With UFC Freedom 250 arriving this weekend, there’s no better time to put the spotlight on some of the USA’s brightest young stars. The American regional scene is loaded right now, and these ten fighters are competing at the highest level. From Florida to Washington, here are my top 10 American prospects right now:
*Disclaimer* – the criteria of this list requires fighters to be under the age of 30, born in the United States of America, and representing the United States of America (reference Tapology)
10. Jaden Ortega, 23, 6-0-0, Welterweight / Spokane, Washington
Since making his Combate Global debut just over two years ago, Jaden Ortega has amassed one of the best regional resumes in America. With five knockout finishes and an undefeated record, the 23-year-old striker is quickly becoming a cult-favorite among hardcore MMA fans.
Ortega might be considered inexperienced by most just six fights into his career, though a deeper dive shows just how impressive the Washington native has been. In just his second fight as a professional, Ortega defeated fellow top prospect, Jimmie Pace, via unanimous decision. A win that’s aged like fine wine, as Pace hasn’t faltered since.
The young fighter possesses a deep bag of tricks on the feet, consistently pulling off a lead head kick that virtually has no tell. Once he finds his opposition in a vulnerable position, the night tends to end quickly. With heavy hands and slicing ground and pound, Ortega isn’t one to pass up an opportunity to find the finish.
At just 23-years-old, Ortega is already fighting like a true professional. In his last three appearances, he’s faced opponents with a combined record of 68-49, displaying an early comfort against increasingly experienced competition. If there’s a young American striker worth keeping an eye on for pure finishing instincts and early-career violence, Jaden Ortega is making his case.
9. Kevin Pease, 28, 8-0-0, Lightweight / New South Memphis, Tennessee
Exploding onto the American regional scene at CFFC 154, Kevin Pease is the newest sensation to come out of Cage Fury Fighting Championship. Mentioned in our “Top 5 UFC-Ready Prospects from May,” the New South Memphis native is on the verge of big things after his last performance.
For much of his career, Pease carried a reputation as a wrestler who won fights on the scorecards and wore opponents down over three rounds. However, opposite Will Starks, a tough, seasoned titleholder on a five-fight win streak, Pease needed just over two minutes to end the night, submitting Starks with a rear-naked choke in round one.
Now holding two titles and an undefeated professional record, Pease looks to be a shoe-in for the next edition of Dana White’s Contender Series. Over eight professional fights, Pease has found a healthy balance of offensive output. He’s constantly looking to smash level-changes from all over the cage, disrupting the rhythm of his opponents’ striking game before looking for openings for the submission.
In the matter of weeks, Kevin Pease has risen to American stardom. The CFFC double-champ is a must watch fighter from this point forward, and likely will receive a call from the big leagues sooner than later. For a fighter who just made history, the best is still ahead.
8. Lucas Seibert, 26, 7-0-0, Bantamweight / Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Back with another prospect from the Cage Fury Fighting Championship roster, undefeated bantamweight Lucas Seibert has emerged into one of the most talked about prospects on the American regional scene.
A proud Pittsburgh native, Seibert sports the nickname “Steel City” while representing Southwest PA gym, Stout PGH. Formerly a walk-on wrestler at West Virginia University, Lucas Seibert possesses an aggressive, high pressure grappling style. The 26-year-old is constantly pushing for the finish on the ground, recently scoring a first round submission for the interim bantamweight championship.
Scoring victories in both LFA and CFFC, Lucas Seibert has steadily built up a quality resume since exploring beyond 247 Fighting championship. He dominated his best two competitors in Gustavo Krueger and Sebastian Ruiz, finishing both within the first three minutes of the fight.
Now sporting new gold around his waist, Seibert has proved himself to be one of the best bantamweights in America. With four finishes over seven wins, the crafty ground artist will look to smother his next opponent on the regional scene if not given an opportunity with the UFC.
7. Stan Dorsainvil, 26, 5-0-0, Lightweight / Greenacres, Florida, USA
Recently mentioned in our “Top 5 UFC-Ready Prospects from May,” Stan Dorsainvil has quickly become a major talking point at lightweight. The 26-year-old returned to the cage in a big way at LFA 233, eliminating Dan Holt’s undefeated record in a one-sided beatdown.
Dorsainvil fights with immense physicality and pressure, constantly hunting down the opposition. Once the Florida native gets comfortable, it’s usually a wrap. He mixes in hooks, knees, and even spinning elbows as he pushes forward, forcing opponents into uncomfortable exchanges.
“The Drill” is a pure entertainer, but there’s real substance behind the American’s style. Dorsainvil fights like he knows exactly what’s coming, shutting down opponents before they can catch their rhythm. If he continues to put on performances like his last outing, Stan Dorsainvil won’t be a regional name for much longer.
6. Christian Natividad, 29, 9-0-0, Flyweight / Scottsdale, Arizona & Ewa Beach, Hawaii
“The Hawaiian Punch,” has stayed active of late, dominating in a three round main event at LFA 288. Now following his ninth professional victory, Natividad is on the verge of challenging for flyweight gold.
Training under Fight Ready MMA alongside UFC fighters Amir Albazi and Bruno Silva, Natividad is surrounded by a number of contenders in the gym. Working behind a refined boxing game, he’s proven to have a dependable offensive attack. He uses combinations well, leading with a stiff jab to set up damaging hooks in the pocket. Patience is one of Natividad’s biggest qualities, though he’s found three first round knockouts as a professional.
