A Prospect From Each Country The UFC Should Sign (Patreon)

In this piece, I will go through every country and give one prospect a piece the UFC should sign. Not meaning to sign now as a lot will be young pros or even unproven fighters. Also, there will be a lot of countries that I'll skip because the talent just isn't in every area. For the most part, I tried to stay away from every major promotion to be as realistic as possible.

Afghanistan
Right now in the UFC, we have the Basharat brothers who are representing Afghanistan who are both bright starts in the years to come. Years ago we had Siyar Bahadurzada who went 4-4 in the UFC and was in the promotion for over seven years. There were a few to choose from as the best to represent Afghanistan but I decided to go with Milad Ahady (6-1). Not sure how Ahady went under my radar since he's 3-0 in Cage Warriors. Ahady is a talented enough guy that the UFC could sign him right now. He's a big featherweight at 5'11" who is a better striker but is well-rounded. Ahady is a skilled striker with accuracy especially from his left side. His left hand is his best weapon and once he mixes in his kicks he's a problem. I believe the UFC should take a look at Ahady right this minute.

Albania
There has never been any UFC fighter from Albania to my knowledge but there are a few options they could go with. The one that stands out to me is Vilson Ndregjoni (8-3). He may be close to the UFC but would be closer if he didn't lose his CFFC title because he missed weight. Ndregjoni was a fireball of explosion throwing with a lot of power. He dropped his opponent with a left hand in the first. As the guy came in blindly Ndregjoni landed a check right hand putting him on his face. Ndregjoni landed the follow-up hammer putting the guy out. Ndregjoni is starting to get a good run currently but just needs to get the weight under control if it is an issue.

Angola
The UFC is still in need of their first Angola-born fighter. There is a few option mainly ones in the Amateur ranks getting ready to go pro. The one that sticks out the most is somebody I've had my eyes on for a while; Shido Boris Soto Esperanca (8-1). Soto has competed in kickboxing, Muay Thai, and in many grappling tournaments such as the IBJJF. He is a BJJ and kickboxing blackbelt. Watching him what can be seen is strong slams, thunderous ground and pound, superb athleticism, and aggression. Soto has a huge problem with his cardio which would hold him back to winning the bigger fights. If he can fix that he would be a dangerous fighter.

Argentina
There are a lot of prospects from Argentina that stand out. A lot of good records and young fighters. Of everyone, I ended up narrowing it down to Mauro Mastromarini (16-2). He’s a guy that will always go out on his shield and put on a war. He can stand a bit flat-footed and his takedown defense needs to be better. He makes up for that with huge explosive ability. Mastromarini usually throws one strike at a time, and he’s a good counter striker. He’s even better when he explodes forward with strikes and some sniper head kicks at the end of combos. Mastromarini also has underrated wrestling and a good ground game. The UFC has signed a lot of Argentinian fighters recently and Mastromarini would do well in the UFC.

Armenia
All the best fighters from Armenia are already in the UFC. Those are Armen Petrosyan, Melsik Baghdasaryan, and of course, Arman Tsarukyan. The only one I like not signed to a major promotion is Martun Mezhlumyan (14-3). He's talented but is inconsistent. Losing to Islam Mamedov but his other losses are bad. He does have quality wins but Valeriu Mircea stands out. He has that killer instinct from the opening bell to the finish. Throwing output from the beginning Mezhlumyan really loves to throw his lead elbow over and over. He’s tricky with his style and a dangerous guy all around. He's someone that still needs to prove himself.

Australia
Over the last few years, Australia has developed a lot of good prospects from the area. The UFC also is always looking for fighters from the area where they go ever so often. There is a lot of choices to pick from but personally, I really like Cody Haddon (5-1). His only loss is to UFC'a Steve Erceg in what was a competitive fight. He’s well-rounded. He has both solid wrestling and strong grappling. On the feet, he’s the full package. His vision, hand speed, bodywork, and volume all don’t go unnoticed. Haddon is the real deal and needs to be watched closely. Haddon is currently Australia’s best-kept secret.

Austria
Austria has had trouble over the years finding their one fighter to represent their country to a certain degree. Ismail Naurdiev probably was their biggest star but a short stint in the UFC proved he wasn't at that level. Featherweight, Mochamed Machaev (13-1, 1 NC) I believe is at that level. Outside of MMA, he has a K-1 kickboxing record of 7-0. Machaev is a really good striker. He’s explosive, has commanding pressure, and a diverse striking arsenal. Machaev is constantly throwing combinations, mixing in a bit of everything. Although his foundation style is kickboxing, Machaev has some underrated wrestling. He’s very good at pressing against the cage and changing levels to the knees, getting the textbook double-leg. For the pace Machaev puts on, he has a deep gas tank.

