Respecting the older prospects (Patreon)

Kamal Magomedov
Welterweight
10-0
Russia
32

Magomedov would be in a big promotion today if he actually made it to the cage. Over the last four years, he's had more canceled fights than actual fights. He hasn't fought yet this year already failing to make it to the cage once. It's a shame too cause I view him as one of the better welterweight prospects. The Russian is a big threat when it comes to catching a neck and on the feet, he’s a threat finding that jaw.

Sunni Imhotep
Lightweight
4-1
US
32

A reason Imhotep is 32 is because he had a long amateur career fighting thirty times; 5-2 MMA, 6-1 Kickboxing, and 16-0 Muay Thai. He's already fought in big promotions like Cage Warriors and Bellator. Imhotep trains out of Black House MMA so he's always training with top guys making him better. He's a tall lightweight at six-foot-one that knows how to use his range. He's got crispy striking and over time has proved to be well-rounded using takedowns and jiu-jitsu to mix it up.

Kerim Engizek
Middleweight
18-4
Germany
32

Engizek has quietly flown under the radar but arguably has the best resume of all German prospects. He’s the current EMC middleweight champion and was the GMC welterweight champ as well in 2019. His last loss was in 2014 as he’s currently on an eleven-fight win streak. He's is a good counter striker, slipping and often coming over the top with his right hand. Engizek isn’t stingy as he goes to the body quite often mixing it up the way fighters should. He does have a ground game as well and while it is fine, he’s much better at striking. Engizek would excel in any big promotion.

Rodrigo Lídio
Lightweight
13-3
Brazil
33

Lidio was on the doorstep of the UFC last year but lost on the contender series to Mateusz Rębecki. That's not a bad loss and it's his only loss in the last four years. Lidio has been a staple in Brazil winning multiple regional titles and he's even 1-0 in LFA. Lidio is one of those guys that has natural knockout power. He has that death touch that can knock about anyone out if he lands clean enough.

Rudy Gavidia
Featherweight
20-3
Peru
34

Gavidia has been killing it over in Peru his entire career. He is the current FFC featherweight and lightweight champion. He lost his first two pro fights and since has only lost one. Gavidia has always been putting on good shows and staying active but has never had his chance under the bright lights. It's quite surprising he's still not ever been contacted for the UFC or Bellator. At times his performances aren't exciting but he's got a great personality and undoubtedly has the skillset.

Nikolay Veretennikov
Welterweight
10-4
Kazakhstan
33

Veretennikov is from Kazakhstan and has good wins over tough regional guys like Austin Jones, Artenas Young, Demarques Jackson, and Steve Jones. Also wins over former UFC fighters Anthony Ivy and Charlie Ontiveros. Veretennikov was 1-3 when he started MMA and then went on a run. His streak ended in 2021 on the contender series to a surging Michael Morales. I believe he's UFC level and can do really well in the promotion today. Veretennikov is well-rounded if you look at his body of work in his career.

Ayub Gimbatov
Middleweight
10-1, 1 NC
Russia
33

Gimbatov was a big prospect in 2020 but hasn't fought since missing for three years. His level of competition though can’t go unnoticed with names like Steven Kennedy, Maiquel Falcao, and others on his win column. His only loss is to the well-known Artem Frolov. Gimbatov is a calculated fighter, fighting calmly on the outside pumping his jab and throwing his lead leg kick. When he decides to commit to anything he hits hard; he’s explosive and is quick. He’s an even better wrestler and has an overall strong ground game.

Ibrahim Mané
Welterweight
13-4
France
34

Mane is known for putting on exciting fights and highlight-reel finishes. Mane is so reckless and that's what makes him a must-watch every time he steps into the cage. He's not good defensively but offensively he's a menace. Mane has some bad-looking losses but he's actually a good fighter. He's won his last five fights so he's been on a roll. More fans need to know who this guy is.

