10 must signing for Contender Series this season (Patreon)

More than half the match-ups to season six have been made and some are still waiting for opponents like Dominique Wooding. According to my best estimate, it's around forty that still need to be announced or booked. Here are ten I believe are must for this season being the most well-deserved.

Bonfim brothers

I am basically cheating by listing two fighters but I'm considering these brothers as one. Both Gabriel (12-0) and Ismail (17-3) are two of the best prospects out in Brazil. Lightweight Ismael is on an eleven-fight win streak. Along with a good amount of MMA experience, he has competed in boxing as well. As an amateur boxer, his record was 24-3 and as a pro, it’s 4-1. His younger brother Gabriel is a weight class higher fighting at welterweight. He's undefeated and is LFA's welterweight champion. Both are UFC-level now so hopefully, we don't even have to see them go through the contender series.

Felipe Lima

Brazil’s Felipe Lima has a lot going for him. He’s a young man at 24-years-old. He trains out of Allstars Training Center where Khamzat Chimaev and many others call home. More importantly, Lima is the current Fight Club Rush bantamweight champion; a promotion on UFC FIght Pass. Lima is a stud at 135 and has looked outstanding thus far. He lost his pro debut and hasn't lost since. Lima is a good personality, young, and an exciting fighter. He would easily be one I would've booked from day one.

Blake Bilder

Bilder is the defending CFFC featherweight champion. CFFC is a staple promotion in New Jersey and one of the best shows aired on UFC Fight Pass. Bilder was highly thought of before even coming to CFFC as his debut for them was for the title. His two fights for CFFC have been memorable performances from Bilder. Bilder who was down on both those fights came back and got the finish. So much toughness and resilience and dog in Bilder it's just fantastic to watch. Bilder is deserving in all areas inside and outside of fighting.

Jack Jenkins

Jenkins is on a six-fight win streak and looking at the peak of his career. Before his current win streak, Jenkins lost two fights consecutively. He came back strong a few years ago and won the Eternal MMA featherweight title and defended it twice. Last December he added another title to his collection winning the Rogue MMA strap. We need more talent from Australia and I bet we do see Jenkins on this season. His record is too good and he's actually managed by Paradigm and we all know what kinda ties they have with the UFC.

Vinicius de Oliveira

Oliveira is the current UAE Warriors champion with one title defense under his belt. Really, he should just be signed straight out to the UFC.  He’s on a six-fight win streak and with his exciting style, he’s one of the most deserving prospects out there. Oliveira is an absolute wild man when he’s in the cage. He reminds you of a lesser version of fellow Brazilian UFC fighter Michal Pereira. Oliveira is an all-action freestyle-type athlete who will always put on a show. He’s a must-see when he steps into the cage. He screams contender series and he should be a must this season if VISA issues don't get in the way as it has in the past

Kirill Kornilov

Kornilov is a former kickboxer who has competed for Glory. With that experience in kickboxing, MMA seems to be the sport built for him. His counter striking, his jab, and his clinch work are things most heavyweights don’t possess at the level he does. His resume is pretty good, beating a lot of good names and more experienced fighters. Kornilov should be on the shortlist of being signed so the contender series should be the very least. Although I'm not sold on Kornilov myself but he does deserve something big.

Phumi Nkuta

The owner of the CFFC flyweight title is Phumi Nkuta. Nkuta is only 5-0 in his pro career but has looked apart. He trains out of Longo and Weidman MMA and they have a bright star on their hands regarding “Turbo.” He was an amateur regional champion too and went 5-0 so he’s 10-0 combined. Nkuta is at a level where he can compete towards the top level of the UFC today. With that said, being so young in his career it would be smart to get through a tough contender series fight first.

Dakota Ditcheva

Ditcheva has an extensive Muay Thai background and a very successful one at that. She is a British Muay Thai champion and a member of the British team that won the International Federation of Muay Thai Amateur World Championships in Jönköping, Sweden. She’s also a three-time world champion. Ditcheva has looked great in MMA and is 5-0 and went 4-0 as an amateur. She's one of the best female prospects in the world and she's only been fighting professionally for a year which says a lot. 

Manoel Sousa

Sousa is probably a shoo-in for the contender series this season. He's from Brazil but has been fighting in the US in his last two fights. Those two fights have been for CFFC and he's finished both inside two rounds. Sousa fought in Brazil for years he was actually tested, unlike others. Sousa has beat Mauricio Ruffy and Brendo Bispo who were massive tests at the time. He finished both those guys and has finished all his fights. Sousa is the real deal and would be such a good addition to the season. 

Ekaterina Shakalova

Ukraine’s Shakalova made quite the impact last year. With a win over a good prospect in Róża Gumienna and Jamila Sandora, while also beating former UFC fighter Izabela Badurek. Doing all that she capped it off starting this year winning the FEN bantamweight championship. Shakalova is a three-time grappling world champion and a four-time European grappling champion. She's fun to watch compete and is a finisher which fits the brand of the contender series perfectly. This one may be far fetches but hopefully, it happens.