Azerbaijan
Iska Ismayilov (5-1) lives in Romania but was born in Azerbaijan. I didn't know of Ismayilov until I scouted scouting fighters from his country. He calls himself the Khabib of Romania. Although that's far-fetched Ismayilov is talented. Outside of a possible cardio issue, Ismayilov has looked solid. On the feet, he picks his shots. He throws a good jab and is patient in finding his rhythm. He's dangerous on the feet but is a better grappler. If he's on top or on his back he's a submission threat. Ismayilov has impressive jiu-jitsu. He still has to prove himself but he has potential.

Bahrain
Bahrain has a lot of good prospects including a few top amateurs. Of all the country has to offer I'm a big fan of Ramazan Gitinov (2-0). Gitinov was one of the best amateur prospects at the time. He has won a slew of medals in his long career. He’s a five-time gold medalist ranging from world championships, European, Open, and Oceania medals. He’s very adaptable but is a high-level wrestler. His ability to close the distance and elevate his opponents is nice to see. Gitinov can chain wrestle at a high clip as well. Although wrestling is his safe space, he’s a technical fighter on the feet and has a lot of offer. I see him in the UFC in the next three years.

Belarus
Belarus is only known for UFC legend Andrei Arlovski. There are a couple of fighters from Belarus that piqued my interest. Antonina Kuleshova (3-0) was the one I liked the most. Kuleshova is only 3-0 as a professional but she went 7-3 as an amateur. Also, as an amateur, Kuleshova competed in IMMAF and did very well. She's put together very well being good in all areas. She's a better grappler than anything as her jiu-jitsu and control stand out. On the feet she puts together her hands and kicks well. She's good at throwing the right over top after a heavy outside leg kick. Also, Kuleshova has displayed good timing and good movement. Overall, it could take a few years but Kuleshova looks promising.

Belgium
Bolaji Oki just won on the last season of the contender series earning a contract representing Belgium. I believe we can see two more from Belgium on the contender series next season. The best fighter from the area in my opinion is Alain Van De Merckt (5-0). Merckt has fought at both light-heavyweight and middleweight but has looked much better at middleweight. He's a good athlete that on the feet he'll throw from both sides with a lot of power. His skillset shines more on the mat where he has four submissions. Merckt has been dominant with top control, ground and pound, and eventual fight-ending submissions. Watch out for Mercky because he can be signed to the UFC at any point.

Bolivia
The closest a fighter from Bolivia got to going to the UFC was Kevin Syler. He fought on the contender series in 2020 and lost and hasn't fought since. Out goes Syler and in comes Robert Batte (3-0). Batte is still unproven with limited cage time but has looked exceptional. He's light on his feet, explosive, hits hard, and throws a blistering one-two, and a power jab. His striking at the very least is something to be wary of.

Bosnia and Herzegovina
There have been a few fighters from Bosnia and Herzegovina who have made it to the UFC but never made a mark. Guys like Mirsad Bektic and Damir Hadzovic come to mind. Nobody I don't think is close to a UFC call-up but if he can string together a few wins then Haris Talundžić (6-2) could be a UFC fighter. Although from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Talundžić lives in the US and trains out of Elevation Fight Team. He's an LFA veteran who's 1-2 in his last three losing his last fight. Talundžić is a talented guy who is well-versed everywhere. The good thing is he's only 27 so he could at any point go on a run.

Brazil
Brazil is probably the most loaded when it comes to talent. Even though there is a lot of options, Felipe Lima (12-1) is the clear best fighter from Brazil that's not signed to a big promotion. Lima is a mixture of wild, unorthodox, and technical all at the same time when it comes to his striking. Lima throws a lot of high velocity such as switch kicks, capoeira kicks, and his favorite; the flying knee. I'm so high on Lima already and he's just 25. He could've been in the UFC for a few years now but not staying active has held that back. Now that he won the Oktagon bantamweight title he's a step closer to the UFC.

Bulgaria
There has never been a Bulgarian UFC fighter. You wouldn't think a 19-0 fighter would go unnoticed but Valentin Benishev (19-0) has. The reason he's gone unnoticed is that he hasn't been as active in the last few years. Also, Benishev may have a good-looking record but not one key win so his record is padded. Regardless, he's undefeated for a reason so there is talent there. Benishev has a combat sambo background and in MMA he's been dominant with wrestling and mauling top control.