Anatoliy Moiseev
Lightweight
5-0
Russia
34

Oh, how it would be nice if Moiseev was a little bit younger. He got a slow start in MMA due to his kickboxing background. He was a WAKO amateur world champion. As a pro, his record is 21-7 and won the Wu Lin Feng World Tournament in 2019. He also fought quite a bit for Glory. Moiseev doesn't fight as much anymore but when he does expect to see high-level striking on display.

Joel Bauman
Middleweight
7-3, 1 NC
US
32

For anyone that knows Bauman, they know he's an odd one. He has good wins, has the athletic tools, and even trains out of a top gym in Jackson Wink MMA. He just can't seem to get over the hump. All three of his losses are at least to notable guys. Bauman is on here just for entertainment purposes. Bauman isn't bad but he's just so awkward in and out of the cage he's hard to take seriously. Bauman is so unorthodox he's tough to read. He has a nice right cross, a good kickboxer, scrambles well, and his grappling is dangerous.

Louis Glismann
Welterweight
11-2
Denmark
32

After beating Emil Weber Meek at the end of 2021 I'm surprised Glismann wasn't signed to a big promotion. Glismann is a top-notch grappler out of Denmark. With a high work ethic in the jiu-jitsu department, Glismann is constantly working to improve his position. He’s a high-level grappler easily passing guard and flowing on top. I still see his signing with a big promotion before the end of the year.

Natalia Kuziutina
Strawweight
4-1
Russia
34

Kuziutina had a late start in MMA but has been staying extremely active to get all the experience she can get. Her only loss is to Fatima Kline and that's one of the best female prospects in the world. Kuziutina had a late start to MMA because of her extensive career in judo. She was an Olympic Judoka who won bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Also, she's a multiple-time European champion. If she was younger a lot more fans would be talking about her. That's because she's looked really good. The stand-up is okay but the judo and ground game is on a new level.

Tariq Ismail
Bantamweight
7-1
Sudan
33

Ismail has a lot of experience in combat sports other than MMA. He has a background in muay thai winning multiple fights. He was also a two-time Canadian boxing champion. Ismail was red hot in 2020 but took a loss to a talented Bernardo Sopai. He took over a three-year layoff and returned last month. It was former UFC fighter Walel Watson he fought and ended up finishing. He’s a very technical striker and although he has never finished an MMA fight he’s been dominant. He utilizes a lot of tools in the clinch with knees and elbows and from the range with his slick boxing overall.

Chad Hanekom
Middleweight
9-2
South Africa
33

Hanekom has been in the sport for a while grinding against fair competition. He started fighting as a pro in 2015 and currently has won his last three. Hanekom is a pure athlete who comes from a background in rugby. He’s been fighting over in Brave CF and has clawed his way up to a UFC contract possibly on the contender series this season. Hanekom is well-rounded but is a better wrestler. On top, he has some slick jiu-jitsu and is a submission threat with four of his six wins by submission. Hanekom hasn’t shown much on the feet yet but is athletic and has shown power with a knockout in his career.

Stefan Vojcak
Heavyweight
6-0
Slovakia
32

Vojac is still at his prime at heavyweight even being 32. The good thing for him is he’s only fought in MMA for a little over a year so fight mileage is low. I'll say his last fight wasn't a great look but he's been exceptional outside of that one. Vojcak is a big man that has some light footwork and is quick for his size. It’s been easy so far for him to get the takedown and maul his opponent on the mat. Vojcak has some nice low-shot double-leg takedowns he explodes forward with.

Frans Mlambo
Bantamweight
13-5
South Africa
32

Mlambo doesn’t have the most appealing record but is battle-tested no doubt. He’s beaten the likes of Kevin Cordero, Dominique Wooding, Jonas Magard, and Felipe Efrain. He’s a Bellator veteran as well taking four fights for the promotion. With a lot of success as a pro, he was an IMMAF world champion as an amateur too. He won a one-night tournament Combate held and won three fights in one night, taking home a big trophy in 2021. Mlambo is an excellent boxer. His hands are really sharp and has a good understanding of his shot placement. Very underrated fighter in this division.

