On Wednesday, van Roosmalen and his sister were struck by another vehicle at the side of the A2 motorway, one of the busiest in the Netherlands, after their car experienced a breakdown. According to reports in Dutch media, shortly after the breakdown, a truck collided with the pair, who were transported to hospital. Melissa van Roosmalen was later pronounced dead as a result of her injuries.

The driver of the truck was reportedly arrested following the accident.

GLORY kickboxing later released a statement offering their condolences to the van Roosmalen family following the incident.

The GLORY family is heartbroken to learn of Melissa Van Roosmalen’s passing and critical injuries sustained to Robin Van Roosmalen in a car accident. We send our deepest condolences to the Van Roosmalen family and their loved ones. pic.twitter.com/A1SMuCLMh4

— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) January 13, 2021

“The GLORY family is heartbroken to learn of Melissa van Roosmalen’s passing and critical injuries sustained to Robin van Roosmalen in a car accident. We send our deepest condolences to the van Roosmalen family and their loved ones,” the kickboxing promotion wrote in a statement on social media.

In a statement to Cageside Press, Bellator officials wrote that “We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic accident involving Robin van Roosmalen and his sister earlier today. Our thoughts are with Robin and his entire family during this difficult time.”

Robin van Roosmalen held both the featherweight and lightweight championships at various times in GLORY. The Dutch fighter was a two-time featherweight champion, and made multiple defenses of both his titles.

He officially competed in MMA twice, in 2016 and 2017, winning both of his fights. In 2019, the kickboxing champ signed with Bellator MMA, and was expected to make his debut at Bellator 232. However, after missing weight by nearly 10lbs, the fight was pulled from the card.

At the time, van Roosmalen told Cageside Press that he was completely focused on making the transition to MMA, and was even eying a possible cross-over fight with RIZIN. Following the cancellation of his October 2019 bout, van Roosmalen did not compete in 2020.

All of us at Cageside Press extend our condolences to the van Roosmalen family.

The post Kickboxer, Mixed Martial Artist Robin van Roosmalen Hospitalized, Sister Killed in Traffic Incident appeared first on Cageside Press.

Also on the card, notable names like Charlie Ward and Kiefer Crosbie. Before the trio of main card bouts went down, however, preliminary card action led to the way — with a women’s featherweight bout between Sinead Kavanagh and Katharina Lehner standing out in particular.

Lehner, a former Invicta FC bantamweight title challenger (against Sarah Kaufman), was looking to snap a two-fight skid in her Bellator debut. Kavanagh, meanwhile, was looking to make it two in a row, as she entered the fight off a win over Olga Rubin.

Also on the preliminary card Saturday in Milan, Carlo Pedersoli, Ashleigh Grimshaw, and kickboxer Robin van Roosmalen (bout cancelled due to COVID-19), among others.

Check back come fight time for full results from Bellator Europe 9’s preliminary card. A live stream of the action can be viewed above.

Bellator Europe 9 Preliminary Card Results

Sinead Kavanagh def. Katharina Lehner by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Aymard Guih def. Chris Bungard by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
Acoidan Duque def. Carlo Pedersoli Jr. by unanimous decision (29-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Gokhan Saricam def. Joffie Houlton by TKO (strikes), Round 1, 2:52
Andrew Fisher def. Ashleigh Grimshaw by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Kane Mousah def. Alessandro Botti by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
Asael Adjoudj def. Nathaniel Jessimer by TKO, Round 2, 2:58
Marek Jakimowicz def. Curtis Dodge by TKO, Round 1, 4:45

The post Bellator Europe 9 Preliminary Card Live Stream and Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Brave CF 43 | Thursday | Bahrain

Featherweight, Akhmed Shervaniev (14-1-1)

Shervaniev is a part of Akhmat Fight Club with the likes of many top Russian prospects. Shervaniev has four submission wins but he really wants to keep the fight on the feet and his excellent takedown defense really helps that. On the feet, you can always see him switching stances and throwing more than one strike. While he can be too patient at times, he is very accurate and quick. I really like everything Shervaniev does and I think he has a bright future. He fights Arman Popal (5-2).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syx_APlsvLs&ab_channel=FightClubAkhmat

Bantamweight, Bernardo Sopai (8-1)

Sopai is a product out of Allstars Gym Sweeden which is a fantastic team. Crazy enough, Sopai is only 20-years-old and a complete fighter already. On the feet, he has a muay thai background. The Albanian is a solid striker with excellent kicks and slick short combinations. He doesn’t really have knockout power but does throw a lot of volume and gives a lot of different looks. I’ve been impressed with the wrestling from the setups, speed, and his ability to slam guys to the mat. Sopai has three wins by submission and overall his grappling could be where he’s best at. This kid is a major problem with a bright future. He fights Gerson Pereira (12-7).