Canada
Canada is always an area the UFC are always scouting talent from. His brother TJ Laramie got his shot in the UFC and the younger Tony Laramie (8-2) could be next at any time. Laramie is a flyweight who has fought good competition since turning pro. After a pair of consecutive losses in 2017, he’s won his last four fights. He’s a former TKO veteran and a PFC (Prospect FC) flyweight champion. On the feet, Laramie will beat up your body, damage your legs, and try to take your head off. Laramie is a solid wrestler when needed.

Chile
Currently in the UFC Ignacio Bahamondes is representing Chile and doing very well. Diego Gomez Manzur (9-1) is the next one from Chile to get to the UFC. He has key wins over Pipe Vargas and Amun Cosme and his only loss is to a good fighter in Mark Grey. He's the current Open Fight Latam champ in Chile. At the end of the year, he's going to Argentina to fight for the Samurai Fight House flyweight title. Gomez is a big submission threat and since he's moved down to 125 he's an even bigger threat.

China
China is so tough to scout from and find the right fighter because most have inflated records cause of how active they are. Also, in China, those promotions lack actually showing their fights to the public audience. I wanted to go with someone young in their career and without a loss which led me to Cong Wang (3-0). Cong has the hype because of her background in kickboxing. She has a draw with Tiffany van Soest and a title win over Valentina Shevchenko. She was 8-0-1 in kickboxing and was a two-time gold medalist in Sanda. She's looked good in MMA coming off a good win over a good opponent.

Democratic Republic of Congo
You wouldn't think Congo would have some prospects to choose from but there were a handful. The obvious choice was the exciting Eliezer Kubanza (4-0). Footage of his professional fights but he was a highly regarded amateur. Kubanza was a two-time IMMAF Africa Championships gold medalist. There are some questions about his ground game but on the feet, his striking is the real deal.

Croatia
There never may be the stature of a fighter representing Croatia like Mirko Cro Cop but Đani Barbir (6-0) is the closest. Barbir is a quality fighter but has suffered from inactivity only fighting twice in three years. On the feet, he looks good. He has good footwork, good kickboxing, quick hand speed, and a fire one-two he throws. Babir is athletic and explosive, as he has shown so far in his career. He hasn’t really displayed too much on that wrestling side, but his grappling is good, especially in scrambles. Still very green but I have a hunch he’s going to be a good one.

Cuba
Ernesto Rodriguez (7-1) has big shoes to fill as Cuba has had fighters like Hector Lombard and Yoel Romero represented in the UFC. Cuba has a few powerhouses but Rodriguez stands out the most. Rodriguez is one-dimensional with his wrestling but can be because he's so good in that area. He can wrestle at a constant pace for three rounds getting takedowns consistently. Rodriguez isn't much of a threat with his submission base but does do good at controlling position. His only loss is to Richie Lewis and has won five in a row.

Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is full of exciting prospects. Although he is signed with KSW, Leo Brichta (12-3, 1 NC) is the obvious choice. The Czech Republic has a knack for pumping out some excellent strikers and that's what we got with Birchta. Birchta didn't turn the corner in his career until he fought in the Oktagon Underground tournament in 2020. Oktagon is an exhibition tournament with modified MMA rules. He went 3-0 in the tournament but for some reason, he couldn't fight in the championship. Outside of MMA, Birchta has competed in kickboxing and Muay Thai bouts as well. He's undefeated in both disciplines at least what's shown on Tapology. Birchta does a lot of things so well on the feet but it all starts with his kickboxing. He dictates the pace with his kickboxing.

Dominican Republic
Waldo Cortes-Acosta is the only fighter from the Dominican Republic signed to the UFC. Micaias Ureña (8-2) trains and lives in the US and trains out of the Goat Shed. Urena offensively is a threat. He is constantly throwing the jab and mixing up his striking patterns following the jab. He actively goes to the body and chops away at the leg kicks and his release on his strikes is really quick. There are concerns about his cardio and takedown defense but if he can tighten it up he'd be a threat. The only thing he's missing is that one key win.

Ecuador
Chito Vera is a big star out of Ecuador who is about to challenge for a title. The two best prospects from Ecuador are actually brothers. I like Andres Luna Martinetti but Adrian Luna Martinetti (13-1) is the better fighter. Martinetti has some decent skills on the feet with kicks but is primarily a grappler. His wrestling I wouldn’t rate him too high but his overall ground game shines. Martinetti will lose positions at times but even off his back he’s attacking and scrambling well. He does a good job at staying active and is always working. Even though he is a submission threat his gas tank has held up very well. Martinetti even holds a rare gogoplata which is a testament to how good his jiu-jitsu is.