Jhonata Diniz
Heavyweight
5-0
Brazil
32

If Diniz isn’t familiar to you in the MMA world he should ring a bell if you’re familiar with kickboxing. His kickboxing record is 13-6 and he went 3-3 for Glory Kickboxing. After a decade of competing in Kickboxing Diniz made the transition to MMA. He's only been fighting for a little over a year and has impressed with a 100% finish rate with all stoppages in the first round. He's gonna be fighting on the contender series this season against fellow Brazilian Eduardo Neves.

Giannis Bachar
Welterweight
8-2
Greece
32

Bachar gets hit a lot, taken down easily, and he slows down. Saying that Bachar is durable and hard to steer away. Bachar is a former Greece national muay thai champion and a WKF world kickboxing champion. He's always marching forward letting his hands go. Even more, Bachar has a strong dedication to chopping the leg kicks. Nothing shiny in his game but is someone that can overwhelm you.

Sam Creasey
Flyweight
17-5
England
35

Creasey has been a staple for a long time in Cage Warriors and having big success. Creasey has fought and beaten a lot of good fighters across his long career. He's reached rights as a former Cage Warriors champion. He does tend to not be as consistent but he's always never out of a fight. His power at 125 and ability to snatch a neck at any given time is dangerous. Creasey I believe would do fine in the UFC.

Murthel Groenhart
Welterweight
3-0
Netherlands
36

Groenhart is a two-time Glory welterweight contender tournament winner and a former Glory welterweight champion. With that, he’s also won two K-1 tournaments. A 69-26-3 record and has been fighting at a high level for the last decade. Groenhart is very quick, athletic, and really explosive. His explosiveness showed in his last fight getting a flying knee finish. I’ve also seen excellent head movement and footwork from “The Predator” as well. Maybe it’s too late to make a run but he has the capability.

Shamil Erdogan
Light-heavyweight
9-0
Russia
32

Erdogan has a background as a wrestler as he was a former national team freestyle wrestler. In addition to ever-improving skills on the feet, Erdogan's wrestling is a huge part of his undefeated record. Along with a strong wrestling base, his active ground and pound is a big factor in his success. Of all the prospects Russia holds Erdogan flies massively under the radar even at his age.

Satrudin Vakhidov
Light-heavyweight
7-1-1
Russia
32

Vakhidov is flying under the radar for 205-pound prospects. He's unbeaten and for the last two years he's been getting more noticed. He hasn't fought at all this year yet so he does need to get the ball rolling. Vakhidov is a strong wrestling with heavy top position. On the feet he uses his length on the outside but on the inside is dangerous with power punches and knees.

Matt Vaile
Welterweight
12-2
New Zealand
32

Five years ago Vaile was a top prospect out of New Zealand. He's been a veteran on the regional scene in Australia/New Zealand ever since 2014. His only two losses are to former ex-UFC guys. Vaile has honed in on his skills over the years and I believe in 2023 he's at his best. He's got some qualities on the feet but is a grappler and face smasher to the core.

Brogan Anderson
Middleweight
15-3
New Zealand
34

Anderson has done well for himself lately. He’s won six in a row and is the XFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion. Although he’s been on a roll he’s not fighting the best of competition. With that said his only loss in almost seven years is to a good fighter in Matt Vaile. Anderson is far better when using his wrestling and using his ground game. On the feet, he does well when it comes to lulling guys into his counter striking. Anderson is a solid wrestler and unlike a lot of fighters, he can chain-wrestle very well. And when he gets the takedown he’s in full control and can end it with his ground and pound, snatching the neck, or grabbing a limb.

Shajidul Haque
Flyweight
15-5
England
32

Haque has been around for a while fighting some of the best out of the UK. Only two of his eighteen fights had a losing record. He's been performing at his best lately riding a five-fight win streak. Last December he won the Cage Warriors flyweight championship. Haque has all the tools he is very solid all around and can take the fight anywhere. He has striking, kickboxing with power in his hands and of course a lot of speed.

