Best Prospects Performances From June (Patreon)

Featherweight, Fabricio de Andrade (8-2)

Andrade blew past a talented Won Il Kwon in just a little over a minute. The Brazilian was bouncing around throwing actively and throwing different strikes every time. Andrade was quick with his straight jab and was using his left kick going to the legs, head, and body. He has Kwon frazzled and didn't see a body kick coming. A body kick that landed and crippled Kwon and the fight was all over. Grade: A

Heavyweight, Marcus Buchecha (3-0)

Buchecha continues to dominant in MMA. In under a minute he hit a power double leg to get the fight down. He methodically moved to mount and from there it was all over. He landed heavy grounded punches and his opponent wasn't moving so the ref would step in. So far this guy looks unstoppable. Grade: A

Heavyweight, Ben Tynan (2-0)

Tynan had a good opponent in his LFA debut in Trevor Wallace. Tynan treated the fight as a walk in the park. It didn't take Tynan long to rush forward putting Wallace on his back. Tynan took the back and pinned the arm of Wallace behind him and locked in and finished with an arm-traingle. A real threat at heavyweight.
Grade: A

Featherweight, Jose Delano (11-2)

Honestly, I've avoided writing about Delano just because I wasn't high on him. Now with him beating Jonas Bilharinho and beating Michael Stack recently for the LFA title I'm gonna give him respect. What does it for Delano is he isn't great anywhere but is good everywhere and so good defensively. Also, his cardio is so good and his pace can be fought at for five rounds. Stack is a tough dude and Delano took it to him. The big issue is although Delano won his last two fights he missed weight. Those fights were for the title so Delano has no hardware for his performances. Although he's looked good that all goes away if you cant make the weight.
Grade: B-

Welterweight, Haris Talundžić (5-0)

Talundzic continues to look good with another dominant win. A tough win to fighting a guy that had no footage making it hard to game plan for. Talundzic fought smart throwing a lot of kicks on the outside and picking his strikes. He mixed in a few takedowns and even had the back on a few occasions. His gas tank held up and was always one step ahead in this fight.
Grade: B+

Welterweight, Mansur Abdurzakov (7-3)

This was the first time watching Abdurzakov and he looked pretty good. Right away it was his footwork that stood out. He was cutting the cage off and landing the better shots. The output could've been better but he was patient and had his opponent frozen. When round two came Abdurzakov eventually got a takedown. Quickly he took the back and finished with an RNC. Good win but I do think he could've opened up more and his opponent was 9-4.
Grade: C

Lightweight, Losene Keita (9-0)

Keita had a huge step up in competition taking on the 46-fight veteran Ivan Buchinger. Keita was on a mission from the start. While the fight ended in three minutes Keita stuffed all six takedowns sprawling perfectly. As Buchinger was failing on them takedowns Keita was making his pay mainly with that right hand. When Buchinger came in sloppy Keita shook him with a left. As Buchinger was in la la land Keita clubbed him with some hooks putting him away. This is the first time Buchinger has been stopped in the first round since 2017. To make everything better this was for the Oktagon title. Keita is the real deal.
Grade: A+

Featherweight, Don Shainis (13-3)

Shainis had to go through some adversity early. Wanting to scrap he was throwing wild. He paid for it getting caught and was on skates for a second. He did recover and in an exchange sneaked through an uppercut that stunned his opponent. Shainis shoved the guy down and once on top it was all "Shameless". Shainis easily transitioned into mount and landed a lot of elbows and punches. The ref stepped in and as the opponent didn't like it he was saved from any further damage. Shainis doesn't look like much of a fighter but is on a five-fight win streak with a decent-looking resume.
Grade: C+

Flyweight, Paris Moran (7-1)

Moran is unlike any other flyweight. Like he did in this fight he fights super technically picking away with the jab and fighting off angles. Anthony Do the opponent pressed forward the whole time but into the jab and the left hand. Moran dropped Do twice in round one with that straight left. He landed it frequently through three rounds. Moran made it so difficult for Do in Space busting his face up controlling the distance perfectly. He might not fight with that speed and explosiveness other 125er do but he has it when he needs it.
Grade: A+

Lightweight, Sam Kilmer (4-0)

Easy work from the young 21-year-old Sam Kilmer. In under thirty seconds, Kilmer shot in on the legs, turned the corner, and got the takedown. A really good takedown from the jiu-jitsu kid. Kilmer into side control had his knee on the body threating the mount. His opponent turned away allowing Kilmer to take the back. Locked down and nowhere to go a few elbows and punches had the ref stop it. Even the guy tapped cause he knew he wasn't getting away. Unbeaten as a pro so a step-up in competition is needed.
Grade: A

Flyweight, Azat Maksum (15-0)

