January kicked off a loaded month of top prospects in action, with a big number of regional promotions looking to start the year off right. This list was tough to make, with many of our top 25 prospects fighting this month. However, some performances stood out above others and put some big names in the spotlight this year. This list could’ve been longer, but it felt better to hone in on just a couple of fighters who showed their skills and captured massive wins.
Here are 5 UFC-ready prospects that fought in January:
Takaya Suzuki (7-1) – Flyweight
With incredible technique, power, and precision, Suzuki has quickly risen to the top of the regional flyweight rankings. His dismantling of Tonio Figueiredo at Fury FC 113 earned him the Fury FC Flyweight Championship. This standout win marked itself as a career-defining moment for Suzuki, who, at just 21, still has room for growth.
With KO wins in his last five fights (four in R1), Suzuki has evolved significantly since his first career fight and only loss. His win over Yuichi Miyagi (a 34-fight vet) came in just four seconds with a lightning-quick flying knee. This is one of the fastest KOs ever recorded in MMA history, showing that your guard can never be down against him.
Suzuki’s speed is the biggest thing that stands out when watching his fights. His kicks, punches, and movements all seem to be miles quicker than his opponents’. His southpaw stance and constant lead body kicks do a great job at keeping orthodox opponents’ rear hand low and ready for attacks. When Suzuki gets rushed, he remains calm and swiftly moves out of range, almost as if he knows when opponents plan to advance.
When Suzuki sets up his left hand, he often finds the mark before bouncing away, avoiding any counters effectively. His quickness and awareness allow him to get away with missing big strikes and keep him dangerous even when pressured. Suzuki’s finishing instincts and aggression can also not be understated, and he will pounce on any opportunity given. In a fight that many considered his toughest on paper, he made an undefeated prospect look out of his realm.
The concerns in Suzuki’s game are grappling and cardio, both of which are yet to be consistently tested. However, his takedown defense has been sharp, and cardio hasn’t been needed with the quick finishes he’s gathered. While he is still very young, his skill set is already enough for UFC competition. The speed, methodical striking, and high fight IQ lead me to believe he would be ranked sooner rather than later. The UFC already has great Japanese flyweights in Tatsuro Taira and Kyoji Horiguchi, but adding Suzuki would be no surprise.
Josiah Harrell (11-0) – Welterweight
After a dominant win filled with exciting moments, Josiah Harrell has found himself at the top of the WWs to be signed. If nearly hitting a Might Wiz Bar wasn’t enough, his ensuing ground-and-pound to finish Bekmyrza Dosmatov was. Harrell was already notably signed by the UFC to face Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 290. He was forced to pull out of that bout after a rare brain condition, Moyamoya, was discovered. Harrell has since had brain surgery and taken nearly two years off, but came back like he never left.
Since his March 2025 return, Harrell has gone 4-0 with three finishes. Dating back to his amateur career, Harrell has won 17 straight with just three decisions. While he is on the smaller side at just 5’7, it hasn’t been a deterrent. “Muscle Hamster” is a fitting nickname for the 27-year-old, whose high work rate and pressure are constant.
In that fight against Dosmatov, his takedown defense was tested constantly in the opening round. He was taken down but worked back to his feet quickly and continued scrambling and fighting takedowns. This zapped Dosmatov’s stamina in the second round, resulting in a lot less resistance once Round 3 started. While striking isn’t his strong point, Harrell has impressive bursts with combinations. He can switch stances fluently and consistently, and shift his momentum into takedown attempts, which are typically well-timed. From there, he excels at getting to dominant positions and remaining there while giving opponents no time to breathe or rest.
Harrell has finished 3 of his last 7 in the third round, a testament to his effectiveness at breaking down opponents and securing late finishes. He has shown great recovery when hurt and resilience in bouncing back from bad moments to get the win. Despite not having the cleanest or most technical game, Harrell has made it work despite his flaws. He finds a way to win even when it seems unlikely, and more importantly, finds the finish in most cases. While his brain condition may be an issue, Harrell has proven that it will not hinder his career or performance.
Marcos Degli (14-3) – Flyweight
If it wasn’t already clear that Marcos Degli was one of the best unsigned flyweights outside of the UFC, he made it clear at LFA 225. At just 25 years old, Degli has amassed 17 pro fights. After a 2-3 start to his career, he has won 12 straight and claimed the LFA Interim Flyweight Championship, which he defended twice already. His recent demolition of Luis Aguiar added to an already incredible highlight reel filled with devastating knockouts and slick submissions.
Degli’s devastating power that carries throughout the fight is his most dangerous trait. Against Luis Aguiar, Degli forced uncomfortable exchanges early and controlled range with his jab. It took just one massive left hook to the body to finish the job, just over 90 seconds in. This was a stark contrast from his previous fight against Matheus Severino, where Degli didn’t get much going until the finish. Despite being dropped in Round 3 and likely down two rounds, Degli remained unfazed and stayed patient. He continued following his game plan and, within two minutes of being dropped, landed a massive right hand to knock Severino out.
