soo Chul Kim (16-5-1)

Kim is finally making his return to MMA after a four-year absence. This guy is a very well-rounded fighter. He’s very hard to engage on since he can change levels effortlessly. Kim can use the power in his striking, or he can tie you up in clinch which he is skilled at. I don’t like how he keeps his hands down low and he needs some work on his takedown defense. He goes in for attacks at odd angles and it’s hard to tell what he’s going to throw next, making him very dangerous. He fights Hae Jin Park (8-1).

UAE Warriors 22 | Abu Dhabi | Saturday

Featherweight, Jarno Errens (11-2)

Errens is a top prospect out of the Netherlands with good experience, who is still only 26. On the feet is where he is best, where he can fight at his preferred range. Errens throws straight punches and a lot of leg kicks to maintain the range. He closes distance pretty quickly when throwing bigger shots like the flying knee and spinning attacks. Errens has the volume and mixes up his weapons to keep his opponents guessing. His takedown defense is his biggest flaw. He at least has a good ground game and holds five submissions. He fights Ali Kabdulla (6-0).

Welterweight, Ramazan Kuramagomedov (8-0)

The Russian is very well-rounded, being skillful no matter where the fight goes. On the feet, Kuramagomedov throws a lot of kicks. Throwing with diversity, his kicks come from all over the place. When he decides to just attack the lead leg, that’s when he’s at his best. Overall he’s a flashy but intelligent kickboxer. Kuramagomedov is an even better grappler. Once he gets the fight to the mat he quickly finds dominant positions. In the past Ramazan had trouble solidifying top position but now he’s a fighter with a strong body triangle and has just been dominant on top. You give him anything on the mat, he’s going to get into a better position and he has proved to be a submission threat. He fights Matias Juarez (12-3-1).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIhe1HMLmPA

Fight Club Rush 9 | Sweeden | Saturday

Lightweight, Sahil Siraj (5-0)

Siraj may be only five fights into his career and is already 31 years old, but he has an extensive background in muay thai and kickboxing with over fifty fights. As expected, Siraj has displayed wonderful striking. He has power in his hands and legs, mixes it up, picks his shots, and his left hand is his money shot. Not sold but his talent can’t be denied. He fights Arbi Mezhidov (13-5).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nChXr2EmC9A

KSW 63 | Poland | Saturday

Welterweight, Roberto Soldić (18-3)

A welterweight out of Croatia, Soldic has beaten some stiff competition including Lewis Long, Michał Materla, Borys Mańkowski, and UFC’s Dricus Du Plessis, winning five titles in his career including this KSW championship. Soldic is always coming forward and always looking for the finish in a controlled chaos manner. Soldic has heavy hands and a very accurate head kick, which he has dropped many opponents with. It’s the constant volume he throws paired with his speed that allows him to do so well. Soldic is always throwing punches behind kicks and vice-versa, showcasing his great striking abilities. He fights Patrik Kincl (24-9).

Fury FC 50 | US | Sunday

Lightweight, Anthony Romero (9-0)

Romero has won multiple titles as an amateur, is 18-1 as a pro and amateur combined, and last year he won on the Contender Series. Despite a very impressive performance over a tough Mike Breeden, he wasn’t awarded a contract. Romero is a Taekwondo black belt and a world IBJJF bronze medalist. Romero is extremely well-rounded. He has excellent wrestling, a good ground game, is very technical on the feet, and has a great gas tank. He fights JJ Okanovich (7-1).

The post Weekly MMA Prospect Report: ONE Kicks Off Atomwieght Grand Prix appeared first on Cageside Press.

Titan FC 69 | Dominican Republic | Friday

Welterweight, Carlos Matos (8-0)

Matos is a big welterweight that is a promising 24-year-old out of the Dominican Republic. In 2019, Matos was a sambo Pan American Champion. His main trajectory is to get the fight to the mat. The wrestling isn’t as good as it should be as he uses his size to get the fights grounded. Of eight wins, he’s finished six of those by submission. From the moment it hits the mat Matos is attacking limbs working for submissions. He really dangerous in all areas grappling but taking the back and sinking in the RNC is where he excels. Matos fights Dilano Taylor (5-1).

Welterweight, Dilano Taylor (5-1)

Why is Taylor’s nickname The Postman? That’s because he delivers. A product out of Sanford MMA, Tayor is someone I have high praise for. With one sole loss as a pro, it was to Bellator’s Roman Faraldo so no shame in that. On the feet Taylor fights long very well and the striking he has is really crisp. He’s a big strong welterweight slinging and powering guys down to the mat. Taylor has some solid ground and pound and a good ground game all around. His only concern is his takedown defense and off his back but at 24 the sky is the limit. He fights Carlos Matos (8-0).

