ONE Championship | Singapore | Friday

Lightweight, Christian Lee (15-3)

After a failed title shot in 2018, Lee rebounded and when he moved to welterweight (lightweight under the ONE weight system) he won a title. Lee is excellent on the feet, being quick and dynamic with outstanding footwork. He covers distance quickly and has some dangerous power is everything he throws. His abilities on the mat are there when needed, holding four submission wins to date. At only 23, Lee is already a star for ONE Championship. Imagine where he’s going to be in, say, five years. He’s well-rounded, has solid cardio, and gets better in every fight. He fights Rae Yoon Ok (15-3).

ACA 129 | Russia | Friday

Lightweight, Pavel Gordeev (18-2)

Gordeev has shown he is a promising prospect, beating four undefeated fighters, former UFC fighter Mickael Lebout and Shane Campbell, and other solid competition. Gordeev is mainly a striker who loves to use the jab often. The Russian has good long straight punches and his speed can be a real factor. Gordeev has also shown the ability to land at a high rate as well. His wrestling is decent enough to be effective with good scrambles and an active ground game. He fights Zhorabek Tesheboev (8-2).

Future MMA 13 | Brazil | Friday

Middleweight, Claudio Ribeiro (8-2)

Outside of his pro debut, his only loss is a split decision in 2018. Ribeiro brings a wild approach slinging wild looping punches. He’s a wild man but with a lot of power in his hands. Not just in his hands as Ribeiro throws thunderous leg kicks as well. Ribeiro is someone you don’t want to rush in on as he will catch you. Not someone to sit in the pocket and trade with either because his knockout power is dangerous. He fights Kelles Albuquerque (24-20).

Flyweight, Wellington Souza (8-1)

Souza is an exciting young prospect out of Brazil. He’s competed in some jiu-jitsu competitions but it’s his stand-up that has impressed. Souza throws heavy leg kicks and fights long very well. He throws wide but throws in twos. What makes him dangerous is his explosiveness. Souza likes to throw the flying knee and has a dangerous head kick he’s landed with a few times. Not completely sold on him but he’s worth watching. He fights Eduardo Henrique da Silva (7-1).

Featherweight, Jean Silva (8-2)

Silva is on a five-fight win streak since his last loss in early 2018. In all eight of his wins, Silva has a 100% finish rate. Silva is fast, athletic, powerful, and explosive. There are concerns about his takedown defense. He does a good job at least getting back to his feet and can end the fight at any point when he has space. Silva has the ability to go to air for the flying knee, sit down on heavy punches, attack with kicks, and grab a hold of the neck. Not sure if he’s at a high level but he’s at that excitement level. Silva fights John David (8-3).

LFA 115 | US | Friday

Light heavyweight Joshua Silveira (5-0)

Silveira trains out of American Top Team under head coach and his father, Conan Silveira. He’s currently 5-0 and went 4-0 as an amateur, so he does have good experience. 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 to watch for. He fights Tee Cummins (3-0).

Light heavyweight, Tee Cummins (4-0)

Although Cummins isn’t experienced much in pro MMA, he has also dabbled in some bare-knuckle boxing for BKFC going 2-0. Cummins has displayed technical ability, patience, and finishing ability. That trifecta isn’t seen much at 205. In his last fight he was able to prove he can wrestler and end the fight with ground and pound. A lot still needs to be seen from Cummins, but he’s looked really good recently. Watching his old fights he’s improved quickly. He fights Josh Silveira (4-0).

Lightweight, Lucas Clay (7-1)

Lucas Clay has wins over good prospects like Brant Moore, JJ Okanovich, and Mike Breeden. On the feet, he’s still green but at least fights long. Clay is a grappler and mostly a submission artist. Both his submission wins are from a rare buggy choke. He is too willing to fight off his back but in the same sense, that’s where he’s most dangerous. There’s a lot Clay can improve on but he’s definitely worth a watch. He fights Jake Kozorosky (5-1).

