Before Their Relevant: Roland Dunlap (Patreon)

Roland "The Dream" Dunlap is an undefeated middleweight prospect with a 2-0 professional record. The 28-year-old out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin trains with Roufusport along with guys like Emmanuel Sanchez, Raufeon Stots, Brendan Allen, Gerald Meerschaert, and many more top fighters. The 6'3" wrestler has been in MMA since 2015. He built up a 6-1 record before he went pro in 2018.

The former US marine, Roland Dunlap before coming into MMA was competing in wrestling at a high level.  He won two 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 - the same school Corey Anderson went to. Along with that wrestling upbringing his father was a high-level karate black belt.  Dunlap has been around combat sports his entire life.

Even with his extensive wrestling background, you may be surprised to see him in the cage fighting out of a classic karate stance. 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.  Fighting with his lead right leg forward he will do a lot of action with long straight punches but it's his left cross that is very sniper-like. 

The problem with a lot of karate fighters in the way they hold their hands low and their chin in the air. Dunlap hasn't fully mastered the karate style like Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson has. He's managed to not allow himself to get flustered when getting hit and instead seems to get even stronger. 

Where Dunlap shines is when he uses his wrestlers. Dunlap does nice work changing levels as his opponents come forward to engage. He sneaks under punches to get ahold of the legs to left guys up and slam them to the mat. That showed in his last fight with that highlight-reel slam knockout but he's done that many times in his career. There may be some room for improvement when it comes to chain wrestle. He has so much success as a wrestler for a reason so even though it hasn't shown on a full stage his wrestling seems legit.

If you date back to his amateur career where his sole loss is to Jamal Pogues. Pogues currently is a thriving light-heavyweight prospect so no shame in that loss.  Bringing the karate style and the wrestling he has to the table not only makes him a good prospect but it makes him exciting to watch.