Hunter Lee
Nowadays, it seems like the UFC is signing just about any middleweight prospect with a winning record. One fighter who still hasn’t gotten his opportunity, despite deserving one, is Hunter Lee. He’s 6-1, with his lone loss coming against veteran Maksim Sergeev. While that defeat doesn’t look great on paper, Sergeev is better than his record suggests. It was also a highly competitive fight that Lee arguably should have won.
He has responded in a big way, reeling off two straight victories. One of those wins came via a rare twister submission, and in his most recent outing, he captured the Unified middleweight title. With his relentless wrestling, deep gas tank, and real power in his hands, Lee poses a threat to just about anyone.
Isaac Herbert
22-year-old bantamweight prospect Isaac Herbert is an intriguing young talent. Though just 2-0 as a professional, he also compiled a perfect 6-0 amateur record and captured a FightQuest bantamweight title. Herbert is a BJJ black belt under Firas Zahabi at Tristar Gym, giving him an excellent foundation on the mat.
There is still room for improvement in his striking, but he is already a capable wrestler, and his grappling is clearly his greatest strength. “The Hooligan” remains an early-stage prospect, but with his skill set and the team around him, he has plenty of potential moving forward.
Ramil Kamilov
Although Kamilov was born in Kazakhstan, he now lives and trains in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In fact, the entirety of his professional career, which dates back to 2017, has taken place primarily in Canada, the country he proudly represents. He boasts one of the strongest records among Canadian fighters and has competed six times for top regional promotion Unified MMA.
For a more in-depth look at Kamilov, be sure to check out this feature from our own Drew Beaupre here.
Hannah Taylor
Taylor is one of Canada’s top freestyle wrestlers in the women’s 57-kg division. A native of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, she built her reputation on the international circuit with medals at the Pan American Championships and the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and she represented Canada at the 2024 Summer Olympics after qualifying through the Pan-American Olympic qualifier. She won her debut as a flyweight with a dominant TKO victory.
Dontae de Jesus
Jesus made a big impression in his pro debut with a first-round knockout at Unified MMA 63. Jesus went 5-2 as an amateur, and I was impressed with his tape. He’s skilled enough to fight anywhere the fight goes. A good striker with power, technique, and defensive ability. A good kickboxer as well, and can take this fight down from judo throws.
Diego de Jesus
The brother of Dontae, Diego, is the more established prospect. He went 7-0-1 as an amateur and won multiple titles. He lost in his pro debut, but it was a close decision to Liam Macfadyen, who was mentioned by Cangrejo. He rebounded with a win with a quick RNC in under a minute. Just like his brother, Diego is a well-rounded fighter, and you can see that he’s a real student of the game.
Davyd Titorenko
Canada doesn’t have many light-heavyweights in general, and Titorenko is the only one with any hope. 7-1 as an amateur and two regional titles before making a successful pro debut at Unified MMA 67. For more of an in-depth read, check out this feature by our very own, Cedric Dumas, here.
Isabella Filippazzo
Filippazzo is a rising women’s amateur standout who excelled at 125 and 135, capturing multiple titles along the way. She has a diverse combat background, having competed in kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. On the feet, Filippazzo thrives in combination striking, using varied angles and well-timed kicks. She’s dangerous both at range and in close quarters, bringing high-volume output that keeps opponents on their heels. While her striking is her forte, she can seamlessly mix it up with takedowns when needed, making her a well-rounded fighter with no obvious weaknesses.
Aiden Appel
One of the highest-rated amateur prospects is one to watch from the Niagara Top Team. A welterweight prospect with a 4-0 record and a 100% finish rate. Appel is the current PFC welterweight champion and will defend that title on May 9th. Appel has also competed in grappling shows and is 3-0 in Muay Thai. He’s an aggressive striker on the feet, pushing a pace, attacking body-head combinations. He’s also a capable grappler, mixing it up when needed.
Isaac Blais
Already 29-years-old with only 4 pro fights, Blais does need to work on staying active. “Spiderman”. For more on Blais, check out this feature by our resident Canadian, Cedric Dumas, here.
