ONE Championship | Singapore | Friday

Lightweight, Garry Tonon (5-0)

Tonon is well-known in the world of BJJ as he holds accomplishments such as IBJJF Pan-American No-Gi Champion, IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, EBI lightweight champion, and much more. Tonon has looked stellar in his MMA career and has even looked great on his feet. Tonon uses nice footwork, landing one-twos and throwing with a lot of output while moving in-and-out. He’s shown good wrestling, getting double-legs and trip takedowns. The mat is his world, as he finds dominant positions easily and while his ground-and-pound is very good, he is obviously a big submission threat. He fights Koyomi Matsushima (12-4).

Heavyweight, Amir Aliakbari (10-1)

Aliakbari is a very accomplished Greco-Roman Olympic wrestler, and he’s transitioned well to MMA. He can use his strength to suplex his opponents repeatedly, and he has good pressure on top with solid ground-and-pound. Sometimes he does so much with his wrestling that he runs out of energy by the end of the fight, but if he learns to be more conservative or ups his cardio, he will be a huge threat. He fights Islam Abasov (6-0).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ode8aProiTI&ab_channel=ACAMMA

Strawweight, Ritu Phogat (4-0)

Phogat 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 Jomary Torres (4-4).

Flyweight, Bokang Masunyane (7-0)

A former Commonwealth Games wrestler, the “The Little Giant” is a ball of energy standing at only 5’1″. On the feet, he has some power and is very explosive. Wanting to always close the distance he’s creative in the ways he does it throwing some “Showtime” type stuff. It’s easy for Masunyane to get low and when he does he will take you for a ride. Extremely strong, he shows that as soon as he gets his hands together. On the mat, he’s fluid in his movement and dominant with control. Not only one of the most intriguing prospects today but one of the most exciting. He fights Rene Catalan (6-3).

EFC 30 | Russia | Friday

Lightweight, Gadzhi Rabadanov (13-3-2)

Gadzhi Rabadanov is on a six-fight win streak with key wins against Oton Jasse and Steven Siler. He’s an excellent wrestler and durable fighter who can go three rounds no problem. On the feet, he has some power and good leg kicks but looks most at home once on the mat. He has good ground and pound and is a submission threat as well. He fights Mehdi Dakaev (11-2).

Bantamweight, Sharapudin Magomedov (3-0)

Russian Sharapudin Magomedov is only 3-0 as a pro but has some good experience as he had a 15-1 amateur record. Magomedov has been very dominant thus far in his pro career especially with his ground game. He does have some heavy hands but is a much more dangerous wrestler/grappler. Magomedov is dominant once on top with excellent ground and pound and heavy position control. He fights Vyacheslav Svischev (4-0).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UjEtsk6Wog&ab_channel=FightSpace

LFA 96 | US | Friday

Lightweight, Anthony Romero (8-0)

Romero has won multiple titles as an amateur, is 17-1 as a pro and amateur combined, and in his last fight won on the Contender Series. Despite a very impressive performance, he wasn’t awarded a contract. He’s also a Taekwondo black belt and a world IBJJF bronze medalist. Romero is extremely well-rounded. He has excellent wrestling, a good ground game, very technical on the feet, and has a great gas tank. He fights Zach Juusola (11-6).

Bantamweight, Mo Miller (4-0)

Miller has a background as a wrestler being a three-time All-American at Notre Dame. Of course, Miller has good wrestling but he does have some bright spots on the feet. He throws a good one-two and his right hand is dangerous. Miller has the style to go far with his patient but technical approach on the feet and some solid wrestling to fall back on. He fights Regivaldo Carvalho (5-2).

Welterweight, Mark Martin (4-1)

Mark Martin doesn’t have much MMA experience but is a highly touted wrestler. Some of his accolades including being a Fila junior national champ, a two-time Ohio high school state champ, and a three-time D1 national qualifier from Ohio State University. There isn’t much footage out there on Martin but he’s obviously a strong wrestler. He has a good submission attack and has gone three rounds already so that looks good. He fights Matthew Colquhoun (8-4).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBw-OaUsABg&t=4s&ab_channel=FernandoFoti

Lightweight, Viecheslav Borshchev (2-0)

Borshchev stood out to me in his last fight being his debut for LFA. His striking and kickboxing are pretty high-level. His takedown defense does need to be tightened up. Borshchev is only 2-0 so being rough around the edges is expected however. He trains out of Team Alpha Male which is an excellent camp to help him with his wrestling going forward. He fights William Starks (3-1).

Lightweight, William Starks (3-1)

Only 3-1 as a pro but he had many amateur fights going 15-1. Starks was very successful in his amateur career being the IMMAF 2015 and 2016 world champion. He is a very strong athletic fighter and has very good wrestling showing nice timing and athleticism. On top, Starks is solid; he has won by TKO and submission but is more of a grinder. On the feet, it’s still a work in progress but he’s explosive, and has pretty good kicks. Still, a lot more needs to be seen from him given he’s only had four fights. He fights Viecheslav Borshchev (2-0).

Oktagon 19 | Saturday | Czech Republic

Bantamweight, Javid Basharat (9-0)

Javid is an excellent prospect to keep an eye on but the competition he has beat has been lackluster. Javid is well-rounded as he has finished from both on the feet and off the mat. His footwork is quite advanced; the way he cuts angles and moves side to side is perfectly done and if I’m not mistaken he has a background in taekwondo. Javid isn’t just a flashy striker he is also an excellent wrestler that has a strong submission game and does a great job at creating space and landing big ground and pound. He fights Aleksandr Bezkorovainiy (11-2) who is a good test.

