Fighter Spotlight: Vol. 3 (Patreon)

In this piece, I'll feature the best prospect apart of the UFC this weekend and the best-unsigned prospect. The UFC fighter will be an unranked fighter that has never been ranked but who I think could be ranked one day. The unsigned prospect is just who I think is the best prospect outside a major promotion in action this week.

Lightweight, Mateusz Rebecki (17-1) - UFC on ABC 5

In this spot originally was Tatsuro Taira but Rodrigues pulled out. Rebecki would've been my option on most cards but it's tough to deny Taira. Rebecki comes to the UFC after a successful post-UFC career. 

He got to the UFC with seven FEN title defenses and beating good opponents like the guy he beat on the contender series. Not to mention, he was a Polish ADCC gold medalist as well. Rebecki went through Rodrigo Lidio on the contender series who is a dangerous striker.

Rebecki made his UFC debut In January beating Nick Fiore. Although he did clearly win the fight he didn't perform the way many expected. To be fair octagon jitters is kinda a thing and Fiore is tough if anything.

Rebecki started off a bit one-dimensional in his career being solely a grappler. Now he’s slowly developed a striking game, mainly with a lot of power. He’s just so dangerous on the mat and that’s on top or bottom. Rebecki is what the UFC expected Oskar Piechota to be. He has about the same amount of potential as fellow countryman Mateusz Gamrot.

Rebecki has a tough match-up in Loik Radzhabov. As I see some picking Radzhabov he's always been underwhelming to me. His best quality is his toughness and that's never a good thing. Overall, his wrestling is at a B- but his top position is very C- level. He has clubbing power hitting hard and visibly affects opponents when landing clean. His striking isn’t bad but he’s wide and lacks the proper setups and technique. I really don't see how Rebecki loses this fight.

Baissangour Chamsoudinov (7-0) - Ares FC 16

Chamsoudinov I rate very highly so he's easily the prospect I'm highlighting for the week. In my top 20 prospects worldwide I have him at #6 so that says a lot about him. Born is Urus Martan, Chehenya, Russia Chamsoudinov lives in Paris, France and trains out of the MMA Factory.

Chamsoudinov has dominated the whole course of his pro career. He's never fought a guy with a losing record and four of his opponents he handed them their first loss. He's become a staple for Ares FC as he sits at 3-0 for the promotion.

At just 21 years old he is already so well-rounded, calm in his approach, and just very smart, almost more like a seasoned veteran. Chamsoudinov on the feet moves a lot, circling out and putting the jab in your face. He’s patient and picks away at a distance and then explodes in bursts with short power combinations.

Chamsoudinov has the ability to get the body lock and sling guys to the ground. He’s also good at using trips and creating traps in the clinch for takedowns. Considering all the effort he puts into everything like his takedowns using a lot of muscle and his constant movement on the feet his endurance is good.

His possible ticket to the UFC comes this week as he takes on former UFC fighter and TUF winner Efrain Escudero. Escudero has won his last two but they are against bums. Before that, he was on a three-fight skid. He hasn't been good in years. He will just be a good name on the resume of Chamsoudinov.