Top 10 prospects in action this week (Patreon)

Bantamweight, Amun Cosme (4-0)

From Milledgeville, Georgia Amun Cosme is someone I'm very excited about. He doesn't have a good name on his resume yet but beating Alexey Fedoseev was pretty impressive. Cosme is an excellent striker with even better jiu-jitsu. A wide range of skills that I think could go far. He's got good movement and excellent head movement while cutting angles well. All things you wouldn't expect to have a guy with just five pro fights to have. He has good wrestling and strong jiu-jitsu. Not just a submission threat as his elbows are nasty. Cosme I think is the real deal. He fights Diego Gomez Manzur (5-0) who is undefeated but unknown for the most part.

Welterweight, Islam Dulatov (6-1)

Since losing his first fight, Dulatov hasn’t lost again winning his next six bouts. He's finished all his opponents and five of those he finished in under a minute. Dulatov is huge at 6’6″ and uses his length to his advantage. He’s a really rangy guy with a good jab and straight punches. He makes opponents pay coming in with step-in knees and is just difficult to close the distance on. There haven't been hardly any concerns with him yet but that can be because he's finishing fights so quickly. He fights Kleverson Sampaio (12-7) who is probably his toughest test to date.

Bantamweight, Gamzat Magomedov (6-1)

Finally, Magomedov is back in the cage after being away from the sport for a full year. In his last fight, Magomed knocked off red-hot prospect Mochamed Machaev in the first round. Magomedov trains out of KHK MMA Team under Brave CF super lightweight champ Eldar Eldarov. Before turning pro, Magomedov closed out 2017 winning the IMMAF gold medal at bantamweight. He was 2-0 before he lost for the only time to UFC fighter JP Buys. Since that, he’s won his next four and has looked great. With how Buys is doing in the UFC it makes Magomedov’s loss to him look a bit worse. With any doubt, he’s had the hype go right back up finishing Machaev in under a minute. Magomedov is a solid wrestler being his bread and butter dating back to his amateur run. His frantic knockout against Machaev gives some insurance he can hold his own on the feet. Magomedov fights Borislav Nikolić (9-1) who I've scouted before and think Magomedov should win.

Featherweight, Ashton Kirby (pro debut)

Kirby is making his long-awaited pro debut after a long successful amateur career. Kirby went 11-1 as an amateur and won a few regional titles. Now, he will be making his pro debut on a big stage for LFA. Kirby is primarily a wrestler, and his striking is improving. On the feet, Kirby has that “herky-jerky” style, throwing a lot of flashy attacks while using a lot of feints. He is explosive and he has a strong right hand he throws. Kirby stays busy and it helps his takedown entries. He is a strong wrestler, getting on the inside and landing emphatic takedowns. His grappling is where he shines. He is a very aggressive grappler, easily passing guard, gliding on top. His back take is insanely quick. Kirby has a dangerous RNC and he will attack triangles, kimuras, armbars, etc. I would put him as a huge submission threat no matter where he’s at. He takes on Kallum Parker (1-0) which is a complete mismatch.

Middleweight, Torrez Finney (2-0)

Finney grew up wrestling and playing football.  When he signed up for wrestling he thought it was WWE. You can tell the passion too as he elevates guys and slams them to the mat. Finney looks terrifying being jacked from head to toe. His striking is limited but has knockout power and throws well to close the distance. He isn't someone you won't a hold onto you as he will lift you high and put you down hard. Finney is freakishly strong but does have solid wrestling even being able to chain wrestle when needed. He fights Justin Dorsey (1-2) who is a decent test.

Lightweight, Nick Fiore (4-0)

Fiore is a member of the New England Cartel training with the likes of former UFC fighters Rob Font and Calvin Kattar. Alongside MMA Fiore often competes in various jiu-jitsu competitions. Jiu-jitsu competitions where Fiore finds a lot of success. I’m not certain what my expectations are on Fiore. He’s a really good jiu-jitsu guy but his stand-up, in general, is questionable. Even his wrestling I’m not sure of. He’s really good at getting the fight down from the clinch but in space, it’s still a question mark. With all that said I’m not saying his striking is bad or even his defense. He usually takes his opponents down so quickly that you never see his stand-up. Grappling on the other hand with what he’s shown so far is superb. Going from takedowns to dominant positions so quickly is impressive. He scrambles really well and will attack submission to submission. Fiore will actively throw ground and pound to get the eventual stoppage or soften up his opponent. He fights George Sheppard (15-13).

Featherweight, Elijah Johns (8-2)

Johns is the younger brother of UFC fighter Miles Johns and another product out of Fortis MMA. On the feet, Johns is aggressive and strikes well to close the distance. He’ll close the distance to use his wrestling and showcase some dangerous knees. On the outside, though he has a good jab and throws nice straight punches. Johns does have excellent wrestling, good ground and pound, and scrambles good. He's had two setbacks but it's two fights he would probably win a rematch in. I'm not sold on Johns but he is one of the best prospects this week. Johns is fighting Masuto Kawana (5-1) who I can't find much on.

Heavyweight, Junior Tafa (1-0)

Tafa is only 1-0 in MMA but is known for his time in kickboxing. His kickboxing record is 23-5 and most notable fought in Glory. The best thing is he has all that experience and is still just 25. In his MMA debut, his takedown defense held up nicely, and ended up getting the knockout at a little over a minute. He was a little sloppy but the skillset is definitely there. Tafa beat a guy that had seven fights as a pro too. In this fight he's moving up to heavyweight and fighting Kelvin Fitial (15-12 -2). I feel with a win or two more he will be fast-tracked to the UFC.

Featherweight, Tom Pagliarulo (3-1)

Pagliarulo I had my eyes on last year but did lose a split decision setting him back. I still think he's got potential at just 25. The 6’0″ Pagliarulo is a real problem and he showed that in his prior fights. He has good movement and snipes on the outside with his punches and kicks. He has a stong stiff jab and a power right hand he loves to knock guys silly with. Pagliarulo is also apart of the New England Cartel with Rob Font and Calvin Kattar. The potential is all there, it's just how he responds after that loss.

Light-heavyweight, Michael Smolik (4-0)

Smolik was a multiple-time world champion as an amateur in kickboxing. In the World Kickboxing and Karate Union, he was a professional world champion. He fought once for Glory but then retired and has been in MMA since. Only moving to MMA last year, he’s 4-0 already. Smolik is the athletic technical fighter the division doesn’t see as much. You don’t see a lot of big guys in MMA that are light on their feet and quick. Smolik fits that bill as a real differentiating factor in the division. Along with his kickboxing, he’s got all the physical and athletic ability to go far. He fights Edilson França (8-7).