FFC 44 | Saturday | Peru

Lightweight, Esteban Ribovics (8-0)

Ribovics does a good job moving laterally coming in with different patterns. Ribovics has a variety of striking techniques sometimes leading combinations with elbows and uppercuts. The way he throws from different angles is nice to see. Also, his right hand is money when he lands it flush. As good as his striking is, he might be an even better grappler. His takedowns come from the clinch using trips and trapping his knee behind the leg, dumping his opponent down to the mat. Ribovics will then go for broke trying to get the finish or just a better position. He fights Javier Basurto (17-6).

Lightweight, Rudy Gavidia (13-2)

Gavidia is quite the showman and he has every right to be, after stringing together eleven wins in a row after losing his first two fights. Gavidia has a background in jiu-jitsu and was a boxing champion in China in 2008 and 2009. Rudy still has a lot to prove as his competition has been weak but he’s looked good despite that. Gavidia is well-rounded as he has a good jab with leg kicks on the feet. He moves well on top but is very heavy at the same time, and while he has good ground-and-pound, he does hold five submissions. Rudy has a fun fighting style and his personality alone should draw in a wide audience. He fights Bruno Conti (10-5).

SFT 26 | Saturday | Brazil

Light heavyweight, Acacio dos Santos (12-3)

Santos is an interesting prospect. A towering 6’4″ he previously fought at middleweight. The Brazilian is limited on the feet, and while he has heavy kicks his brawling style throws technique out the window. Santos does have raw strength and that has earned him these wins. If he gets taken down, he will just stand up and take top position, Derrick Lewis style. If he does get on top, then he’s most likely staying there due to his size and his best weapon, which is his ground-and-pound. He fights Tyago Moreira (14-8).

The post Weekly MMA Prospect Report: ONE Championship, LFA Make for a Big Friday appeared first on Cageside Press.

First, the main card starts with undefeated ONE Championship star Ritu Phogat (3-0) taking on Jomary Torres (4-4). Following the card opener, two of the hottest heavyweight prospects go at it with Amir Aliakbari (10-1) matched against Islam Abasov (6-0). Next, the ultra experienced Kairat Akhmetov (26-2) will take on Danny Kingad (14-2) in a pivotal bantamweight affair. Looking to steal the show in a kickboxing feature at ONE Championship: Big Bang is lightweight Marat Grigorian (20-8 Kickboxing), facing Ivan Kondratiev. 

ONE Championship: Big Bang – Top of the Card

Perhaps one of the biggest prospects in mixed martial arts, grappling sensation Gary Tonon (5-0) returns to the cage to face Koyomi Matsushima (12-4). Holding the ADCC submission wrestling championship, IBJJF World and Pan American championships Tonon’s grappling pedigree is of the highest. With a definite focus on leg locks while competing in the grappling world, the American looks to capitalize on the co main event spot at ONE Championship: Big Bang.

Finally, the card will conclude with kickboxing action. Roman Kryklya (8-1 Kickboxing) and Murat Aygun (3-1 Kickboxing) take center stage for the ONE Kickboxing heavyweight championship.

Ritu Phogat vs. Jomary Torres

Fighting out of Evolve MMA, India’s Phogat has developed a nice career in the Asian mixed martial arts scene. A Commonwealth Games gold medalist, and two out of her three fights ending in a finish, fans have a close eye on her potential. Phogat is facing Torres, who has struggled in her run inside the ONE Championship. Since both strawweight athletes have picked up finishes inside the ONE cage, this bout promises to be heavy on action, and may not go the distance.

Amir Aliakbari vs. Islam Abasov

RIZIN veteran Aliakbari will look to halt the undefeated momentum of Abasov. However, that’s a tall order considering the finishing ability of Abasov. Recently, the Russian athlete picked up a nasty TKO win against the experienced Ednaldo Oliveira. With only one loss on his record, to the legendary Mirko Cro-Cop, Aliakbari is a force in the heavyweight division. Additionally, that loss came in 2016, and since then, the Iranian powerhouse has looked near perfect inside the cage.

Abasov withdrew from the bout.

Kairat Akhmetov  vs.  Danny Kingad

Now that Akhmetov is on a win streak, he will need to use the momentum to take out a threat like Kingad. Since both athletes are so well-rounded, an effective game plan is the only path to victory. Kingad has struggled on the ground, provided one of his losses came from a rear naked choke. However it’s not indicative of his ground game completely. There is huge a upside in the exposure that a potential win would garner at ONE Champioship: Big Bang, so the pressure is high for both fighters.

Unfortunately, one of Kingad’s cornermen tested positive for COVID-19, and this bout has been cancelled.

Marat Grigorian  vs.  Ivan Kondratiev

The night shifts to kickboxing, with a fight featuring Grigorian against the marauding, Kondratiev. With terrific right hand counters, Kondratiev maintains solid striking defense. Often adjusting his guard to block and return, his gritty style creates problems for opponents. However, Grigorian brings a unique challenge. It should be noted that Grigorian’s conditioning has carried him to success. Shown in his win at Glory 73, he was able to secure the victory well into the fifth round.

ONE Championship: Big Bang – Co Main Event – Koyomi Matsushima  vs.  Garry Tonon

Looking to ascend up the lightweight ladder, Tonon takes on the more experienced Matsushima. Despite his grappling skills, the fight will of course start on the feet where Matsushima has shown a lot of power. Although Tonon has gotten most of his opponents down, it certainly hasn’t been effortless. Recently defeating Jae Woong Kim by strikes in round three, Matsushima remains dangerous the entire fight. The outcome of this bout could very well produce a lightweight contender.

