Prospect in the Spotlight (Feb 7-8): Marcos Degli

Introduction

Friday, February 7th, Brazilian flyweight prospect Marcos Degli will be in action for LFA, where he will be looking continue his winning ways against Lincoln Santos. He will be looking for another win, as Degli looks score LFA Interim Flyweight gold and to inch closer to a UFC contract. He represents Vale Top Team, a solid camp in MMA. Let’s take a closer look at this prospect as this week’s “Prospect Spotlight.”

Strengths

Power Striking: Degli is a powerhouse on the feet, especially for somebody in the flyweight division. Six of his wins come by way of knockout, which is a combination of blasting people on the feet and absolutely mauling them with ground-and-pound. Everything he throws is with bad intentions, as he looks to get out of the cage before the judges can have their say in the matter.

Offensive Grappling: Degli is a strong grappler as well in terms of offensive, top-game grappling. We’ve already mentioned his ground-and-pound ability, but his ability to get the fight to the mat and then dominate on top is strong. He has four submissions to his name as well utilizing rear-naked chokes, an arm-triangle choke and an armbar. With the variety of offense he brings to the cage, it’s no wonder why he’s become a top prospect.

Needs Improvement

Longevity Questions: It’s hard to find a hole in Degli’s game, especially because his losses were early in his career and to notable fighters like Felipe dos Santos and Davi Bittencourt. The one thing we’ll have questions about is when he has longer fight, since he has so many finishes in the first and second rounds. We could see it here, as he has a five-round fight afoot. This could answer those questions, if he doesn’t finish Santos early like his other opponents.

Outlook

LFA Champion/UFC Midcarder: Degli has really improved since turning pro in 2021, especially because all three of his losses came early in his career. He has been wildly active for a pro as well, taking 14 fights in 4 years. This guy is an animal for a 125er with a combination aggression and power, which is why he’s such a dangerous opponent. The way he’s been performing, especially for a 24-year-old fighter, shows me he’s got a bright future. I think he scores gold for the LFA and eventually scores a UFC contract. There, he becomes a fan favorite in the flyweight division.