Prospect of the week: Isis Verbeek (Patreon)

Isis Verbeek
From: Netherlands, Amsterdam
Camp: American Top Team
Weightclass: Strawweight (115lbs)
Age: 27-years-old
Height: Five-foot-five
Record: 4-1
Methods: 1 Submission
Combined opponents' record: 9-5

Pros

• Excellent muay thai
• Lethal knees
• Good kickboxing
• Athletic
• Good counter striker
• Accurate striker
• Good use of feints
• Explosive
• Tough
• Good leg kicks

Cons

• Poor TDD
• Head movement lacks/Takes a lot of damage
• Lacks grappling defense

Isis "Fight Queen" Verbeek debuted in MMA in 2018. Prior to that, Verbeek was a successful Dutch kickboxer. In kickboxing/muay thai she's arguably most known for her time in Glory Kickboxing. She was also a four-time world champion and a European champion. At least on paper, her record is 51-6.

Verbeek made her MMA debut straight as a pro in 2018. She lost that fight to a well-known Kathryn Paprocki. She hasn't lost since but I would say it wasn't until his third pro fight that she became fully confident. Verbeek is listed at 5-1 but is actually 4-1. One of those wins was a custom bare-knuckle MMA fight for Gamebred FC.

Verbeek isn't complete by any imagination. Her takedown defense is by far her biggest problem but there is some other concerns. A good wrestler has been able to shut Verbeek down but being able to keep doing it for three rounds has been the problem. Even on the feet defensively she's got gaps. Verbeek is a banger that loves violence but welcomes damage to give some. Her head movement is almost non-existent but at least has some useful movement. Verbeek has been someone who once she gets hit wakes up and attacks more and heavier.

There aren't too many women in MMA that can strike the way Verbeek does. The clinch work alone is a major fight-changer with her knees and elbows. With that said, Verbeek wants to be on the outside landing kicks and lunging his with her crispy hands. If Verbeek is allowed to just sit on the outside and set the pace her explosiveness can show at any point.

If you watch her last fight with Melissa Oddessa Parker you will see exactly what she's good at and see all her flaws. Verbeek is only twenty-seven so there being so much time to improve is dangerous for the other women. She's more of an exciting prospect than a skilled prospect.