ONE Championship: Big Bang – Main Event – Roman Kryklya  vs. Murat Aygun

Turkish heavyweight, Aygun competes with finishing machine Krykla in the main event of the evening. Unbeaten since 2015, Kryklya has proven to be too much to handle for most heavyweights. Young for the division, Kryklya finished his last bout in 43 seconds. Now he gets the opportunity to fight for gold at ONE Championship: Big Bang. Conversely, Aygun has not been as active throughout his career. Nevertheless, he carries big power every time he makes his way inside the kickboxing ring. As with most heavyweight bouts, this likely won’t go the distance.

Don’t miss all the action from ONE Championship: Big Bang on Friday, December 4, starting at 7:30AM ET.

The post ONE Championship: Big Bang Preview appeared first on Cageside Press.

Hugo Cunha
Pro record: 5-0
Amateur record: 1-0
Weight class: Heavyweight
Age: 26
Fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

At only 5-0, Hugo Cunha is already considered as one of the best heavyweight prospects today. Outside of MMA, Cunha is a Brazilian National Team wrestler and a BJJ black belt. You will notice his level of competition has been poor as he’s fought three opponents with a 0-0 record. Cunha has still looked dominant thus far in his career and that’s with a 100% finish rate.

Lisa Verzosa
Pro record: 5-0
Amateur record: 9-1
Weight class: Bantamweight
Age: 24
Fighting out of Vancouver, Washington, USA

I personally believe every female fighter should have to go through Invicta before signing with the UFC since they have the best talent outside that promotion. Verzosa has done just that with 4 of her 5 fights in the Invicta cage, all against some good fighters. Verzosa has the toughness, heart, and tenacity and you can’t teach that is key for a fighter. Do yourself a favor and see how good she in her latest fight on Invicta FC 38 against Kerri Kenneson exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

“I usually like to keep my fights on the feet but I have a wrestling background and a purple belt in jiu-jitsu. I want my fights to be exciting and memorable for fans. Right now I’m aiming for the Invicta FC title at 135lbs and hoping to make it into the UFC soon.” -Lisa Verzosa

Blake Donnelly
Pro record: 4-0
Amateur record: 2-3
Weight class: Lightweight
Age: 24
Fighting out of Rosedale, New South Wales, Australia

Fundamentals are important in a fighter and Blake Donnelly displays just that. The Aussie has a good jab, uses a lot of feints, has good cardio, and has already developed good fight IQ. All those qualities are great for such a young fighter to have. He’s already the Australian FC Vacant Lightweight Championship.

“I’m always in my opponents face, what people pay to watch. I find my range, set a pace, and I go to work. The same will go when a fight eventually goes to the ground. I still haven’t given this dream a proper crack in my eyes. There will be a time very soon where I adjust a few things in my life, fight actively and level up even more. I’m only 4-0 but I wasn’t supposed to win my last 3 fights, and the way that I’m beating all of these guys separates me from the rest.” -Blake Donnelly

Jake Hadley
Pro record: 5-0
Amateur record: 7-2
Weight class: Flyweight
Age: 23
Fighting out of Birmingham, England

Jake Hadley is only 5-0 as a pro but in his amateur career, he was successful and was a 4x amateur British flyweight champion. When Hadley was only 3-0 as a pro he fought a top prospect in Nkazimulo Zulu. Hadley beat him for the EFC Worldwide Flyweight Championship. In his latest fight, he beat a very good Blaine O’Driscoll in his Bellator debut.

“What I bring to the table is a mixed bag of MMA. I’m good everywhere and by becoming EFC flyweight world champ 4 fights into my pro career and beating a former UFC signed fighter is unheard of. I’ve beaten two world champ within 5 pro fights which is something that should already have me inside the UFC but 100% I will be going to the UFC this year.” -Jake Hadley

Casey O’Neill 
Pro record: 3-0
Amateur record: 5-2
Weight class: Strawweight
Age: 22
Fighting out of Queensland, Australia

When it comes to young up-and-comers, O’Neill is one of the best. From Scottland, O’Neill has fought her entire pro and amateur career in Australia. In her latest fight, she won the Eternal MMA Strawweight Championship. O’Neill also fights out of an excellent camp in Tiger Muay Thai.

“I live for MMA, I just want to be the best, so my future looks like whatever it takes to get there. Step by step I’m coming.” -Casey O’Neill

Dalton Rosta
Pro record: 2-0
Amateur record: 7-0
Weight class: Light-heavyweight
Age: 24
Fighting out of New Castle, Pennsylvania, US

Rosta is one of the many fighters Bellator has coming up. He’s an NCAA wrestler, took part in jiu-jitsu and boxing from a young age, and played one year of college football for Youngstown State as a linebacker. He’s 2-0 in Bellator and as a pro and an amateur he has finished all of his fights.

“I’m the future of the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight divisions, in all promotions. Anyone who doubts that will be proved wrong very quickly.” -Dalton Rosta

Ian Garry
Pro record: 3-0
Amateur record: 6-1
Weight class: Welterweight
Age: 21
Fighting out of Dublin, Ireland

Among all the top prospects from the UK/Ireland, Ian Garry stand out as the future. He fights for the Cage Warriors promotion which is the best organization out of the UK/Ireland. In his young career, Garry has already proven to be extremely well rounded, fought through adversity, and has already improved greatly.