LFA 107 | US | Friday

Heavyweight, Alejandro Solorzano (9-2)

Solorzano does have an impressive record but so far he hasn’t blown me away so far. “Goliath” is a big man weighing in at the heavyweight limit at 265lbs and standing at 6’5″. Solorzano is purely a striker which is a reason he took a bare-knuckle boxing fight. He’s a technical boxer that keeps his hands high and picks his shots. He could be more active but is someone that counters well and puts it together nicely once he commits. Solorzano fights Vernon Lewis (8-4) which is a tough fight.

Bantamweight, Allan Begosso (5-0-1)

Born in Brazil, Begosso currently lives in the US in California and trains out of Team Alpha Male. Begosso isn’t active enough, only fighting once in the last three years. His level of competition hasn’t been great but has never fought anyone with a losing record. Due to the excitement level Begosso brings he’s a fun guy to watch for. He has a lot of power in his hands, is very explosive, and can finish the fight at any time. He fights Luciano Ramos (6-5).

ONE Championship | Singapore | Saturday

Strawweight, Ritu Phogat (4-0)

Phogat is still new to MMA, but is a former wrestler who won a gold medal in the 2016 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship. So far in her MMA career, Ritu hasn’t had a problem getting the fight down. Once on top, she has proven to have heavy top control and really active ground and pounds. She still has a lot to show but has looked dominant. She fights Bi Nguyen (5-6) in a previously taped bout, and will then compete in the atomweight grand prix later in the month.

Valor Fighting Challenge 82 | US | Saturday

Heavyweight, Tee Cummins (3-0)

Cummins is only 3-0. Although he isn’t experienced much in pro MMA, Cummins has also dabbled in some bare-knuckle boxing for BKFC going 2-0. In his most recent fight for LFA, he displayed technical ability, patience, and still earned a sick finish. That trifecta isn’t seen much at 205. A lot still needs to be seen from Cummins, but he’s looked really good recently. Watching his old fights he’s improved quickly. Moving up to heavyweight, he will fight Eric Olsen (1-3).

Gulf Coast MMA 10 | US | Saturday

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 Omar Johnson (7-3).

Fury FC 46 | US | Sunday

Welterweight, Nikolay Veretennikov (8-3)

Veretennikov is from Kazakhstan and has good wins over tough regional guys like Austin Jones, Artenas Young, and Steve Jones. He also holds a win over current UFC fighter Charlie Ontiveros. I believe Veretennikov has competed in wrestling, boxing, and does have a background in Sambo. He stays pressure-heavy moving forward and cutting the cage in half. He has a slew of weapons including kicks, knees, hooks, and wrestling. When he puts it together he’s like a gnat on a summer day. He fights former UFC fighter, Anthony Ivy (8-4).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlzr46N8OII

Featherweight, Cameron Graves (9-3)

Graves have been fighting on the regional scene in Texas for his entire career. Graves is the former Fury FC featherweight champion which is the premier promotion out of Texas. Graves has also fought twice for LFA. Momentum is everything and as Graves is on a two-fight win streak — but it was his last performance that stood out. It was a beautiful head kick knockout he scored to retain his Fury FC strap. Graves fights Fernando Padilla (13-4).

The post Weekly MMA Prospect Report: Ritu Phogat Looks to Stay Undefeated appeared first on Cageside Press.

This edition of the Weekly MMA Prospect Report, with that in mind, is quite frankly subject to change.

Fury FC 43 | Friday | US

Bantamweight: Leomana Martinez (6-1)

Despite a split-decision loss to Dulani Perry, Leomana Martinez has looked very good. He’s a technically sound kickboxer who has some slick hands as well. “Manaboi” fights behind his leg kicks throwing them often and very hard. He has ended a fight with leg kicks but will mix it up as he holds a head kick knockout as well. Martinez hasn’t spent much time on the mat in his pro career but has three arm-bar wins as an amateur. On the feet, though he’s just so good thanks to his speed, counter ability, power, and excellent accuracy and timing. He fights Peter Caballero (7-4).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U724Otru1xU

Bantamweight: Adrian Yanez (10-3)

Adrian Yanez is a good young talent who has only lost to good fighters and is still only 26. His biggest weakness is his takedown defense. It’s not poor, it just takes him time to stuff shots. He only has two submissions but has some credible BJJ to give guys issues. On the feet is where he wants to be mainly; it’s where all of his finishes have come. Yanez has slick boxing that includes head movement, quick hands, going body-head, and excellent placement. I really like the future of this kid. He fights Ricky Turcios (10-2).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tEE0VZWFSQ

LXF 5 | Friday | US

Featherweight: Melsik Baghdasaryan (4-1)

Melsik Baghdasaryan doesn’t have a lot of MMA experience and his competition has been horrible but the potential is there. Baghdasaryan does have a lot of experience in other combat sports, mainly boxing, and kickboxing. He’s competed in the K-1 Grand Prix, is a former WLF World Kick Boxing Champion, and a 3-0 pro boxer. Losing his pro debut he has won his next four. He has got the job done early with a 7, 14, and 9-second finish. Of course, there is still so much we need to see of him though. He fights Ysidro Gutierrez (5-3).

