With UFC Vegas 120 on the horizon this weekend, we decided to start a series that encapsulates prospects who relate to fighters or the locations of each card. We’re starting with a regular Apex show that features multiple fighters with prospect teammates, while also located in the fight capital of the world.
Matheus Rocha, 27, Lightweight, 9-1-0
Fighting out of O.C.T MMA with Manuel Sousa as a teammate is Matheus “Sniper” Rocha. With a record of 9-1, Rocha has won via KO/TKO in seven of his nine wins, seeing the judges’ scorecards twice. After a 5-0 start to his career, he was called up to take on current UFC fighter Jefferson Nascimento in LFA. Rocha suffered the lone loss of his career in this bout, being knocked out in the first round. His bounce-back has been great, as he has gone 4-0 since while finishing two of those opponents. Later this month, Rocha will get into the cage for the first time this year as he looks to claim the vacant Thunder Fight lightweight title.
Just as his nickname suggests, on the feet is where Rocha shines during his fights. He is a slick, long-range striker with good movement. Feinting around the outside as he looks to create openings is where he does his best work. Rocha has a solid kicking game that he throws to all three levels, but I am a big fan of his leg kicks. To go along with those kicks and the feints, he throws out a quick jab as he settles into the fight. With the hands, his best punch is that sniper right hand. Whether he sets it up with a jab or steps back and meets somebody coming in on him, that punch does damage. When Rocha has the opportunity to let off combinations, he will, but most of the time that comes when he has his opponent hurt or when they are backed up to the cage. Defensively, he mainly relies on his movement to avoid incoming strikes, but like in the Nascimento fight, if he gets backed up to the cage, he can be tagged.
If “Sniper” can score a big finish to take home the Thunder Fight belt, I would love to see him get another opportunity to fight in LFA.
Sal Everett, 29, Middleweight, 4-0-0
Sal Everett is a very interesting middleweight prospect, training locally in Las Vegas out of Freestyle MMA. Standing at 6’3” with a 77-inch reach, he has the physical attributes to cause a lot of problems for his opponents. Everett had an undefeated four-fight amateur career that lasted just over a year. He was able to rack up four finishes, with one KO/TKO and three submissions. Less than a year ago, Everett had his first fight as a professional, and, up to this point, has been very successful. With a 4-0 record, Everett has scored two of each type of finish so far.
Everett is a dangerous, well-rounded fighter who can win fights standing or on the ground. His height and reach are a big part of his striking game, as he likes to stay at range to pick his shots. Even if he isn’t throwing hard, everything he lands has natural power. Everett has a long jab and will feint at his opponent to draw out attacks, where he can then land his check hook. That check hook scored him a four-second knockout earlier this year. Typically, Everett fights out of the orthodox stance, but he can be effective out of southpaw as well. He has a nice teep kick to keep his opponents at range and will also whip up a head kick. His takedown defense has been a bit porous at times, but he has had the bottom game to deal with it up to this point. A sneaky triangle choke and an armbar at the amateur level have gotten him out of some situations where he was on his back. Everett has all the tools to be a successful fighter, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on TUF or Contender Series next year.
Jeremiah Kent, 26, Welterweight, 4-0-0
Next up is former collegiate wrestler and current teammate of Diego Ferreira at Fortis MMA, Jeremiah Kent. Kent had a successful wrestling career at the University of Missouri before transitioning to MMA. In 2021 and 2022, Kent qualified for the NCAA Division 1 National Championships, as well as being runner-up in the 2022 Big 12 Championships. He made his professional MMA debut last year in February and holds a 4-0 record. Kent has finished all four of his opponents, with one first-round KO/TKO and three first-round submissions under his belt.
While he has the wrestling pedigree and has shown it in his MMA fights, Kent hasn’t even entertained the idea of striking on the feet yet. The most amount of striking we’ve seen from him is a double jab into a takedown, so his striking is completely unknown at this point. Obviously, when it comes to wrestling, nobody at his current level has anything for him. He shoots double legs that are normally successful, but if not, he transitions into a body lock and gets the takedown easily. When on the ground, Kent has shown some good elbows and overall activity. He has one ground-and-pound finish but usually uses strikes to get to the back, where he sinks in the rear naked choke. It will be interesting to see how his striking turns out and how he handles adversity for the first time, but Kent is a prospect to keep an eye on.
Israel Galvan, 25, Flyweight, 10-3-0
In my opinion, the fighter most ready for high-level competition on this list is our second local fighter, Israel Galvan, who trains out of Syndicate MMA. As an amateur, Galvan went 7-2, with his career ending in a loss against the now 7-0 pro Ata Atdayev. His professional career didn’t start smoothly at all, dropping two of his first three fights. Since then, Galvan has turned it around and now holds a 10-3 record. His most recent loss in 2022 came against the undefeated and UFC-ready Christian Natividad. Galvan won the CFFC flyweight belt in 2024 and won his most recent fight against Jose Sandoval in March of this year. At the moment, Galvan is on a five-fight win streak, with three of those wins coming by finish.
Galvan is an all-action fighter with likely the most complete skillset on this list. He puts on a lot of pressure and puts out high volume with diversity to keep his opponent guessing. The southpaw has fast hands and throws well in combination. In the pocket is where Galvan does his best work with the hands. At range, he uses good movement and kicks to all three levels to keep his opponents away until he is ready to close the distance. When it comes to wrestling, Galvan has a wide variety of takedowns that he can use. Normally, he will shoot into a double or single leg but can transition to a body lock if needed. On the ground, Galvan is always active, whether it is with ground-and-pound or hunting for submissions. He does a good job of using the ground-and-pound to open up better positions or submission attempts. Galvan has the cardio to take it the distance if needed, but seven of his ten wins have come inside the distance. I’m surprised the UFC hasn’t given him a shot in any capacity yet, but at only 25, if he keeps extending his win streak with finishes, that opportunity is sure to come.
Maria Belanson, 21, Strawweight, 3-1-0
To close out this list is the least-experienced fighter I will talk about. Maria Belanson is a 21-year-old strawweight prospect who trains out of Ribas Family with Alexia Thainara. She had a very brief amateur run, going 1-1 in just under seven months. Almost exactly a year after her first amateur fight, Belanson made her pro debut in March of 2025. Belanson fought three times in 2025, winning her first two fights via decision before taking her first loss. That loss came by split decision against the much more experienced Bo Hyun Park. With that win, Park was given the chance on Road to UFC, and she will fight in the semi-finals later this month. Belanson got back in the cage in March of this year and scored her first finish as a pro, winning by round-two KO/TKO. She was supposed to make her Jungle Fight debut in May and then June, but unfortunately both those fights were cancelled.
Belanson is a through-and-through kickboxer who is clearly improving in her all-around game. Her kicks are the star of the show, as she has a deep bag with both legs and does well out of either stance. In that bag, she kicks to all three levels, with her body and head kicks seeming to do the most damage. Belanson doesn’t have slick technical combinations with the hands, but they are fast and usually followed by a kick to close out the combination. Most of the time, her punches are a bunch of one-twos down the middle, but she will occasionally add in a big overhand. In terms of grappling, we haven’t seen much from her other than a nice toss towards the end of her fight against Espiasse. When the fight hit the ground, her opponent was already quite tired, but at the very least, Belanson seemed competent offensively. Defensively, she has defended a few not-so-great takedown attempts against some not-so-great opponents, but training at Ribas Family, they will obviously be working on that part of her game.
Although Belanson hasn’t beaten the best opponents yet, her skill set and very close split-decision loss to a more experienced Park lead me to have high hopes for her career.
