Introduction
Friday, May 20th, Russian heavyweight prospect Aleksandr Maslov will be in action for Ares FC, where he will be looking continue his winning ways against Szymon Bajor. He will be looking for another win, as Maslov looks to impress and score the attention from the UFC. He represents Sech Pro, a respected camp in MMA. Let’s take a closer look at this prospect as this week’s “Prospect Spotlight.”
Strengths
Striking: Maslov is a ferocious beast on the feet and that’s frequently seen in his fights. All but two of his wins have come via knockout. Some are by ground-and-pound, but most of it starts on the feet. He has immense knockout power in his hands. Most of those knockouts come in the first round, meaning he accumulates damage quickly. He knockouts include one over UFC veteran Cody East, showing he can handle himself against experienced, seasoned pros. Keep your chin tucked around this guy.
Physicality: Maslov is an extremely physical, aggressive fighter. Physically, he’s a beast and is very strong. Not only does that show in his knockout power, but when he gets into a war of attrition in the clinch or on the ground. He’s a beast. He’s built like a brick shithouse. Most guys he steps in the cage with will be at a strength disadvantage against Maslov.
Needs Improvement
Cardio Question Marks: Maslov’s fights generally end in the first round. The times he has gone past the first round, his cardio sees him slow down. His muscular frame is one reason for that. Maslov weighs near the heavyweight limit, which is a lot of body to be hauling around. Also being as explosive as he is and the fact he throws with big power drains on that cardio as well.
Outlook
UFC Midcarder: Maslov would fit in well in the UFC as he’s both skilled and physically intimidating. I certainly could see him taking a number of fights and being in the top-50% of the UFC heavyweight division. He’d be a guy that would sniff around the Performance of the Night bonuses, as his scary knockout ability would serve him well. He could have a very nice career under the UFC’s banner. He’s just 28 years old right now, meaning he’s approaching his prime, too.
MMA Intel 