Featherweight, Edwin Cooper Jr. (4-1)

Cooper is a three-time Illinois high school state champ, an NJCAA National Champ, a D2 finalist, and he was a national qualifier at the University of Iowa. His sole loss came by a submission where the ref made a mistake saying Cooper tapped. Cooper is a top-level wrestler. To wrestle is his intention in every fight as it should be. He’s very aggressive, strong, and crafty. Cooper has a deep gas tank being able to impose his will on you constantly. He’s got lock-down top control and some good ground and pound when the opening is there. He fights Andrew D Johnson (2-0-1).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOS7ZPXvWQY&t=1180s

Middleweight, Roland Dunlap (2-0)

Dunlap is someone that’s been on my radar ever since he was an amateur. Dunlap has won two wrestling state titles in high school and had a career record of 159-9. He went on to be a three-time All-American and wrestled D3 in the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. Along with that wrestling upbringing, his father was a high-level karate black belt. Dunlap fights very loosely and very long. He’ll throw a lot of kicks and he’ll attack with both legs attacking each side of his opponent. Where Dunlap shines is when he uses his wrestling. Dunlap does nice work changing levels as his opponents come forward to engage. He sneaks under punches to get a hold of the legs to lift guys up and slam them to the mat. To read my more in-depth piece on Dunlap click here. He fights Ryot Waller (3-6).

The post Weekly MMA Prospect Report: Christian Lee Looks to Continue His Reign appeared first on Cageside Press.

 OKTAGON 27 | Slovakia | Saturday

Featherweight, Vojto Barborik (13-1)

Currently on an eleven-fight win streak, Vojto Barborik’s only loss is to a good fighter in Tomas Deak. Barborik is primarily a wrestler who chains together his takedown attempts well. He’s a monster on top with active and heavy ground and pound. He’s very sound with nasty elbows and heavy hammer fists. Barborik doesn’t have many TKO stoppages mind you as ten of his wins are via submission. He fights the well-known Ivan Buchinger (38-7).

Eternal MMA 61 | Australia | Saturday

Lightweight, Daniel Hill (5-0)

Not far into his career Hill has stopped a lot of momentum from other countrymen. He was the one to snap a five-fight win streak from Josh Togo. He also beat David Martinez who is a solid prospect. Hill is well-rounded and gets better as the fight goes. He gets taken down and hit a lot but never goes away. Hill has good striking and will take damage to get in a few shots. He’s even better on the mat. He will take any position given to him. Not a great fighter anywhere but so tough. Hill fights Jack Becker (8-2).

ACA 128 | Belarus | Saturday

Bantamweight, Vazha Tsiptauri (10-1-1)

Tsiptauri is a native out of Georgia who is an underrated prospect. He’s a really well-rounded dangerous guy who is tough to figure out. Tsiptauri is a ball of output always throwing something. He’s really kick-heavy on the feet but never lets off the gas. He kicks more than he punches but puts it together well. Tsiptauri is a solid wrestler too. His timing on his shots is off what he does on the feet. He blends it all together so well. Tsiptauri is a very capable grappler. He is a submission threat and is always working to improve his position. He has it all. Tsiptauri fights Ruslan Abiltarov (23-10-1).

Open Fighting Championship | Russia | Saturday

Welterweight, Sharaf Davlatmurodov (18-3-1)

Davlatmurodov is a fun fighter with a lot of good experience. He has wins over some good competition and has lost to only solid fighters. On the feet, Davlatmurodov throws a lot of volume throwing with different patterns and mixing it up very well. He has good kickboxing and from the outside has real good long striking. Mixing it up, Davlatmurodov will explode on the hips taking his opponents down. At times he can be too aggressive on the mat but he has RNC’s for a reason. He’s really good. Mostly he just needs to improve small things— but the takedown defense should be his biggest concern. He fights Yasubey Enomoto (22-12).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QNF7kTb7sY&t=3s

The post Weekly MMA Prospect Report: A Short Week appeared first on Cageside Press.