Egypt
The UFC would love to dip into the Egypt market and Maysara Mohamed (7-0-1) would be their best bet. There are some questions on Mohamed but he's looked exceptional. He's a very good striker that throws nice straight punches and blistering kicks. He's precise, explosive, dynamic, and super fast when it comes to his stand-up. At flyweight Mohamed is a really intriging prospect.

Finland
Abdul Hussein (9-2) has been a staple in Finland for a long time now. Both losses came at bad times as he was riding a nice win streak. His last loss was to the well-acclaimed Muhammad Mokaev. Since that loss to Mokaev, Hussein has won his next two fights. Hussein won the 2016 IMMAF World Championship gold medal in the bantamweight division. Also, he was a 2015 IMMAF European Open Champion as well. He is well-rounded being dangerous both on the feet and on the mat.

France
Over the last few years more and more French prospects have been getting noticed and signed to big promotions. The next should undoubtedly be Baissangour Chamsoudinov (8-0). 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. At just 22 years old he is already so well-rounded, calm in his approach, and just very smart, almost more like a seasoned veteran. Chamsoudinov is the full package when you look for up-and-coming talent.

Georgia
Georgia in the last few years has produced a ton of top fighters from Georgia. Some like Giga Chikadze, Roman Dolidze, Merab Dvalishvili, and Ilia Topuria. Georgia has a lot of options but it has to be the proven Mate Sanikidze (11-2). Sanikidze has been around since 2017 and has done a lot. He's fought for ACB, M1 Challenge, WLF Wars, and most recently Oktagon winning the featherweight title. More of a striker/kickboxer but lately he’s decided to wrestle a little bit more. 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. Sanikidze isn’t even near his prime and that’s a scary thought. He could use a few minor adjustments so the potential is there.

Germany
One of the most underrated areas that have a ton of really good prospects is Germany. Of all the options, I'm a big fan of Germany's own, Islam Dulatov (9-1). Since losing his first fight, Dulatov hasn’t lost again winning his next nine bouts. He’s finished all of his opponents and six of those he finished in under a minute. Dulatov is huge at 6’6″ and uses his length to his advantage. He’s a really rangy guy with a good jab and straight punches. He makes opponents pay coming in with step-in knees and is just difficult to close the distance on. There haven’t been hardly any concerns with him yet but that might be because he’s finishing fights so quickly.

Greece
Alexandros Moumtzis (7-0) is the next UFC fighter out of Greece I'm predicting. He's been the best prospect out of Greece for some time but isn't as known because of canceled fights. There isn't a ton of footage to watch to know how he good he really is but from all I've heard, he definitely the best prospect out of Greece.

Hungary
The only active prospect from Hungary that has my attention is Akos Denes (2-0). With that said, Denes is a good talent. Denes went 2-2 as an amateur but his two losses came at the start of his career. Since he's been pro he's looked so good. Denes is a striker and a very tricky one. He's actively switching stances and attacking with both his right and left side. Denes throws a variety of kicks while always using different patterns and feints. He's tough to read because you never know what he's going to throw. Still a lot to prove but very exciting nonetheless.

India
It's known India is extremely weak when it comes to dishing out good prospects. I'm not saying Clinton Kenin D'Cruz (6-0) is a top prospect but he has a lot of promise. D'Cruz is at his best when he's on the mat. He has a good single leg and does a nice job at timing his takedown entries. Outside of being over-aggressive at times going for submissions he's very skilled. D'Cruz is a big submission threat no matter his position I've seen him hit a beautiful sweep off his back so he knows what he's doing. On the feet, he does a lot of the basics well. He throws a good jab and a nice one-two. The striking is pretty clean but the defense needs work. D'Cruz is dangerous offensively and with more work his striking would be a great compliment to his ground game.

Ireland
The UFC would have another superstar from Ireland after the infamous Conor McGregor. They do have a star in Ian Garry but one outside the UFC is Paul Hughes (10-1). Hughes just isn't the best prospect in Ireland he's one of the best prospects in the world. Currently, he's the Cage Warriors On the feet, Hughes has good boxing. The accuracy and shot selection are there and so is some big power. He’s an even better wrestler and has exceptional grappling. Hughes is the real deal and he should be in the UFC soon.

