1. Levi Mowles
Ranked #15 on my pound for pound prospect list #1 United States prospect for 2023. One of the best Bantamweight fighters outside of UFC, Bellator has great accomplishments for a regional fighter.
Former CFFC Bantamweight Champion, Atlas Fight Bantamweight Champion. Fought for Legacy Fighting Alliance, Cage Fury Fighting Championship & WXC. Currently fighting for Southwest promotion Fury FC.
Levi Mowles has one of the best prospect records fought current UFC, Bellator fighters. Fought Raufeon Stots, Adrian Yanez, Defeated Jimmy Flick, Fought Miles Johns, Defeated DCWS Jose Johnson, Teruto Ishihara, James Gonzalez & Johnny Campbell. Impressive amount of experience with names MMA fans recognize. All that experience before entering UFC/Bellator is perfect way to prepare yourself.
2022 Mowles didn’t fight for Fury FC, Missed weight against Justin Scoggins at Fury FC 58. 2023 hope Mowles fights, Challenging the winner of Cameron Smotherman or Peter Cabarello for Fury FC Bantamweight title. Fight Muin Gafurov for LFA Bantamweight title. On other hand Levi Mowles can sign with UFC or Bellator, Signing a deal in short notice fight, UFC desperate for prelim fighters and give manager a call.
No question can defeat UFC bantamweights right now, Similar fighting style to Jack Shore, Grappler focused fighter mixing up strikes to use as distraction. Climbing on to your back hunting for rear naked chokes, Submissions wins. Nasty submission game competing in jiu-jitsu tournaments and rolling with Bryce Mitchell.
- 16-4 record 27 years old
- Former CFFC Bantamweight Champion
- Fought Raufeon Stots,, Miles Johns, Jimmy Flick
- Seven submission wins
2. Mitch Raposo Flyweight
Former Ultimate Fighter Season 29 contestant lost to Liudvik Sholinian, Fought Jake Hadley on the Dana White Contender Series and lost. Understand he lost important fights but Mitch Raposo has the raw talent when he gets into the right rhythm well become one of the best flyweights in the world.
Two fight winning streak, Grabbing the CES Flyweight title by defeating Flavio Carvalho in strong performance Raposo continue to get title defense experien against top flyweight prospects from United States. No rush to sign with UFC, All about finding the confidence.
Training with New England Cartel boys Calvin Kattar, Rob Font, Nick Fiore and being coached by Tyson Chartier. Great fighters to train with on daily basis, Opportunity to improve his all-around skills and become one of the best flyweights in the world.
Raposo performance against Carvalho is prime example of his All-Around skills, accurate leg kicks, timed takedowns, fighting patiently and lastly executing a second round right hand KO.
Looking forward to watching his career progress, Guarantee Raposo will sign with UFC in 2023. Sweet addition to the flyweight r
- Comparison- Brandon Moreno & TJ Dillashaw
3. Kenneth Cross
#1 Lightweight prospect from United States, Lights Out Lightweight Champion, Former Contender Series fighter. Biggest wins against former PFL fighter Robert Hale, Kevin Syler, Team Alpha Male prospect Jarel Aske, #1 Arizona Lightweight Jose Martinez.
Background in wrestling. Competing in Michigan State Championships three times. No MMA skill better have than wrestling. Controlling pace, setups, outcome of the fight. Wrestling mixed with beautiful boxing & KO power is a beast of Lightweight fighter.
Comparison- Donald Cerrone & Drew Dober
Kenneth Cross trains out of Murcielago MMA with Joaquin Buckley, Charles Johnson & Khaos Williams. Solid group of UFC fighters to train with on daily basis.
Chasing XFC Lightweight title in 2023, Signing with UFC/ Bellator/PFL in 2023. Well deserves opportunity to fight for one of the best promotions in the world.
4. Andes Quintana Featherweight
Copa Combate Featherweight Winner, Winning 100k cash prize. Former Ultimate Fighter contestant. Now fighting for vacated Fury FC Featherweight title against Dimitire Ivy at Fury FC 73.
Quintana two fight losing streak because of bad luck, Low blow against Nate Richardson the referee didn’t see and fight against Aliev broke his jaw. Hope fight against Ivy no problems happen showcasing his boxing and great range fighting like he did against Edwin Chavez & Alejandro Flores.
Great wins against current UFC fighter Alejandro Flores, Levy Marroquin & Erick Sanchez.
Comparison- Nate Diaz
Quintana fighting for Fury FC, Strong promotion in Texas. Winning Fury FC Featherweight Title is great accomplishment. Defends his title once or twice possibly signing with major promotion in 2023.
5. Landon Quinones Lightweight
Titan FC Lightweight Champion, Kill Cliff FC hot prospect. New prospect caught my eye recently impressive boxing for a MMA fighter.
Landon Quinones has some of the best boxing for prospects. Skills- Boxing, Offensive pressure, Fighting backwards, Timing for takedowns & great conditioning.
Comparison- Michael Johnson
Landon Quinones I can expect sign with UFC in 2023, UFC debut on the prelims. Replacing injured fighter or UFC hungry to sign one of the best prospects coming out Kill Cliff FC.
- Tita FC Lightweight Champion
- 7-1 record
- 27 years old
- Trains with Michael Johnson, Dilano Taylor, Michael Chandler
6. Mark Climaco Flyweight
American Kickboxing Academy blue chip prospect, Wrestling machine. Chain wrestling opponents round after round against respected prospects Rodney Kealohi & Cody Davis. Building up his name for Legacy Fighting Alliance.