Featherweight, Anzor Abdulkhozhaev (10-1)

Anzor Abdulkhozhaev has just one loss as a pro; that was a little over four years ago. Now, Abdulkhozhaev is on a seven-fight win streak. On the feet, Anzor is a distance striker throwing at his preferred range. He throws a good one-two and good right hand. He frequently switches stances to give different looks. Anzor has some decent wrestling as well and has a dangerous guillotine choke. His takedown defense needs work though moving forward. He fights Soheil Davoodi (8-1).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU2vzHgo5R4&ab_channel=FightClubAkhmat

Bellator 247 | Thurday | Italy

Middleweight, Norbert Novenyi (4-0)

Novenyi is only 4-0 as a pro but had some experience as an amateur at 3-0 as well. He is a Hungarian, but he trains out of a top camp in the UK, London Shootfighters. Novenyi is primarily wrestler that has slick jiu-jitsu with three career submissions. He hasn’t stayed on the feet too much but has some nice footwork and a good kicking attack along with nicely cut angles showing his training with the London Shootfighters. The cardio does worry me so it will be interesting to see the longer his fight goes. He fights Laïd Zerhouni (7-5).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySVhG3EkXz0&ab_channel=FIGHTsportTV

Flyweight, Denise Kielholtz (5-2)

Despite only a 5-2 MMA record Denise Kielholtz is well-accomplished in other combat sports. She has a ton of experience in kickboxing (17-2) including winning the Bellator flyweight championship. Also, Denise has spent some time in Judo being a member of the 2008 Dutch Team Championships. Despite being well versed on the feet Kielholtz in her MMA career has three submission wins. She’s a good counter striker clipping her opponent coming in and finishing on the mat. She fights Kate Jackson (11-4-1).

Welterweight, Justin Burlinson (5-0)

Burlinson may be only 5-0 as a pro but this 23-year-old has a lot of experience as he went 15-1 as an amateur. Burlinson is a well-rounded talent that needs a little sharpening around the edges with takedown defense and at times, his striking. He has knockout power and good striking fundamentals but is better on the ground with effective jiu-jitsu. He’s a big threat with submissions holding thirteen career wins by that method. He fights Bobby Pallett (5-0).

Flyweight, Mandy Böhm (6-0)

From Germany, Mandy Bohm trains out of Straight Blast Ireland under John Kavanagh. On the feet, she’s good and long, throwing a variety of kicks. Bohm is solid in the clinch with Muay Thai along with some nasty elbows she uses often. She’s even better on the mat with exceptional wrestling to get it there. Still raw but has the talent. She fights Griet Eeckhout (5-3-1).

Welterweight, Uroš Jurišič (10-0)

Fighting out of Slovenia, Uros Jurisic is a savage of a fighter. He hasn’t fought in a while but has some good wins on his record including a win over Jose Caceres for the Titan FC title. Jurisic is a heavy handed wild man who will explode forward throwing heavy leather. He will draw guys in and then sling with some bad intention with everything he throws. Not just a striker, Jurisic has a good ground game as well with nasty ground and pound and some overall underrated grappling. He fights Walter Gahadza (10-0).

Bellator Euro Series 9 | Saturday | Italy

Featherweight, James Gallagher (10-1)

Gallagher fights at a karate stance but is a solid kickboxer. Gallagher is very unpredictable with his kicks he goes to the legs, body, and head and throws spinning kicks and throws with some heat. Even though he is so good on the feet, all of his best work is on the mat. James has very good wrestling and movement on the mat, he can get dominant positions, rain down ground and pound, and go for the chokes. He fights Cal Ellenor (8-2).

