Top 10 prospects this week (Patreon)

Doing it this way where I and the family have covid.

Muslim Magomedov (11-0) has been competing in MMA for some time now but prior to that, he had experience in Combat Sambo. In his first fight as an amateur, he suffered his only defeat in MMA. That loss was to current UFC contender Magomed Ankalaev. Magomedov went on to have a successful amateur career winning the WMMAA 2018 European Championship. As a pro, he's undefeated and is the current ACA champion. Despite not offering much on the feet, Magomed is an excellent wrestler. His timing on his shots is fine and the way he shoots so low makes his execution near-perfect. The work he does on top is his best aspect. He has a good top position and his ground and pound is strong, active, and lands hard.

Raheam Forest (5-0) went just 5-6 as an amateur so the resurgence he's had in his career has been amazing. When talking about the guys with massive power in their hands that's Forest. Not just his hands as he kicks like a mule and is very explosive. He brings that with constant forward pressure and a good gas tank. Forest is a good wrestler as well being capable of taking this fight anywhere. He has a heavy top position and nasty ground and pound. Everything he does is with 100% commitment and power. There isn't much not to like about this guy. I think he's a stud and has a high ceiling. At the end of this week he will be the CFFC welterweight champion.

Brazil’s Victor Dias (10-2) is the reigning Titan FC champion but is fighting at 135 for this fight. It took a while before Dias hit his stride, winning by thin margins and losing close decision losses. It’s easy to tell that since training with American Top Team, he’s a more fearsome fighter. Dias is a black belt in BJJ and a national champion as well. A prospect with a high-level ground game is how you can sum up Dias.

Fernando Laurenço (15-3) has been on a nice run recently as he is riding a win streak of nine. He’s the current SFT bantamweight champion, capturing the belt earlier this year along with being a formal regional champ of a smaller show. I was never high Laurenço in the past but I do recognize he’s competing really well. His last seven opponents had a combined 65-22 record. “Ben 10” has an awkward style but it’s a style he’s mastered. Although he’s vulnerable in all areas he’s capable no matter where the fight goes. Better than I initially thought for sure.

Justin Wetzell (7-1) has been very slept on over the past few years. He tried out for The Ultimate Fighter Season 29 but didn’t make it. Next, he was rumored to fight on the Contender Series two seasons ago but it never happened. He’s 3-0 inside the LFA cage. He took out Askar Askar who was signed briefly to the UFC and was close to another shot in his last fight. Wetzell is well-rounded having the ability to fight anywhere the fight takes him. He shouldn’t be denied anymore with a win this week.

Badmatsyren Dorzhiev (6-0) is someone who popped up on my radar last year. My expectations for the 28-year-old Russian will one day be in the UFC. Dorzhiev is well-rounded and every move is thought out and measured. He has a good right hand that’s highlighted. On the feet, Dorzhiev will pick and choose his shots staying technical. He’s a solid wrestler and his ground and pound is really good along with heavy top control. 

Defending his Cage Warriors title for the first time is George Hardwick (10-1). Hardwick has won his last five not having lost since 2019. 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.

Landon Quinones (6-1-1) is someone that's been on my radar but needs to be more active. He’s only fought once in two years and has dealt with a bunch of canceled fights. He's a good striker with a lot of good techniques. Quinones throws a good straight left. He mixes it up well using kicks going to the body and legs well. He’s shown solid takedown defense, which allows him to be more comfortable on the feet.

Kevin Vallejos (7-0) is a small compact power puncher. Not just someone that looks for that one punch as he throws in combinations. He's really mainly focused on his hands but does have some heavy leg kicks he'll throw from time to time. Vallejos fights in bursts exploding in with power kicks. Also, he allows guys to come forward and he'll counter over the top with looping hooks. This 20-year-old will be fighting for a sixth time this year.

I like this dude from Moscow, Russia. Akbar Abdullaev (5-0) is flying under the radar with how stacked Russia is. His striking is really good and has a 100% finish-rate coming from his hands. Abdullaev has smooth striking skills and it's his ability to change up his patterns. He throws a lot but not so in volume. He throws at most in two and mixes up his attack so well you don't know where he's coming from. Abdullaev has good movement and vision as his striking is fun to watch. He's a real threat.