“There’s nothing special about me. I’m not the biggest, I’m not the strongest and I’m sure there are people with better attributes than me. I’m sure there has been people that’s had a harder upbringing than me. Other people are like “fighting is the only thing I have and without that, I have nothing” blah blah blah. That’s not the case for me. I do this because I love it. I love the competition, I love testing myself and my skills, I love competing, and I love going in there with somebody and putting them to the test. I work harder than anyone. I work my ass off to prove people wrong or right. I may not be the biggest nor the strongest but I’m one of the most efficient.” -Ian Garry

Aviv Gozali 
Pro record: 4-0
Amateur record: 0-0
Weight class: Lightweight
Age: 18
Fighting out of Bat Yam, Israel

Son of longtime fighter Haim Gozali, who also competed in Bellator, Aviv Gozali has looked fantastic in his short career despite being so young. All his wins have come by submission in the first round. Gozali is an aggressive grappler who excels in that department. He jumped right in the pool as a pro and under the big lights having all of his fights under the Bellator banner.

“I’m bringing to the table of the MMA world the new generation of MMA. I’m the youngest fighter in a major organization so basically I’m showing the world that age is just a number and I’m gonna be the youngest champ in Bellator history.” -Aviv Gozali

Hailey Cowan 
Pro record: 4-1
Amateur record: 3-0
Weight class: Flyweight
Age: 27
Fighting out of Waco, Texas, US

Hailey Cowan has an extensive background in gymnastics and was very accomplished at Baylor University. She won a few tumbling national titles and is a two-time All-American. After coming up short in her pro-MMA debut, she then went on to win her next four fights looking impressive in the process. She’s a staple of top regional promotion LFA who always does a great job molding fighters.

“This sport literally re-birthed my athletic career. After finishing my college athletic career with an injury, I came into MMA with fire on my side. I want to grow my game so much that when WMMA is in the conversation, my name has to be mentioned. I want my legacy to be that I dreamed big, and I made it happen… I think that alone will inspire little girls to dream big and never look back. This sport is life-changing. I’m proof of that.” -Hailey Cowan

Santos Curatolo
Pro record: 4-0
Amateur record: 2-0
Weight class: Flyweight
Age: 24
Fighting out of Staten Island, New York, US

Santos Curatolo’s competition hasn’t been too good and his strength of schedule needs work. But that said Curatolo has still looked stellar thus far and has treated his lack of competition the way he should’ve. Curatolo is an excellent wrestler rag-dolling guys around. He’s a pure athlete who I think can jump into the UFC and do well.

The post Top 25 Pro MMA Prospects with Five Fights or Less appeared first on Cageside Press.

The sport of MMA is a growing sport, and each year you will discover new faces and see new blood toward the top. Some of the greats, such as Jose Aldo, Jon Jones, Robert Whittaker, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Max Holloway, and many more, were beyond unknown at the beginning of there career. With that said there are many more platforms worldwide with more opportunities giving these fighters the notice they deserve. It’s tough to predict the future of MMA, but I gathered some of the most hardcore MMA journalists to give me their three favorite fighters with a pro record of five fights and below.

Max Freedman

Twitter- @TrademarkMMA
Writer for Cageside Press

Austin Lingo (5-0)

Dallas’ Lingo is one of the top up-and-coming featherweights in the US. Alongside Fernie Garcia (5-0), Lingo is the latest from the ever-growing pool of talent to come out of Fortis MMA in Dallas. Lingo has three first-round finishes and at only 24, “Lights Out” has the opportunity to develop under one of the best coaches (Sayif Saud) and collection of teammates in the game right now.

Cyril Gane (2-0)

He may only be 2-0, but the TKO Heavyweight Champion certainly doesn’t fight like it. The Frenchman has outstanding, crisp, technical striking and at only 28, is one of the younger heavyweight prospects out there. If Gane can get past 9-0 Raphael Pessoa when they fight, he could be on the fast-track to a top promotion.

Kailan Hill (4-0)

Another competitor in the great LFA promotion, Hill has been flawless in his professional career. The Puerto Rican import has been honing his skills all over some of the top gyms in California with his home base being Blackhouse MMA. With three straight first-round knockouts in under two minutes, Hill’s stint on the regional scene might not last much longer. Middleweights be on notice.

Aaron Bronsteter

Twitter- @aaronbronsteter
UFC Reporter/Content Editor/Producer, Talent Relations for TSN Sports.

Joey Davis (4-0)

Most people believe that wrestling is the best base for mixed martial arts supremacy and if that’s the case, look no further than Joey Davis, who boasts a 133-0 amateur wrestling record. He’s the third person to accomplish an undefeated record over a four-year NCAA tenure, the first ever in Division II.

He has made the transition to MMA and is currently 4-0 in Bellator thanks to the help of Antonio McKee, who he has known since childhood along with McKee’s son A.J., another top MMA fighter who has risen from prospect to contender in recent years.

Davis has yet to lose a round in his MMA career and having just turned 25 years of age, the sky’s the limit for this budding prospect.

Kayla Harrison (2-0)

It’s hard to make a top prospects list without including Kayla Harrison. Despite being 28 years of age, which is older than most prospects, it’s the accolades that she has racked up that will make her such a force in mixed martial arts.

Harrison is the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in Judo and she did it twice, winning at both the 2012 and 2016 games. The biggest issue for Harrison’s legitimacy in mixed martial arts is her weight class. She competed in judo at 78 kg (172 lbs.) and competes at lightweight in MMA. Harrison’s ceiling can only be so high when she is competing in a weight class that did not exist in a mainstream professional capacity until her arrival on the scene.

