Talent all over the world from Russia, United States, Eastern Europe who are regional promotions hungry to become UFC/PFL Champions as they can defeat top fighters in there respected weight classes right now. Major promotions are lucky to have these top ten prospects to watch.
Paris Moran
The best Pound for Pound prospect in the United States is the Fury FC Flyweight Champion, Paris Moran. He is a three-time defending flyweight champion for the biggest promotion in the Southwest. Coming on the scene since 2023 having some strong wins & headline events.
Story- Paris Moran has been training MMA all of his life. He excelled the most at Wushu Sanda, representing the USA at the highest level. Since 2024 trains down in Texas with Head Coach & legend Yves Edwards trains with Raufeon Stots, Adrian Yanez and many others down at Metro Fight Club.
Bio- 28 years old 12-2 record. Biggest win against Ring of Combat Flyweight Champion Alberto Trujillo or Shameek Harvey. Upcoming fight against Aiden Coria. (Texas Flyweight and Main training partner of Joshua Van) Comparison- Leon Edwards
- Skills- Beautiful accurate striking for regional fighters taking advantage of his Karate background to beat opponents.
- Smartly picks his shots instead of fighting inside the pocket worrying about getting cracked and having damage.
- Beautiful showcase of boxing against Alberto Trujillo & Peter Cabarello. However in tough battles like against Shameek Harvery can show the mental toughness taking a shot to give a shot.
- Moran has solid wrestling and grappling defense ability. I can see improvement if he wants to become UFC Flyweight Champion.
Amru Magomedov
Dagestan will continue to take over the sport of MMA. Khabib started this takeover. He is now leading it with Islam, Umar, and Usman. Leading his teammates is Islam, alongside Usman’s training partner Amru Magomedov. Amru has been a pupil of Khabib’s father since he was young. He is now one of the Lightweight prospects in the world.
Story- Amru Magomedov is one of the best Lightweight prospects for a reason. He’s the Brave CF Lightweight Champion. He defeats his tough Brave CF opponents in the 1st or 2nd round in impressive fashion. Not finishing slouches either beating fighters with records of 9-2, 9-3 and undefeated 8-0 record. Really helps when you sharpen your tools against Islam and Usman during training. Learning from those guys is great schooling.
Bio- 25 years old undefeated record 8-0 biggest win against Ali Kabdulla. 1x defending Brave CF Lightweight title. Comparison-Usman Nurmagomedov
- Skills- Best attribute is the taekwondo style striking similar to Usman Nurmagomedov
- However throughout his fights can mix up in the wrestling department by pressuring towards the fence hunting for single leg takedowns or submissions.
- Underrated skill is offensive jiu-jitsu because of his long arms can submit fighters with rear naked chokes.
- Great use of using his long reach for jabs and chokes
Losene Keita
Arguably #1 prospect in the world and one of the best Featherweight/Lightweights in the world proved his argument putting the Featherweight title to the side and competing in the Oktagon Lightweight Tournament. Flawlessly winning the Oktagon Lightweight Tournament and winning the biggest prize one million dollars.
Story- Achieved everything on the European regional scene winning Oktagon Featherweight & Lightweight title. Defeating high quality fighters like European King Ivan Buchinger, Predrag Bogdanovic , Agy Sardari.
A + schedule/resume not going to see anything better than this as European prospect my opinion time for Keita after Oktagon contract expires to make the jump overseas and test the free agency market. Interesting scenario with Keita does he enjoy the fruits of labour since he’s a multi-millionaire now and relax or still have that hunger to become a UFC or PFL Champion?
Bio- 27 years old, 16-1 record, 5 fight winning streak. Comparison- Patricio Pitbull.
- Skills – Gifted with explosive fast twitch muscle fibers & powerful hands that can lead to early finishes that you scan through his fight record or Oktagon highlights.
- Fast twitch usually leads to being tired fast but smartly paces himself aiming for attacks.
- Keita definitely has endurance too if he can last 3 rounds or 4 rounds with being compact msucled fighter. Best striking attribute is his timing & strong overhand right that he consistently loves to throw.
- Powerful overhand rights best striking asset
- Potential UFC/PFL Featherweight Champion
Harry Hardwick
Growing up beyond my very eyes is younger brother of George Hardwick… Harry. Remember Harry jumping on the UK scene since 2022. Few years later he’s top ten through fifteen Featherweight prospect whose gradually improving each year.
Spring 2024 earned himself top ten prospect to watch ranking by winning Cage Warriors Featherweight title against #9th ranked Brazil Featherweight Keweny Lopes in tough adversity fight that tested his real character… WARRIOR.
