No. 16-30
16. Silvestre Sanchez
Talk about a performance on a Tuesday night- Silvestre Sanchez flew up my board after his knockout finish over Liam McCracken. Sanchez has the kind of power that makes every fight appointment viewing, bringing a level of violence that will instantly demand attention inside the UFC octagon. At just 24, Silvestre Sanchez’s potential is enormous. With the right team around him, who knows how high Sanchez can climb?
– Nicholas Holt
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17. Roque Conceição
I didn’t pick Conceição to win his CS fight, but he made me look dumb. To me, he was one of the most impressive fighters this season. My early critique was his inability to put it all together. Instead of going in there to fight he looked like a complete martial artist. At 125, he’s not getting the same attention as the other signings, but I have top-15 expectations for him.
– Shawn Bitter
18. Piero Guaylupo
One of my favorite surprises of the entire season was Guaylupo. In his fight with Connor, it was so good that Dana signed Connor as well. I think that kinda took away from Guaylupo’s win because, for the most part, he beat Connor’s ass. I love his constant forward pressure, good body-head work, and stone chin. He may not go too far rankings-wise, but he’s must-watch every time.
– Shawn Bitter
19. Kaik Brito
I rate Brito higher than some of my Prospect Vault colleagues because I value the experience he’s accumulated with Oktagon. Sure, there’ve been some losses, especially against grapplers, but he’s taken those lessons and made improvements. I see him as a discount version of Carlos Prates. He won’t ever challenge for a title, but his pre-UFC career leaves him ready to take on tough veterans immediately. Matchmaking will dictate some of his trajectory, but he’s sure to have memorable KOs along the way.
–James Colwell
20. Jaden Ortega
Jaden Ortega didn’t win his DWCS fight, but if he’s developed correctly, the 24-year-old will win many UFC fights. The explosive athlete showed his chin, conditioning, and heart in his bout against the fearsome Alvi Dasuyev. His kicks are lightning quick at all three levels. His hands have pop, and his boxing is getting more polished. He is light on his feet and uses his size well. He has all the raw tools to be an extremely dangerous welterweight.
– Ben Keith
21. Douglas da Lapa
Watching his CS fight, I was ready to throw in the towel on him five minutes in. He was hurt bad and looked pretty done against a guy that I don’t rate at all. I was impressed by how he responded and got a late-round finish. His bodywork is filthy, even if he can be a bit too engaging. I still think he had no business having trouble with Cabral, but I get that he’s tough. 185 is one of the worst things in MMA right now, so let’s hope he can bring some entertainment to the division.
– Shawn Bitter
22. Ian Escuza
I got to interview Ian before the fight, so admittedly I may be a bit biased here. With that said, I don’t know if I’ve seen striking as fluid and crisp as his. The way he flows through combinations and mixes his strikes is a sight for sore eyes. Despite the controversial stoppage due to an illegal knee, Escuza clearly showed what he’s capable of and just how fun he can be in the right matchups. He is already 30, so I’d prefer a quicker push against better competition. I see his floor as a FOTN and POTN fighter who you can trust to deliver action.
– Pat Danna
23. Adam Darby
I get the sense that people have turned away from Darby after his performance on DWCS. However, I came away quite impressed by the way Adam Darby approached the fight. Darby stands a lengthy 6’3″, running a high volume of offense from range and never allowing his opponent to find a rhythm. His striking repertoire runs deep – kicks, knees, elbows – you name it… His accuracy, though, is what impresses me most. He can chop his opponent down with ease, attacking on all three levels and just terrorizing his opposition until they quit. That said, he’ll have to be careful not to get lazy against powerful strikers. Darby must improve his striking defense if he’s going to have a long career in the UFC.
– Nicholas Holt
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24. Martin Kozak
This season was overloaded with middleweights, but most of those signees fill up the bottom of our rankings. I like Kozak’s ceiling most because of his huge frame, natural power, and youth at 24. His decision-making and defense still need some work, but those are things many young prospects struggle with. You can’t teach his physical ability, especially combined with striking technique that’s already pretty good at incorporating long striking and body work.
–James Colwell
25. Smilla Sundell
The sky is the limit for Sundell, but she’s far too green to be thrown to the wolves in the UFC at this stage, even at women’s bantamweight. Her extensive striking background gives her a strong foundation, but transitioning to MMA is a different challenge that requires time, experience, and development, especially at such a young age. She’s an intriguing prospect with tremendous upside, but potential alone shouldn’t dictate the timing of a UFC signing. I still disagree with Dana’s decision to hand her a contract this early in her development, and she’s lower on this list because of her inexperience and the need to learn on the job in the UFC.
– Cédric Dumas
26. Damian Piwowarczyk
Piwowarczyk picked up one of the most impressive wins on paper this season, defeating Emilio Quissua in the first round at DWCS. The Polish light heavyweight stands a whopping 6’6″ and possesses legitimate strength, consistently imposing his physicality on his opponents. You’d expect Piwowarczyk to lack some athleticism given his size, yet I’ve found him to be one of the more gifted 205ers in the division. He brings both power and a polished ground game, letting him dictate where the fight takes place. His previous experience in KSW has prepared him for a higher level of competition, making him one of the most promising signings from this year’s class. He’s truly a force to be reckoned with inside the cage, and I expect big things from Damian Piwowarczyk in the UFC.
– Nicholas Holt
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27. Taner Trembley
Tannerds unite. While Taner Trembley didn’t win his war against Roman Puga, he still put on an undeniable performance. If he fights that way every time out, he will earn an absurd amount of bonuses in the UFC. While not a supreme physical specimen, Trembley has a well-rounded game. His grappling and Jiu-Jitsu will look impressive against the lower-level featherweights. On the feet, he’s willing to take one to land one, and throws with fight-ending intentions. At 31, he is a finished product and won’t be competing for any titles, but he should still become a fan favorite.
– Ben Keith
28. Mayton Perea
Mayton has been making big improvements to his game in recent times even if this is because he used to be quite undeveloped. His elite athletic profile is going to give him the edge against the less physical guys in the division right now, as we saw in DWCS, but his upside will be determined by how much he can keep improving technically before eventually having to go to Middleweight. If you believe in him it’s time to buy stock in Mayton.
– Cangrejo Ruiz
29. Nick Galanti
Galanti’s DWCS win was, to me, his most impressive showing on tape, and he showed power in his hands that suggests his striking is now more than just a tool for closing distance. One fight doesn’t undo some of the holes we saw on tape heading into that fight, particularly given Petruzella was a low-level opponent. Brandon Holmes showed how limited Galanti can look when the takedowns aren’t stopped, and while the power on display was impressive, it is still far from proven after one fight against opposition whose defensive weaknesses were flagged already heading into the fight. I think Galanti’s grappling should beat plenty of average grapplers in the UFC, but his ceiling will be defined by just how much he can improve the other aspects of his game such as his striking and takedown defence.
– Hudson Gelfand
30. Tom Pagliarulo
There are definitely concerns about Tom’s chin, but his cardio is excellent, and he’s shown a nasty top game against lesser grapplers. His DWCS performance also showed signs of improvement, particularly in his ability to put his skills together and impose his game. He’s still got clear weaknesses to address, but the most encouraging takeaway is that he’s progressing rather than stagnating. That makes him a more intriguing prospect than what I initially felt pre-DWCS.
– Cédric Dumas
