Top Ten Russian Prospects (FdrNphw exclusive) (Patreon)

I can talk all day about obscure fighters from Russia or raw prospects that might be something in a few years, but what people are interested the most in is the top of the prospect pyramid. So I made a top ten russian prospects list. Criteria used was: A) needs to be younger than 32 years of age B) has less than 25 pro fights C) represents Russia (no Bahrain fighters or Asaf Chopurov) D) isn't signed by ONE, UFC, Bellator or PFL.

Islam Omarov (15-0) - Undefeated ACA featherweight champion is the first name that comes to most peoples minds when talking about current Russian prospects and it's no different with me. His 15-0 record sounds good, but it looks even better when you take a more careful look. He's on the verge of cleaning out his division, with wins over five of the top six current contenders (two against other subjects of this article) and scheduled fight for September with the one he's yet to beat. He's favoured in that fight, versus another member of this list, and I fully expect him to win and officially clean out the top of his division.

Stereotypical Dagestani fighter whose goal is to take the fight to the ground and dominate on top from there. Excellent wrestler in the open or against the fence, that prefers to shoot when he has his right leg forward even tho he's an orthodox stance fighter. So he'll look to punch with his right hand, stepping with his right while he's doing so and shoot from there. He has excellent top control, which is his primary objective while he's on top. Control the fight, tire out the opponent, throw in some ground and pound in there and take the submission opportunity once it presents itself. Last four of his fights have ended on the ground, one via ground and pound and three via submission. Capable on the feet but he knows very well where his bread and butter is: the ground. You won't see him trying to appease the audience or chase a knockout on the feet.

Can't see anyone beating him in ACA anytime soon and as any other ACA fighter I don't see him leaving the promotion anytime soon as well...

Magomedrasul Gasanov (20-2) - Another ACA champion that has almost cleaned out the top of his division. At middleweight, Gasanov has beat four out of the top five ranked contenders with unscheduled meeting with lone 'survivor' of his reign bound to happen later this year as a final of ACA's middleweight Grand Prix. Additionally he has wins over two more members of the top ten ranking, LFA's middleweight champion, Azamat Bekoev, and one of the top heavyweight prospects in Russia. Yes, heavyweight. Currently at 20-2 and 29 years old he's at his peak so it's a bit weird to call him a prospect, but he fits the criteria.

Rasul is primarily a wrestler, but unlike Islam Omarov he's fine with striking with his opponents for long periods of time. Most used weapons are singular jabs, front kicks, low kicks right hook or straight with his right leg following thru. Off of it he'll either shot for a takedown or weave to the right and throw a left hook. Great clincher and transitional fighter that'll strike off of failed takedowns. His shots aren't spectacular but his finishing ability is, once he comes in contact with opponents hips his wrestling ability shines. Great at controlling their legs and chaining takedown techniques.

Current P4P king in Russia that would stylistically have a great shot at becoming a UFC champ, but will most likely retire as an ACA fighter.

Bibert Tumenov (13-2) - The younger cousin to ex-UFC fighter Albert Tumenov who has been one of the biggest stars in ACA for a few years now. His fighting style gets most credit for that. With an amateur boxing background in his pocket he's looking to knockout his opponents with fast and powerful punches. Unlike previous two fighters, he's not an ACA champion and never was one, but he is superbly skilled and entertaining fighter. Two losses that he has on his record are from, aforementioned Islam Omarov and current PFL fighter Timur Khizriev. No shame in those. A win that he has and is a recognisable name to a wider MMA fanbase is two time PFL champion Lance Palmer, whom he finished in the first round.

As I already mentioned, his goal is to keep the fight standing and get it in the boxing range. One of the ways Bibert will look to collapse the distance is his blitzing attacks. One such example is his blitzing left hook to the body on a circling opponent. He'll also reach out his hands luring his opponent into a hand-fight and once they oblige him and extend their hands, thus leaving their head open, he'll fire off quick combinations. He ain't afraid to take one to give one either, or more than one considering his speed advantage. Most beautiful example of his hand speed and power was in his finish of Aleksey Polpudnikov, that can be found on youtube.

Gunslinger that has had trouble making featherweight will most likely fight at 155 from now on and considering his stardom it'll be exclusively in ACA.

Yusuf Raisov (21-3) - A fighter that has been on the Russian scene for a long time now and has deservedly so become one of there biggest stars. Originally a featherweight prospect that you might've heard about did win ACA 145 lb title and moved up to lightweight immediately afterwards. He hasn't looked as good at 155 and is missing the one big name in his win column but skill level is undeniable.

Yusuf's best work comes when his on top of his opponent able to rain down ground and pound. One neat trick he uses to take down his opponents against the fence is this kickback to their standing leg.

https://x.com/fdrnphw/status/1822339763040334002?s=46

Now his ability to get his opponent to that position and keep them there is very good, but not automatic as maybe Khabib fans would expect from a Caucasus prospect. Top game grappling is definitely best part of his skillset, with bottom not being as good or adapted to MMA. He'll sometimes accept bottom position instead of looking to scramble immediately. All three of his losses came from fighters that outwrestled him. They were all good opponents (in Vartanyan's case an all-time great) but it's telling that he lost in the same manner. On the feet he's mostly a boxer, looking to block and counter. Nice jab and awkward looking low kicks are worth a mention as well.