Degli has shown an ability to eat big strikes and stay composed, hiding how much it affected him. He also uses a great sense of patience when dissecting his opponent, not rushing shots or throwing recklessly. From his feints to his punches, everything Degli does is methodical with the intent to set up a finish. He may get outstruck in the process and even be down on the scorecards, but you can bet that he’s working towards landing a big shot to end the fight. With a 55-11 combined record of his past six opponents, the level of competition he’s beaten in LFA is impressive.
Degli’s type of fighting is exactly what the UFC is looking for: finishes and excitement. Signing him this year seems like a no-brainer at this point, with the only potential obstacle being the champion of his weight class, Eduardo Henrique. A unification fight between the two would pose real danger for both, but it doesn’t seem to be on the cards for LFA at this point. The UFC passing on a fighter like Degli at flyweight would be a shocker, and I don’t expect it to continue for long.
Tyshawn Williams (8-0) – Featherweight
As someone who wasn’t on many radars but made a massive statement to start the year, Tyshawn Williams is one of the biggest risers in stock so far in 2026. The Baltimore native had his first five fights locally at Shogun Fights, then moved to APFC and Tuff-N-Uff for his last three. Williams is also a former D1 wrestler at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Training at Xtreme Couture and getting rounds in with Tofiq Musyaev and Patchy Mix is crucial to his development.
His sub-2-minute finish of formerly undefeated prospect Habibullo Azizov really broke the gates open and exposed the level of prospect that Williams is. Despite his wrestling credentials, it was his striking that ended the fight. Williams wasn’t afraid to exchange punches and hurt Azizov with a pair of right hands, dropping him with the second. He wasted no time jumping for the finish, stunning Azizov as he worked back to his feet and taking him out with ground and pound.
Williams’ low stance allows him to shoot takedowns when needed and keeps opponents threatened with his wrestling. He uses that low and wide posture to hide his rear high kicks, which can come within boxing range. He isn’t afraid to throw punches in the pocket and can switch stances fluently to land his shots. Williams carries a lot of strength in his takedowns, picking opponents up and powering them down to the ground. From there, he slices through the guard with seamless transitions and powerful control. Once his arms or legs are wrapped around you, it’s tough to break his grasp. Williams’s footwork may be the most impressive part of his standup, with quick feints and great lateral movement. He cuts off the cage when on the front foot and manages his range well, bouncing out whenever in danger.
While his win against Alfred Walker showed that he values control over damage, his scrambles and strength stood out above all. Williams still has things that need improvement, such as his striking skill set and arsenal of strikes. However, he has improved at a rapid pace that is expected to continue. Williams seemingly has a spot reserved for the upcoming DWCS season, with a post by Tuff-N-Uff saying he received the offer right after his win. If that is the case, then the UFC is just a mere win away for Williams, who we’re unlikely to see back in action until that point.
Virgil Augen (9-0) – Middleweight
A fighter who has improved his finishing ability with hopes of getting to the UFC, Virgil Augen is a high-level grappler. The ARES FC Middleweight Champion has defended his title twice but missed all of 2025 and lost some steam. He made sure to correct this quickly in 2026, with a January finish over former DWCS fighter Henrique Shiguemoto. This was a rematch of their December 2023 fight, which Augen won by decision. The win showed improvements in Augen’s game, especially with the aforementioned finishing ability that he was lacking. With finishes in 4 of his last 5, Augen has made the right changes to his game.
Augen quickly pushes opponents to the cage, trapping and breaking them down until he ends up on top. While it may not be the most exciting display, he is effective and poses a dangerous submission threat when grappling. Augen is a relentless chain wrestler once he gets going, with constant takedowns that drain cardio quickly. His cardio also matches his skills, and he rarely skips a beat, even when wrestling at such a high pace. Augen’s fight against Vlad Gutu showed how draining his pace can be and was a stark reminder of how effective his style is.
His top control can be a bit weaker, but his positioning and reversals make up for it. When he does get into a dominant position on top, he actively lands punches and chases submissions. His striking has remained fairly basic throughout his career, with mostly fundamentals that set up his takedowns. His best striking comes when opponents are standing up after being controlled. Augen doesn’t waste much time on the feet before looking to grapple, knowing where his strengths lie. However, with such limited striking, rounding out his game needs to be a top priority.
While Augen grappling and résumé alone make him UFC-ready, the call hasn’t come for a reason, assumedly due to his lack of a well-rounded skillset and boring performances. The UFC has grown its French roster and started holding events there, so that helps him more than anything. However, with the growth of French MMA in general, seeing Augen get the chance would make sense. His grappling alone would be enough to take out many current middleweights, already holding a win over 2025 DWCS contract winner Mantas Kondratavicius. An undefeated middleweight with the grappling prowess and regional title defenses like Augen shouldn’t find himself in ARES much longer.
Honorable Mentions
Artur Minev def. Derek Campos via R1 KO at Fury FC 113
Rafael Pereira def. Lionel Abojer via R3 Submission at LFA 225
John Garza def. Josh Walker via R2 TKO at Fury FC 114