Mark Climaco future LFA Flyweight Champion upcoming fight against Miguel Sanson #1 Midwest Flyweight prospect. Climaco fighting Sanson at LFA 150. Looking forward to this tough matchup and seeing if the Filipino fighter can ragdoll Sanson like he done to many opponents.
- Comparison- Joseph Benavidez
7. Edwin Cooper Jr
Jackson Wink MMA product, Fought on PFL Challenger Series but sadly didn’t get offered a contract after wrestling dominant victory against Troy Lamson.
Dominates opponents with his wresting skills ecause of his University of IOWA wrestling background.
- 18-11 record senior year at Iowa
- Placing 4th 157 pounds
- 7-2 Big Ten record
Edwin Cooper Jr has some of the best wrestling as a MMA prospect, Striking came long way since his professional debut, However striking skills from creative strikes, “Cleaner” strikes to compete with top 15 UFC & Bellator Featherweights. Former wrestler becomes above average striker like Kamaru Usman, Rashad Evans, Bubba Jenkins than Edwin Cooper Jr will become serious problem.
Fighting for LFA, CFFC, PFL, Bellator prelims, Brave CF is best situation for Cooper JR. Chasing the Featherweight title for the specific promotion. 2023 love to see Cooper get more wins against top featherweight prospects or former UFC/Bellator fighters, Earning more standout wins & testing himself against formidable opponents.
Definitely will be monitoring the 29 years old, 2023 season. 29-30 years old beginning of his athletic prime. Time to take advantage of his prime years and workout like a psychopath, Putting the prospect world on notice.
Comparison- Bubba Jenkins
8. John Sweeney
Top 150 Bantamweight in the world. Protege of Stephen Thompson training at Upstate Karate. Biggest prospect coming out the Thompson family gym.
- Karate Black Belt
- 2x IKF World Champion
- Protege of Wonderboy
- 11-3 record fought for Combate Global, LFA
Accomplished Karate Champion transferred similar success to MMA with a record of 11-3, Defeating former UFC fighter Cole Smith, Leonardo Morales & former Bellator fighter Keith Lee. Now facing #2 ranked Brazil Bantamweight Ary Farias LFA 150.
“Ary Farias and John Sweeney are two of the most exciting bantamweight prospects in the world with nearly identical records. However, that is where the similarities end. They possess dynamic fighting pedigrees in distinctly different martial arts. Farias is a BJJ black belt, seven-time BJJ world champion, and one of the most decorated grapplers to ever compete in MMA. Sweeney is a Karate black belt, protégé of the great Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, and a dangerous knockout artist in his own right. This main event has all the ingredients for a special fight that you do not want to miss!” Ed Soares LFA promoter
Sweeney’s toughest fight to date but being the superior striker can clip Farias with multiple shots in the early rounds. Defeating Farias will attract UFC to signing the entertaining fighter, Introducing fans to him as Wonderboy’s protégé as one of the most storylines.
2023 will see John Sweeney sign with UFC, Fight on same card as Wonderboy Thompson. Be sweet addition to UFC Bantamweight stable.
9. Austin Bashi
#1 Michigan prospect, Rising star for Midwest Region. Considered top 150 Bantamweight in the world will continue to upgrade his ranking by winning big time fights for Lights out Championship or some of the best regional promotions.
Austin Bashi undefeated record of 8-0 former Shamrock FC Bantamweight Champion & current Lights Out Bantamweight Champion. Few more regional titles coming along the way before signing with UFC or Bellator.
Background in wrestling, 6th place 112 pounds wrestling for West Bloomfield (Michigan) before completely training in Martial Arts. Competing in Michigan Amateur Muay Thai Championships to enhance his striking skills.
Bashi’s last win was his biggest win against Cage Titans Bantamweight Champion Joe Penafiel at Lights Out Championships 9. Dominating opponents with his high school wrestling background & raw athletic talent.
21 year old Bantamweight promising beyond his years, Earning seven grand a fight or 30k a year isn’t the best. Hungry to sign with UFC or Bellator to earn livable salary but Bashi shouldn’t rush into the UFC right now. Prefer Bashi to improve in the regional scene or maybe sign with Bellator. Deserves to sign with Legacy Fighting Alliance, Cage Fury Fighting Championship on a UFC Fight Pass promotions.
Stars are hard to discover but Austin Bashi has the “IT” Factor that can headline LFA or CFFC. Down the road winning LFA or CFFC Bantamweight title.
- Comparison- Juan Archuleta, Josh Thomson
- Lights Out Bantamweight Champion, Shamrock FC Bantamweight Champion
10. Kasey Tanner Bantamweight
Bright prospect out of Fight Ready MMA, Home to Henry Cejudo, Paulo Costa, Tracy Cortez, Deiveson Figueiredo , Kelvin Gastelum, Mark Madsen, Weili Zhang, Mighty Mouse cross trains and many many more incredible fights.
Arizona’s #1 Bantamweight prospect has opportunity to train with some of the best fighters in the world. Working hard on daily basis lead to him having undefeated 6-0 record. Winning fights for LFA and CFFC is a sweet accomplishment for a prospect.
Guarantee Kasey Tanner in 2023 will be fighting for top United States Bantamweight prospect ranking while fighters like Levi Mowles and John Sweeney sign with UFC. Tanner needs more wins inside the cage against recognizable prospects or former UFC/ Bellator fighters to earn that TOP SPOT.
Tanner’s background in wrestling leads to dominant wrestling performances. Easy jabs, Low Leg kicks, Pressuring the opponents against the cage than takedowns. Smothering opponents on top mount position before referee stoppage.
- Comparison- Brett Johns
- 31 years old
- 6-0 record
- Fought for LFA, CFFC & Combate
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