Israel
Surprisingly, Israel has a few talented prospects. Tariel Abbasov (8-0) is one I've known of for a bit and I think is the best to represent his country. Abbasov, outside of MMA has an impressive resume in Combat Sambo. He won Bronze twice and gold once in the World Sambo Championships. Also, he's won gold in the European Championships. He's brought every bit of that legit Sambo background to MMA. Even more impressive than his outstanding wrestling has been his grappling. Abbasov has strong top position and just flows on top. So strong but light on top he will instantly take the back or the mount when the guy from underneath his attempts to move. He's a submission threat both on his back with the triangle and more impressively with the guillotines he's finished with in mount.

Italy
The UFC is in desperate need of new Italian fighters. Due to his growth over his last few fights, Michael Pagani (7-0) is my pick. His last fight he beat James Power who I like a lot. Prior to that he has three highlight-reel knockouts. Pagani fights long while switching stances throwing kicks and punches. He can wrestle but has a limited ground game.

Japan
One of the toughest places in the world to scout is Japan. It's because the footage is so tough to find on these fighters. The only one I could find tape on that I actually looked at was Yuji Yannick Ephoeviga (6-0). Ephoeviga is a big athletic lightweight that's looked solid so far. He's at his best on the mat where he can showcase his jiu-jitsu. On the feet he at least has good length and useful movement. Not sold but he has the tools to be good from what I've seen.

Jordan
As of right now, there is a few good prospects from Jordan. Narrowing it down to one I like Yazeed Hasanain (3-0) a lot. Hasanain has a background in KungFu Sanda where he's a two-time Arab champ. He's also competed in K1 and boxing along with his undefeated pro MMA record. I'm impressed with the stand-up of Hasanain being able to control the pace on the outside. He uses a lot good footwork, jabs, and strong kickboxing. Still needs to show more but watch out for this guy.

Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is loaded with a ton of top-notch prospects. Even though he has a loss this year I still think Damir Tolenov (11-1) is the best prospect out of the country. It's an opinion where many will say different fighters are the best out of the country. It's how talented the country is. Tolenov is a good striker but an even more skilled grappler holding four submission wins. That's saying a lot cause his striking is really good. Tolenov slips and rips so well and his shot placement is excellent. Although his grappling is his strong spot I do really enjoy the striking. He's both technical and deadly. His vision and his striking IQ really stand out. I belive this guy is a top 15 level UFC flyweight in the future.

Kyrgyzstan
Just like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan is loaded with talent. Of all the talent there is I went with the young man in Razhabali Shaydullaev (9-0) who is just 23-years-old. There isn't much to offer on the feet from Shaydullaev but he's a problem on the inside and with his grappling. Of nine wins he has finished all and seven of those come by submission. Shaydullaev is aggressive when going for the submission always improving position and attacking the neck. Shaydullaev is the real deal especially at such a young age.

Mexico
Mexico is one of the number one markets the UFC are interested in. Combate staple David "Black Spartan" Matrtinez (10-1) represents Mexico very well. Martinez won the title from the Combate Global’s one-night eight-man bantamweight tournament. That was is 2021 and Martinez has had two title defenses since. Martinez is solely a striker/kickboxer. Martinez usually fights in volume. He puts together combinations from different angles and mixes in his kicks behind his punches. He will throw a lot of hard outside leg kicks to set the tone of the fight. Martinez is pretty active on the outside with his kicks throwing to the legs, body, head, throwing sidekicks. In fact, Martinez was a former standout WAKO kickboxer. Martinez has basically shown little to zero holes in his game. He still hasn't been tested in a lot of ways as he's never been uncomfortable in the cage.

Mongolia
One of the best flyweight prospects happens to be from Mongolia in Badmatsyren Dorzhiev (8-0). This year has been a great year for "Immortal Lotus". He moved to the UFC and won the flyweight title for both Anthony Pettic FC and CFFC. 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. He should be a UFC fighting in the coming year sometime.

Morocco
Over the years I believe Morocco has a lot of potential to pump out more and more prospects. Currently, Nabil Haryouli (4-0) has the most potential. Haryouli is only 4-0 in MMA but that's because he comes from an extensive kickboxing career. He was 25-1 in kickboxing with 17 knockouts. Watching his kickboxing highlight reel he's destroying guys. In MMA it's been no different with four first-round finishes. Haryouli showed he can adapt to MMA as he has two TKO stoppages from a GNP. He's got huge power in his hands and throws them from the hip. He mixes in those body shots and utilizes his kickboxing well. I'd like to see more from a technical standpoint like feints, jabs, and straight punches. Only 24 so he can develop all that.

