It feels surreal to even say, but in honor of Conor McGregor’s return to the UFC octagon, it feels like the perfect opportunity to shine a light on the best Irish talent on the rise. Without further ado, here are the top five best prospects from Ireland:
Nikolay Grozdev, 29, Featherweight, 11-2-0
Once upon a time, Nikolay Grozdev sat at 6-2-0 after being finished in the first round by Jakhongir Jumaev. The outlook on Grozdev’s career was trending downward, looking as if the Irish fighter was to fall in line with the pack of fighters with big dreams. However, a shift followed his second career loss, as “Slick Nick” ripped off five straight victories, earning championship status with Spain’s biggest promotion, WOW FC.
A former wrestling partner of Conor McGregor, Nikolay Grozdev’s name might ring a bell for some hardcore fans of “The Notorious.” Fast forward to 2026, the two are still on positive terms and Grozdev has carved his own path- now holding an 11-2-0 record as a professional. Wearing his nickname well, “Slick Nick” has some of the smoothest transitions on the regional scene. He’s constantly threatening to end the fight with a choke, securing submission finishes in eight of his eleven wins. He also sprawls well when defending level changes, flipping the action with strength and power- ultimately turning a losing position into a dominant one. There’s a sense of comfort the 29-year-old has when exchanging on the ground; he remains calm in a rush, operating at his own tempo.
Grozdev has rounded out his game over the years from a pure submission threat to a willing striker. His right hand is accurate and always loaded when pushing forward; he’s found massive success landing on the feet. Grozdev’s gas tank has been pushed to deep waters and has responded well in the past. Paired with a no-quit attitude, the SBG Ireland featherweight has all the tools to become a superstar.
The 29-year-old has been difficult to ignore since knocking out UFC veteran Brett Johns in December. He hasn’t been scheduled since, but maybe we’ll see Nikolay Grozdev get in one more title defense with WOW FC. It doesn’t feel necessary at this point, but it might just be a matter of the waiting game for “Slick Nick.”
Adam Darby, 27, Welterweight, 7-1-0
It’s been a long road for Adam “The Plank” Darby. The 27-year-old opened his amateur career in 2017, compiling an impressive 10-3-0 record across two years of competition. He gained experience in Cage Warriors Academy and two IMMAF tournaments, securing victories that have only gained value over the past decade, including the likes of Patrick Habirora and Leon Hill.
The 6’3” welterweight uses his frame well in the cage, utilizing both jabs and straights to poke his opponents at range. Adam Darby’s hands don’t scream power, but his accuracy is pinpoint, connecting with a volume of shots that wear down the opposition. His skillset is patient and polished, often leading to late TKO finishes- but his most crushing weapon on the feet comes when Darby closes the range. The Dublin native delivers killer Muay Thai-style knees in the clinch, consistently targeting the head of his much smaller adversaries. Defensively, there’s still a little bit to be desired in the pocket, though the Irishman’s chin is awfully impressive. In his bout with now formerly undefeated Robert Alexandru Constantin, Darby simply refused to go down despite wearing a number of rounding shots to the chin, eventually earning a third-round finish victory via strikes.
Perhaps his flashiest victory came on the ground. The 27-year-old earned a Performance of the Night bonus in his last appearance, submitting Thiago Habib with a ninja choke just under a minute and thirty seconds into the fight. It’s clear Darby’s bag is deep on the mats; he’s consistently dispatched his opponents with a sneaky triangle choke that seemingly always presents itself from bottom position. The threat of his defensive submissions is truly a work of art- dare to engage and risk a submission, or strike from the outside against a lengthy sniper.
Adam Darby is already a nightmare matchup for the majority of fighters on the Cage Warriors roster. His accuracy, size, and submission grappling will serve as advantages toward a long, successful career. It’ll be tough to top his last showing, but there’s little doubt “The Plank” will ever put on a boring performance.
Max Lally, 22, Featherweight, 6-0-0
Despite being just 22 years old, Max Lally has already established himself as one of the premier talents from Ireland. The Dublin native’s reputation has only grown throughout his amateur and professional career, building a perfect 15-0-0 record. Now, the young finisher is chasing even bigger dreams as he climbs the ranks from IMMAF competitor to Cage Warriors fan favorite.
