Best prospects in action this week (Patreon)

Welterweight, Alfonso Leyva (6-0): Leyva is someone I'm high on as he's my #13th-ranked prospect. Leyva became a very successful Greco-Roman wrestler. He was a 12-time national wrestling champion out of Mexico. He was a two-time participant in the Olympic Games. Leyva has won gold, silver, and bronze medals in Pan American and other smaller accomplishments. Leyva when you look up his background you'd be surprised he's knocking guys out instead of wrestling guys. Leyva has some real boxing skills. His jab is a useful weapon and his one-two is a a big weapon in his arsenal. Leyva wouldn't be the dangerous striker he is not just with his power but his use of feints. Leyva uses a lot of feints to create traps and find his spots. He's at times throwing single strikes but is mixing up his attack. For more on Leyva, I featured him as a prospect of the week once. he takes on his toughest test yet in Chris Brown for the LFA title.

Bantamweight: Renat Khavalov (6-0): Khavalov is another one I'm very sold on. He's undefeated and is my #16th-ranked prospect. An awesome fighter that had no flaws and has fought good competition. Does everything so well and at a high level. First off, he has solid wrestling with good timing on his takedown entries. He's got heavy top position and nasty ground and pound. When he isn't dominating on top his striking is good too. He does the small important things very well like footwork and head movement. Khavalov is a good counter striker and the release on his strike is so good to watch. Russia is loaded with talent and he's one of the best for sure.

Bantamweight, Luis Rodríguez (14-2): Rodriguez has only lost once in the last five years. That last loss came in the contender series in 2020 to Jerome Rivera. That loss looks bad today but he arguably won that fight. Rodriguez is back at bantamweight where he’s looked much better. He’s a polished compact striker that slings heavy leather. He’s definitely got knockout power in his hands and is very explosive. He hasn't looked as good recently but the ceiling is there at 23.

Lightweight, Richie Miranda (5-0): I wasn't sold on Miranda but off his last two fights I've been impressed. Miranda is a strong wrestler and grappler but often has to fend off some bad situations as well. His takedown defense isn't great and does give up dominant positions too easily. So far, he's won those grappling spots being able to outwork guys on the mat. Still, it can be said he hasn't fought a strong grappler like himself. Good wrestlers but not grapplers. Not sold but I'll watch for him.

Lightweight, Gauge Young (5-0): Out of Glory MMA Gauge Young is a stud. Prior to turning pro, he was a talked-about amateur. He went 7-1 only losing to Ashton Kirby. Young is a good counter striker with deceptive power. He throws good kicks as well but his right hand is his primary weapon. Young can grapple, scramble well, and has good ground and pound. He has a lot of tools to be successful but a few holes that will slow his progress for a couple of years. In his last two fights he's knocked the guys out cold.

Middleweight, Faridun Odilov (14-2): Odilov has fought at welterweight, light heavyweight, and now at middleweight. The native out of Tajikistan has won his last six fights. Odilov is a strong physical guy who is capable of ending the fight at any time. He’s a good wrestler being good at timing his shots off kicks. On top, his ground and pound have shown to be his best weapon. Along with some strong grappling, he’s a huge threat on the mat. This is for the EFC title he's fighting for again this week.

Welterweight, Imam-Shapi Mukhtarov (11-0): Mukhtarov is an exciting prospect out of Russia with an undefeated good-looking record. He’s got a diverse kickboxing style throwing a lot of spinning attacks. He’s always throwing something different and looks very tricky. He throws good volume and like to mix it up to the body too. Mukhtarov has good judo as well and is just as good on the mat with his jiu-jitsu. He's fighting for the EFC welterweight title which I think he wins.

Featherweight, Samuel Bark (6-1): Bark made a name for himself in his Cage Warriors debut last July. He beat a really dangerous prospect in Tobias Harila. After that he beat CW veteran Manny Akpan Bark wasn't known in MMA prior to the Harila but came into the sport off of an extensive muay thai background. From what I can find, he’s had around 69 muay thai fights and a 50-16-3 record. He has excellent striking and is someone to watch for as he’s been destroying guys since turning pro. His only loss was a split decision he arguably won.

Lightweight, Mark Ewen (3-0): I first came across Ewen this week. He has a good ground game but it's his striking I was sold on. He's technical throwing the jab while using good feints. His one-two is crisp and his right cross is legit. Ewen does nice work catching guys coming in and in exchanges. He mixes it up with kicks going to the body and head. The ability to mix up his attacks are well done. I like this guy and a win here he's on my watch list.

Flyweight, Akhmed Khamzaev (8-0): Khamzaev is still a developing prospect still fighting for ACA’s Young Eagles brand. He’s 7-0 for ACA Young Eagles with five stoppage victories. Khamzaev is one of the best 125’ers out of Russia. He has won via knockout and submission proving he’s well-versed in all areas. Khamzaev has good footwork cutting off the cage along with his forward movement. I've been impressed more and more every time I watch him.

Welterweight, Rami Hamed (11-3): I've been back and forth on Hamed his entire career but he is on a good run. Hamed has grown through his career with good footwork, kickboxing, and boxing fundamentals. The flaws shown early in his career including takedown defense along with his ground game as a whole are a work in progress. He can be sloppy at times, especially in scrambles but has seemed to improve in his defense all around. Hamed is a feared striker with excellent bodywork and power in his hands.

Welterweight, Mikey England (7-1): England has done a great job sticking to his roots which is his wrestling. He's also developed a dangerous striking game. He generates so much power in his hands and it only takes one from him to make a difference. England does have a strong stiff jab and will go to the body and then head in short combinations. Unless he knocks you out early don't play around on the feet too much before taking the fight down. What's impressive about his wrestling is that most of his takedowns are from the upper body. Meaning he's usually just using that raw power besides having to chain wrestle. And as I said above England has that mauling-type ground and pound. Not giving a damn about submissions England is just all about punching their face in. England continues to fight bums, this time being a 5-4 opponent.