Global Watchlist: The Best MMA Prospect From Each Country

Ireland

 

In the coming years, Ireland is gonna produce more and more athletes as the talent there is all young up-and-comers. With how Keith Keogh (3-0) has fought since turning pro, he’s my pick to rep Ireland. Keogh had an extensive amateur career where he found a lot of success. He went 15-1, won multiple regional titles, and competed in IMMAF. His style is aggressive, being in-your-face, attacking high and low. He mixes it up on the mat as well, having more submissions than KO/TKOs.

 

Israel

 

LFA has two good choices from Israel, and I ultimately went with Stav Koren (7-0). “The Red Head” trains out of Syndicate MMA and is a main training partner of Merab Dvalisvili. Koren thrives in jiu-jitsu. Takedowns come from strong bodylocks, but it’s his ground game that sets him apart. He uses his length to control position and throw some active GnP. Koren hasn’t shown enough yet, but has the proper training to continue his growth. The UFC doesn’t have a current fighter from Israel, and Koren has a real chance of signing there.

 

Italy

 

Through the years, we’ve seen many fighters from Italy in and out of the UFC. The only one to stick around is Marvin Vettori, and he’s even on the way out. Italy has a big market in MMA, but not many that stand out. One that does is Jasmine Favero (4-0). As an amateur, Favero was a European gold medalist and a World silver medalist. Favero has a gritty fighting style. The Itialian likes and thrives to fight in the phonebooth. She likes to mix in an array of attacks in the clinch, including judo throws. She has a good ground game with both active GnP and opportunistic submission attack. With more activity, Favero would no longer be under the radar.

 

Japan

 

With Road to UFC around, a lot of Japanese fighters are being looked at and brought into the UFC. Someone I expect next season is Kazuki Aimoto (9-0), as he is, in my opinion, the best prospect out of Japan currently. Aimoto is a dangerous striker with all his stoppages coming by KO/TKO. A lethal power puncher that’s gonna press the action and headhunt until he finds the killshot. Japan can be excited for this guy because he looks to be something.