Bellator 241 | Friday | US

Middleweight: Anatoly Tokov (29-3)

Anatoly Tokov is an excellent prospect out of Russia with an impressive record with plenty of experience. Tokov is 22-1 in his last 24 fights as his only loss is to UFC fighter Ramazan Emeev. He does have wins over solid competition including former champion Alexander Shlemenko. With a background in combat sambo, he is a great wrestler and the ground-and-pound he possesses on top is his best aspect. Tokov has heavy hands and is very aggressive with great cardio. Tokov is a major prospect and a possible future Bellator champion. He fights Fabio Aguiar (17-1).

Welterweight: Robson Gracie Jr. (3-0)

Every MMA fan is familiar with the legendary last name Gracie. More and more it seems like a new Gracie is making a slight name for themselves. Robson Gracie Jr. is, of course, most comfortable on the mat as his BJJ is his specialty. All three of his wins have come by submission and all three are a form of a different sub. The Gracia family is known for their jiu-jitsu and no so much on the feet and it looks like Robson doesn’t have a lot to offer standing. He does have excellent jiu-jitsu but does have a lot to show first. He fights Billy Goff (2-2).

Welterweight: Mark Lemminger (10-1)

Mark Lemminger is a wrestling based fighter, and he’s a high level one at that, excelling on the regional scene. He is a physical powerhouse once he gets control in the clinch. He ragdolls guys, making it look like a professional wrestling match the way he slings opponents around. He doesn’t just rely on strength, on his takedowns he uses solid technique as well including inside trip takedowns, outside trip takedowns, and sweeping the legs out on his opponents – all beautifully done. On top, he has fight-ending ground and pound, staying active and always throwing while keeping full control. On the feet, Lemminger doesn’t usually stay striking, as he usually initiates the clinch, but he is getting better and better. He does hit hard, wobbling and even dropping his opponents, but he needs a lot of refining. He fights Ion Pascu (18-10).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiN4pXqVW9Y

 Combate 57 | Friday | US

Flyweight: Juan Puerta (18-6)

Juan Puerta has had a lot of speed bumps in his career but has now hit his stride and is on a seven-fight win streak, the biggest of his career. On the feet, Puerta uses his range well with jabs and knees. He’s much better on the mat, though, using his length. Puerta is a big submission threat with nearly all his fights going that way. He shows how dangerous he is on the mat with his versatile submission attack holding five different submissions. He fights Ivan Lopez (14-4-1).

AFL 23 | Saturday | Spain

Strawweight: Pierangela Rodriguez Giunta (5-0)

Pierangela Rodriguez Giunta is an all-action type fighter who is a fun one to watch. She badly needs to work on her takedown defense as that is by far her weakest area. Rodriguez loves to just throw her hands. In her constant rapid attack, she does hit hard and is pretty accurate. Her aggressive style is one of the reasons she has a 100% finish rate. She fights Samantha Jean-Francois (3-6).

Caged Steel Contenders 2 | Saturday | UK

Bantamweight: Adam Bramhald (8-2)

Adam Bramhald has some experience in kickboxing going 4-0 in K1. Only losing to good fighters in Luke Shanks and Scott Malone, at just 25, he has a promising future. On the feet, he’s very technical and throws a lot of output. Bramhald is dynamic and does a great job throwing with his punches and kicks. Not the most powerful but has everything else. He fights Francisco Javier Asprilla Martinez (14-13-1).

The post Weekly MMA Prospect Report: For Those Events Moving Forward, Here’s Who to Look Out For appeared first on Cageside Press.

ONE Championship returns to the Philippines, while Bellator is back in Thackerville and KSW invades Croatia. There’s a lot of MMA to be found outside the UFC this weekend, and plenty of prospects in action.

One Championship | Friday | Philippines

Strawweight, Nong Stamp (2-0)

Nong Stamp (Stamp Fairtex) is a world kickboxing and Muay Thai champion, with a Muay Thai record of 63-15-5. She hasn’t shown a lot in her MMA career to date, but has finished both her fights pretty easily. She’s shown her kickboxing and Muay Thai skills of course, and although she could throw more volume, she picks her shots well. Stamp in her last fight actually got two takedowns and secured the RNC finish. She fights Bi Nguyen (5-4) this Friday at Masters of Fate.

