Before we get into the list, I’ll answer some possible questions before even asked. No, leaving Gable Steveson off wasn’t an oversight. I’m fully aware of his athletic upside and elite wrestling credentials. What I’m even more aware of, though, is how inexperienced he is inside the cage. Yes, it’s heavyweight, and yes, the division […]
5 UFC-Ready Prospects From February Read More »
Last week, to me, there weren’t any pro debuts worth talking about. This week is much different, with five prospects leaping the amateur ranks to the pros that I believe you should be keeping tabs on. Bantamweight – Allan Landouzy Allan Landouzy is one of the more accomplished European amateurs to make the
Debuting Pros to Watch – 3/2/26 – 3/8/26 Read More »
Training out of Aegis MMA and Niagara Top Team, Bobby Poulter has made waves on the Canadian scene. After a 4-1 start to his career, Poulter was KO’d in 32 seconds by regional vet Josh Jackson. Since then, Poulter has won five straight, finishing his last four opponents. He attributes his turnaround to “going back
Canada’s Newest Standout: Bobby Poulter Read More »
Shuriken is back with it’s 23rd edition boasting some fun prospects and fights to break down. Below I’ve highlighted my favourite fighters on the card that I think at least warrant monitoring as they progress through their careers. Checkout the action this Saturday, March 7th from 12am PST/3am ET live on UFC Fight
Shuriken 23 – Fighters to Watch Read More »
Zé Machado Age: 26 Lightweight Fighting out of: Samouco, Portugal Academia Unlimited With Portugal already having talent across major promotions, notably Manel Kape in the UFC and Gustavo Oliveira in the PFL, there is another Portuguese prospect making waves on the regional scene. Zé Machado first put himself on the map in IMMAFs, where
Zé Machado: Portugal’s Next Prodigy Read More »
When thinking about the British regional MMA scene, the first promotion that usually comes to mind is Cage Warriors. However, the second most prominent organization in the British Isles, Full Contact Contender, is increasingly making a name for itself thanks to the quality of its prospects. Since 2023, FCC events have been broadcast on the
FCC 45 – Who To Watch Read More »
Brando Pericic (6-1) Heavyweight – 31 Years Old – City Kickboxing The UFC’s heavyweight division has a problem that almost everyone in the sport openly acknowledges: it is short on athletes. Not fighters, not big men who can punch hard, but genuine athletes with movement, timing, versatility and the physical tools to do
Heavyweight’s Next Big Thing: The Balkan Bear Brando Pericic Read More »
Colby Thicknesse (8-1) Bantamweight – 26 Years Old – Freestyle MMA Every generation of fighters at every gym produces most of its talent. In addition, each generation produces a small handful of people who seem to absorb information at different rates. Colby Thicknesse has spent the better part of a decade in the
The Product of The GOAT: Why Colby Thicknesse Has The Tools For UFC Success Read More »
Ben Johnston (5-1) Middleweight – 35 Years Old – The Fight Centre Brisbane Most stories in combat sports follow a recognisable shape. A fighter climbs, faces setbacks, keeps going and eventually gets their shot. Ben Johnston’s story follows a different shape entirely. He climbed, got his shot regionally, won it, retired, became a
The Comeback of Ben Johnston Read More »
Dom Mar Fan (9-2) Lightweight – 26 Years Old – Team Compton Training Centre There is something quietly dangerous about a fighter who doesn’t need the attention to keep showing up and winning. Dom Mar Fan, the Brisbane lightweight nicknamed “Street Buddha,” has spent the better part of three years building one of
The Buddha With a Violent Streak: Why Dom Mar Fan Deserves More Hype Read More »
