Top 10 prospects in action this week (Patreon)
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Flyweight, Jung Hyun Lee (7-0)
Lee is someone I would've liked to see in this ongoing Road to UFC tournament. I would favor him over most competing at 125 and arguably would pick him to win. If Lee isn't putting the lights out with his hands he will beat on you for three rounds. Lee has gone the distance three times so his cardio is solid. He's a really good striker with fast hands and good volume. Lee is explosive and uses a lot of feints to find openings. Not just his hands as he throws heavy leg kicks as well. He's someone I really like at 125. He fights Taiki Akiba (11-11-1).
Lightweight, Mike Figlak (7-0)
Poland-born and England-raised, Figlak is an undefeated lightweight for Cage Warriors. Figlak has been in MMA since he was only 15-years-old. He practiced in boxing and judo but MMA is what drew him to combat sports. Figlak is well-rounded. He’s knocked opponents out, won via ground and pound, went the distance, and won by submission as an amateur. He brings pressure, volume, and composure every time he competes. Figlak is a fierce striker. The power isn’t necessarily the danger rather it’s the volume and combinations he throws. Figlak fights Agy Sardari (15-3) who is a good test.
Bantamweight, Mehdi Baidulaev (13-2)
Baidulaev has flown under the radar in the Russian scene including by me. It wasn't until his last fight that I started to give him his deserved credit. Since losing to now UFC fighter Trevin Jones Baidulaev has won his last seven. Baidulaev is a volume striker on the feet but is a much better wrestler and grappler. His wrestling is really good. Being able to shoot in and cut the corner and get the body lock and throw guys around is superb. Baidulaev has five submission wins – attacking the neck is what he does very well. If it’s in a guillotine, d’arce, and taking the back for the RNC he goes for the neck. he fights Islam Meshev (12-4).
Featherweight, Tobias Harila (10-2)
Tobias "Bad Intention" Harila may not be the most technically sound but is one of the most action-packed prospects around. Harila has adapted though and when watching him from his early fights he improved a lot. Harila is the type of fighter you want to watch. He’s going to go out on his shield every time and win or lose, he’s going to make it rough. Harila is just not tough, as he has some real skills as well. His only loss in the last few years is to a top prospect in William Gomis. He has good striking with good power and most importantly his work rate is super impressive. Harila fights Samuel Bark (4-1) who is a good striker.
Flyweight, Lone'er Kavanagh (3-0)
Kavanagh was my first prospect of the week on my Patreon so obviously, I'm high on him. Kavanagh competed in K-1 and is a five-time world champion. He’s brought every single bit of that into his MMA career. He is from London, England, with a Chinese-Irish heritage. He trains out of Great Britain Top Team with many good fighters. Kavanagh is excessively fast specifically with his movement, hands, and his legs. The Englishman is a well-executed counter striker and has a good one-two. Kavanagh fights behind his kicks, setting the tone of his fights that way. He's got a rapid pace and always throwing in combinations and will go to the body actively. His in and out movement along with his explosiveness and deceptive power makes Kavanagh a dangerous man every second of the fight. You can read more on him on my prospect of the week I did on him two weeks ago. He fights Ander Sanchez (1-0) who he should blow the doors off of.
Featherweight, Dawid Śmiełowski (9-0)
Smielowski is contracted at featherweight but has competed mainly in catchweight bouts. Either way, he’s a big fighter standing at 6’1” — especially at 145. Smielowski is a highlight-reel fighter that's finished all of his fights; seven by KO/TKO and 2 by submission. Smielowski, being a tall rangy, fighter is a solid kickboxer. And while he can be technical, he’s a showman, throwing caution to the wind always looking for the kill shot. His takedown defense does need work but even off his back he’s shown to be at least promising. His grappling you don't see much of but it's improved over time. He fights Patryk Kaczmarczyk (8-1) who I also like a lot. I think Dawid wins but it's gonna be a good fight.
Middleweight, Will Currie (7-2)
Currie is a really good prospect that's only lost to the current Cage Warriors champ Christian Leroy Duncan twice. Currie is s primarily a grappler with a submission base. On the feet, he does have a diverse kickboxing style he's very dangerous with. As a pro, he’s finished with an RNC, arm-bar, americana, keylock, triangle, and an arm-triangle. Wrestling-wise he has good timing on his entries and has a strong body lock. Currie has been very impressive on the mat with that submission base, aggression, and smooth transitions. He's only 23 and he has a ton of upside. Currie fights Naglis Kanišauskas (5-1). Naglis isn't bad but Currie is on another level.
Bantamweight, Luke Riley (3-0)
Like Kavanagh, Luke Riley is one of the best young prospects on the come-up in the UK. He’s never lost a fight between a pro and amateur, being 7-0 combined. The story so far with Riley has been getting taken down, getting up, and knocking guys out. His striking is super clean and the bodywork is top-notch. Cage Warriors have someone special in Riley and I'm not the only one that believes that. Riley is only 23 and he's already got more hype behind him compared to more established
Lightweight, Si Won Park (6-0)
Park jumped out to me recently and will to more people if he wins this fight for the Road FC title. He trains out of Team Stun Gun under Dong Hyun Kim and other good fighters out of South Korea. Park has tools everywhere and shows a new wrinkle every time he fights. On the feet he has a good right-cross and perfect timing on his strikes. Defensively he's good too with good head movement. Park is slick on the mat and if he's on your back the RNC is natural to him. Park, I like but I'm on the fence with him. He fights Seung Mo Park (3-0).
Lightweight, George Hardwick (9-1)
Hardwick has won his last four not having lost since 2019. He had a stint in Bellator in 2020 and went 2-0. Now, he's in the main event of Cage Warriors this Friday attempting to win the vacant title. No matter where the fight takes Hardwick he’s going to be comfortable. He’s all about the volume on the feet throwing slick combinations to the body and head. Surgical on the inside with his hands and elbows in the clinch he will chop the legs at distance. Hardwick can wrestle as well. He can get takedowns on the legs and from the upper body. His jiu-jitsu is slick. He smoothly takes the back and right away locks in the body triangle. As a pro he’s really good at finding the neck of his opponent. Hardwick fights Kyle Driscoll (13-3) who is a tough opponent.