PFL #5 | Thursday | US

Light heavyweight, Marthin Hamlet Nielsen (7-1)

Hamlet has a background as a Greco-Roman wrestler and has wrestled since a young age. He’s won a few championships along the way with an Olympic scholarship. His only loss is to UFC fighter Modestas Bukauskas. Hamlet is a tank of a wrestler being able to throw guys around. Once on the mat, he is in his world. His ground and pound is really good and he has a strong submission base. He fights Cory Hendricks (7-3).

AMC 102 | Friday | Russia

Light heavyweight, Armen Petrosyan (4-0)

Petrosyan is a kickboxer so on the feet at range is where he’s comfortable. He does struggle with takedown defense and getting opponents off of him. Once he does though, and he gets separation, Petrosyan can finish the fight at any time. He fights behind kicks to set everything up. He’ll chop away at the lead leg and then go to the body and head. He has a good jab and snapping long punches. Overall if he can tighten up his defense Petrosyan is going to be a problem. He fights Hasan Yousefi (6-4-1).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZLj4Tw_N0o&t=412s

Middleweight, David Barkhudaryan (12-3)

Barkhudaryan is mainly a striker and a very dangerous one. 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 six-fight win streak and looking at the peak of his career. He fights Vyacheslav Vasilevskiy (35-8).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk-ryTkiMns

EFC 37 | Kazakhstan | Friday

Welterweight, Shakhban Alkhasov (4-0)

Like many Dagestanians, Alkhasov is primarily a talented grappler. Most of his takedowns come from body locks and inside trips. His wrestling could be better when it comes to getting takedowns in open spaces. Alkhasov is raw on the feet but he is good at utilizing his kicks, going right upstairs which is rather impressive given his own 6’3″ height. He fights Yuriy Ermolenko (3-3).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMDXcI0rYOQ

UAE Warriors 20 | Abu Dhabi | Friday

Featherweight, Martun Mezhlumyan (11-2)

Mezhlumyan seems to be a promising prospect but fight footage does lack on the young Armenian. He has that killer instinct from the bell to the finish. Throwing output from the beginning Mezhlumyan really loves to throw his lead elbow over and over. He’s tricky with his style and a dangerous guy all around. He fights Attila Korkmaz (11-5).

Welterweight, Daniel Skibińsk (17-5)

Since a pair of losses in mid-2016, Skibinski has won his next eleven fights. Outside of MMA, he was an ADCC Polish Championship in 2019 and won gold in No-Gi in Poland. Skibinski has strong wrestling with heavy top control. He’s a grinder with a good gas tank going the distance in ten of his wins. He’s not the flashiest fighter but has a high fight IQ and is really dominant. He fights Acoidan Duque (16-2).

Flyweight, Lucrezia Ria (8-2)

Ria is a long fighter who uses her reach well. She throws a lot of output in bursts and hits really hard. Although she is exceptionally good on the feet she is even better on the mat. All her finishes are by submission and she is dangerous on top or off her back. She’s one of the best prospects out of Italy. She fights Carolina Jimenez (6-0).

Welterweight, Amiran Gogoladze (11-1)

Gogoladze is a highlight-reel finisher on both the feet and on the mat. He is extremely slick on the mat, especially off his back. He’s a sharp submission hunter and that shows with three submission victories by three different submissions. He’ll utilize a lot of feints on the feet which sets up the eventual finish. Gogoladze throws a dangerous head kick and is just very tricky and explosive. He fights Handesson Ferreira (15-3-1).

Oktagon 25 | Czech Republic | Saturday

Heavyweight, Martin Buday (7-1)

Buday is a prospect that’s stood out in the last few years. He is arguably the best prospect out of the Europe Eastern. Besides being 7-1 as a pro he went 3-0 as an amateur. Outside of MMA, Buday is a 2x IBJJF European NoGi champion and an ISFA European grappling champion. Buday doesn’t have any special qualities, but his forward pressure and ability to cut off angles has served him well. He doesn’t hit hard but has good timing when he throws. He’s not fast but uses effective footwork. While he’s not the most explosive heavyweight, he is still on a six-fight win streak with all six wins being finishes. He fights Kamil Minda (7-1).

The post Weekly MMA Prospect Report: A Hodge-Podge of Promotions In Action 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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