Welterweight, Kiefer Crosbie (8-1)

Crosbie is a product out of the Straight Blast Gym in Ireland, who has really turned his pro career around after a back-and-forth amateur career going 6-6. Crosbie isn’t great anywhere but he has some good qualities. His takedown defense could need some work but he is decent off his back. He could throw more on the feet but he does hit hard. What Crosbie does the best is land massive elbows as he has shown on the feet and on the mat. He also has some good clinch work. He still needs work but there has been a definite improvement. He fights Charlie Leary (16-11-1).

Lightweight, Robin van Roosmalen (2-0)

Robin van Roosmalen is a Dutch kickboxer who is a former Glory featherweight and lightweight champion. Roosmalen has a kickboxing record of 51-18. So far in his short MMA career, his takedown defense has been tested. He’s been taken down twice but in his second fight, it improved a lot. RVR is obviously dangerous on the feet showing one-punch knockout power, heavy kicks, and excellent shot selection. He fights Nauzet Trujillo (0-0).

EMMA 17 | Saturday | Ecuador

Welterweight, Michael Morales (9-0)

I will go on record to state that I’m not sold on Morales due to his poor level of competition. 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 doesn’t have the power but does have the output and volume. He fights Ricardo Centeno (6-5).

Featherweight, Aaron Cañarte (4-0)

Canarte is undefeated as a pro and went undefeated as an amateur going 5-0. Outside of MMA, Canarte has competed in kickboxing fighting for WGP. He has lights out power in his hands and some heavy kicks as well. He’s well-versed on the feet throwing together kicks and punches together. I’m not fully sold on him due to his lack of competition but his technical ability is good enough to keep an eye on. He fights Alex Fermin Cunuhay (1-3).

ACA 112 | Sunday | Russia

Flyweight, Imran Bukuev (11-1)

A product out of Akhmat Fight Club, Bukuev is a potential world-class flyweight prospect to keep your eyes on. Bukuev is at his best with his wrestling, where he is extremely strong, and the work on the mat is even better. He has five submissions including a flying triangle. Sometimes he can be a bit too flashy on the feet with one too many flying knees but he is very quick and moves very well. He fights Azamat Pshukov (6-1).

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

The post Weekly MMA Prospect Report: Brave, Bellator, and Beyond appeared first on Cageside Press.

There’s missing weight, and then there’s coming in at the next weight class up. Robin van Roosmalen (2-0), a kickboxing champ and GLORY veteran, had been scheduled to return to MMA against Chris Lencioni (5-2) at Bellator 232. The featherweight fight was expected to open the main card, but now, it’s off the card — after van Roosmalen missed weight by nearly ten pounds.

Per a report by MMA Junkie, Mohegan Tribe commission head Mike Mazzulli gave the okay for the fight to go ahead, with Lencioni and Bellator’s approval. However, van Roosmalen had weighed in at 155.25lbs despite featherweight maxing out at 146lbs for non-title fights. Faced with a much larger opponent and little upside, Lencioni declined the fight, and it was subsequently scratched.

Robin van Roosmalen was also notified by the commission that they would note the incident with the Association of Boxing Commissions, who will require him to fight at lightweight moving forward. Mazzulli is a past president of the ABC.

A featherweight and lightweight champion in Glory, van Roosmalen last fought in MMA in 2017. With the fight off the event, Baby Slice — a.k.a. Kevin Ferguson Jr. — has been bumped up to the main card.

Full weigh-in results are below.

Bellator 232: MacDonald vs. Lima Weigh-In Results

Main Card (DAZN, 10PM ET)

Rory MacDonald (c) (169.25) vs. Douglas Lima (169.25) – for welterweight title, welterweight tournament final
Saad Awad (173) vs. Paul Daley (174.75) – 175lb catchweight
Isaiah Chapman (136.25)* vs. Patrick Mix (136)
Manny Muro (160) vs. Nick Newell (159.75) – 160-pound catchweight
Craig Campbell (158) vs. Kevin Ferguson Jr. (160) – 160lb catchweight

Cris Lencioni (145.25) vs. Robin van Roosmalen (155.25)**

Preliminary Card (Cageside Press/Bellator App, 6:45PM ET)

