Always looking for the upcoming best prospects all over the world. I absolutely love UFC, Bellator, PFL and ONE CHAMPIONSHIP but I love even more is discovering those great prospects with potential to becoming world championships.
Some fighters on this list are highly capable of accomplishing there dreams of becoming world champions as some are championships for there respected promotions. Top Ten fighters ranked on this list can defeat the best fighters in the world on any given day.
1. Yusuf Raisov
Pound for Pound prospect is former ACA Featherweight Champion and future ACA Lightweight Title Contender. Currently ranked #4th Lightweight on ACA rankings.
Absolutely love watching Yusuf Raisov fight as he’s amazing to watch and an incredible talent that can defeat the best Lightweights in the world right now, guarantee it. Can talk about him for hours just so so good.
- Win against Luis Palomino
- Win against Andre Winner
- Win against Hacran Dias
My opinion he’s one of the best fighters in the world because he’s incredible all-around talent. Strong Combat Sambo Skills like all great Dagestan/Chechen fighters mixed with Taekwondo and VERY GOOD Boxing for MMA fighter.
Comparison- Rafael Dos Anjos
- fast hands
- great job scrambling out of dangerous jiu-jitsu positions than controlling opponent
- sambo fence control
- strong boxing ability throwing 1-4 punch combos
- smooth jabs and upper cuts
- great job level changing for wrestling takedowns
Highlights and ACA Full Fights are great examples of how talented Yusuf Raisov is. Guarantee he can defeat top 25 Lightweights in the world. During his ACB Featherweight Title Run probably best Featherweight outside of UFC besides Patricio Pitbull.
Upcoming fight is against Alexander Matmuratov #8th ranked Lightweight at ACA 165. Great fight looking forward to watching. Tough matchup for Raisov but most times will rise to the occasion.
2. Mehdi Dakaev
Former Eagle FC Lightweight Champion Mehdi Dakaev is one of the most underrated prospects in the world. Transitioning from Eagle FC to Absolute Championship Akhmat will help promote his name in the discussions and rankings as top ten Lightweight.
- 15-2 record
- prime age of 28 years old
- former Eagle FC Lightweight Champion
- Comparison- Movsar Evloev
Mehdi Dakaev is tough matchup for ACA Lightweight Top Ten fighters looking through the rankings I can see him defeating most of them with ease because his all-around skills. Watching his EFC title fights, and ACA debut can recognize the fluid striking, sambo grappling, fast pace pressure style right away.
- SKILLS
- gifted with his fast hands and one punch KO power
- High motor with fast pace
- beautiful five-ten punch combinations
- great job beating fighters inside the pocket with boxing jabs
- Dagestan Wrestling pressure
- Perfectly timing takedowns when desired
Serious problem for ACA Lightweight opponents, truly believe Dakaev will become ACA Lightweight Champion one day.
ACA Mairbek Khasiev (ACA Promoter) promoting Dakaev as next ACA star, gifting him with ACA 165 headliner against Brazilian foe Herdeson Batista. Opponent is respectable ACA Lightweight with 6-3 record on two fight winning streak against solid fighters Ramazan Kishev & Amirkhan Adaev. Beating these two fighters isn’t something to overlook. Batista can upset Dakaev and disappoint the Russian fans. However Dakaev’s nasty Chechen boxing ability can lead to fast first or second round KO.
3. Vugar Karamov
Becoming one of my favorite fighters to watch right now is contracted fighter out of Rizin. Without a doubt is one of the best fighters on the Rizin roster as he’s the Rizin Featherweight Champion.
- 19-4 record
- 31 years old
- Pankration background
- Main Training Partner of Tofiq Musayev, Tural Ragimov
- Cross Trains at Kill Cliff FC
- 5- 1 record with Rizin
- Comparison-Movlid Khaybulaev and Christian Lee
Suzuki is no easy matchup in the striking aspect as he’s coming off lifechanging win against Patricio Pitbull. YES. First round KO shocking the MMA world.
Ways to win- Vugar Karamov simple effective striking offensive and smart striking defense must be on point. Vugar CAN’T make any stupid overreaching jabs or overhand rights. First minutes must set the pace and range right away showing whose boss to Suzuki. Easily shoot for successful takedowns or judo moves to the ground, leading to referee stoppage or submission victory.