I expect that her career in the PFL will be absolutely dominant and that she will cruise through the upcoming women’s lightweight tournament. That being said, her credentials make her the top female prospect in MMA.

Kyle Snyder (0-0)

I’ll admit it, I’m cheating, but if Kyle Snyder ever decided to transition to mixed martial arts, he would be the most coveted prospect in the sport’s history. Snyder is an Olympic gold medalist, Pan-Am gold medalist and two-time world champion in freestyle wrestling.

He would likely compete at light heavyweight, a division with very few high-caliber wrestlers and I expect that he would dominate from the moment he started.

While he has been somewhat secretive about his MMA future, having just turned 23, he has a lot of time to consider his options. And hey, if I’m going to cheat, let’s add Abdulrashid Sadulaev to this list. He’s openly talked about making the move to MMA following the 2020 Olympics, which isn’t that far away.

Shawn Bitter

Twitter- @mmawizzard
Writer for My MMA News and Cageside Press.

Isi Fitikefu (5-0)

As Australia is producing talent more each year and more at a higher level, Fitikefu could be the next big thing out of the country. It is hard to tell right now how good Fitikefu is, as he hasn’t fought truly tough competition yet.

He is a solid wrestler who has an aggressive and relentless pace with effective chain wrestling. He has one submission win on his resume, but he relies more on his ground and pound. On the feet, Fitikefu has big power in his hands and his right hand is a loaded gun that puts guys to sleep.

Melissa Martinez (5-0)

While she is very, very early in her career and only 21-years-old, Melissa Martinez is a major prospect in the strawweight division. She is currently signed with Combate Americas, so it’s unknown what her contract situation is. She hasn’t fought solid competition, but hopefully, Combate can keep her active and give her a good test.

Martinez has not shown much on the mat because she wants to be on the feet the entire time. Martinez has great cardio with her constant footwork and effective side-to-side movement. She also has the ability to break an opponent down with her chopping leg kicks. She also displays a quick release with her dangerous head kick that she has won a couple of times with. Martinez puts combinations together with her hands very well and her explosiveness and hand speed are solid. She really looks promising at a young age in her career.

Shamil Abasov (5-0)

Shamil trains with a solid camp out of Russia, Eagles MMA who trains with Movlid Khaibulaev, Akhmet Aliev, and more. Shamil has a background in kickboxing being a world champion.

In only five fights, he’s fought Yuri Gobenko, Yuriy Protzenko, and Charles Andrade who have over 150 fights combined which is a good start for someone early in their career. Abasov has showcased his kickboxing skills, throwing damaging leg kicks and even a head kick knockout. He has also shown solid wrestling with heavy top position. He is definitely someone to watch for.

DC Howard

Twitter- @FightFan_DC
Check out his work for The Body Lock MMA

Taylor Johnson (5-0)

A middleweight from San Diego, California, Johnson was featured in the curtain-jerker at January’s LFA 57 and stole the show by thrashing then-undefeated Aaron Chambers. Johnson’s power is palpable and his athleticism will give a lot of people problems. So far, Tombstone has smashed his four LFA opponents in a grand total of five minutes and three seconds. At 5’11”, he might end up at welterweight in the UFC, but I’m not sure there are many regional middleweights who have the blend of tools & skills needed to challenge Johnson before he makes the big show.

Cyril Gane (2-0)

A heavyweight from France, this hulking 6’5″ kickboxer burst out of nowhere to decimate undefeated Canadian top prospect Adam Dyczka in just his second pro MMA fight at TKO 44. On the feet, the man is a monster; Gane’s clinch striking, boxing, and kicking games are equally impressive. We’ve yet to see anyone put Gane on the mat, but in the paper-thin heavyweight ranks, that might not happen for quite some time. The man certainly isn’t afraid of tough fights.

Khamzat Chimaev (4-0)

A middleweight from Sweden, the Allstars Training Center rep trains with an elite squad, and he looked the part in his two recent outings under the Brave CF banner. After cruising past a few entry-level foes, the 24-year-old “Chechen Borz” really raised eyebrows by steamrolling well-regarded American prospect Sidney Wheeler in the Brave 20 main event. He’s shown off good hands, particularly in his finish of Marko Kisic at Brave 18, but Chimaev’s wrestling is his real weapon. He’s good enough at keeping positions secure that he can really attack with ground-and-pound, even against strong wrestlers. That sounds like a recipe for UFC success, in my book.

Kristen King

Twitter- @KristenKingMMA
Check out her work for FanSided

Chantel Coates (1-0)

Smaller weight classes like flyweight are often overlooked, but with prospects like Chantel Coates making some big noise, they really shouldn’t be. Coates made her professional mixed martial arts debut in December 2018 at Invicta FC 33, where she took on fellow debutant Ashlynn Kleinbeck. In less than 30 seconds, Coates was able to viciously knock out her opponent, becoming the owner of the “fastest knockout in Invicta FC history.” Coates did something similar in her amateur career, knocking out Tina Brown in January 2016 in just 24 seconds. What makes Coates one to watch is her speed and aggression. Before you can deliver a punch, Coates is out of the line of fire, looking to deliver some heat of her own. And if she catches you, it could be a long (or short) night.