He tried to get signed by US promotion few years ago but nothing came of it. Give his stardom he probably ain't ever leaving Russian fighting scene, which is a shame.

Amru Magomedov (8-0) - I have already wrote about this 'Team Khabib' fighter on Shawn's Patreon so I won't waste anyone's time here. There is one article I wrote specifically about him before his last fight happened and I again wrote about him in a review article of UAE Warriors card where he fought. Go check it out.

Muslim Magomedov (14-0) - Magomedov at light-heavyweight was an ACA champion prior to badly missing weight few months ago. With that info in mind and looking at his physique you'd get concerned about his seriousness and all I have to say to that is: welcome to the club. With extra body fat that he doesn't need some have suggested he could even make 185 if he trimmed that off. Even if that's not the case he shouldn't be missing 205 limit by 8 pounds! Light-heavyweight weight class in ACA is shallowest of them all and he's been dominating it. 

Wrestlers that was trained by Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov when he was young is his prototypical student that looks for takedowns against the fence. Acceptable results there are either a takedown or tiring out his opponent, which at 205 isn't that hard to do and is good objective at lower level. His go to takedowns are single legs. Usually running the pipe with it and adding a lift at the end if the first sequence doesn't work. Not gonna lie his striking is wild and sloppy but he's a wrestler that knows his strength and stick to his game-plan. He has finished 4 out of his last 5 fights but I can't lie to you and say he's an entertaining watch.

Would be a great addition to UFC's light-heavyweight division but he's in ACA and you already know the deal... He ain't leaving.

Magomed Zaynukov 6-0 - I wrote about him in the past on here as well, UAE Warriors 51 preview & review articles. Go check it out I don't fill like repeating myself to many times. I'll also drop this thread I wrote on twitter about him as well if you want an extensive info about him:

https://x.com/fdrnphw/status/1714759935433613598?s=46

I'll just say he's got realistic chance of signing with UFC next year and is my favourite from the list.

Aren Akopyan (17-3 )- ACA flyweight that hasn't been the champ yet but has impressed me more that ex champion, someone that he has a loss to and was considered for this list as well, Imran Bukuev.

Entertaining puncher at 125 isn't something you see every day, even tho his record doesn't suggest it, with only one TKO win in his last ten fights. Aren will fight from both stance with southpaw being the preferred one. He'll use his excellent head movement with his hooks to counter opponents punches. Great use of footwork while he's punching helps him as well to stay safe while he's swinging. When he initiates he likes to go for straight lefts to right hooks from southpaw. Shifting from one stance to the other while he's punching is also often used by him, especially overhand right with a shift from orthodox to the right hook in southpaw. Great sense for rhythm and transitional striking as well. A joy to watch. Offensive wrestling is also in his arsenal, just his striking is the special part of his skill set with wrestling being there to round it out.

I believe he can become a champion in ACA and it hinges on if his defensive wrestling holds up against wrestling heavy opposition.

Alikhan Suleymanov (16-4) - Ex-ACA featherweight champion that lost his title to Islam Omarov in a fun fight that was stopped in the second round, largely duo to Alikhan's inability to defend himself with an arm injury sustained in the fight. Alikhan even won the first round but it was still Omarov's fight. Since then the Chechen has bounced back with a UD win and is looking to get his rematch next year.

Grappler by trade Alikhan does his best work on top and ten wins by submission attest to that. Ground and pound is frequent but it's not most devastating, since he bury's his head in opponents chest rarely posturing up to add power to his strikes. One strike he does throw while on top of his opponent that I like is an elbow to their mid-section. Suleymanov isn't just gonna stay in opponent's guard whole fight content with control, he'll look to pass when opportunity is there. Passing to his right being the preferred direction. When we take a look at how he gets on top of his opponent aka his ability to take opponents down, the picture ain't so rosy. Taking shots from far away has been successful thus far but I have serious doubt that it'll be as he fights more any more wrestlers, like Omarov for example. As for his striking, it's fine for a grappler but he's quite vulnerable on the feet.

Kurban Taygibov (14-3) - Lastly the guy that will challenge Islam Omarov's throne in September. Ex amateur world champion from 2016 has fought most of his career in ACA, never challenging for a title until now. He was close few years a go but he broke his arm in a bout he was winning while trying to soften his landing. In his comeback fight he lost to the guy above, Alikhan Suleymanov in under two minutes via rear naked choke. Currently he's riding a four fight win streak and is in a final of ACA's featherweight Grand Prix.

Herky-jerky striker that holds his hands low and looks to draw out opponents attacks with feints and counter them with looping punches coming from odd angles. The trait of holding his hands low helps with those odd angles but it also leaves his chin open and opponent have found his chin in exchanges with him, it has held up thus-far. I need to mention his knees in clinch as he uses them very well. Offensive wrestling rounds out his game and has brought him victories against opponents of lower level, but I don't expect the same results vs division's best.