In the month of April, it was a low-key, strong month for prospects. Not an absurd amount of prospects, but the five you’ll read below are all I think can be fixtures in the UFC for many years. Give it a read and any feedback is welcome.
Jovan Leka (13-2) – Heavyweight
Spoiler alert: this signing is going to happen. He has a solid record, has already fought on the Contender Series, and he’s a heavyweight. In that fight, he won a pretty underwhelming decision, but it was still surprising to see him not get signed—especially given his age and the division.
Leka has responded exactly how you’d want since being passed over. He’s picked up two wins, finishing both, and in April, he captured the ARMMADA heavyweight title. With the UFC heading to Serbia, he’s a clear candidate to bring in. Our own Pat Danna also covered five prospects to sign for that card—you can check that out here.
Featherweight, Eduard Kexel (13-3)
Kexel isn’t from Serbia, but he’s someone the UFC should consider for that card as well. He’s fought for Oktagon and KSW, and now competes in FNC, so he brings solid experience. Some of his losses are unfortunate, but they’ve aged well in my opinion. They’re still fights he probably should’ve won, but he’s clearly leveled up since then.
Kexel is on a three-fight win streak and captured the FNC featherweight title in April. He has seven career finishes and has shown more urgency lately, pushing harder for stoppages. His power carries well on the feet, and he delivers ferocious ground-and-pound.
Lightweight, Noah Gugnon (9-2)
As the UFC has continued to visit France more frequently in recent years, it’s important to keep adding talent. While they have several directions they could go, Gugnon has done enough to earn his shot.
After a two-fight skid, he’s put together five straight wins, finishing all five opponents within the first two rounds. His April win came against a lower-level Brazilian opponent, and he handled him accordingly—getting the finish in about three minutes. Gugnon brings an exciting skill set that translates not just to the French audience but globally. He’s a slick, brawler-type pocket striker who can also mix in takedowns and get finishes on the mat.
Lightweight, Nikita Kulshin (9-0)
The only thing holding Kulshin back from bigger opportunities has been his lack of killer instinct. Six of his wins have come by decision, including four straight at one point.
In April, Kulshin finally got a finish, and it came in under a minute. It was against journeyman Junior Melo (15-10-1, 1 NC), which isn’t a standout name, but it was still a strong performance.
With the UFC regularly coming to Florida and Kulshin training out of Kill Cliff FC, he’s in the right place at the right time. He’s a smart, pace-controlling fighter with strong cage control. While he lacks power, he blends sharp combinations with effective takedowns, using strong wrestling and heavy top control. Even if he can be a bit safe at times, his skill set is sustainable at the UFC level.
Welterweight, Darkhanbek Ergeshov (13-2)
Kyrgyzstan’s Erdeshov looked a long way from the UFC just a year ago. He’s since moved to the US to train with Team Alpha Male in California and has quickly rebuilt momentum. A former Matrix Fight Night welterweight champion, he added another belt in April when he captured the XFC welterweight title.
In that fight, he submitted Sarek Shields, who was on a solid run. Before that, Ergeshov delivered a comeback-of-the-year type performance by submitting two-time PFL tournament winner Ray Cooper III.
He brings power and variety on the feet and is a mauler on the mat. “Nomad” is quickly becoming a name to watch.