Kaue Fernandes (5-0)

The name Nova Uniao holds a lot of weight in the mixed martial arts world, which is why it should come as no surprise that Kaue Fernandes is one of (if not) the most exciting prospects to come out of the team in recent memory. The 23-year-old made his professional debut in 2014, but a string of canceled fights left Fernandes on the sidelines for a little bit. When he got back to work, however, Fernandes was dominating all his opponents in Shooto Brazil. Two of his most recent wins happened in under 90 seconds, with one of them earning him the vacant super featherweight title. A man former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo once called his “successor,” Fernandes is good wherever the fight goes. In the striking department, Fernandes is coming forward with pure aggression, looking to put his opponent out. On the ground, Fernandes will find the smallest opening to capitalize on and snatch up a submission. Fernandes may be young in his career, but with the kind of tools he possesses, it won’t be long before he shows up on the radar of some of the big leagues.

George Tokkos (4-0) 

Light heavyweight is a division always in need of new blood. Thankfully, a name like George Tokkos has arrived on the scene and he may cause a lot of problems as his career continues to unfold. Tokkos got his start in Ultimate Challenge MMA, where he defeated all three of his opponents before moving onto KTMMA. At the start of his career, Tokkos was known for his superior ground game. And he still is. Tokkos’ background is in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but he has since expanded to other disciplines that maintain his danger on the ground. Add in his evolving striking and Tokkos is becoming a much more well-rounded fighter every time he steps inside a cage.

Nolan King

Twitter- @mma_kings
Check out his work for FloCombat

Cyril Gane (2-0)

France’s Cyril Gane only has two professional fights under his belt. TWO. And he may very well be the best heavyweight prospect in North America. A training partner of Francis “The Predator” Ngannou, Gane hasn’t shown any signs of weakness through two bouts. After wrecking Bobby Sullivan in his pro debut, Gane secured the TKO heavyweight strap with a two-round beatdown of then-undefeated Adam Dyczka. His speed, athleticism, and power matched with superb cardio make him seem indestructible as far as the regional scene is concerned.

Anthony Romero (5-0)

Canada’s Anthony “The Genius” Romero is just that — a really smart fighter. With only two finish over his first five fights, Romero has still impressed due to his technical striking, strong wrestling, and well-rounded abilities. With a few more victories in KOTC, expect to see this man signed to the UFC in an instant.

Mitch Raposo (6-0/Amateur)

Highly regarded as one of the top amateur flyweights in the United States, Massachusetts’ Mitch Raposo should have no issue making the jump to the professional level. Additionally, he should thrive at 135 pounds if he wants to make a UFC push. Surrounding himself with top talent such as Rob Font and Calvin Kattar, the 20-year-old flyweight will have a big 2019.

Keith Shillan

Twitter- @KeithShillanMMA
Writer for Sherdog, Contributor for FansidedMMA, Co-Host of LoudMouthMMA Podcast Network.

Kayla Harrison (3-0)

So I am probably the only person left on the planet that is willing to admit that they bought into the Ronda Rousey hype. If that is not the case, I am probably the only person willing to say that I still think Rousey could do very well in the UFC today, especially if she makes some proper changes.

So how can you not think Harrison will do well in the MMA? Rousey dominated the UFC women’s bantamweight division, and Harrison is competing in a weaker division at women’s lightweight and hopefully women’s featherweight. Rousey was a bronze medalist in the Olympics in Judo. Harrison is a two-time Olympic champion. To top it off, Harrison is training at arguably the best team in the sport, American Top Team instead of the poor Glendale Fight Club.

Joey Davis (4-0)

Anybody that knows me, knew that I had to pick a wrestler for this list. Davis isn’t just a wrestler, he is a 4X Division II NCAA champion. He is also the first wrestler in D2 history to finish his career with a perfect record. After his decorated wrestling career, the 25-year-old turned to MMA. He quickly compiled a 5-0 amateur record and then signed with Bellator where he already picked up four wins.

The Bodyshop MMA product obviously can wrestle but has shown flashes of his improving striking in his last two bouts. He defeated Ian Butler by spinning back kick to the body and then used his striking to set up his takedown in his last fight a win over Craig Plaskett.

With the track records of wrestlers before him, the sky is the limit for a fighter like Davis.

Cyril Gane (2-0)

It isn’t often a fighter with two wins already has a significant win in their career, but that is the case with Gane. In only his second professional fight, Gane knocked out fellow blue-chip prospect Adam Dyczka. He didn’t just land a single big shot on Dyczka. He brutalized him until Dyczkya couldn’t take anymore.

The Frenchman is a great heavyweight striker, who moves like a welterweight. He darts in and out of range behind a crisp jab and a powerful right hand. He loves to work the body with punches, push kicks, and step in knees. His clinch work is already some of the best in the heavyweight division.

Standing 6’5″ with a massive 83″ reach, Gane is a serious threat to anybody in the heavyweight division.

Brandon Sibcy

Twitter- @B_S_Sibcy
Check out his work for The Body Lock MMA

Hunter Azure (5-0)

Azure is a four-time state wrestling champion hailing from Montana. He amassed an amateur MMA record of 8-1 as a featherweight. In those nine amateur bouts, Azure went to a decision only once. He turned pro in 2017 and moved to The MMA Lab shortly after. Since the move, Azure is a perfect 5-0. While his base is wrestling, Azure likes to set a frenetic pace from the opening bell with his strikes. He has power in his hands and kicks as he showed in his last outing that saw him drop and finish Jaime Hernandez with a body kick in the first round at LFA 59 earlier this year. Now 26-years-old and competing in the bantamweight division, Azure seems primed for a step up to the “big” show in the near future.