Ryan Hardy Evans (170) vs. Demetrios Plaza (170)
Lance Gibson Jr. (155) vs. Dominic Jones (154.25)
Devin Powell (155.25) vs. Marcus Surin (155)
Dan Cormier (125.5) vs. John Lopez (124)
John Douma (135) vs. Jornel Lugo (136)
Zarrukh Adashev (125.5) vs. Tevin Dyce (125.25)

* Chapman missed weight, fined 20% of his purse

** van Roosmalen missed weight, fight cancelled.

The post Robin van Roosmalen Misses Weight, Off Bellator 232 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Ed Ruth. Steve Mowry. Mandel Nallo. Patrick Mix. These kids are alright. Well, maybe it’s a stretch to call some of them “kids.” Still, Bellator has plenty of prospects in action between Bellator 231 and Bellator 232 this weekend. With ONE Championship’s Dawn of Valor this Friday, a CES show, and more, there are lots of fresh names to look over.

And so once again, here’s our Weekly MMA Prospect Report.

One Championship | Friday | Indonesia

Bantamweight, Muin Gafurov (16-2)

Gafurov, born out of  Tajikistan, is a solid prospect at only 24-years-old. Gafurov is a 2014 Pankration and Grappling Champion and a 2013-2017 Combat Sambo World Champion. He’s well-rounded, and on the feet he has a flashy style, but he is quick and mainly relies on his athleticism. He’s better with his wrestling and on top, he has good jiu-jitsu. Most impressively, he has a 100% finish rate. He fights former UFC standout John Lineker (31-9). Gafurov is a huge underdog in this fight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc-2XVl6jiE

Welterweight, Tony Caruso (7-0)

We’re not too sold on Caruso but he has the well-roundedness to improve to a better fighter. He has a boxing background as a pro who is currently 4-1-1 and some experience in BJJ. Despite glimpses of his striking, Caruso has really got it done with his wrestling in his MMA career. He executes single-leg takedowns very well and on top he is heavy. He fights Pieter Buist (15-4) who does have a problem with his TDD.

CES 59 | Friday | Rhode Island

Light-heavyweight, William Knight (5-0)

Knight lacks technique but is super athletic and has a lot of power. He also lacks takedown defense, but is that guy who lands on top and becomes a nightmare with his ground and pound. He won his last fight on the Contender Series and earned a development deal so all eyes are on him. He did have a lot of issues, so it will be interesting to see how much he has improved. He fights Marvin Skipper (4-2) who he should beat.

Bellator 231 | Friday | Connecticut

Light Heavyweight, Karl Albrektsson (9-2)

Karl Albrektsson has only two losses in his career, both to stellar prospects Valentin Moldavsky and Jiri Prochazka. He has also beaten good competition such as former UFC fighter Josh Stansbury and top Bellator contender Vadim Nemkov. “King” has a background in BJJ and in Sanshou, in which he was the 2014 European champion. He isn’t too good on the feet, often fighting too stiff. He excels on the mat though, looking better in each fight. He fights the former champ Phil Davis (20-5) who is a big favorite to win this fight.

Welterweight, Jason Jackson (10-3)

Jackson’s three losses are to former UFC fighter Hayder Hassan and current UFC fighters Kyle Stewart and Colby Covington. He has a win over current UFC fighter Dhiego Lima. Jackson is a good striker who is technical with an excellent jab and a crushing right hand. This product out of the former Blackzilians gym is a very good wrestler as well being very well-rounded. He’s super athletic and at only 28, he’s got a high ceiling. He fights Ed Ruth (7-1).

Welterweight, Ed Ruth (7-1)

Ruth is a very accomplished wrestler. His accolades include 2012, 2013, 2014 NCAA D1 Wrestling Champion, a 4x All-American, and a 4x Big Ten Champion. With his wrestling background and training with top camp Jackson-Wink MMA, Ruth has really developed into a promising prospect. He has dominated in all of his wins as well, getting the easy takedown and the mount along with controlling the back position, showing off his BJJ skills. Ruth has also shown finishing ability with heavy ground n’ pound, and the wrestler has even scored a knockout by a punch and by a knee while he has been improving on the feet. He fights Jason Jackson (10-3).

