Before we begin, a few guidelines are worth noting. Not every country will be represented. MMA is still a developing sport in many regions, and limited infrastructure and opportunities mean some nations simply don’t have a deep prospect pool yet. As a result, several countries are intentionally left out. This list is focused on […]
Global Watchlist: The Best MMA Prospect From Each Country Read More »
Personally, the flyweight division is my favorite weightclass in MMA. In terms of skillset, the division is mostly high-level athletes. With the heavyweight and light-heavyweight fighters, having knockout power and athleticism is usually enough to succeed. At 125, even the guys at the bottom of the division are still super fast, explosive, athletic, and mainly
10 Flyweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2026 Read More »
Longtime Japanese promotion Pancrase is back for its last event of the year. Pancrase 360 is headlined by Road to UFC alum Shogo Sato against Bellator/PFL vet Goiti Yamauchi. Neither are prospects, but look for the UFC to sign Yamauchi if he can claim the title here. The UFC has signed a lot of ex-Bellator
Pancrase 360 – Who to watch Read More »
Isaac Thomson Featherweight 9-2 (4 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission) 23-years-old Five-foot-eleven, 72.5″ reach Training out of Team Alpha Male Thomson started in kickboxing and Muay Thai, going 8-0 and winning national titles in both, along with earning a black belt in karate. Before turning pro, he moved to the U.S. to sharpen his game with
Welcome to the UFC: Isaac Thomson Read More »
“Fearless” Lance Gibson Jr.Lightweight9-1 (4 KO/TKOs, 3 Submissions)30-years-oldFive-foot-ten, 72.5″ reachTraining out of Gibson MMA Gibson grew up in the fighting world as his dad, Lance Gibson S,r fought in the UFC back in the day. Still training with his father today at Gibson MMA, he also trains with Bellator legend Julia Budd, a former featherweight
Welcome to the UFC: Lance Gibson Jr. Read More »
Gamid Khizriev has had a quiet rise, but it’s typical, given that many talented individuals are in Russia. His last name sounds familiar, and that’s because he’s the brother of PFL’s Timur Khizriev and UFC’s Aliaskhab Khizriev. At least of what’s available, Khizriev had an amateur record of 3-1. His loss came to a good
Russian Prospect of the Month: Gamid Khizriev Read More »
Every fighter starts somewhere. Before the hype, before the Contender Series, before the UFC call — there’s the early grind. Before They Blow Up is my way of spotlighting prospects still in that stage. In this second edition, I’m looking at a few rising talents with five fights or fewer that are on my radar.
Before They Blow Up Vol. 2 – Rising MMA Prospects Read More »
Fight Nation Championship 25 Lightweight, Marko Bojković (8-1): Bojković was widely viewed as a top-five prospect at the beginning of the year. With a UFC opportunity seemingly within reach, he ran into Milos Janicic—who punished him and forced a second-round stoppage. Still, Bojković is only 24, and setbacks like that are often necessary for
FNC 25 – Who to watch Read More »
Every fighter starts somewhere. Before the hype, before the Contender Series, before the UFC call — there’s the early grind. Before They Blow Up is my way of spotlighting prospects still in that stage.  In this first volume, I’m looking at a few rising talents with five fights or fewer that are on my
Before They Blow Up Vol. 1 – Rising MMA Prospects Read More »
UAE Warriors is one of the best promotions in the world. In fact, it should be more of a feeder league to the UFC, considering the talent they have. Also, the promotion being on UFC Fight Pass should be more of a pipeline to the UFC for their athletes. They constantly put on great cards.
UAE Warriors 65 – Who to watch Read More »