Aleksa Camur (4-0)

Camur enjoys video games, skateboarding and knocking his opponents unconscious. The 23-year-old lives in Northern Ohio and trains out of Strong Style Fight Gym where he’s a sparring partner for his teammate and former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Stipe Miocic. He is currently the number one ranked light heavyweight in Ohio and ranked 13th in the Midwest regional scene. Camur made his amateur debut in 2014 and won the fight in just 18 seconds. Over the next two years, he’d extend his ammy record to 4-0 with all four wins coming via KO/TKO. Since turning pro in 2017, Camur has gone 4-0 and has won every fight via KO/TKO. He has shown some functional grappling, but prefers to stay at range and work his boxing. The Ohioan has fluid hands and effectively mixes up his attacks going from the head to the body.

Jesse Kosakowski (3-0)

Jesse is a lifelong martial artist who cites Jeet Kune Do and Catch Wrestling as his bases. He competed in grappling, boxing, and Muay Thai in his youth and through his teens, and is undefeated in the realm of MMA (3-0 professional, 4-0 as an amateur) since switching over in 2016. Kosakowski recently had his biggest outing when he was featured on the prelims of Bellator 216: MVP vs. Daley. In that bout, he took on BJJ black belt Rodolfo Rocha and out-grappled him en route to a second-round victory via submission. You can see the different styles of Kosakowski in his fights. He seamlessly switches between his boxing and karate stances when he looks to land sidekicks on his opponents. Kosakowski has shown nice takedowns and is a very tricky grappler on the mat. He often looks to take the back or work towards side control where he can trap an arm and rain down blows or look for an armlock. Being only 22 and with a plethora of training and experience, it’ll be interesting to see what the future holds for Kosakowski.

Rodney James Edgar

Twitter- @RodneyJames138
Writer for Cageside Press, MMA Soldier, and MMA Latest News

Joey Davis (4-0)

Currently sits at 4-0 in professional MMA. His debut followed an impressive 5-0 amateur record and an unprecedented 133-0 as an NCAA Division II wrestler. He was the first D2 wrestler to finish his career undefeated and the third wrestler overall to accomplish this feat throughout the entire NCAA, including Division I. As a mixed martial artist he has quickly answered many questions about his abilities, particularly his striking, since he comes from a wrestling background. He has proven to be well-rounded and tenacious in the cage so far. Among his four victories, he has two incredibly fast KO finishes, one with punches, the other with a spinning kick to the body. In his other two fights, he went the distance, proving that he is able to fight at the same pace for a full 15 minutes and that he can overcome adversity.

Tywan Claxton (4-0)

Claxton is quietly amassing a nice record in the Bellator Featherweight division, with three out of four wins by stoppage and no losses (as of this writing). Claxton is another Division II All-American to watch, and like Davis, he’s also 4-0 in MMA competition. 2018 was a busy year for Claxton, he fought three times, earning two TKOs and a decision fighting in the Bellator promotion. The organization’s president recently announced a forthcoming 145lb tournament, which is expected to start with 16 competitors vying for championship gold. Although Coker has only hinted at a few specific names to be included in the tournament, certain individuals like AJ Mckee and Aaron Pico are sure to be included. Do not be surprised to see Tywan Claxton get into the mix as well.

Jake Hager (1-0)

Hager, aka WWE’s Jack Swagger, recently made his professional MMA debut, scoring an effortless first-round submission inside the Bellator cage. This sport has never had an abundance of heavyweight talent, so new prospects are always welcome, especially when they possess the drawing power and combat sports resume of Hager. It is very important not to confuse Jack Swagger with other WWE defectors who tried their luck in MMA. For example Phil “CM Punk” Brooks had an awful showing in the UFC and even in victory, Dave Bautista didn’t exactly set the world on fire. The difference is quite simple: Jake Hager has experience in combat sports, whereas those other guys do not.

It does not seem as if Jack Swagger is the second coming of Brock Lesnar, but he’s more like a Bobby Lashley when it comes to WWE superstars turned MMA fighters. In other words, as long as he stays motivated to train and compete inside the cage, he is a force to be reckoned with and may even find himself in (dare I say) title contention in the next 2-3 years. Stranger things have happened.

Katrina Mahoney

Twitter- @katrinajmahoney
Freelance Writer

David Martinez (3-0)

Martinez is a 3-0 lightweight product of Ignite/Gamebred in Queensland, Australia. “The Smiling Assassin” picked up his second professional TKO win last weekend at Coastal Combat 5 over late-replacement Iain Blade. Martinez, 25, is a demonstrated finisher with submissions being his usual MO. He’s a bit of a cheeky pick because although he has just three pro wins, his amateur record is an extensive 9-1-1, of which includes capturing the XFC amateur lightweight title.

Jay Jay Wilson (2-0)

Although just 2-0 (3-1 amateur), Jay Jay Wilson’s two professional fights have been on the global stage for Bellator. While appropriately matched, the 21-year-old Kiwi featherweight, who now resides in San Diego and trains out of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu, excelled in both bouts. Clocking just two and a half minutes of cage time combined, Wilson secured two first-round rear-naked choke finishes. Most astounding, though, is that Wilson made his debut under the most unbearable of circumstances. During his weight cut, he found out his older sister had tragically taken her own life. Somehow he had the fortitude to remain on the card and even come away with the victory.