Heavyweight, Steve Mowry (6-0)

Standing a 6’9″, Mowry has all the tools to be a dangerous guy at Heavyweight. Training out of Hard Knocks 365 the 27-year-old has plenty of time to develop into a more complete fighter. Though he’s only 6-0 as a pro, Mowry went 7-0 as an amateur with six wins by submission. He has some things to work on including his striking, which is improving, but overall he does a good job and stays long. Still, he is more effective in the clinch with knees. He has solid wrestling, being at his best once on the mat. And once there he has good jiu-jitsu for a big guy. He fights Gokhan Saricam (4-0) who lacks footage.

Lightweight, Mandel Nallo (7-0)

On the mat, Mandel Nallo is very slick with his grappling, allowing him to snatch up chokes easily as all four of his submission wins have come that way. Nallo’s standup isn’t bad, his striking isn’t great but his kicks are sound, he throws very hard and dangerously up through the middle or above the shoulder. It would be nice to see more of him, as he’s been very inactive. He fights Killys Mota (11-1) who is a good test.

Cage Warriors 109 | Saturday | UK

Lightweight, Jai Herbert (9-1)

Herbert has decent wrestling and good jiu-jitsu to fall back on but he is much more talented on the feet. He does a great job fighting long with an excellent tool set of kicks, punches, knees, and elbows. Herbert is dangerous in all aspects on the feet but his right hand is his money shot. Herbert really needs to work on his takedown defense as that is his biggest weakness. He fights former UFC fighter Chris Carrizosa (11-3) who has won his last five.

Welterweight, Madars Fleminas (6-0)

Only 6-0 as a pro, Fleminas went 9-1 as an amateur and won three titles. Fleminas on the feet is really good in the clinch with his knees. Still, you might expect him to be better since he has a long-range at 6’2″. He’s superb on the mat in top position with active ground and pound. Fleminas has solid cardio as well, and shows improvement in each fight. He could have a bright future if he learns how to put it all together. He fights George Hardwick (4-0) who is a solid litmus test.

Bellator 232 | Saturday | Connecticut

Lightweight, Robin van Roosmalen (2-0)

Robin van Roosmalen is a Dutch kickboxer who is a former Glory featherweight and lightweight champion. Roosmalen has a kickboxing record of 51-18. So far in his short MMA career, his takedown defense has been tested. He’s been taken down twice but in his second fight, it improved a lot. RVR is obviously dangerous on the feet showing one-punch knockout power, heavy kicks, and excellent shot selection. He fights Cris Lencioni (5-2) who is a good test at this point.

Bantamweight, Patrick Mix (11-0)

Undefeated as a pro, Mix also went 11-0 as an amateur. Mix is all about pressure and he is always moving forward, walking his opponent down. Mix has seven submissions with five rear-naked chokes showing he is more comfortable on the mat, but now, training out of Jackson-Wink MMA, he’s been improving every step of the way. He fights Isaiah Chapman (9-3).

The post Weekly MMA Prospect Report: Bellator’s Kids Are Alright appeared first on Cageside Press.

Dutch kickboxer Robin van Roosmalen has been readying himself for his return to MMA and his debut with Bellator MMA this weekend. Bellator 232 goes on Saturday, October 26 with the main card kicking off at 10:00 PM ET. The event emanates from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, and there, van Roosmalen takes on Cris Lencioni after a 31-month period of inactivity from MMA. The kickboxing savant seems ready to return with a bang.

Bellator 232

Van Roosmalen has been doing his due diligence in getting prepared for this comeback to the cage. Michael Johnson and Gilbert Burns are a couple of examples of guys he’s worked with. Opponent Lencioni will presumably take things to the ground with his Gracie Barra background, coupled with Robin’s impressive kickboxing acumen. Van Roosmalen is also a black belt in judo though.

When asked if he was excited to show off that part of this game, van Roosmalen said “I don’t want to prove anything. I just want to finish my fight as soon as possible. I don’t really care how it ends, bro.”

Van Roosmalen doesn’t have a super-comprehensive knowledge of Lencioni but instead mostly focuses on his own individual efforts. “I didn’t watch any of his fights to be honest,” he said. “I let my coaches watch the fight and let me adjust little things. But I’m just focusing on me. I’m a guy who adjusts in the fight and the way I feel things.”

