Blind Reacting to Five MMA Prospects Vol. 10 (Patreon)

Flyweight, Lucas Fenômeno (14-1)

Pros

• Good output 
• Nice leg kicks 
• Credible wrestling 
• Good ground and pound  
• Scrambles well 
• Good bodywork 
• Complacent jiu-jitsu

Cons

• Questionable chin 
• Hands too wide/low

Rocha is a flyweight so I was excited to get into the tape on him. He's got a good record and has beaten a few good-enough fighters. His sole loss isn't a bad one to Alan Gabriel but did get knocked the fuck out. Since that he's won four in a row.

Rocha is a dangerous striker and can be a danger to himself as well. He's been knocked clean out before and dropped in other fights. As an offensive striker, he has a lot of qualities. With a little bit of power, he throws chopping leg kicks and does a solid job at attacking the body. Rocha, you will see him actively throw body-head combinations. His problem is his hand placement defensively. Rocha tends to fight with a wide stance and sometimes the stance drops. He leaves too many openings in space and is vulnerable when coming forward. It's nothing that will just keep letting him fail as I do think it's something he'll improve on.

On the mat I think the book is still open. The wrestling and grappling have looked fine but the level is uncertain. I rate the wrestling slightly more than the grappling. In the Jiu Jitsu, I've seen Rocha make good moves but have also seen him lose positions he shouldn't; have.

I like Rocha but I'm just not sold on him. I need one more fight from him to get more of a read on him.

Featherweight, Karolina Sobek (4-0)

Pros

• Constant pressure 
• Good output  
• Physically strong 
• Good cardio 
• Submission threat

Cons

• Engages in straight lines
• 50/50 takedown attempts
• No head movement/Easily hit
• Loose in grappling positions
• Sluggish striking

Sobek is one of the few women's featherweights that's been thriving. She has an 8-4 amateur record and won various titles. As a pro she's undefeated and her last two fights are good wins.

Sobek is well-rounded in the sense that she's capable of doing fine anywhere the fight goes. On the feet, Sobek is pressure-heavy with good output. She walks into strikes and her head movement is a big concern. As she is able to make it a messy fight she's usually wearing a lot of damage. Sobek will be able to make girls wilt under her pressure but defending punches with your face can only take you so far.

Sobek is arguably better on the mat and to take it there always seems to be her main goal. The problem is she only likes to use those 50/50 head and arm throws. It's worked out for her some but a lot of times she's not able to hold her position. The opponent either escapes or gets a dominant position on her. Her ground game to me is really suspect. She's good at locking in that scarf hold arm lock but that's only gonna work at a certain level in MMA. Her grappling is decent at best. Her grappling transitions are fine but her top position is lacking.

I see Sobek as someone that could do well but only cause 145 is barely alive. Her inability to move her head, lackluster wrestling, poor footwork, and being too slow will hurt her in the long run.

Lightweight, Aleksandr Vertko (12-1)

Pros

• Dangerous in exchanges
• Explosive
• Strong ground and pound
• Excellent knees
• Aggressive

Cons

• Can be wreckless
• TDD needs some work
• Slows in the late rounds

Russia's Vertko is a dangerous man to fight. Vertko is Russian-born but has been living out of Germany for years. His sole defeat came in 2015 and hasn't lost since winning ten consecutively. In his most recent fight, he won the NFC (National Fighting Championship) lightweight strap.

Even though the pros barely outweigh the cons he's looked solid. He is reckless in his approach but it's a part of his style. Vertko is gonna come forward intending on ending the fight. The technical striking could be straightened out but so far his pressure and explosiveness have made up for it. Nothing worries me too bad about him on the feet. I will say his inability to not get drug into a scrap could cost him in the future.

Some deficiencies that he has is takedown defense and cardio but not too concerning. Vertko does slow later in fights but he's gone the distance five times and won all five times. I've seen Vertko get taken down but I've seen him defend more takedowns than not. The man is just at the age of 26 so he has plenty of time to right the ship.

Featherweight, Matheus Camilo (4-2)

Pros

• Good bodywork
• Deceptive power
• Quick hands
• Good ground and pound 
• Heavy kicks
• Solid jiu-jitsu
• Good body-head combinations

Cons

• Gas tanks wears quick
• Gets wild with the striking
• Over reaches with his punches

Camilo has been up and down in his career and usually, in defeat, he's looking good up until he's getting finished. He's from Brazil but trains in the US with Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Nevada.

When Camilo is on he looks really good. He has been inconsistent in his fights. He starts fast and is sharp early on. Too many times he showed as the fight goes he starts to fall behind. I really like the striking of Camilo. His hands are quick and I love the way he attacks the body in combinations. He throws with deceptive power as well in both his hands and kicks.

Wrestling, I'm not sold on but he has solid jiu-jitsu. Camilo doesn't hold any submissions but is slick and has good ground and pound. I'm not sold as well on his grappling defense. His two losses come by submission so submission awareness is concerning.

Camilo is just 21 so he has time to develop into a really good fighter. He is young and making the right moves in his career where he's training. He's not on my radar now but could be in a few years from now.

In conclusion, the only prospect I'm adding to my watch list is Aleksandr Vertko. Rocha is close but he at least needs another fight.