Introduction
Tuesday, October 10th, Russo-Belgian welterweight prospect Issa Isakov will be in action for Dana White’s Contender Series, where he will be looking continue his winning ways against Marquel Mederos. He will be looking for another win, as Isakov looks to impress the UFC brass and score a UFC contract. He represents Streetsport Luxembourg, an unknown camp in MMA. Let’s take a closer look at this prospect as this week’s “Prospect Spotlight.”
Strengths
Wrestling/Top Grappling: Isakov’s biggest attack style is his wrestling, as he likes to shoot early and often. He’s strong grappling against the cage, but when he ultimately gets his opponent down and gets to work from top position, he’s an animal. He has shown signs of a submission arsenal, winning by armbar and rear-naked choke. He does prefer the ground-and-pound route when on the mat, but overall, you don’t want this guy on top of you.
Power Punching: Isakov is not going to be confused for Rodtang in terms of his striking, but Isakov does have a lot of power in his hands whether fighting on the feet or from top position. Six of his wins come by way of knockout, as he does much damage when he lands. He’s a very strong guy, which is why he can generate such power.
Needs Improvement
Cardio: Isakov is a pressure fighter, but from some of the tape I have seen, his output lessens a decent amount as the fight goes on. His wrestling can be a drain on his cardio, as it’s very taxing on him. That said, he likes to go for finishes in the first two rounds, so if he’s able to get that early finish, cardio will not come into play.
Outlook
UFC Prelim Fighter: I think at some point, Isakov will be on the UFC roster, but the twist is, I think he could struggle seeing as there will be a good amount of guys who can match or defeat his wrestling. There are certainly a number of winnable fights for Isakov, as he is talented. His two losses as a pro came to TUF veteran Mohamed Grabinski and Bellator contender Levan Chokheli. That said, he does own a win over TUF vet Djamil Chan and is on a four-fight winning streak, showing he is improving.
MMA Intel 