Story- Hardwick on 7 fight winning streak, continues to improve, step in right direction by winning CW Featherweight title but my opinion like to defend his title once while continuing to train & enhance his all-around skills. Second title defense appreciate seeing a great performance that convinces Shelby or Maynard to offer Dana White Contender Series contract.
Bio- 30 years old, 12-3-1 record, Featherweight, #1 UK Featherweight. Comparison- Dan Hooker
- Best offensive skill is jiu-jitsu beautifully controls opponents on ground from backpack & top position
- Gifted with long learn arms so he can sneak his hands around the neck smoothly.
- Hardwick jiu-jitsu definitely beautiful to watch. Consistent improved skill is the striking doesn’t have the most creative striking displays but the jabs, hooks inside the pocket or medium range is his best striking option.
- Underrated skill is to not get overwhelmed when he’s the nail. All-around a solid fighter with potential top ten Featherweight.
Islam Omarov
Every year continue to list Islam Omarov as prospect to watch because he’s a world class Featherweight talent who deserves to fight for UFC/PFL. Islam Omarov arguably #1 Russian prospect, #1 Featherweight prospect/fighter outside of UFC/PFL right now. Current ACA Featherweight Champion after dominating the ACA Featherweight Division since 2020.
Story- ACA (Russia’s #1 Promotion) probably has the deepest level of talent compared to other feeder league promotions as the smaller weight classes under Welterweight are stacked with talent. Impressive to watch Islam Omarov just dominate or finishing these high quality Feathgerweights like Alikhan Suleymanov, (ACA Featherweight Champion) Bibert Tumenov & Luis Rafael Laurentino to name a few.
Two title defenses so far and will be looking to achieve his third defense against Alikhan Suleymanov at ACA 184. Two wins against a great fighter like Suleymanov shows he can defeat top UFC or PFL Featherweights right now. Additionally trains with world class fighters like Magomed Ankalaev, Alibeg Rasulov One Championship Lightweight title Challenger, #1 Bantamweight prospect Rustam Kerimov on daily basis. Wish one day Islam Omarov makes the crossover to North America before it’s too late.
Bio- 27 years old undefeated 16-0 record, #1 Featherweight, #1 Russian fighter
- Skills- Great Combat Sambo arsenal with wrestling pressure staying offensive controlling the range & pace of the fight beginning to end.
- Beautiful job in the jiu-jitsu department with guilitione chokes, top mount transitions to continue control.
- Must be naturally strong as he just maintains control against the fence and the floor.
- Striking underrated attribute as he mixes up with 1-3 combinations and up the middle kicks unexpectedly.
- In addition can fight at a blitzing pace or slow the fight down when needed.
- Lastly great skill to have is being the nail in examples like against Bibert Tumenov when he was unable to get the takedown.
Luke Riley
Protege of Paddy Pimblett is one of the rising stars in England and Cage Warriors. Star was born in UFC Fight Pass “Fight of the Year” against Alexander Loof which is must see television. Fighting on the prelims to ending 2025 as headliner with first round finish. Accomplished 2024 being one of the best UK/Europe prospects because of the wins, stand out striking & the star level mic talk.
“Dana (White), Mick Maynard, Sean Shelby – you know where I am,” Riley said. “Get me out of this b*tch. Come on. Help me out, lad.”
Bio- 25 years old, 10-0, #2 UK Featherweight, #142 Featherweigth in the world.
Story- The momentum of being Cage Warriors star lead to Luke Riley starting 2025 appearing on upcoming season of the Dana White Contender Series but because of Visa Issues the fight was canceled and Luke’s dreams are paused. However I believe UFC legal team will get the job done and the CW star will be rewarded the opportunity.
On the other hand Luke Riley can make his debut when UFC travels to England in March. Love the confidence as he’ll be ready for the opportunity and perfect situation fighting in front of his friends and family. Confident he’ll be great addition to the Featherweight addition 2025 will be UFC rising star.
- Skills- Complete opposite of his training partner is STRIKING/BOXING Focused.
- Unexpectedly packs a punch as watch opponents moving backwards after impact. #1 rated boxer as MMA prospect as he has beautiful hands for prospect.
- Loof & De Jesus fight can watch Riley throw nasty 1-3 combinations with ACCURACY. Most effective at close range. Good job mixing up the body kicks
- Ability to take heavy shots and continue to strike
- Best performance was against John Desus watch overall skillset start to finish
Azamat Bekoev
American Top Team prospect made the crossover to America training with the best MMA gym in the world. Started out in Russia fighting for ACA now LFA Middleweight Champion, defending the Middleweight title 2x. No question #1 Middleweight prospect in the world with defeating high quality prospects during his ACA and now LFA career.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCW5mwsOJIn/?img_index=1
Bio-18-3 record, 29 years old, LFA Middleweight Champion. Comparison- Marvin Vettori
Story- Best decision made was cross training down in Florida at American Top Team with the limitless amount of training partners like Johnny Eblen, Bo Nickal, Ikram Aliskerov, Josh Silviera and being coached by the masterminds like Mike Brown, Conan Silveira. Russians are born and breed to become great wrestlers but training at ATT develops his all-around skills to create a Middleweight Champion. Before the championship dreams needs to sign with UFC first and expect it to happen in 2025 with UFC desperately looking for new Middleweight talent. Guarantee he can give top 15 – 25 UFC Middleweights run for there money right now.
