This Friday, live on UFC Fight Pass, CFFC 159 is going down in the 2300 Arena in  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. No title bouts on this card but a card stacked with rising prospects and established guys looking to break through. Eleven undefeated fighters and alumni from Road to UFC and Contender Series. Here is everyone on the card I’m looking at.
Featherweight: Christian Bobe (4-1) Vs Adamu Isah (5-2)
Bobe vs. Isah is an intriguing matchup between two solid prospects who have shown plenty of potential despite setbacks. Bobe is riding momentum, with his only loss coming against a quality opponent in a fight where he nearly secured a first-round finish. Isah is in a similar position. One of his losses came via a fluke knockout, while the other came in a fight he was winning before getting caught in a third-round kneebar.
The biggest concern with Isah is his tendency to make mental mistakes, and he can’t afford to do that against Bobe. If Bobe gets opportunities to grapple, he will likely excel. He’s a nasty submission grappler who is constantly looking to attack rather than simply control position.
On the feet, Bobe is at his best when he’s leading the action. He has decent hands and isn’t afraid to let his offense go, but he could find himself outgunned against Isah. Isah is cleaner, faster, and carries more power in his strikes. The biggest question is whether Isah can put together a complete 15-minute performance.
Bobe is durable, and the longer this fight goes, the more it could favor him. If I’m picking a winner, though, I’m siding with Isah. I expect his striking and solid takedown defense to keep most of the fight standing. He may have to fight through some dangerous moments, but I see Isah winning a decision based on damage.
Featherweight: Jeremiah Delgado (2-0)
Jeremiah Delgado is a prospect you better be watching because this kid is legit. The 21-year-old made his professional debut against Tyler Berger, a decorated wrestler and three-time NCAA Division I All-American, and came away with the win.
Delgado trains at Marquez MMA and Webb Fitness MMA, giving him access to some legitimate training environments. At just 21 years old, his skill set is already impressive. His footwork stands out immediately, and when you combine that with his speed and athleticism, he’s a difficult matchup.
Delgado isn’t afraid to get creative, either. He’s willing to throw flying knees, spinning attacks, and other flashy techniques because he’s confident in his ability to fight wherever the action goes. His straight punches are sharp, and he does a good job mixing in kicks while attacking all three levels.
He’s also a capable wrestler with slick Jiu-Jitsu. Delgado is 2-0 as a professional and 4-0 as an amateur, with three career submission victories. More importantly, he looks like a student of the game who already possesses several of the traits you want to see in a young prospect: well-rounded skills, cardio, footwork, and fight IQ. At this point, it doesn’t matter who they put in front of him. Delgado looks like the A-side.
Welterweight: Samandar Murodov (11-0)
Murodov is finally making his return after nearly two years away. The last time we saw him, he dominated Jonathan Piersma in a featured Road to UFC bout. After battling through injuries, Murodov is now returning on short notice against a tough opponent.
Originally from Tajikistan, Murodov now lives and trains in Pennsylvania at Marquez MMA. He’s a well-rounded, grappling-focused fighter who is at his best when he can create extended ground exchanges. Murodov wrestles well, scrambles effectively, and does a good job transitioning from takedowns into back takes and submission opportunities. Once he gets on top, he’s active with his ground-and-pound rather than simply holding position. His ability to take the back also gives him a legitimate finishing threat. Defensively, Murodov is difficult to control and does a good job fighting through grappling exchanges. The biggest question is how he’ll look after such a long layoff, especially coming back from injury.
His opponent, Christian Turner(10-3), is coming off a loss but remains a legitimate prospect, making this a good opportunity for Murodov to remind everyone why he was so highly regarded before his time away.
Flyweight, Jarret Betancourt (8-0)
Betancourt makes his CFFC debut while taking on his toughest test to date. Despite being a 125-pounder, Betancourt carries serious power in his hands and has legitimate one-shot knockout ability. He’s already put multiple opponents to sleep during his career.
On the feet, Betancourt fights with high volume and looks his best when he’s able to let his offense flow. He constantly switches stances, giving opponents different looks and making it difficult to get comfortable. He’ll also mix in sneaky high kicks, showcasing impressive athleticism for the weight class.
Betancourt is far from a one-dimensional striker, though. He’s a strong wrestler who is just as dangerous on the mat as he is on the feet. He also has a wide variety of submissions in his arsenal, making him a well-rounded threat regardless of where the fight takes place.
His opponent, Jake Scott (9-1), presents a significant challenge. Scott has faced the better competition and is extremely durable. However, he does get hit quite a bit, which gives Betancourt a legitimate opportunity to find the knockout.
Lightweight: Alius Delarosa (4-0)
Delarosa is another prospect I’ve had on my radar since his professional debut. The first thing you’ll notice is that he’s a small lightweight at 5’7″, which could eventually create some issues for him in the striking department. However, his size hasn’t stopped him from being extremely effective in the wrestling exchanges.
Delarosa is a four-time high school state champion, but his wrestling ability looks like it was developed at an even higher level. He can finish takedowns in a variety of ways, including single legs, high crotches, suplexes, and mat returns. His technical Jiu-Jitsu is coming along as well. His best work from top position comes through shoulder pressure, wrist rides, and pure physical strength. The dude is an ox.
The biggest mystery surrounding Delarosa is his striking. We haven’t seen enough to know exactly how that part of his game will develop, but it’s something I’ll be watching closely as his career progresses.
Delarosa faces Jarrod St. Jean (4-0), a New England prospect who is difficult to trust simply because he’s from New England. Jokes aside, St. Jean is a solid striker, so this should be a fun matchup and a good opportunity to learn more about where Delarosa’s striking stands.