John Brewin (4-1)

Another Kiwi abroad is 4-1 (3-1 amateur) lightweight John Brewin, who trains out of Bali MMA in Indonesia and fights for Brave CF. While Anas Siraj Mounir may have been too much for him in December, losing a close decision to the 7-1 Moroccan, the 25-year-old had taken out his three opponents prior via knockout. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on his upcoming fight with SBG product Cian Cowley next month at Brave CF 22.

Sandi Martin

Twitter- @sandimartinmma
Writer for Fight Post

Nakia “The Great” Brown (5-0/Amateur)

Brown is a 19-year-old featherweight fighting out of TWebb MMA in Louisiana. He’s got a perfect record of 5-0 and despite being young, he’s dynamic and exciting to watch. His athleticism and skill have really earned him a reputation as the guy to beat in this weight class. His five wins are all finishes, one rear-naked choke and several TKOs in the first round. He’s not looking to give the judges any work to do anytime soon.

Elliot “Be Good” Hebert (2-1/Amateur)

The crowds absolutely go wild for 29-year-old lightweight fighter Elliot “Be Good” Hebert, from the time he dances into the cage to Electric Avenue he has their attention. His first two amateur fights were easy KOs mere seconds into the first round, but his most recent fight at Bayou FC’s Capital City Fight Night was a three-round all-out war that tested him like never before. The fight against Yadier del Valle of Gracie Barra Westchase in Houston was a clear and easy choice for Fight of the Night honors and Hebert proved he can take it just as well as he can dish it out.

Rylan Melancon (2-0/Amateur)

“Smilin” Rylan Melancon at age 19 is already making a name for himself after a highlight-reel KO just seven seconds into his very first fight at Bayou FC’s Fightville 2 event. A bantamweight fighting out of Gladiators Academy in Lafayette under the expert tutelage of Tim Credeur, he’s already 2-0 with a fight confirmed for March 30 for Empire Fighting Championship, where he’ll face his most experienced competition yet.

Steve King

Twitter- @SteveKMMA
Check out his work for Cageside Press

Miranda Granger (5-0)

At just 26-years-old and 5-0 in her career, Miranda Granger is without a doubt one to watch. In all five of her professional fights, Granger has finished her opponent. Of those five fights, only one has gone into the second round. She has won by guillotine, rear-naked choke, punches, and an armbar twice. Once the cage doors close, Miranda Granger is vicious and incredibly dangerous. Don’t be surprised to see Miranda Granger in Invicta FC or even the UFC in the coming months. Wherever Granger lands, she is a future title contender!

Alesha Zappitella (5-0)

She might be tiny (4’11) and young (23) but she is ready for the big time. Alesha Zappitella has found a home in Invicta FC, where the atomweight division is very much alive and doing well. There is a plethora of talent on the Invicta roster fighting at 105, and Alesha Zappitella is one of the best. “Half Pint” is a grinder with a scrappy side. She comes to fight every time out and is willing to go to the ground and use her wrestling in order to get a win – much like Tatiana Suarez. Alesha Zappitella should be on everyone’s radar going into 2019 and beyond.

Garry Tonon (3-0)

With only three MMA fights in his career, Garry Tonon has shown exactly why he is a fighter on the rise and is the future. Tonon has shown to be diverse in the way he fights. His ground game is his bread and butter but he can very easily mix it up. In fact, one of his wins has come by ground-and-pound, which happened to be Tonon’s MMA debut. The other two wins were on the ground – as expected. But Garry Tonon isn’t a one-trick pony, he’s incredibly intelligent and will continue to learn MMA. There is no doubt Garry Tonon is part of the future of MMA.

I want to give these brilliant journalists a huge thanks for taking part in this. Please give all of them a follow on Twitter and check out their hard work.

The post The Future of MMA: Predicting the Next Greats appeared first on Cageside Press.

Not only was the UFC back in full swing over the weekend, but ONE Championship was a well, bringing a stacked card to Manila, Philippine’s Mall of Asia Arena. There, the Asian MMA powerhouse brought with it some powerful names: Tonon. Aoki. Renzo Gracie! It was enough to set the grappling world afire, but these were MMA bouts, plus a main event of Martin Nguyen facing Kevin Belingon for the promotion’s interim bantamweight title.

While Australia’s Nguyen would once again fall short in his pursuit of triple gold,  the aforementioned Tonon, Aoki, and Gracie all won big. As did Eduard Folayang, the former lightweight champ looking to reestablish himself at the top of the division.

Full results and a gallery of all the highlights can be found below!

ONE Championship: Reign of Kings Results

Kevin Belingon def. Martin Nguyen by unanimous decision – For the Interim ONE Bantamweight Championship
Shinya Aoki def. Shannon Wiratchai by TKO, Round 1, 2:16
Renzo Gracie def. Yuki Kondo by submission (rear naked choke), Round 2, 1:40
Eduard Folayang def. Aziz Pahrudinov by unanimous decision
Garry Tonon def. Rahul Raju by submission (rear naked choke), Round 3, 3:27
Armen Petrosyan def. Chris Ngimbi – ONE Super Series Kickboxing
Panicos Yusuf def. Han Zi Hao by unanimous decision – ONE Super Series Muay Thai

Preliminary Card

Joshua Pacio def. Pongsiri Mitsatit by submission (Hammerlock), Round 1, 3:37
Chamuaktong Fightermuaythai def. Brown Pinas by unanimous decision – ONE Super Series Muay Thai
Rene Catalan def. Stefer Rahardian by unanimous decision
Xie Bin def. Sor Sey by submission (D’arce choke), Round 1, 1:55

The post ONE Championship: Reign of Kings Gallery appeared first on Cageside Press.