EFC 38: Eight Prospects to Watch (Patreon)

EFC 38 airs this Tuesday in Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan. The card being so stacked and so early in the week, it deserves its own piece to highlight the best talent on the card.

Busurmankul Abdibait Uulu
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
28-years-old
Featherweight
13-3-1
6 KO/TKOs, 3 Submissions
Five-fight win streak
76-35-2 combined opponents record

Uulu’s last four fights went to a decision but on the other side has nine stoppages in the first round. He can stand and trade in a brawl, wrestle, and grapple all very well. Uulu has a bombshell of a right hand, heavy kicks, strong wresting, and solid ground and pound. Arguably the best prospect out of Kyrgyzstan. He fights the EFC featherweight champ Ruslan Yamanbaev (11-8-1). Despite a not-so-good-looking record, Yamanbaev has won his last five fights.

Rashid Vagabov
Makhachkala, Russia
23-years-old
Flyweight
8-1
5 KO/TKO
Six-fight win streak
38-17 combined opponents record

Vagabov hasn't lost a fight since September 2019. That was to Ruslan Sariev who is another good prospect. Vagabov with a background in combat sambo is a well-rounded athlete. A strong kickboxer on the feet Vagabov is an excellent wrestler. He's done a fantastic job exploding in from the outside and driving on the hips for the takedown. Letting guys rush in and use their momentum to take em down. Vagabov is a nightmare on top with dominant top control, solid jiu-jitsu, and nasty ground and pound. Russia has a lot of good flyweight prospects and Vagabov is flying under the radar. He fights the EFC flyweight champion Mansur Malachiev (9-0) who I haven't been too impressed with.

Georgy Shakhruramazanov
Novogagatli, Russia
25-years-old
Featherweight
10-0
3 KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions
29-8-1 combined opponents record

Shakhruramazanov is most known for his highlight-reel wheel kick knockout last fight. Shakhruramazanov is a super dynamic fighter with tons of athleticism and explosiveness. He loves to throw a lot of kicks from different angles and will use spinning attacks often. Such a puzzling fighter as it's hard to read what he's gonna throw. Shakhruramazanov has some underrated wrestling and grappling as well being able to hold his own if it goes there. He fights Rasul Magomedov (8-3) who is coming off a loss.

Imam-Shapi Mukhtarov
Astrakhan, Russia
25-years-old
Welterweight
9-0
7 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission
41-49 combined opponents record

Mukhtarov is an exciting prospect out of Russia with an undefeated record. He’s got a diverse kickboxing style throwing a lot of spinning attacks. He’s always throwing something different and looks very tricky. Mukhtarov has good judo as well and is just as good on the mat with his jiu-jitsu. He fights Maxim Konovalov (11-5) who is a good test but Mukhtarov seems on another level.

Abdurakhman Gitinovasov
Dagestan, Russia
31-years-old
Featherweight
7-1
Three-fight win streak
1 KO/TKO
31-14-3 combined opponents record

Russia has some excellent wrestlers but Dagestan produces high-level wrestlers and that's what Gitinovasov is. Gitinovasov is a relentless pressure wrestler who will shoot on the hips and get fights down as soon as possible. He's got a very good single leg and if he can't get it down from there he will adapt and chain-wrestle. Gitinovasov can just throw guys around for three rounds showing that freestyle wrestling. His top position could be better so he don't have to wrestler much but he is a talented guy. He fights Viktor Mitkov (11-6) who is a step down from who he's been fighting.

Imamshafi Aliev
Makhachkala, Russia
22-years-old
Middleweight
5-0
3 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission
6-5 combined opponents record

Aliev is a product out of the Club Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov's School. He's a very strong gritty wrestler. He will press guys against the cage beating them up in the clinch and working takedowns. Aliev is a good wrestler and a very powerful fighter. His last fight he showed knockout power knocking his opponent out with one punch. Well rounded but needs to work more on his striking defense and cardio. He fights Adis Taalaybek Uulu (6-2-2) who is coming off a loss.

Shamil Magomedov
Makhachkala, Russia
28-years-old
Bantamweight
12-2-1
1 KO/TKO, 5 Submissions
23-26-1 combined opponents record

Magomedov is another student of the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Magomedov ranks as a master of sport in combat sambo by achieving a world championship runner-up finish. He's a European champion and a won multiple Russian national championship titles as well. Magomedov relies on that wrestler and his lockdown top position. He holds five submission wins and that from being patien looking for openings and captalizing. He fights Bairam Shammadov (7-3) who has won his last four fights.

Shakhban Alkhasov
Makhachkala, Russia
24-years-old
Welterweight
4-0
3 KO/TKO, 1 Submission
6-7 combined opponents record

Alkhasov is another young fighter that's fought under the Khabib's father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. He's an impressive prospect who stands massively at welterweight towering at 6'3". Alkhasov will rush his way into the clinch to get the fight down using the body lock and trips. On top his length is in play using it to maintain control and use his ground and pound and find submissions. He fights Aleksey Shanin (5-1) who is his biggest test to date.