Eldar Eldarov
Welterweight
14-1
Bahrain
32

Eldarov has a lot going for him as he's the head coach for KHK MMA Team. It's a reason he doesn't fight as much but he's a legit fighter at 170. He has impressive wins over some really good fighters and his only loss was thirteen years ago to no other than Khabib Nurmagomedov. He hasn’t lost since being on a current 13-fight win streak. Eldarov was a former World Cup of Sambo champion and a former European sambo champion.

Jonas Bilharinho
Featherweight
11-2-1
Brazil
33

Bilharinho has had some setbacks and getting up in there in age but puts on fun fights and has been a staple in Brazil. He's won his last two and can't be far away from another big opportunity. Bilharinho is an absolute sniper with an incredible sixth-sense-like ability to finish the fight. He’s a master of the range being able to control the distance. Bilharinho throws laser straight punches and a very quick left kick to the body. Bilharinho is very technical and still explosive when he wants to be.

Denis Lavrentyev
Bantamweight
13-3
Russia
34

Lavrentyev competed at a high level in Judo. He’s a former Russian National champion. Along with various national championships, he won gold in the Pan American and World Championship level as well. When it comes to his skill set, Lavrentyev has ever-improving striking. He’s not someone that’s going to go out there and put on a boxing clinic, but rather put on pressure and pick his shots. His judo plays a big factor in his success. His MMA wrestling is fine, but getting into the clinch and creating trips/sweeps he does so well.

Shamil Abdulaev
Middleweight
14-1
Russia
33

Abdulaev is a good Russian prospect who trains out of an awesome camp in Krepost Fight Club. His only loss is to ACA's Salamu Abdurakhmanov. Since that loss, Abdulaev has won his next and last four fights. Abdulaev is a good solid wrestler who can chain wrestle for three rounds getting multiple takedowns a fight. And on top, once he gets the takedown he has effective ground-and-pound.

Hyder Amil
Featherweight
7-0
USA
33

Amil a student under the well-known Gilbert Melendez. Amil fought in Bellator from 2018-2019 and went 3-0 in LFA the last two years. Amil is the perfect definition of a fighter's fighter. "The Hurricane" is gonna bring the storm from start to finish. Amil is going to constantly press forward throwing his hands. He does walk right into shots usually taking a lot of damage in his fights. Amil is incredibly tough and can walk through about anything to dish out his entree. Amil is one of the most exciting fighters today. He doesn't have a great win but a few really good wins. He's undefeated, in his prime right now, ties to Melendez, and is a treat to watch so what's not to like?

Mikey England
Welterweight
8-1
USA
32

England grew up wrestling ever since a young kid in middle school. He started wrestling at Iowa State for his first three years in college and then at the University of Missouri for a year. England has done a great job sticking to his roots being his wrestling. England has wrestled his whole life about it so it's at quite a high level. What's impressive about his wrestling most of his takedowns are from the upper body. Meaning he's usually just using that raw power besides having to chain wrestle. If anything win or lose England is gonna go out on his sword and so far, he's been the swordsman.

Demarte Pena
Bantamweight
14-1, 1 NC
South Africa
33

Pena has been in martial arts ever since a young age. He trained Shaolin Kung Fu and Muay Thai as an amateur going 6-0 before transitioning to MMA. He also competed in Judo and Karate as well as grappling, collecting several amateur titles. He’s a former EFC bantamweight and featherweight champion. Pena tested positive for testosterone and signs of anabolic steroid use earlier in his career. He had to serve almost a five-year layoff before returning last year. He lost in his return fight but has got a winning streak of three going. He is also the Ares FC bantamweight champion.

Rami Hamed
Welterweight
12-3, 1 NC
Lebanon
32

Hamed is based out of Lebanon but lives in the States and trains out of MMA Masters. 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. He's come a long way.

Chris Brown
Welterweight
10-4
USA
34

Brown has had a long up-and-down road but it's all starting to pay off slowly. Every time he got a big fight he seemed to fall short. That was the case until last year. He handed top prospects Haris Talundžić and Alfonso Leyva their first loss and won the LFA welterweight title. Brown has a background in wrestling but his unorthodox striking is what stands out. He throws a lot of flashy kicks and throws from odd angles. It's a style he mastered and it works for him.

