Prospect in the Spotlight (June 7-8): Shanelle Dyer

Introduction

Saturday, June 8th, English flyweight prospect Shanelle Dyer will be in action for PFL Europe, where she will be looking continue her winning ways against Mariam Torchinava. She will be looking for another win, as Dyer looks to inch closer to a contract with the PFL in 2025. She represents Great Britain Top Team, a strong camp in MMA. Let’s take a closer look at this prospect as this week’s “Prospect Spotlight.”

Strengths

Striking: Dyer is a very good striker who has a very obvious Muay Thai background. She is very good with her eight limbs and is very technical. She has some flashy technique, but her fundamentals are very good and she has good power for 125er. Through four pro fights, she has knocked out three of her opponents, including a spinning backfist in her pro debut. She’s also good in her movement on the feet, which allows her to set her combinations well.

Athleticism: In terms of natural athleticism, Dyer is above average. She has a good combination of quickness, agility, power, and explosiveness. All of those aid her in not only her striking, but her takedown defense.

Needs Improvement

Fighting off Back: As an amateur, Dyer had three losses and they all came on the ground. When she fights off her back, she can be exposed. She took ground-and-pound losses to now-UFC fighters Ivana Petrovic and Shauna Bannon, as well as a submission loss to a fighter that was 1-3 as an ammy. Her athleticism aids in her in avoiding the takedown, but she is still yet to show that her bottom grappling game isn’t a liability.

Outlook

World Title Contender: If Dyer can continue to improve her grappling, she is going to be a force to be reckoned with. Her striking is top-notch and she has yet to look bad as a professional. She has dominated all four of her pro opponents. She has her toughest pro opponent to date in Mariam Torchinova, so we will get a further glimpse into Dyer’s progression. I think at some point, she could be a contender for whatever company she is with and collect fight night bonuses with her knockout ability.