Namibia
The only prospect from Namibia that stands out Hafeni Nafuka (5-0). With that said, Nafuka is a great-looking prospect. If the UFC was to ever sign him he'd be the first ever Namibia UFC fighter. Nafuka isn't a great striker but is a darn good grappler. His wrestling I'm not too sure about but looks at home on the mat. Nafuka is constantly working on the mat staying active passing guard. Even off his back, he scrambles so well to win offensive positions. He's aggressive in improving positions and attacking submissions. Slick submission grappler that does need to grow eventually.

Netherlands
Years ago, the UFC had a few marketable fighters from the Netherlands but now, it's stagnant. Ilias Bulaid (4-0) is only 4-0 in MMA but is also a Dutch-Moroccan featherweight kickboxer. Competing in kickboxing for quite some time he has a 25-6 record with many accolades to his name. Bulaid has looked good so far in his MMA career putting complete clinics. We have been able to see the arsenal of Bulaid. He’s lit up his opponents with strikes and kicks mixing it up perfectly. He rips awesome combinations from different angles mixing in kicks and punches. Bulaid has looked stellar on the feet with his fluidity of output.

New Zealand
New Zealand may be tied in with Australia but the only New Zealand-born prospect that stands out is Aaron Tau (7-0). Tau is undefeated as a pro and is a prodigy of UFC fighter Dan Hooker. Despite the size, he's got talent. If he can close that gap he's a dangerous guy on the inside. He's strong and is capable of taking the fight down or smashing his opponent up on the feet. Footage lacks but hopefully he can start fighting for a promotion that cares about giving their fighters exposure.

Nigeria
There is a few quality fighters from Nigeria in the UFC like Sodiq Yusuff but more notably Kamaru Usman. Even though he lost at the beginning of the year I'm really impressed with Adamu Isah (3-1). He did get knocked out quickly but I do believe it was a fluke. Also, he did get back on the board with a win last August. Isah has heavy hands along with good technique and a diverse kickboxing attack. He trains out of Kill Cliff FC and has the great Robbie Lawler in his corner.

Norway
The UFC is probably already looking at Cecilie Bolander (3-0) because she's from Norway but more importantly a bantamweight. Bolander is an interesting prospect at 135. She fought at featherweight as an amateur and had a lot of success in IMMAF. Last year in worlds she won bronze and then went on to win the European championship. Bolander is labeled as an armbar specialist. All eight of her career wins come by armbar. Her only loss is to arguably the best current amateur prospect Sabrina De Sousa. Bolander has excellent Jiu-Jitsu, good judo, and is a pure finisher.

Guinea
You don't have to dig deep enough to know that Losene Keita (11-1) is the best fighter out of Guinea. Not just the best fighter out of his country but arguably the best worldwide. His only loss is to a good fighter but only lost because of injury. Keita is a fighter that’s shown a bit of everything. He swings with some real stopping power in his hands. His wrestling is good but jiu-jitsu is still a work in progress. He does have good power and when he puts his hands together he’s even more lethal. Keita has shown glimpses of good boxing using the jab and going body-head. He should be signed to the UFC today.

Peru
This year the UFC signed a few Peruvians. If they wanna improve the quality of signings, Jose Ochoa (7-0) would be a great signing. He would be the best Peruvian UFC fighter outside Daniel Marcos. From Peru, Ochoa did move to Brazil and is training at Chute Boxe Diego Lima which is an excellent decision. Ochoa is the complete fighter at flyweight. He is volume-based, throws a lot of kicks, is fast, and uses good footwork.

Poland
Poland is a consistent place in the world that will always have a number of good prospects. Cezary Oleksiejczuk (12-2) is currently one of the best prospects in the world and he happens to be from Poland. He's the younger brother of UFC's Michal Oleksiejczuk and Cezary is even more talented. Oleksiejczuk is the reigning FEN champion out of Poland. He's a complete fighter and he's only 23-years-old which is insane.

Portugal
The UFC really needs heavyweights and it's a good thing because Mario Pinto (7-0) is a good one out of Portugal. Last March, Levels Fight League held an eight-man one-night heavyweight Grand Prix to crown a champion. Pinto fought and won three times in one night taking home the title. MMA in Portugal is still growing. Pinto isn't only the best heavyweight from his country but the best prospect from the area in general. He's well-rounded with heavy hands, strong wrestling, and is adaptable on the mat.