- Skills – Russian styled wrestling
- Overwhelming wrestling pressure like fellow Russians controlling opponents by the fence and center of the ring.
- Great use of Scrambling back into offensive positions
- Five round cardio
- Potential to have B+ kicking arsenal with more improvment
Beatriz Consuli
Former 2022 IMMAF Woman’s Flyweight Champion decided to continue her MMA career and turn pro. Right now having great success building up the pro resume with Legacy Fighting Alliance. Improving fight by fight winning last two by unanimous decision. Trains down at KO Squad MMA in Brazil with teammates UFC Melissa Gatto, Rodolfo Bellato, Welterweight prospect Michael Oliveira.
Story- Turned pro in 2023 only has five pro fights but is undefeated against flyweight opponents with winning records. Her career is going right direction but still raw talent rather her continue fighting for LFA gradually face better competition and potentially win the LFA Woman’s Flyweight Title. Once Beatriz Consuli tunes her skills and gains experience she’ll become world class talent “Potential” Flyweight Champion.
Bio-24 years old, 5-0 years old, IMMAF Champion. Comparison-Manon Fiorot
- Skills- Natural talent in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Focuses on staying in kickboxing/switching to Muay Thai depending on situations to beat opponents. Smartly calculates her strikes picking for the right opportunity
- Beautiful job using her Muay Thai skills in the clinch towards the fence using knees to the body
- Improving in taking advantage of her long lean body with jabs, overhand rights and kickboxing
Bio- 30 years old 8-2 record Eternal MMA Flyweight Champion. #1 Australian Woman’s Prospect. Kickboxing
Kerim Engziek
Number one European Middleweight prospect is the current Oktagon Middleweight Champion. No question outside of the UFC/PFL is arguably #1 185lb fighter. 2023 signed Oktagon and quickly became one of the best fighters on the roster as he’s superb talent, becoming one of the biggest stars for the European promotion.
Bio- 33 years old, 18-3 record, Oktagon Middleweight Champion, Former GMC Middleweight Champion. Comparison Nassourdine Imavov.
Story- Great accomplishment winning Oktagon Middleweight Title your no slouch winning it as Oktagon has the best European roster. Any promotion like UFC be lucky to have him however… Kerim is 33 years old and Dana White dislikes signing 30 years old. Kerim Engziek is an exception luckily fights in the Middleweight division and they desperately need them. More pro’s signing him he has laundry list of first round finishes and can attract the European market. Lastly good storyline of sparring Alex Pereira.
- Skills- Slick easy movement for Muscled Middleweight fast for 185lb fighter
- Kickboxing/Boxing best attribute
- FIRST ROUND KO Power
- Excellent job mixing up arsenal of kicks from Karate, Taekwondo, Kickboxing style. Personally love when he sneaks low leg kicks from close range.
- Great job mixing up the 1/2 boxing combos with the leg kicks
- Striking from long range to close range and avoids opponents big shots
- Best performance was Patrick Kincl
Jacinta Austin
One of the best woman’s prospects in the world lides from the city down under Sydney, Australia. Kickboxing/ Striking experience background fighting for K-1 but now successfully transitioned to MMA.
Traveling from promotion to promotion making a name for himself fighting for Eternal MMA, Oktagon and now UAE Warriors. Defeating great fighters or losing to respected fighters like Josefine Knutsson or Katharina Dalisda. Early losses made him improve as she’s the UAE Warriors Strawweight Champion.
Bio- 30 years old 8-2 record UAE Warriors Strawweight Champion
Story- Jacinta Austin is in the perfect spot UAE Warriors Strawweight Champion. Great promotion that will build her up and give her tough matchups. I can pitcture one title defense and UFC will call her management. UFC needs a Woman’s star in Australian market and Austin fits the bill.
- Kickboxing best attribute
- Switching from kickboxing to muay Thai in different scenarious
- Clinch grappling against the cage mixing up knees and punches
- Starting from long range boxing and quickly slipping inside is his best offensive moves
- Smooth counter strike game
- Solid job defending clinch grappling and escaping Jiu-Jitsu Positions
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