Best Prospects of the Week (4/10-4/12)

After a slower weekend of regional MMA, we have a jam-packed weekend in the regional MMA scene. Here are quick notes on ten prospects to look out for this weekend:

1. Amiran Gogoladze (Welterweight, Georgia, Oktagon): Amiran Gogoladze is just 28 years old and it feels like an eternity since his lone appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series. That was 2022. Almost four years later and it feels like this former top prospect is an afterthought, which is a shame since the Georgian is still a talented guy. However, that’s not the only reason he’s fallen off the radar. Since that 2022 Contender Series bout, he’s fought just three times: twice in 2023 and once in 2024. He’s not fought since that June 2024 fight. He has a huge fight on his plate now in the Oktagon promotion, taking on respected veteran Ion Surdu. It’s a fight that could permanently derail him or quickly put him back in the welterweight prospect ranks.
2. Jovan Leka (Heavyweight, Serbia, ARMMADA): Speaking of Contender Series vets, Jovan Leka is a young heavyweight that the UFC brass passed on because it wasn’t the most exciting performance. I think that was a mistake, especially given the average age of the UFC heavyweight division and the fact Leka is just 24. Leka is a good athlete with an impressive striking arsenal and did a pretty good job shucking off takedowns in that Contender Series bout with wrestling-heavy Azamat Nuftillaev. He literally just fought in February, where he quickly choked out Charlie Milner. He takes his second fight in two months when he takes on respected vet Danilo Suzart.
3. Ilian Bouafia (Middleweight, France, Hexagone): Speaking of yet ANOTHER Contender Series vet, Ilian Bouafia’s stock actually went down in his Contender Series win over Neemias Santana, as it was nothing short of a lackluster performance. Bouafia is clearly skilled and at 6’5″, a tall and rangy middleweight with natural gifts. His striking is solid, though his counter-grappling appears to be a hole that needs attention. H’e undefeated to this point in his career, though he still has a lot to prove given what we saw against Santana. He takes on a fellow Contender Series vet in Matthieu Duclos, which is a major fight between top French prospects.
4. Stefano Paterno (Welterweight, Italy, Cage Warriors): It’s hard to call a 24-fight veteran a prospect, but that’s the case with 30-year-old Stefano Paterno who is potentially the best prospect out of Italy. Paterno is a well-rounded fighter and has a strong strength of schedule thus far, showing that his 19-4-1 record is legit and not scattered with cans. He’s a finisher as well, scoring 11 knockouts and 5 submissions. He takes on TUF veteran Andreeas Binder in the main event of the Cage Warriors card.
5. Damian Rzepecki (Lightweight, Poland, WOW): Poland has provided some really good prospects in recent years, and one of the more recent prospects that appears to be a blue chipper is Damian Rzepecki, our under-the-radar prospect of the weekend. The Pole is an absolute bull, scoring finishes in all nine of his professional fights. He has a nasty ground game with excellent submission ability, but it’s his one-strike knockout ability that is beyond impressive. He’s just 24 years old, so there are still a few years til he hits his prime, which is a scary thought for any of his potential opponents.
6. Ilias Bulaid (Featherweight, Netherlands, Levels Fight League): The trend of Glory Kickboxers successfully transitioning to MMA has been a fascinating one. One of the guys who led that trend some years back was Ilias Bulaid, who broke into the mainstream with Bellator. He has shown off his signature kickboxing style, mixed with a solid Thai clinch game as well. He has since left Bellator and has focused on fighting for promotions in the Middle East, where he has continued to dominate. His next fight takes place in Europe against Wellyton Junior where Bulaid looks to keep his perfect record intact.
7. Renat Khavalov (Bantamweight, Russia, PFL): The PFL has done a good job at inking top Russian prospects in recent times, with the UFC either being unwilling or uninterested in getting more of them on their roster. Undefeated Renat Khavalov is a student and teammate of Khabib Nurmagomedov and like many of the fighters that run with that camp, has a similar style. He has a solid, aggressive striking style, but mostly uses it to set up his signature wrestling. He’s 3-0 with PFL thus far and looks to make it 4-0 when he takes on veteran Raufeon Stots.
8. Razhabali Shaydullaev (Featherweight, Tajikistan, Rizin): I don’t think there is a better featherweight outside the UFC right now than Rizin Champion Razhabali Shaydullaev. The Tajiki-Kyrgyz fighter is just 25 and already running roughshod over the competition overseas. All 17 of his wins are finishes, with six by knockout and eleven by submission. His strength of schedule has also been impressive, scoring nasty wins over fighters such as Mikaru Asakura, Viktor Kolesnik, Kleber Koike, Juan Archuleta, Koji Takeda and many others. He takes on Yuta Kuno next in what should be another display of brutality.
9. Daniil Matsola (Heavyweight, Russia, ACA): Quality heavyweights are hard to come by, but it seems Russia’s Daniil Matsola is a wrecking machine who is a legit prospect. The 7-0 fighter has been blowing through opponents with a mixture of power striking on the feet and nasty ground-and-pound wrestling on the mat. He has never left the second round, which is a testament to the quality of work he has been doing. He now gets to fight a UFC veteran in Khadis Ibragimov, which should be his stepping stone from fighting in Russia to fighting for the UFC.
10. Nick Piccininni (Flyweight, United States, Fury FC): We started this week’s list with a number of Contender Series vets and we will close this list with another: Nick Piccininni. The Oklahoma St wrestler is a physical specimen and a dominating grappler, though his issues with his gas tank and extended striking exchanges are still holes that need to be filled. His wrestling base has carried him thus far and will continue to do so given the high-level at which he competed in that sport. He has a tough fight against 5-0 Ricky Rojas this Sunday at Fury FC.

LAST WEEK’S PROSPECT RESULTS

1. Kyle Mayocchi stayed undefeated at the Shooto event, besting Akitaka Uto via submission and making a statement at a potential Contender Series shot.
2. Victor Valenzuela got back into the win column at Shooto, scoring a TKO stoppage over UFC vet Yasaku Kinoshita.
3. Alexander Chavez stayed undefeated in the main event of Inka 55, scoring a TKO over Francisco Neves.
4. Ghassan Jbalia was derailed at Ares FC, falling by decision to veteran Fabacary Diatta in the main event.
5. Xavier Franklin had his main event fight at LFA cancelled and did not compete.
6. Nyle Bartling stepped into the main event after the Franklin-Urias fight fell out, but lost via TKO to Charlie Cleveland.
7. Ezra Elliott had his fight cancelled after his opponent missed weight by well over 10 pounds.
8. Lucas Miletich scored a knockout in the main event of Samurai Fight House, defeating Heber Pereya for gold.
9. Matias Uribe scored Samurai Fight House gold, winning via unanaimous decision over Estanislao Licata.
10. Jarret Bettancourt scored a TKO over Dionel Sosa at Samurai Fight House, keeping his perfect pro record intact.