Best prospects in action this week (Patreon)

Flyweight, Nicholas Hwende (4-0): Hwende has always been on my radar but until now I put off writing about him. He's not great anywhere but is good in all areas. On the feet, he's not as technical but throws a lot of output mixing up kicks and punches. He does fight long well and in the inside throws good knees. The wrestling isn't too good but his ground game is probably where he's best. Hwende is good at staying busy on top and taking the back when he can and finishing the fight. He has a big test against a well-known Nkazimulo Zulu for the EFC bantamweight title.

Heavyweight, Caio Machado (6-1-1): Current BFL heavyweight champion Machado is on the verge of a UFC call-up. For heavyweight, he’s fought decent competition. Not UFC-level competition but heavy hitters. His chin has been tested and moving his head off the centerline is a problem. What he possesses is a good chin and heavy hands himself. Machado is capable of catching guys coming in as he has light footwork and good timing. He’s also solid in the clinch having a background in Muay Thai. Offensively he’s fine but defensively he needs some work. Heavyweight is this so he's got a lot of eyes on him this week.

Welterweight, Kaik Brito (15-4): Brito is a highly underrated talent who is still young with good experience. He needs to just tighten up a few things. He’s 3-3 in his last six going win-loss three times, but he gets a chance of winning a title in the Czech Republic for Oktagon. Brito is primarily a striker bringing a strong toolbox. Brito has excellent muay thai and covers distance well. From the range he uses good leg kicks, a jab, and is a dangerous counter striker. Brito has a lot of upside at just the age of 25. He fights for the Oktagon title this week and it would be a huge win for him.

Middleweight, Sharaputdin Magomedov (15-0): Magomedov is a 28-year-old middleweight with a nice undefeated record. Outside of MMA, he was a Eurasia champion in Burmese boxing, 18-2 in K1, and a Russian muay thai champion. There is no disguise to the style of Magomedov; he’s not gonna be someone to shoot takedowns, but instead will chip away from all angles on the feet. The best thing Magomedov brings to the table is diversity. He literally throws everything in the kitchen at you and throws in different varieties. Magomedov’s hands, knees, legs, elbows; he’s always implanting into his game. I would say seeing him fight is like using a fighter in the EA games. But nothing or no one does it as smooth as Magomedov, he has excellent dexterity in his legs. He throws a ton of sidekicks, hook kicks, crescent kicks, ax kicks, and wheel kicks. Nobody fights like that guy in the UFC, Bellator, PFL, ONE, or anywhere else. Some may have a similar style, but nobody perfects it as he does. Magomedov is one of the most intriguing and exciting prospects out there and shockingly is blind in one eye.

Middleweight, Igor Cavalcanti (3-0): Cavalcanti is young in his career but has steamed through everyone. Even though he has won various grappling competitions he’s been knocking guys out. Then again, he has competed in amateur boxing as well. In MMA, Cavalcanti has powered guys to the mat slinging them down with a lot of force. He seems to be well-equipped on the mat with jiu-jitsu, ground and pound, and a submission game. Cavalcanti has some heavy hands and leg kicks with a lot of aggression. There is still a lot of questions but you can’t look away when watching this guy.

Featherweight, Mate Sanikidze (8-2): More of a striker/kickboxer but lately he’s decided to wrestle a little bit more. I wouldn’t say he’s a great wrestler but he’s come a long way compared to a few years ago. Not the type of guy to chain wrestle. Instead, he blends his striking and takedowns together so well it’s tough to know when he will shoot. He’s the same way with his striking as he mixes in kicks and punches, always throwing something different. Overall he’s hard to read. Sanikidze has a nice flow to him on the feet. He throws some slick combinations while the release and hands are quick from the hip. He fights for the Oktagon title this week.

Light-heavyweight, Jakob Nedoh (4-1): Since losing his first pro fight Nedoh has won his next/last four fights. He had never been tested until his last fight fighting a 7-4 guy. Known as a submission specialist his last fight proved that he has some knockout power. Nedoh is a good wrestler and a strong submission grappler. There is still a lot Nedoh needs to prove though being so young in his career. Not sold but worth watching for.

Lightweight, Lee Hammond (4-0):  I wasn't a Hammond believer until he beat Karomatullo Sufiev his last fight. Hammond went 15-5 as an amateur and won the IMMAF gold medal in 2018. He trains out of SBG Ireland and is a protege of Conor McGregor. His striking has come along nicely but it is his ground game that plays a huge part of his success. Hammond is a really slick grappler. There is concern about his cardio but he does use a lot of energy in his fights.

Featherweight, Karomatullo Sufiev (7-1): Sufiev doesn't have much to offer on the feet but is a high-level wrestler. He can wrestle at a high pace for three rounds going the distance six times. His wrestling in general is good and can chain wrestle very well. Sufiev often you will see him lift and slim guys generating a lot of power. To complement his wrestling his top control is solid. He's all over his opponents and when they get back up they go back down. Sufiev is gonna beat a lot of guys with just his wrestling alone. He did lose to Lee Hammond who was mentioned about but got back on the board last September.

Strawweight, Shauna Bannon (3-0): I've been on the fence about Bannon. She impressed me enough in her last fight for me to write about her. Bannon has a karate stance on the feet and her output is good. Altogether her stand-up isn't great because she gets hit too much. Bannon has really good grappling. Her wrestling needs to be better. Off her back, she's just as good with attacking and working in general. Definitely raw still but the talent is there. Bannon is fighting Kerry Isom again which is stupid cause she beat her last April.

Strawweight, Monika Chochlikova (3-0): Chochlikova is young in MMA but has an extensive career in muay thai/kickboxing. She's a gold medalist in the WAKO World Championship in 2019. She also won the WAKO European championships along with multiple other gold medals. In MMA, her debut she finished with a rare Scorpian Crunch submission. Other than that her stand-up is her main focus. Her takedown defense is an issue. Her grappling is good enough at a certain level. Chochlikova is goon in the clinch with her knees and on the feet, it's the leg kicks and the jab. Chochlikova is just 26 so there is time to grow.

Bantamweight, Denis Palancica (9-0): Palancica is a young man out of Moldova who is just 26. He went 5-0 in amateur MMA and 1-0 as a pro boxer as well. On the feet, Palancica is as talented as he is quick and really throws a good one-two. He does a great job striking and then changing levels and getting the takedown, as his wrestling is solid. He’s at his best on the mat as he thrives in the scrambles, and does a great job at transitions and getting into dominant positions. Palancica has fight-ending ground and pound as well. He makes his US debut for iKon this Friday.

Favorite prospect: Sharaputdin Magomedov
Most interested in: Lee Hammond
On my radar: Igor Cavalcanti