Russia
There are a lot of talent-filled countries but Russia is where the catalog is as deep as it gets. It's tough to narrow it down to one but at least for this week, I'll say Islam Omarov (14-0) even though he is signed with ACA. Omarov is a legit prospect and a possible champion one day in a bigger promotion. He's currently under contract with ACA but he's fought there for almost four years so he has to be close to fighting out his contract. It's no surprise Omarov is from Dagestan because his wrestling is so damn good. His wrestling, cardio, and ground game is extremely legit. Omarov is the guy nobody would sign up to fight because he's a danger to beat about anyone in the cage.

Serbia
To my surprise, Serbia actually has a number of prospects that stood out. The best one though is the all-action lightweight, Marko Bojković (5-0). Bojković is someone who's popped on a lot of people's radar recently. The only concern with me besides the unknowns is the cardio. The reason is would be because of the amount of effort he puts into his offense. Bojković is well-rounded. On the feet, he throws with big pop in his hands and does a fine job of mixing it up going to the body and head. He's not someone you want to land clean on your chin. I think Bojković is even better on the mat. His wrestling has checked out and so has his grappling and heavy ground and pound. With the right push, Bojković can be a serious problem.

Slovakia
The best prospect for the last few years has been Lucia Szabova (6-0). The only reason she hasn't become a bigger name is that she's been out of the cage for over two years due to child birth. Szabova, although with little experience in MMA, has a ton in Muay Thai. She has a 39-5 record in Muay Thai and is a national champion. The Muay Thai has shown out so far for Szabova, but she’s actually had just as much success on the mat. Still, with an underrated ground game, she prefers to keep the fight standing. In the clinch, she does excellent work with knees and smashing elbows. There is room for improvement, but she could be in the UFC by the end of 2024.

South Africa
No doubt about it, Igeu Kabesa (16-2) is the best prospect in South Africa. Kabesa is the correct EFC bantamweight champion and is a three-time champ as well. Kabesa is a very decorated wrestler being a 10-time Wrestling Nationals Champion. He is young and solid everywhere. Kabesa has amazing wrestling and grappling. He's accomplished almost everything possible outside a big promotion.

South Korea
Out of South Korea, Si Won Park (8-0) is the Road FC lightweight champion. He trains out of Team Stun Gun under Dong Hyun Kim and other good fighters out of South Korea. Park has tools everywhere and shows a new wrinkle every time he fights. On the feet, he has a good right cross and perfect timing on his strikes. Defensively he's good too with good head movement. Park is slick on the mat and if he's on your back the RNC is natural to him.

Spain
Spain has a few action-packed fighters to highlight. The best one of those in my opinion is Ignacio Capella (7-1). Capella a volume guy throwing combinations purely. He likes to get in the pocket and rip to the body and head. Capella can land that kill shot at any point having power in both hands. He throws with so much power in everything he slows he does slow down as the fight goes on. His takedown defense isn't great either. Capella is a warrior and in the fight, if he gets an inch he's gonna take a mile.

Sweden
Sweden has had a lot of fighters come and go over the years. It's an area that's always gonna have talent. Benardo Sopaj (10-2) has been a highly touted prospect for years. He's trained at Allstars in Sweden but has recently went to the US training at Xtreme Couture and The Goat Shed. Earlier this year he won the FCR bantamweight title out of Sweden. Crazy enough, Sopai is only 23-years-old and a complete fighter already. On the feet, he has a Muay Thai background. He doesn’t really have knockout power but does throw a lot of volume and gives a lot of different looks. I’ve been impressed with the wrestling from the setups, speed, and his ability to slam guys to the mat. Sopai has three wins by submission and overall his grappling could be where he’s best at. This kid is a major problem with a bright future.

Switzerland
The only fighter from Switzerland in the UFC is former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir. Husein Kadimagomaev (10-1) is very talented and super young at 24. As impressive as 10-0 is, Kadimagomaev went 18-0 as an amateur as well. He has heavy kicks, good combinations coming in, and has solid wrestling. At such a young age he’s already so well-rounded and already so good. I'd like to give a shout-out to Daniel Konrad as well because he's made a good account of himself.

Tajikistan
The UFC has a few fighters from Tajikistan but there is much better talent out there compared to what they got. Samandar Murodov (9-0) has the exposure already fighting for UAE Warriors and was a featured bout of Road to UFC. There isn't much I dislike about Murodov but there is a lot I like. He's got good wrestling, is a slick grappler, scrambles really well, and has a submission attack. His stand-up is still growing but at his age he has time to develop.