Bellator 233 | Friday | Oklahoma

Middleweight, Costello van Steenis (12-1)

The 27-year-old is one of the brightest prospects out of the Netherlands, and is riding a six-fight win streak. Steenis has a background in grappling, winning tournaments in Rotterdam. On the feet, Steenis has a good lead jab and heavy leg kicks but is more so a wrestler. His grappling is his best aspect and while he has five submissions, his ground-and-pound is just as good. He fights veteran John Salter (16-4).

Heavyweight, Tyrell Fortune (7-0)

Fortune has an accomplished background in wrestling, as an NCAA Division II champion, and a multi-time high school state champion. His stand-up is improving; he has some power and is pretty good in the clinch, but is still pretty green. When Fortune does get the takedown, he’s shown he’s knowledgeable in the top position and possesses some very effective ground and pound, which is one of his best assets. He fights former UFC fighter Azunna Anyanwu (15-5) who is a good test.

Welterweight, Kyle Crutchmer (4-0)

Kyle Crutchmer has a background in wrestling with a very successful Division I career at Oklahoma State University. He was a two-time All-American and a two-time Big 12 champion. There isn’t much MMA footage on Kyle, but he has finished three of his four fights. Based on what’s out there on Kyle, he obviously has excellent wrestling. He’s also shown good and active ground-and-pound. He fights CS veteran Antonio Jones (7-3) who should be a solid test of where Crutchmer is at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFFVmfqYpEE

Light-heavyweight, Julius Anglickas (7-1)

The new Bellator signee will make his debut coming off getting snubbed of a UFC contract this Summer on the Contender Series. Anglickas has a strong wrestling base, that being his best weapon for sure. He can wrestle all fight as his cardio has proved to be very good. He also has a dangerous submission attack, holding four submission wins in his career. On the feet, Anglickas bull rushes opponents and beats them up in the clinch.  He’s got a solid work ethic and eventually breaks your will. He fights fellow prospect Jordan Young (11-0).

Light Heavyweight, Jordan Young (11-0)

Young at 6’4″ with a 76.5″ reach knows how to use his length on the feet and on the mat. On the feet, Young is still progressing as he has an excellent jab and starts to double up on his right hand, where he doesn’t have much power but is accurate. Young is dangerous off his back but he does need to tighten up his takedown defense as it’s been an issue before. He fights Julius Anglickas (7-1).

Flyweight, Douglas Felipe (11-1)

Not much shown on the feet, as Felipe is solely a grappler. All of Felipe’s eleven wins come by the way of submission. His wrestling is a work in progress but he has the aggression necessary to control fights and will to actively work for takedowns. Once he gets going he is on you like glue, giving you zero space to breathe. Felipe is always staying active and working for the submission. He fights Grant Neal (1-0).

Welterweight, Logan Storley (10-0)

KSW 51 | Saturday | Croatia

Middleweight, Cezary Kesik (9-0)

Kesik is very underrated and is one of the best, if not the best, Polish prospects out there. Kesik is exciting, bringing an aggressive kickboxing style with a lot of power in his hands with six finishes by way of KO/TKO. If needed, Kesik will take the fight down where he is really talented with position control and transitions. He fights Aleksandar Ilic (12-2) who should put up a good fight.

Oktagon 15 | Saturday | Czech Republic

Flyweight, David Dvorak (17-3)

Dvorak has been dominating the last couple of years as he is currently on a 13-fight win streak. On the feet, he’s dangerous at range with the angles he cuts, always using a large arsenal of attacks with the teep kick being highlighted. He does a great job keeping range with his kicks and footwork but he also cuts his opponents off and explodes in when need be. In the clinch, he is lethal with his knees and elbows. He hasn’t shown much wrestling but has shown solid takedown defense and is a threat if he ends up on top where he has fight-stopping ground-and-pound. He fights Kayck Alencar (10-1) who is a big test of his abilities.

Fury FC 39 | Saturday | Texas

Bantamweight, Leomana Martinez (5-1)

Despite a split-decision loss to Dulani Perry, Martinez has looked very good. He’s a technically sound kickboxer who has some slick hands as well. “Manaboi” fights behind his leg kicks throwing them often and very hard. He has ended a fight with leg kicks but will mix it up as he holds a head kick knockout as well. Martinez hasn’t spent much time on the mat in his pro career but has three arm-bar wins as an amateur. On the feet, though he’s just so good thanks to his speed, counter ability, power, and excellent accuracy and timing. He fights David Rivera (3-0).

The post Weekly MMA Prospect Report: ONE, Bellator, KSW Lead the Pack appeared first on Cageside Press.