Scrolling through tapology.com one of the best MMA websites for hardcore fans recognized there was fun fights on the UFC Fight Pass Promotions such as Cage Warriors, LFA and many more regional shows.
Watching future UFC/Bellator fighters on these May cards. Show some love to the regional promotions as they help build prospects career and give them platform to promote themselves.
Decided to make a short list of great regional fights to watch in May that you should give your attention too. Besides the fights listed there’s fun fights on CES MMA, Fury FC, UAE Warriors.
Dylan Hazan vs Caolan Loughran Cage Warriors 154
Cage Warriors 154 Flyweight Title Fight can be scheduled bout on UFC prelims, Dana White Contender Series fight.
Tale of the tape is two of the best European flyweight prospects facing each other.
Dylan Hazan– Undefeated record of 9-0. Next UFC signee to come out Italy. Defeating recognizable Cage Warriors fighters Josh Reed & Scott Malone.
Labeling Hazan as “Marvin Vettori of Italian Flyweights” competing in the 2017 U23 European Championship with two wins. Taking advantage of his strong wrestling background to defeat opponents with strong against the fence pressure and center of the ring pressure. Continues to attack with top mount ground & pound.
Caolan Loughran- Flyweight version of Darren Till and teammate with Till, Tom Aspinall. Getting step up in competition as Cage Warriors aims to push him as the next England superstar.
Undefeated record 7-0 defeating tough fighters like Luke Shanks in his best performance yet. Slipping and dipping inside with his nasty crafty kickboxing ability but curious how the kid defends takedowns.
Ryuya Fukuda vs Ryosuke Honda
Deep Flyweight Tournament fight is co main event fight at DEEP 113. Battle of the two best flyweights from Japan, great showcase of flyweight talent overseas.
Ryuya Fukuda- #2 Japanese Flyweight, Former Shooto Flyweight Champion. 6 fight winning streak appearance win for Rizin rest of the wins are for DEEP. Similar to Matt Schnell with his distance fighting and picking shots. Solid fighter to watch
Outside of the UFC is one of the best flyweights in the world, maybe get bigger notoriety fighting for One Championship or Rizin.
Ryosuke Honda- #3 ranked Japanese Flyweight red hot since 2022 defeating respectable prospects like Yuki Ito at Deep 112. 11-2 record fighting for Shooto and Deep.
Every flyweight if fast but Honda has the speed advantage from quickly throwing strikes inside the pocket, escaping grappling transitions and striking defense. High motor fighter always fights hard till the very end however gets caught in trouble a lot that might be his downfall.
Fakuda vs Honda gonna be a great battle for the DEEP Flyweight Tournament.
Joseph Morales vs Daniel Barez A1 Combat 11
A1 Combat Flyweight Title Fight on the line as the Co-Main Event fight in a strong card for a regional promotion, congratulations to Urijah Faber for transitioning to being a MMA promoter.
Joseph Morales- Team Alpha Male product had short three fight UFC stint but maybe make UFC return with successfully defending his flyweight title against really good spanish flyweight prospect.
Fighting for UFC in 2017 probably wasn’t ready but trained hard under his three year layoff. Returned fighting for Cage Warriors defeating former UFC fighter Kevin Wirth & Sidemar Honorio. Fiht against Wirth looked strong in the second and third round controlling him with grappling pressure feeling more comfortable.
Daniel Barez- Regioanl veteran flyweight fought for all the biggest “Regional” promotions from Combate, UAE Warriors, BAMMA defeating quality opponents but never had that standout win. Defeating Morales will help give Barez that respect as one of the best flyweights.
All-Around Flyweight talent-sharp striking for prospect, fluid movement not wasting unnecessary energy, good submission game attacking fighters in side control and in guard. Can’t really pick him apart he’s a good technical fighter to watch. Maybe add more striking combinations and become more aggressive.
Morales vs Barez gonna be great fight to watch. Morales better grappler vs Barez great striker, interesting fight to watch on UFC Fight Pass.
Julia Polastri vs Conceição LFA 159
LFA strawweight title fight is the LFA 159 Main Event. Clash is between two of the top ten strawweight prospects in the world.
Julia Polastri- Dana White Contender Series contestant lost her fight but definitely earned her opportunity to return with a three fight winning streak. Defending LFA Strawweight Title for the first time.
Polastri skills- strawweight pitbull who brings the punishment. Fast hands, filthy two, three punch combinations mixed with leg kicks. Pushing the pace, ragdolling opponents with ground & pound or submission wins.
Rose Conceição- Opponent is undefeated with 6-0 record at 26 years old, dominant performance in her LFA debut with beating her on the feet and defensively. Rose reminds me of Marina Rodriguez esque because of the striking ability, calculated striking, strong leg kicks, not being afraid to throw combos.
Rose one day will sign with the UFC just need to become complete strawweight fighter by having more fluid boxing, fixing fundamentals and more experience inside the cage.
Billy's MMA Blog 