Maksum is one of the best flyweight prospects but lacks good names on his record. Alan Gabriel is a good name and Maksum dominated him. He did drop Gabriel in the first round but it was the top control that won him the fight. Maksum was crashing the pocket with combinations and mixing in takedowns. Although Gabrial has a good guard Maksum stayed on top landing actively. It's time to get Maksum in the UFC.
Grade: A

Featherweight, Harry Hardwick (8-3-1)

This was a great fight between Hardwick and Pasquali. In round one Hardwich was doing well until he got dropped and beat up with some ground and pound. Pasquali didn't get the finish and Hardwick picked it up from there. He walked Pasquali down and landed knees and hooks to the body and threw elbows. Hardwick had Pasquali curled up against the cage on many occasions. Hardwick mixed in a few takedowns as well. The fight was ruled a draw but thought Hardwick clearly won.
Grade: B

Featherweight, William Gomis (10-2)

Gomis cruised to an easy decision win. I will say I wish he could've finished that guy who was coming in on the super short notice quicker. Gomis did show his elite clinch work beating up the Brazilian in close quarters. He even showed some wrestling as well. In round three when he got the takedown he landed a bunch of hammer fist eventually sending the ref in. It wasn't a great stoppage but the guy just sat there not trying to escape at all.
Grade: B-

Middleweight, Akhmed Salamov (5-1)

A clinical performance for Salamov to win the Ares FC middleweight title. He also handed the fighter from Pere his first loss but it was evident he didn't belong in the cage with the new champ. Salamov took Galindo down with a double leg. He right away transitioned to the back where eventually he finished with the RNC. Looks like the real deal at 185.
Grade: A

Welterweight, Abdoul Abdouraguimov (15-1)

Abdouraguimov defended his Ares FC title for the first time beating veteran Karl Amoussou. Not just beating Amoussou but he battered him. Abdouraguimov got the takedown early. He was all over Amoussou on top and looked like he was gonna ride to a round two. In the final seconds of the round, Abdouraguimov went off in the guard landing massive ground and pound including smashing elbows. Amoussou survived the round but his face was busted up and never got off the stool. Such a great win.
Grade: A+

Bantamweight, Gamlet Aslanov (4-0)

This was my first time watching Aslanov and there is some interest in him. Aslanov was a bit sloppy on the feet but did hurt his opponent in round two with a knee. He used his wrestling to get the fight in his control. In round one he got two takedowns and one in a high crotch he lifted and slammed his opponent. He got the takedown in round two and unanswered ground and pound sent the ref in. The wrestling looked great.
Grade: B-

Flyweight, Sagyn Kazbek (3-0)

Coming off a submission win in his prior fight it was clear he was aiming to knock his opponent's head off. The guy he was fighting wasn't shying away from a scrap be he should've. In an exchange, Kazbek dropped him briefly with a right hook. Kazbek was moving in and out with power hooks having light footwork. Dropping the guy with a right hook he put him on his hands and knees with a short left. Awesome knockout and looks like a fun addition to 125.
Grade: B

Featherweight, Aibek Nurseit (8-3-1)

This fight didn't even last thirty seconds and Nurseit closed the show. His opponent carelessly rushing in with punches and got clubbed with a right hook. Nurseit capitalized with three huge grounded punches putting him out. It was actually the first punch that put him out. Impressive win but lets hope we see more next time.
Grade: B-

Bantamweight, Otar Tanzilov (6-0)

A walk in the park for Tanzilov. The first shot he threw was a head kick and it had his opponent shaken and shooting for a takedown. Tanzilov let him back to the feet and landed a body kick that shut his opponent down for the finish. Such a sniping performance from the young man out of Georgia. Let's get him some tough competition up next.
Grade: A-

Lightweight, Tyrime Da Silva (3-0)

Silva got the quick finish in under a minute in a one-sided fight. He got the takedown in the opening seconds and then jumped right into the mount. His opponent gave up his back. As it looked like Silva was gonna fall off the back he sunk in the RNC and the fight was all over.
Grade: C+

Light-heavyweight, Yuri Panferov (3-0)

The fight didn't last long as Panferov remains undefeated with three first-round submissions. He was whiffing a lot of shots on the feet getting a bit wild. When he closed the distance he tripped his opponent down. As the guy tried to scramble Panferov trapped the neck. With no hooks even in at first, he still got the guy to tap.
Grade: C+

Bantamweight, Ashiek Ajim (6-1)

Ajim fought a tough dude in Baataryn Azjavkhlan and he got it done in under a minute. Azjavkhlan shot in on a single leg from the start and Ajim used a guillotine to counter. In what he had in for a while he rolled Azjavkhlan to his back a few times. In what seemed like Azjavkhlan was too tough Ajim went into the mounted guillotine and he tapped. Ajim is not the next CES bantamweight champion.
Grade: B

Bantamweight, Erick Castro (4-1)