Kickboxing to MMA

The obvious question for van Roosmlaen is in regards to his combat sports future. Bellator has both MMA and kickboxing brands which would seemingly work well for the Glory featherweight and lightweight titlist. For now though, it’s all about MMA. “Right now I’m just focused on MMA,” said Van Roosmalen. “If something special comes up, I might take it but for right now I’m focused on MMA.”

Van Roosmalen had other considerations beyond the dual MMA/ kickboxing brands when it came to signing with Bellator. Ultimately, he went with them, “I think because it’s a nice organization that really takes care of the fighters. They’ve got nice shows. I think the level of that is one of the best in the world.”

Grand Prix action and Rizin

There was some dialogue about being in the featherweight grand prix early on. Scott Coker’s initial twitter announcement of van Roosmalen’s signing seemed to imply some involvement in the million dollar MMA tournament. Those plans ended up being put on the back burner, but that’s not to say it’s an impossibility for the future.

“Yeah it has been discussed but I would like to wait right now with the single fight,” said Van Roosmalen. “My last MMA fight was 2017 and like I said it’s a whole different game. If I wanted to go in a grand prix, I wanted to at least have a little fight before. Just to get the feeling and everything. Maybe next year.”

Bellator and Rizin’s relationship is interesting to observe through the lens of the van Roosmalen family lineage. Robin’s dad William fought in Pride FC back in the day. This presents a chance for both father and son to have significant combat sports moments over in Japan. Van Roosmalen didn’t seem to have the same level of enthusiasm with the overall idea, but did indicate some level of interest in fighting for Rizin eventually.

He said, “No really. Right now I’m just focusing on my own career. If Bellator wants to let me fight with Rizin next, I’m cool with that. But it’s just for me.” Van Roosmalen kept it succinct with the parting thoughts. He quipped, “I’m just thankful for my team and coaches. That’s really all.”

The post Bellator 232’s Robin van Roosmalen: “If Bellator Wants to Let Me Fight with Rizin Next, I’m Cool with That” appeared first on Cageside Press.

Bellator has added some more striking power to its roster. Following the likes of Joe Schilling and Gokhan Saki to MMA, Robin van Roosmalen is the latest decorated kickboxer to make the switch in sports. Bellator CEO Scott Coker announced that he had signed the two-weight class champion on Tuesday.

Pleased to announce @RobinVRoosmalen has signed with @BellatorMMA.

Get ready for the upcoming featherweight grand prix. 😉 pic.twitter.com/oLQn03NQao

— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) May 28, 2019

Right off the bat, Coker added “get ready for the upcoming featherweight grand prix” — a hint at exactly when van Roosmalen will make his debut.

The Dutch kickboxer, 29, actually has two MMA bouts under his belt already – both wins. He has not competed in the sport since 2017, however. To date, he has been best known for winning belts in two weight classes in GLORY — earning both the featherweight and lightweight titles in the kickboxing organization.

The Bellator featherweight world grand prix, meanwhile, is expected to kick off in October. Sixteen men will start out in the tournament, with the first round of action taking place in a single night, a significant change from recent grand prix tournaments in the promotion.

Names expected to take part in the tournament include double-champ Patricio Pitbull, undefeated phenom A.J. McKee, former champ Daniel Straus, and more.

The post GLORY Double Champ Robin van Roosmalen Signs with Bellator MMA appeared first on Cageside Press.

Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series was recently confirmed as returning for a third season, not that there was ever any question. As an entry path into the UFC, the show has proven popular thus far. The third season will kick off in June or July, and interest should be high.

In this piece, we feature 25 prospects believed worthy of a spot on the Contender Series Season 3. Left out will be fighters that fought on the previous two seasons, though some may return.

Raufeon Stots

Bantamweight | 30 | West Allis, Wisconsin | 11-1 | Win Streak: 3 | 3 KO/TKO, 3 Submissions

It’s seems crazy that Raufeon Stots isn’t on the big stage yet because he is simply too good for the regional circuit. Stots is now signed with LFA and is not even fighting for their title. Fighting for a brand like LFA though will only increase his shot at making it on this season. His only loss is to UFC fighter Merab Dvalishvili, but in his own right, he has some good wins over tough regional competition. Stots is a former NCAA Division II wrestling national champion at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He’s well-rounded and one of the best bantamweight prospects in the US. “Supa” is also training out of a top camp in Roufusport MMA.