Anastasia Nikolakakos
Atomweight
4-0
Canada
33

I wish Nikolakakos was more active because I think she's the real deal. She did fight last August making her return after a four-year layoff almost. She returned in a big way winning a regional title. Nikolakakos has smothering pressure/wrestling, a strong grappling presence, and a deep gas tank. She can really be something if he's heart in it all the way.

Bekzod Abdurakhmonov
Welterweight
8-0
Uzbekistan
33

Abdurakhmonov is a bit older in MMA because he left to pressure wrestling fully. He's an NCAA Division 1 All-American wrestler. He competed in the 2016 Olympic Games and won Bronze in the 2020 Olympics in Freestyle Wrestling. There is some concerns with his striking defense. So far his superior wrestling and mauling top position has been too much. Abdurakhmonov has only had one fight in six years so he's someone to keep tabs on.

Luthando Biko
Flyweight
12-3
South Africa
33

Flyweight is definitely a young mans division but Biko has been on a solid run lately. He's won his last four while beating good guys like Nkazimulo Zulu, Muhidin Abubakar, and Samir Faiddine. Biko is the former EFC bantamweight and flyweight champion. He's got power in his hands but is a tank of a wrestler. At five foot he uses that to get underneath and elevate guys and slam them down. Biko is strong top position and is solid had inflicting heavy ground and pound. I believe he will do well in the UFC.

Shamil Gaziev
Heavyweight
10-0
Bahrain
32

Russia's Shamil Gaziev sits on top as the best prospect in the heavyweight division despite his age. Prior to an unbeaten pro record, he went 9-2 as an amateur. That included winning IMMAF gold in 2019. He's coming off a win over former UFC fighter Darko Stosic. Gaziev is a strong wrestler while being a big problem when sitting it top position. He fights on the contender series this season so we most likely get him in the UFC soon.

Raffael Cerqueira
Light-heavyweight
7-0
Brazil
33

Being 33 at light-heavyweight isn't a bad thing as most don't reach their peak until that age. The good thing about Cerqueira is he's well-rounded and that's very good for a bigger guy. His wrestling is good and his jiu-jitsu is solid. On the feet, he throws with some power and output. Cerqueira is an unfinished product but I like his ceiling, especially in a shallow division.

Corinne Laframboise
Flyweight
8-4
Canada
34

Laframboise has been around for a long time being a major staple in Canadian WMMA.  She's only lost to good fighters mostly like UFC's Manon Fiorot and Jamey-Lyn Horth. Laframboise is nearing 35 but has been performing at her very best lately. She's won her last three including winning the UAE Warriors flyweight title.

Victor Dias
Flyweight
11-2
Brazil
32

Dias is a winner of his last five and is the reigning Titan FC flyweight champion. He's another one on the contender series and has a favorable match-up to get him into the UFC. Dias is a jiu-jitsu black belt and is high-level on the mat. He's not as good on the feet as he is on the mat. With wrestling and grappling as good as his it's fine to be a little one-dimensional.

Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz
Middleweight
10-2
Germany/Canada
33

Ksiazkiewicz may have lost his last fight but he's still on a lot of people's radar. Early footage on Ksiazkiewicz I was more impressed with his ground game. He's a jiu-jitsu black belt with good control and finishing ability. Lately, on the feet, Ksiazkiewicz has put his hands together well. He has good long punches using his reach and has some real power when he connects.

Vladimír Lengál
Featherweight
6-2
Czech Republic
33

Lengal has a ton of combat sports experience. He's 12-0 in boxing, an Intercontinental champion in WKF, and a Europen champion in WKU. He started off in MMA going 0-2 but has won his six all in a row. He's a serious striker with his power, diversity, and just the inability to not know what he's gonna throw. His striking defense needs to be tightened up but he's a tough out for anyone on the feet. Surprisingly enough his ground game has looked good for being a creditionald striker.