- excellent Pankration fighting style
- vicious ground and pound
- offensive jiu-jitsu game finishing with submissions
- controlling center of ring
- Always making opponent move backwards and overwhelmed
- Smooth all-around striking arsenal
Stick to the Pankration fighting style plan and train smartly with Tofiq Musayev, Kill CLIFF FC featherweight and lightweight training partners, listen to great coaching advice from Henri Hooft. D
Vugar Karamov definitely is capable of winning the Rizin Featherweight Title just needs to have a great performance. Win against Suzuki will lead to him being one of the best 145-pound fighters in the world.
4. Nariman Abbasov
Top Azerbaijan Lightweight prospect finally earning opportunity to fight for one of the biggest MMA promotions in Rizin. Fighting belong side his training partners like Tofiq Musayev, Tural Ragimov, and Rizin Featherweight Champion Vugar Karamov.
MMA Career- AMC Fight Nights Lightweight Champion defending the Lightweight Title five times. Strong strength of schedule defeating fighters like Shamil Zavurov, Marif Piraev, Kuat Khamitov. Lost his Dana White Contender Series fight against Ismael Bonfim.
Upcoming Rizin Landmark 7 fight is against Ali Abdulkhalikov. Top Ten Russian Lightweight prospect with experience in Wushu Sanda fighting style. Ali having 12-2 record facing UFC veterans Tatsuya Kawajiri and respected Russian Lightweight Timur Nagibin.
5. Chihiro Suzuki
Last few years watching great kickboxers like Israel Adesanya, Alex Periera, Fabricio Andrade, Stamp Fairtex becoming world champions. Believe will continue to watch great kickboxers make there way into MMA and have championship careers. Chihiro Suzuki can potentially follow the trend like his kickboxing colleagues.
Rizin Superstar coming off biggest win of his life by first round finishing Patricio Pitbull incredible fashion. Life changing win putting his name on the map as everyone will be watching his career moving forward especially One Championship, UFC and PFL.
- Faster fighter than opponents
- Great job using his long and lengthy body to piece apart fighters
- elite kickboxing skills especially distance and leg kicks
- Always keep the fighters on their toes
- Improving with takedown defense
- Jiu-Jitsu defense against brown & blackbelt slightly getting better
Suzuki challenging Rizin Featherweight Champion Vugar Karamov for the title. Clash of Kickboxing vs Pankration in this matchup.
Chihiro Suzuki must be on his P’s and Q’s in the striking department moving around not staying in place away from the ropes. Focus on his kickboxing fighting style, piecing apart Vugar Karamov in the first round. Show there’s LEVELS to striking. Chihiro Suzuki vs Vugar Karamov going to be a great matchup between two of the best Rizin Featherweights.
6. Cody Davis
One of the best United States prospects right now fights out California. Legacy Fighting Alliance Flyweight Champion with 6-1 record and 4-1 record with LFA.
Trains out of rising gym California MMA & Fitness with Head Coach Chad George. Bunch of upcoming prospects but Cody Davis is the #1 prospect in CMMA and out of California right now.
Roll the tape and watch great performances by top United States prospect Cody Davis. Last fight against Igor Siqueira was excellent wrestling and ground control. By far his overall performance was so impressed way he level changed, even though he was the shorter fighter acted like he was the bigger opponent.
- Skills
- Faster explosive fighter
- Strong Wrestling and Grappling ability
- Controlling opponents on the ground
- Underrated boxing that has strong upside
- Submission hunter mentality
Upcoming LFA 172 matchup is against #3 ranked Brazilian Flyweight prospect Eduardo Henrique. First title defense of his career is against a really tough foe but if Cody Davis has successful early round takedowns than it will be good night. The wrestling plus great five round cardio is the key to winning this title fight.
Title defense win possibly can lead to UFC signing Cody Davis as Shelby may like his wrestle aggressive finishing fighting style as the UFC Flyweight Division needs more depth.
7. Eduardo Henrique
Rising Brazilian flyweight prospect is challenging LFA Flyweight Champion Cody Davis for the title. Considered the underdog in this fight for understandable reasons but Eduardo Henrique is one talented fighter.