Miles Johns

Bantamweight | 24 | Dallas, Texas | 8-0 | 2 KO/TKO, 2 Submissions

Miles Johns is a product out of the rising camp that is Fortis MMA. Johns is another LFA fighter who is 5-0 with the promotion including Legacy FC fights. Accurately labeled as a boxer/wrestler, Johns is very well-rounded. How great would it be to have Johns fight Raufeon Stots headlining a Contender Series episode? Check out a more in-depth preview on Johns from when he was 7-0 here.

Christien Savoie

Welterweight | 26 | Rothesay, New Brunswick, Canada | 7-0 | 5 KO/TKO

Christien Savoie was contracted to fight on the Contender Series last season, but an injury held him back. Since then, Savoie has won a title for the Elite 1 MMA promotion. Savoie is mainly a grinder who will push the pace in close quarters. He wants to take the fight to the mat where his ground-and-pound is excellent, landing good shots at a solid rate from a short distance.

Josh Harvey

Featherweight | 28 | Bangor, Maine | 6-0-1 | 2 KO/TKO, 4 Submissions

Josh Harvey has only one fight that went the distance on his record, which came against TUF 27 finalist Joe Giannetti. The fight was scored a draw, but many thought Harvey easily won 29-28. Harvey has spent a lot of his time on the feet, and has shown some promise despite being pretty green. He’s better once the fight gets to the mat since his wrestling is better than that of most fighters. He has good timing on his shots, so getting takedowns isn’t usually an issue.

Phil Caracappa

Bantamweight | 26 | Freehold, New Jersey | 8-0 | 2 KO/TKO

Phil Caracappa started wrestling at a young age all the way up to high school and later transitioned into MMA. He is now undefeated as a pro and is the Ring of Combat champion. He also has a big title defense against former UFC fighter Louis Gaudinot. While wrestling would be his best aspect, on top of that, he brings good top control with solid jiu-jitsu. His stand-up is still a work in progress but he has steady volume and solid technique. Caracappa has three title defenses and has shown he is worthy of a spot on the Contender Series.

Troy Lamson

Welterweight | 27 | East Lansing, Michigan | 12-2 | Win streak: 6 | 4 KO/TKO, 6 Submissions

Troy Lamson has a lot of experience with 14 pro fights and 17 amateur fights (17-0). In 2016, Lamson would drop two fights in a row, but to his defense, they were against two solid regional prospects in Justin Jaynes and Nick Browne. Since the two losses, Lamson has won his next six fights, winning a regional title in the process. Lamson is an excellent wrestler having wrestled at Michigan State University. The wrestling has translated nicely to MMA thus far. Lamson doesn’t tend to strike much but he holds power. He finds it much easier to get the takedowns, get the back, and unleash ground-and-pound.

Nathan Maness

Bantamweight | 27 | Henderson, Kentucky | 10-0 | 3 KO/TKO, 2 Submissions

Nathan Maness became a prospect to watch last September when he beat highly-touted prospect Jesse Arnett. In that fight, he would become the TKO champion. He is currently signed with TKO but only has one fight left on his contract, which lines him up perfectly to take a Contender Series fight. He’s an excellent wrestler who has been improving in each fight.

Kyle Daukaus

Middleweight | 26 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 6-0 | 6 Submissions

Daukaus is only 6-0 but it was his fight last February when he beat Jonavin Webb. Webb was a former UFC fighter who was on a 4-fight win streak before losing to Daukaus. He has a 100% finish rate with all his stoppages by submission, all by a choke. Daukaus is a good striker and an even better wrestler/grappler. He’s a no-brainer for the contender series.

Pat Sabatini

Featherweight | 28 | Pennsylvania | 10-2 | Win streak- 2 | 8 Submissions

Sabatini has two losses but they are to Robert Watley and Jose Mariscal who are two top prospects. Last December he won the CFFC title and looked better than he ever did. Sabatini does have a background in grappling, competing in competitions like No-Gi, and has experience in combat sambo as well. Sabatini is clearly dangerous on the mat with eight finishes all coming by submission.

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