Lally stands 5’10” at featherweight, overwhelming his opponents with size and explosive movements. A grappler first, the Ireland representative uses a high output of strikes to set up his level changes, often using powerful calf kicks to keep his opposition guessing. On occasion, his size will play to a disadvantage, leaving his long legs open for takedowns, though Lally never settles in bottom position, possessing surprising lower-body strength to build back to his feet.
In addition to his resume and high-level fight IQ, the future Irish star has the ability to finish fights like no other. The SBG Charlestown representative has secured four different submission techniques throughout his career- rear-naked choke, triangle choke, guillotine, and D’Arce choke. He can also generate solid power on his feet, using a sneaky high kick or lunging straight to deal serious damage. It’s clear Lally wants to make the fight dirty and get to the mats, though the Irish native is quickly making strides with his hands.
With quality experience and early dominance, Max Lally has hit all the right buttons throughout his young career. At CW 200, Lally once again flashed greatness, finishing Alexandre Junior with a rear-naked choke in the opening round. If the undefeated featherweight can keep up his winning ways, the yellow gloves will no longer be fit for Ireland’s Max Lally.
Keith Keogh, 24, Featherweight, 4-0-0
The hype is real with Keith Keogh- the 15-1-0 amateur carried high expectations when moving to the big leagues and has yet to falter as a professional. A former IMMAF participant, Keogh comes from a quality background, amassing back-to-back wins before making the jump to Cage Legacy in 2024. Now repping the yellow gloves in 2026, Keogh has secured three straight finishes under the Cage Warriors banner, emerging as one of the best young talents in Ireland.
Fighting behind an active lead right hand that’s always pawing at the opposition, Keith Keogh is a frustrating matchup for anyone in Cage Warriors’ featherweight division. He attacks the body well with straights and a front kick that touches the midsection frequently, making for a refreshing offensive output that targets both the head and body. Keogh is insistent on bringing the fight to his opponents, whether that be pressuring on the feet or the mats.
Historically, Keogh has been even more talented on the ground than he is on the feet, corralling an assortment of submissions in his amateur and professional career. Most notably, pulling off a shocking round-one Imanari choke against Ronan Deegan on the opening day of the 2022 Irish Junior & Senior National Championship. Though, where Keogh showcases his most comfort is in setting up his signature rear-naked choke, finding his way to the back with ease and attacking the neck with urgency.
It’s still early in his professional career, but Keith Keogh has quickly built upon an illustrious amateur resume with four exceptional performances. The 24-year-old has already made a name for himself among Cage Warriors fans and IMMAF die-hards; if he continues his trajectory, there’s no limit to what Keogh’s future could look like.
Conor McCarthy, 25, Lightweight, 6-1-0
Despite coming off a loss to fellow top prospect George Staines, Conor “The Hotstepper” McCarthy remains one of the most talented Irish prospects right now. The 24-year-old lightweight has garnered strong support thanks to an exciting reputation in the cage, holding three first-round knockouts to his name.
McCarthy uses swift movement to bounce in and out of the pocket, possessing a fast set of hands that come in handy in quick explosions. He uncorks a sharp one-two combination, relying on a powerful straight to do the bulk of his damage. When at his best, Conor McCarthy is in his opponent’s face from the opening bell, scoring early and often with a high volume of strikes. He excels in pushing the pace from the start, forcing the opposition to play catch-up after getting off to a fiery round one.
Once he establishes his forward pressure, McCarthy becomes even more dangerous. The explosive striker hunts his opponents with purpose, searching for the clinch when closing the distance. Along the cage, McCarthy lands knees and strikes to the head and body, maintaining control in high-pressure situations. Sometimes the Irish lightweight will mix in a takedown, but the majority of McCarthy’s output comes on the feet, fighting behind a powerful striking arsenal. The 24-year-old has been defensively stout for the majority of his career, combining a wide stance on the feet with responsible takedown defense.
McCarthy has some work ahead coming off his first professional loss, though with his raw talent and early feel for the cage, the 24-year-old has all the potential in the world. Expect “The Hotstepper,” to shake this one off quickly and return to the cage in victorious fashion.
