Blind Reacting to Five MMA Prospects Vol. 8 (Patreon)

Heavyweight, Robelis Despaigne (1-0)

Pros

• Athletic

• Explosive

• Good kickboxing

• Knockout power

• Good leg kicks

Cons

• Struggles against the cage

• Hands low

Despaigne is only 1-0 in MMA but is a Cuban taekwondo practitioner. He won bronze in the 2012 Summer Olympics. He won other Bronze medals in the World Championships and gold in the Central American and Caribbean Games.

There isn't a lot to go off but is what you would look at in a heavyweight prospect. He has that substantial background so is experienced in combat sports. He's a massive dude at six-foot-seven and an 87.0" reach. Visibly he fits the bill as a high-caliber heavyweight.

Watching his pro debut his talent is easy to acknowledge. He's a powerful explosive fighter that can shut the lights out at any moment. That's stopping power in his hands and his kicks. His hands were held really low and I know it due to that taekwondo background but still not a good idea. He is a big dude some getting on the inside will be tough but his hands still need to be higher. My biggest knock is he doesn't know how to get off the cage. Despaigne defended both takedowns but I could tell a good wrestler could get him down.

I like his style and I'll be tuning into his next fight. With that said, he's already 33 so he's not gonna be anyone on my watch list. 

Flyweight, Moris Boleyan (6-0)

Pros

• Big submission threat

• Strong wrestling

• Good off his back

• Physically strong

• Aggressive ground game

• Quick

• Excellent back take

Cons

• Gets stuck on the outside

• Telagrapghs shots at times

• Suspect chin

• Easily hit

• Sloppy striking

I'm a flyweight advocate so watching Boleyan was a lot of fun. He's based out of Armenia but has been making a name for himself in Russia. In his latest fight a year ago he captured the AMC flyweight title. Boleyan has been fighting since 2018 so he hasn't been as active as you like. He is only 23 so time is completely on his side.

After watching tape on this guy it's pretty easy to tell he has a high-level ground game. If that's in top position or even on his back Boleyan is a nightmare to deal with. Boleyan is so comfortable with his jiu-jitsu that he will pull guard and will jump to submissions going to his back. His triangle is extremely slick off his back and really knows how to set it us fighting the risk and of course, putting guys to sleep. Boleyan is so good at taking the back as well and attacking the neck. The instincts on the neck in general is superb.

Outside of wrestling on the inside and high-level grappling Boleyan struggles everywhere else. Boleyan if forced to strike at range he's like a deer in the headlights. He doesn't have a good understanding of closing the distance as he will just lunge forward in straight lines. It seems when he gets hit clean it affects him visually. I'm not even sure his cardio is too good due to his fight with Anatoly he was slower in round two.

Boleyan with his deficiencies he's still an excellent grappler. Not to forget he's only 23. I have faith he can work on his stand-up being so young and in five years from now, he can be a real force. Boleyan right now reminds me of current UFC fighter Amir Albazi who is no slouch at all. I like the upside enough to add him to my watch list.

Welterweight, Abdurakhman Akimagomedov (11-1)

Pros

• Good wrestling

• Heavy top position

• Strikes to wrestle well

• Submission threat

• Well-conditioned

• Aggressive grappling transitions

• Physically strong

Cons

• One-dimensional

• Plodding footwork

• Over-extends at times

• Sits in the pocket too long

Akimagomedov is one of these traditional Dagestan wrestlers with a deep gas tank. Although that doesn't sound too appealing that's extremely hard to beat. He is a good wrestler and can time entries from the outside or shoot in and get it down from against the cage. On top he's actively moving and improving his position. Not only moving into the mount is he good at but likes the crucifix position as well.

Akimagomedov is heavy on top and actively working to not just improve his position but to finish. He's actively landing punches and moving then all of a sudden he has ahold of your neck. Defensively he's had his back taken but has never been in no real danger.

The problem with Akimagomedov is he hasn't cared to expand his skillset. He's a solid wrestler and really good on the ground but that's all. He can fight with a bounce to his step sometimes but a lot of times his footwork is blend. He can strike to close the distance but will reach with his strikes at times. Sometimes when he closed the range he waits too long to actually shoot.

Akimagomedov I like and is a good fighter but I don't see much special with him. It seems like he's someone with a plan A everytime he fights but if that doesn't work out he can't make those needed adjustments.

Strawweight, Jacinta Austin (3-0)

Pros

• Athletic

• Good right hand

• Constant volume

• Good use of the teep kick

• Nasty elbow

• Excellent clinch work

• Good wrestling

• Well-conditioned

• Decent grappling

• Forward pressure

• Good knees in the clinch

Cons

• No head movement

• No use of angles

• TDD needs a little work

• Will give up her back

Austin is only 3-0 in MMA but has a kickboxing and muay this background before switching over as a pro. She has a combined amateur record of 18-3 across all disciplines 19-3 and 7-1 as a pro. She's really been working on her craft rounding out her stand-up. On top of that Austin trained in jiu-jitsu to be strong in all elements. Even in her sole amateur fight, she lost she and later fought the same girl as a pro and dominated her. 

When I first watched Austin I saw a ton of flaws. Now, even though there are a few things she needs to improve she's tightened up so much so fast. For being a kickboxing and muay thai based fighter her grappling is pretty darn good. She isn't any top-notch grappler as she is still raw but has the capability to scramble, transition, and chase takedowns on top of it. 

With as much as Austin does; pressing the pace, keeping busy with output, and mixing in wrestling and grappling her tank is deep. In all three of her fights, she's gone the distance and has dominated for the most part. Austin when pressing forward is gonna fire that right hand and on the inside is a menace in the clinch. Her knees, elbows, control, and head positioning is so well down.

I didn't expect to add Austin to my watch list but I am. I'm a fan of her fighting style and at just 27 I think she has a high ceiling. She's already improved a lot so I expect a lot in the future.

Welterweight, Yoanse Mejias (2-0)

Pros

• Solid wrestling

• Active ground and pound

• Times entries well

• Aggressive

• Good upper-body takedowns

• Physically strong

Cons

• One-dimensional

• Lacks top control

Mejias came into MMA from a wrestling background. He's a Division-l wrestler out of Oklahoma University. That's exactly what Mejias is in MMA; a wrestler. There isn't a lot of footage on Mejias but in everything I watched of him he's on takedowns attempts right away and being relentless.

I can't really get a good read on him but seems he's a good athlete and is just 27. On the other side, it doesn't look like he has any striking yet. Mejias does train at the Goat Shed so he's training with a lot of explosive athletes. Nothing to be excited yet with him.