Ukraine
Oleksii Kryvets (6-0) is an undefeated flyweight fighting out of Berdichev, Ukraine has a 100% finish rate. Kryvets competed in years in combat sports so he's been competing longer than just in six pro MMA fights. Once he gets the fight to the mat he's in full control. He stays tight but gives enough space to lull guys into trying to scramble so he can take the back. Kryvets is dangerous at working front headlocks and just attacking the neck in general. He's so confident in his jiu-jitsu that hes fine with going to his back. I'm a big supporter of the flyweight division and I think Kryvets has a high ceiling. He's just 26 so he has time to grow.

United Arab Emirates
With the connections the UFC has with Abu Dhabi, they'd like to have more fighters local to the area. They signed Mohammad Yahya recently who is from the area but he's not UFC level at all. Hadi Omar Al Hussaini (4-0-1) may not be UFC level either but he has a higher ceiling for sure. Hadi is a very good wrestler and has what seems to be a high-level ground game. He gets right after it getting the takedown with solid wrestling. Hussaini has lockdown top control with educated ground and pound. There is a lot of potential with Hussaini at 125.

United Kingdom
George Hardwick (12-2) may be coming off a loss on the contender series but he's still the best prospect out of the United Kingdom. Hardwick is the current Cage Warriors lightweight champion. Prior to that loss, Hardwick was on a nice eight-fight win streak. Hardwick is surgical on the inside with his hands and elbows in the clinch he will chop the legs at a distance. His jiu-jitsu is slick. As a pro, he’s really good at finding the neck of his opponent.

United States
Of course, the US is the number one country where talent is looked at for obvious reasons. Austin Bashi (11-1) is the best prospect out of the US in my opinion. No prospect in the US has a better resume than Bashi. Bashi has beaten good regional guys like Askar Askar, Pipe Vargas, Chris San Jose, and Erion Zekthi while being the Lights Out Championship bantamweight champion. The wrestling is top-notch and he has solid cardio. Bashi is already so good now he's gonna be great in the future.

Uruguay
Uruguay is a country with an abundance of young talent. In the next few years, we will be hearing about a lot more signing to the UFC. I'm a fan of Luciano Pereira (13-1) in the flyweight division. At 125 "El Torito" packs one hell of a punch, kick, and ground and pound. He will just march forward throwing bomb after bomb. Not too much technique but it flashes. His ground game altogether has looked competent.

Uzbekistan
An area that's tough to narrow it down to one is Uzbekistan. It's because there are a couple fighters that seem like the same level. Of the few possible options, I went with the undefeated Khotam Boynazarov (7-0). With still improvements to be made on the feet Boynazarov is a strong physical wrestler. If he gets his hands together he will take guys for a ride. More notable is his constant pressure and strength. Boynazarov still needs more experience but he's looked good so far.

Venezuela
LUX Fight League has an interesting prospect in Mauricio Alfonso (7-0). Alfonso is from Venezuela and is a bantamweight with an unbeaten 7-0 record. Even as an amateur Alfonso went 4-0 so he's never lost in MMA. Alfonso isn't a submission threat but he does have smashing ground and pound. Not the most technical grappler but he is strong and scrambles well. Alfonso has some big power in his hands and would benefit more if he threw more than hooks. Yes, at times he throws a power jab and goes to the body but he needs to do more of it. If he can mix up his hands better he's gonna be super dangerous.

Vietnam
The only prospect from Vietnam to ever grace the UFC was the well-known Cunge Le. He has been away from the sport in a long time. Luckily, the name An Tuan Ho (5-0) is a brilliant prospect out of Vietnam. Ho is one of my favorite prospects among all weightclasses. I like watching speed, kickboxing, and explosiveness and that's what Ho brings to the table. Ho has it all when you look to find a flyweight prospect. He has the speed, technique, and the hard pace. He still needs more experience but Ho is the future.

Zimbabwe
Even though he lost his last fight Nicholas Hwende (6-1) has the biggest chance of capturing a major title from Zimbabwe. Hwenede was born in Zimbabwe but lives in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. Hwende has accomplished a lot in just a short amount of time fighting as a pro. Beating the likes of Gian Souza and a staple in Nkazimulo Zulu is impressive. He is the EFC bantamweight champion with two title defenses. His only loss is to a tough Velimurad Alkhasov.