- good boxing footwork
- solid 1-2 striking combinations
- solidly defending takedowns
- accurate boxer with sneaky low leg kicks
Eduardo Henrique keeps the fight standing and probably can keep this fight in close fight, Believe he’s the BETTER OVERALL striker compared to Cody Davis. Probably will be the more effective striker and do more damage with boxing jabs, creative unexpected strikes and kickboxing strikes.
Lost LFA 136 fight against Davi Costa but the fight was very competitive to the last round. Costa won the fight because of the one knockdown and multiple successful takedowns. However Davi Costa failed multiple times trying to takedown Henrique. Follows the same strategy limit the takedowns against Cody Davis he can win the title fight.
- 11-2
- 27 years old
- Trains out of Lucas Miniero
- Trains with Lucas Martins and Flavio de Queiroz
8. Ibragim Magomedov
#1 Russian Middleweight Prospect and one of the best unsigned Major Promotion fighters in the world is no other than Ibragim Magomedov.
Impressive record of 11-2 defeating some very tough Middleweight opponents fighting for ACA. Finishing the likes of MMA veteran Rousimar Palhares, comeback win against Husein Kushagov, Split decision win against Azamat Bekoev. Impressive win after win dealing with adversity but always finding a way to win.
Ibragim Magomedov facing Mikhail Dologov at ACA 166, headlining first ACA Main Event. Upcoming matchup is the first round of the ACA Middleweoght Grand Prix. Wins this favorable matchup he can face current ACA Middleweight Champion Magomedrasul Magomedov.
- 11-2 record
- 4 fight winning streak
- 27 years old
- Biggest Win- Rousimar Palhares
- late round explosive ko power
- good fades
- good job fighting inside pocket using his long lengthy body
Ibragim Magomedov smooth boxing ability from the jabs, uppercuts and great range fighting ability will lead to hand raising victory for the #1 Middleweight prospect. My favorite or runner up to win ACA Middleweight Grand Prix and earn himself extra hundred thousand dollars.
9. Edil Esengulov
Good luck to the ACA Welterweight Division they have a Kyrgyzstan foe that’s coming for the Russian fighters, His name is Edil Esengulov.
Edil Esengulov pound for pound top ten Central Asian prospect because of his impressive 23-5 record and his fighting style of smash ’em opponents with wrestling.
Well aware of Edil for last few years now but so happy he’s FINALLY earning the opportunity to fight for #1 Russian Promotion Absolute Championship Akhmat. Ability to fight some of the best Welterweights in the world while earning good money as Kyrgyzstan native.
Fight History- Struggled in the beginning of his career with some early losses but really finding his stride… 13 fight winning streak against opponents with winning records. Not only winning fights but dominating fights with finishes against guys like Gamzat Khiramagomedov 10-3 record, Daniil Prikaza 16-4-2, Shokhasan Mirzamatov 9-1 record.
- 24 years old
- Former Open FC Welterweight Champion
- 13 finishing wins
- Comparison- Glover Texeira
ACA 166 fight against Vinicius Cruz is ACA Welterweight Grand Prix Quarter Final bout. Congratulations to Edil receiving opportunity to win the grand prix. Edil Esengulov is my 2nd favorite to win the grand prix besides Albert Tumenov. Great wrestling and sambo pressure mixed with simple effective striking can lead to a final.
10. Bartosz Leko
KSW Middleweight Contender is coming off a great win against Nemanja Nikolic top Balkans prospect. Finishing Nikolic with first round KO. Coming off great win hopes to boost his confidence again and have a great fight against Polish Foe, Piotr Kuberski at KSW 88.
Lately fight record looks like win than loss but promise this young man of 27 years old is one talented Polish Middleweight prospect. Selected him as top ten November Prospect to Watch for a reason because of his great victories against respectable opponents like Ibragim Magomedov, Rene Pessoa and Nemanja Nikolic.
- 27 years old
- Formerly fought for ACA
- 13-3-2 record
- biggest win Nemanja Nikolic
- Awkard fighting style using his long lean body to annoy opponents
- Solid wrestler from Polish
Billy's MMA Blog 
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