Introduction
Friday, March 14th, Candian featherweight prospect Jamie Siraj will be in action for Tuff-n-Uff, where he will be looking continue his winning ways against Diego Brandao. He will be looking for another win, as Siraj looks to inch closer to a UFC contract. He represents Tristar Gym, a top camp in MMA. Let’s take a closer look at this prospect as this week’s “Prospect Spotlight.”
Strengths
Effective Striking: Whether on the feet or on the mat, Siraj is a very effective striker. He throws solid combinations both high and low on his opponents. His body shots set up his high shots and high shots set him up to the body. On the mat, he’s also very successful with his ground-and-pound. He has solid power but also is effective at picking spots and landing with success.
Chokes: On the mat, Siraj is also a solid grappler who is known for his chokes. He has immense grip strength and once he grabs a neck, he goes for the kill. He has wins via rear-naked choke, guillotine choke and front choke. That danger on the ground compliments his on-the-feet prowess.
Needs Improvement
Defensive Grappling: We have some questions about Siraj’s counter-wrestling, as he has not really fought a top-level wrestler like he’d see in the UFC. He’s also been choked out by UFC vet Cole Smith earlier in his career, though Siraj has obviously improved since then. Perhaps the time off he had between 2019 and 2023 helped close those holes, but it’ll be something he has to prove.
Outlook
Regional MMA Champion/UFC Curtain Jerker: Siraj has really surged recently with his championship status with Tuff-n-Uff. He’s beaten some solid opposition in recent times, including 20-plus fight vet Nemat Abdrashitov and formerly 8-1 Tariel Abbasov. He has his biggest test to date in longtime UFC veteran Diego Brandao, who while not the same fighter he used to be, is still a dangerous, tough opponent. If Siraj wins, I see him getting a call for DWCS or going straight to the UFC.
MMA Intel 