Top 10 prospect in action this week (Patreon)

Flyweight, Tianhao Feng (15-2-1) - WLF MMA 71:
Feng is coming off a flying knee knockout over former Pancrase flyweight champion Ryuichi Miki. Feng is a rare prospect from China I actually like. He has a good record and is on a thirteen-fight win streak. Feng isn't the cleanest striker but is a tornado with straightforward volume. He's powerful, explosive, and dangerous in all aspects. Sure, he needs to be more technical to excel but for now, it's worked for him.

Featherweight, Jose Delano (13-3) - LFA 179:
Delano probably would've made it to the UFC if he beat Gabriel Santos last year. He is a good fighter and could make it to the UFC as long as he keeps making weight and winning fights. elano is he isn’t great anywhere but is good everywhere and very good defensively. Also, his cardio is good enough that he can fight at a solid pace for five rounds. Delano is never gonna make waves anywhere but is only gonna be heated by legit fighters.

Welterweight, Michael Oliveira (6-0): - LFA 179:
I've been on Oliveira since he was 2-0. He's been just destroying guys but that's also my worry. We don't know anything outside of his power. He has so many questions that need to be answered. That being said, it's proven he's a feared striker with his power. Outside of that I like his timing and vision with his striking.

Bantamweight, Lucia Szabová (6-0) - Oktagon 55:
Szabová is finally back after giving birth serving a two-year layoff. Szabova, although with little experience in MMA, has a ton in Muay Thai. She has a 39-5 record in Muay Thai and is a national champion. The Muay Thai has shown out so far for Szabova, but she’s actually had just as much success on the mat. Still, with an underrated ground game, she prefers to keep the fight standing. In the clinch, she does excellent work with knees and smashing elbows.

Lightweight, Yuji Yannick Ephoeviga (6-0) - Shooto 2024 Vol. 3:
Ephoeviga is a big athletic lightweight who's looked solid so far. He's at his best on the mat where he can showcase his jiu-jitsu. On the feet, he at least has good length and useful movement. Not sold but he has the tools to be good from what I've seen. A win here should get him something like a road to UFC opportunity.

Lightweight, David Zoula (3-0) - IAF 11:
I've been high on Zoula ever since he was an amateur.. He has good experience and fought a few good records like 6-0, 8-0, and 4-0. Zoula has gone the distance more than anything and those fights have been one-sided. He hasn’t shown much of his striking, but throws good kicks and uses that to set up his takedowns. Zoula does have some solid wrestling skills as well; being able to drive in on the hips, cut the corner, and finish a big takedown.

Bantamweight, Nicoly Pedroza (5-0) - LFA 179:
Pedroza didn't look to good her last fight but it was more so her not pressing the action enough at all. She does need work like being put against the cage and footwork. Pedroza is in her realm in space throwing straight punches, one-twos, and a lot of kicks. When she opens up she can be an eventually UFC fighter. A win here would be huge especially being in a division that lacks talent.

Heavyweight, Julius Walker (2-0) - Synergy FC 12:
Every time there may be a heavyweight prospect with a good record we have to take notice. With Walker, he is 2-0 as a pro and he went 7-3 as an amateur. He's also come from playing basketball so he's a heavyweight that's in shape. To top it off he's a primary wrestler which is a tool because most heavyweights can't wrestle. Now, his striking is suspect but his wrestling is solid and so is his GNP and grappling. He's only 24 as well.

Strawweight, Natalia Alves (5-0) - LFA 179:
Alves has been on my radar for a bit but hasn't fought good competition. She's finally gonna be tested in her LFA debut against a solid opponent. With Alves, she's been getting the takedowns and showcasing dominant jiu-jitsu. I like the way she chases takedowns with the single leg and trips. Alves is aggressive on top attacking submissions. She's solid at moving into dominant positions and working from there.

Welterweight, Richard Martins (7-1) - LFA 179:
Martins has come into his own the last four years but really made me a fan when he knocked out Joao Paulo Silva. I do like him and he gets better as the fight goes defensively and puts it all together. I've heard from some people close to him that Martins is a beast in the gym and it's translated to the cage.