Prospect in the Spotlight (Sept 22-23): Shamil Gaziev

Introduction

Tuesday, September 19th, Russian heavyweight prospect Shamil Gaziev will be in action for Dana White’s Contender Series, where he will be looking continue his winning ways against Greg Velasco. He will be looking for another win, as Gaziev looks to impress the UFC brass and score a UFC contract. He represents KHK MMA Team, a solid camp in MMA. Let’s take a closer look at this prospect as this week’s “Prospect Spotlight.”

Strengths

Wrestling: Shockingly enough, a Russian fighter has excellent wrestling and top-notch top control. Gaziev frequently closes the distance on the feet and shoots heavily once he gets his distance calibrated. He’s heavy in the clinch and from top position. He uses ferocious ground-and-pound to attempt to finish or advance position, as opposed to using technical passes on the mat. He’s a real menace on the ground.

Finisher: Gaziev has gone to decision just once, showing he doesn’t like to get them involved in his fights. Seven of his wins come by knockout, most of which are ground-and-pound related. Two of the wins are by submission, both of which are rear-naked chokes. His aggressive nature in trying to stop the fight only serves him well.

Needs Improvement

Extended Striking Exchanges: Because Gazhiev is such a strong wrestler and grappler, his striking is a little behind the rest of his game. In his only split decision, he fought striker Kirill Kornilov and was at a disadvantage when in extended striking exchanges on the feet. Once he was able to clinch, wrestle or work on the ground, he was in control. If he cannot get an opponent down, there’s a chance he could be outworked on the feet.

Outlook

Top-15 UFC HW: Gaziev is definitely a UFC-ready fighter right now, so the Contender Series seems an odd route for him when he could be signed outright. His combination of power, wrestling and ability to finish opponents, especially solid opponents, show he’s ready to step up to the big leagues. Greg Velasco is a solid test here, but he should run through him en route to a UFC contract.