On the ground, Natividad pairs his quick hands with a quality grappling repertoire. He can mix things up quickly if he has to, shooting piercing double-legs from the inside. Despite being 5’5”, Natividad is heavy in top control, sticking to his opponents throughout scrambling transitions. “The Hawaiian Punch” also has accurate ground striking, landing meaningful damage when the opportunity presents itself.
The undefeated 29-year-old has spent his entire professional career in LFA, dominating at every turn. It’s just a matter of time, there’s really no other logical step for him except the UFC. Christian Natividad is the best prospect from Hawaii and perhaps even the best flyweight to represent the US.
5. Ronald Humphrey, 25, 4-0-0, Welterweight / Atlanta, Georgia, USA
The Georgia native was originally lined up for a Cage Fury welterweight title shot against Busurman Zhumagul in what felt like a Contender Series eliminator, but the fight ultimately fell through. At this point though, it feels like a step he might not even need.
Son of late Strikeforce contender Ron Humphrey, the American Top Team Atlanta representative carries an undefeated record across both the amateur and professional scene. A striker by trade, Humphrey brings a Muay Thai background to the cage, having captured two IKF championships.
His frame stands out at welterweight, carrying a 77-inch reach at 5’11”. Packing massive power in his hands, Humphrey uses his dexterity to his advantage, dispatching all eight of his opponents by knockout inside the first two rounds.
There’s a short list of fighters with Humphrey’s mix of striking, athleticism, and length on the regional scene. At 25-years-old, the Atlanta native is already one of the most fan-friendly prospects on America’s regional scene. Carrying his father’s legacy into the next-generation of fighters, Ronald Humphrey is a sure-fire superstar at 170 pounds.
4. Anthony Orozco, 27, 8-0-0, Welterweight / San Diego, California
The American King of Cage Warriors, Anthony Orozco has long held relevance as a top prospect. Undefeated at 8-0-0, the 27-year-old San Diego native has quickly built an experienced résumé across both the amateur and professional scene.
On the feet, Orozco has a polished and well-rounded arsenal. He works behind a sharp body and low kick, mixing in combination boxing to the head and body that play well in the pocket. Where he really stands out, though, is defensively. He’s always managing the surface area of the cage with purpose, circling away from power before piecing apart his opponent from range.
He’s already beaten three fighters with 22 or more professional bouts, doing so under one of the most respected regional banners in the sport. Orozco represents a steady, composed presence in the cage, rarely forcing anything and letting his skill set take over as the fight progresses.
In a division loaded with talent, Anthony Orozco continues to carve out his place through consistency and composure, quietly building one of the more reliable résumés among American prospects.
3. Damien Anderson, 29, 5-0-0, Bantamweight / Dallas, Texas, USA
Fighting out of Dallas, Texas, Damien Anderson is the premier standard of jiu-jitsu fighters on the regional scene. Extending his undefeated record to 5-0 at CFFC 150 with a first-round kneebar submission over Hondo Gutierrez, Anderson has flexed his muscles on the ground in his early career.
All five of Anderson’s professional victories have come by finish, three by submission, and his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu background runs deep. He has competed against high-level grapplers like Andrew Tackett, Richard Alarcon, and Joao Gabriel Sousa, bringing a legitimate pedigree to go along with his highlight reel.
“Demon Hands” puts it all together on the feet as well, sporting his nickname with purpose. He manages distance well, working behind a sharp one-two. Count on the Texas native to be responsible defensively, staying on the move and keeping his head off the line with quick in-and-out footwork.
Making noise in two of America’s biggest promotions is nothing to ignore. Anderson has dominated every fighter he’s faced and has some of the most aggressive jiu-jitsu styles in all of MMA. When Damien “Demon Hands” Anderson enters the cage, take notice. He’s an all-action fighter with a ceiling that’s through the roof.
2. Shane Collins, 26, 7-0-0, Featherweight / Los Angeles, California, USA
Shane “Hollywood” Collins has wasted no time making noise on the California regional scene.’s The Los Angeles native returned at A1 Combat 35 to defend his featherweight title against 6-2 Talon Hammons, making another statement with a first-round knockout to move to 7-0.
Fighting out of Cobra Team MMA, Collins has shown real upside since turning professional in 2024. On the feet, “Hollywood” leads the dance with quickness, footwork, and sharp rhythm-breaking offense. He works behind an effective jab, mixes in a whipping leg kick, and forces opponents to fight at his pace. While his striking is the main selling point, Collins also brings enough grappling to round out his game. He scored four submissions as an amateur, including a Von Flue choke in just his second MMA fight.
There’s not much more Collins has to show at this level. He’s moved like one of the best American featherweights outside the UFC, and now the résumé is starting to match the eye test. With another title defense in the books and seven straight wins to open his career, “Hollywood” is easily the number one featherweight prospect in America right now.
1. Isaac Moreno, 28, 8-0-0, Welterweight / Rio Grande Valley, Texas
If there’s one fighter on this list who feels overdue for a major opportunity, it’s Isaac Moreno. The Texas native has lived inside the Fury FC system for his entire professional career and has built himself into one of the cleanest American prospects outside the UFC.
Moreno enters the conversation with an 8-0-0 record and a 13-fight winning streak across the amateur and professional scene. His biggest statement came in October 2025 against Darian Weeks, where he took out the former UFC veteran with crippling ground and pound at the end of the opening round.
Isaac Moreno fights behind a disciplined jab with slick movement and a natural feel for range. He circles well and takes the center of the cage with a glowing level of confidence. With five knockouts since turning professional, Moreno fits the bill for exactly what the UFC is looking for. Out of every American prospect on this list, “Primetime” is the easiest fighter to picture walking into the big leagues and immediately making a difference.