This was my first time watching Castro and I was impressed with his hands. He first made impact with a nasty knee framing off in the clinch. He swarmed with a lot of ground and pound until he let him back up. As soon as he did Castro hit him with a nice right hook to a brutal left shovel hook for the stoppage. Really clean striking but still not 100% sold yet.
Grade: B-

Flyweight, Eduardo Castro (6-0)

Castro from the start maintained his distance with a series of kicks. He closed it very quickly with a flush flying switch knee. It dropped his opponent and as he got back up Castro dropped for a guillotine. At a minute flat, his opponent was forced to tap.
Grade: B

Middleweight, Edson Souza (4-0)

Perhaps a promising prospect at 185 in Brazil being the country's weakest division. Souza opened up ducking under a punch and landing a nice double leg takedown. From there he was super aggressive. He took the mount right away and then onto the back. He slipped off the back but used a heel hook to scramble. From there he took the back again and that time finished with an RNC. Really smooth and aggressive BJJ from Silva.
Grade: B+

Featherweight, Kevin Vallejos (6-0)

The young man from Argentina continues to look good getting his fourth first-round stoppage. In under a minute Vallejos dropped his opponent with a counter-right hook. He swung to the back and unloaded ground and pound until the ref stepped in. This is now his second finish in under a minute. It's time for him to get a fight with a tougher opponent next.
Grade: C+

Heavyweight, Oleg Popov (15-1)

This was a sad performance by Bigfoot Silva as Popov mauled him. In round one Popov got three takedowns and frequently landed ground and pound. The damage added up causing a cut on Silva early on. After being dominated on the mat in round one in round two he walked into a right hand. The right put Silva stiff and the winner was Popov. Beating Silva is no big deal but it is another good name on the resume of Popov.
Grade: A

Flyweight, Alan Martinez (5-0)

Nobody has been able to survive five minutes with Martinez and it was no different here. Martinez got the takedown a minute in and it's known his jiu-jitsu is smothering. When the fight was grounded Martinez was hanging over the back landing punches. Superglue on top he was in full control and never let up throwing until the ref stepped in. Dominant performance but he hasn't fought anyone good at all.
Grade: B

Bantamweight, Raul Rosas Jr. (5-0)

Rosales ran through his opponent to maintain his unblemished record. He got the quick takedown and on top went to mount. From there he was landing punches and his opponent couldn't escape. The fight was stopped and Rosas looks really good.
Grade: B

Bantamweight, Bella Mir (3-0)

A lot of eyes are on Bella being the daughter of Frank Mir. Bella got the fight down fast with a double leg. She passed right into side control and then into the mount. Bella was patient until the opening was there for the armbar where she finished. She is now 3-0 with two finished in the first round. With a continued slow build she can really be something.
Grade: B-

Bantamweight, Rakhim Midaev (10-1)

Moving his win streak to six Midaev threw a bit of everything in this one. He was aggressive cutting off the cage and throwing a bunch of flashy kicks like switch kicks and a tornado kick. He dropped his opponent after some clubbing pushes and a knee. Midaev passed to side control and locked in an arm triangle. He was on the opposite side of the body but still got his foe to tap. Exciting but he's gonna have to pace himself better.
Grade: B

Bantamweight, Akhmadkhan Elmurzaev (5-0)

He let his opponent come forward to time a takedown entry and get the takedown. Elmurzaev wasted no time slicing through the guard and taking the back to finish with the RNC. A very quick transition and lightning-fast finish once the neck was available. That's now three RNCs in the first round consecutively.
Grade: B-

Heavyweight, Michael Smolik (4-0)

I didn't catch the full fight but did a pretty good portion. The big mad threw a few spinng kicks. Although they didn't land there was some speed behind them. A lot of the fight played in the clinch until he got the takedown. When that happened it wasn't long until he got the mount and got the TKO finish. An interesting heavyweight prospect.
Grade: B-

Lightweight, James Power (4-0)

Power took the "0" of Ryan Shelley finishing him in the second. Power marched him down landing leg kicks and power punches, He was making Shelley pay with his hands low. Shelley did take Power down in the second. Power had to fight through an anaconda choke but did get back to his feet. When that happened Shelley was spent and Power picked it up. Power continued to walk him down landing hooks and knees. Shelley was still standing but barely and the ref would save him from any further damage.
Grade: B

Bantamweight, Caolan Loughran (6-0)

Loughran looked great and this was meant to be a stiff test. Mainly someone that is billed as a wrestler/grappler he showed a lot of striking. He threw a lot of volume throwing a lot of constant combinations going to the body as well. He was using a lot of feints and was giving his opponent a lot to think about. Loughran was doing so well on the feet he was striking to close the distance. He got the fight down in round one and ended on the back. In round two he interlaced the legs of his opponent and unloaded punches. The ref would step in to stop a one-sided performance.
Grade: A+