Author – Cedric Dumas
Weightclass: Bantamweight
Age: 22
Height: 5’8”
Born in: Tajikistan
Training out of: Evolve Gym Moscow
Combined opponents’ record (at the time they fought): 14-4
Key wins: Abay Zhalal, Murad Ibragimov, Jake Ngai (amateur), Movsar Ibragimov (amateur)
As you’ve probably noticed, the team at Creative Minds has put together a Top 25 ranking of the best prospects outside the major MMA organizations. Naturally, it’s tough for such a diverse group to reach a perfect consensus. To build our collective ranking, we implemented a points-based system. The chosen method assigns 25 points to the #1 prospect, 24 to #2, and so on, down to 1 point for the 25th spot. Shawn then tallied the scores to produce a Top 25 that reflects the combined opinions of the entire group. Since we come from different backgrounds, with varying perspectives, viewing experiences, and evaluation criteria, we have fighters in our personal Top 25s who didn’t make the final group list. That’s why Shawn came up with the idea that each member could write about fighters who appeared in their personal rankings but didn’t crack the group’s Top 25. So today, I’ve decided to write about one of my favorite prospects: Otabek Rajabov. This piece will be divided into three sections: My selection process for my personal list (what I look for in a prospect), a professional biography of Rajabov, and my technical analysis of the fighter.
Let me start by saying that putting together a Top 25 list of the best MMA prospects was no easy task. What exactly should the rankings be based on? Potential? Current skill level? Whether the fighter is already UFC-ready? All of these are valid approaches when building this kind of list. As for me, my first scouting experiences came from the world of hockey. Being Canadian, that’s the sport I grew up with, and from a young age, I was fascinated by the draft process. In the NHL, players are drafted at 18 years old, even though most won’t make it to the league until 3 to 5 years later. That means scouting in hockey requires projecting a player’s development over several years. Current ability matters, of course, but so does the growth potential. That mindset stayed with me when I transitioned to following MMA more closely.
Watching young fighters, I instinctively ask myself: What is this athlete’s floor and ceiling? How far can they go? That’s why many of the fighters ranked in my personal Top 25 are still early in their careers. Despite their lack of experience, I look for high potential, both in their baseline skill set and in how far they could eventually progress. Another key factor in building my rankings is the fighter’s amateur background. Not all developmental environments are created equal, and it can be tough to compare prospects who are coming up in very different regional scenes. That’s why I place strong value on fighters who came through the IMMAF system during their amateur careers. This platform offers a rare chance to see top prospects from around the world compete under comparable conditions, making evaluations more meaningful. These factors help explain why my personal rankings differ significantly from those of my fellow Creative Minds members. In the following section, I’ll introduce the third-highest-ranked prospect on my personal list: Otabek Rajabov.
Born on December 18, 2002, in Tajikistan, Otabek Rajabov is one of the most promising young prospects in MMA today. Standing at 5’8″, he competes primarily in the bantamweight division and trains out of Evolve Gym Moscow in Russia. Rajabov first made his mark on the international amateur scene, rising rapidly through the ranks of the IMMAF circuit. A true standout in amateur MMA, he captured multiple prestigious titles, including the Junior European Championship, the Junior World Championship, and the Asian Championship. These achievements allowed him to face and defeat some of the best prospects of his generation in standardized tournament conditions, earning him global recognition.
In 2023, he cemented his reputation by winning the Senior World Championships in Tirana, Albania. Throughout the tournament, Rajabov impressed with his consistency, tactical discipline, and overall versatility. He dominated opponents with clean decision wins or well-executed submissions. He closed out his amateur career with an outstanding record of 18 wins and just 1 loss, that sole defeat coming at the hands of Asaf Chopurov, whom I consider the greatest IMMAF fighter of all time, during the 2021 Junior World Championship. Along the way, Rajabov faced and beat several top-tier amateur fighters, including Abay Zhalal, Murad Ibragimov, Jake Ngai, and Movsar Ibragimov, all of whom enjoyed strong amateur careers and are now gaining momentum in the professional ranks as well.
In 2024, Rajabov transitioned to the professional scene, making his debut in Japan’s Pancrase promotion. He kicked off his pro career with a third-round submission win over seasoned veteran Mitsuhiro Taki (9-3), a significant challenge for any debut. He followed that up with a unanimous decision win at ACA Young Eagles in Russia, defeating skilled wrestler Bilal Alikhadzhiev. In July 2025, he earned a second professional submission victory, this time over Grigoriy Lobov (0-0), a grappling coach from Phoenix Fight Club, at Open Fighting Championship.
Rajabov now holds a flawless 3–0 professional record, with two submission wins and one decision, firmly establishing himself as a prospect to watch on the international MMA scene. Unfortunately, he’s only been able to fight three times in two years since turning professional. I truly hope he can find worthy opponents to keep climbing the ranks and continue his rise to the top of the sport.
For this section, I immersed myself in video study of Rajabov. I was able to watch several of his amateur fights as well as his professional bouts to complement the notes I had already compiled on this prospect. Rajabov is a highly promising young talent whose grappling-centered style sets him apart. His wrestling is both technical and creative. He mixes explosive takedown entries with fluid transitions, often chaining attempts seamlessly to maintain control. Whether working from single legs, body-locks, or scrambles, Rajabov consistently finds ways to bring the fight to the mat. Once on top, he excels at maintaining dominant positions through heavy pressure, active ground-and-pound, and calculated positional advances. He rarely risks top control for flashy submissions but will take advantage if an opportunity presents itself. What makes Rajabov even more impressive is his composure and decision-making. He adapts well mid-fight, shows strong grip-fighting instincts, and demonstrates a mature understanding of control and pacing for someone his age. His ability to maintain grappling fluidity over three full rounds speaks to solid cardio and mental endurance.
While his striking remains a work in progress, he shows flashes of potential with clean jabs and well-timed kicks. Importantly, he understands his strengths and builds game plans around them, making him difficult to deal with even for physically stronger or more experienced opponents.
At just 22, Rajabov is already technically refined and has the foundation to evolve into a well-rounded, high-level fighter in the coming years.