Best Prospects of the Week (4/17-4/19)

After a stacked weekend of regional MMA, we continue with another solid weekend in the regional MMA scene. Here are quick notes on ten prospects to look out for this weekend:

1. Darragh Kelly (Lightweight, Ireland, PFL): Stepping in on late notice to the PFL main event in Belfast, Darragh Kelly get the biggest fight of his career against Jay Jay Wilson. The SBG Ireland product has shown off a solid striking arsenal, but his ground game has been his crown jewel. He mixes good ground striking with a solid submission set, which has led to a majority of his wins. He’s undefeated through both his pro and amateur career so far.
2. Ciaran Clarke (Bantamweight, Ireland, PFL): Speaking of undefeated SBG Ireland fighters, Ciaran Clarke will also compete on that PFL card. While his amateur career was not nearly as successful as his teammate Kelly’s was, Clarke has been impressive as a pro, using a similar style and formula as the aforementioned Kelly. His opponent this weekend will be Dean Garnett in what will be Clarke’s biggest challenge to date.
3. Sean Gauci (Flyweight, Australia, PFL): The final PFL prospect we will keep tabs on this weekend is from the other side of the world. Sean Gauci, a Contender Series alum who won but did not receive a contract, makes his long-awaited PFL debut against former regional champ Liam Gittins. Gauci is a fun striker to watch that mixes in his grappling when needed. The problem is he has not fought since that Contender Series win, which came back in October of 2024. He will need to shake off the ring rust and remind everyone why he was a top prospect coming out of Australia in the first place.
4. Bilal Hasan (Flyweight, United States, CFFC): The other promotion we will have multiple prospects to watch this weekend is CFFC, which will be headlined by top American flyweight prospect Bilal Hasan. Hasan, a 24-year-old blue chipper, is the current CFFC Flyweight Champion and a fighter that seems to be a shoo-in for the UFC. He is an electric striker that combines serious stopping power with a fun technical prowess. He throws all sorts of techniques, which helps keep his opponent guessing on the feet. He looks for his fourth title defense this weekend when he takes on veteran Ben Coyle.
5. Lucas Seibert (Bantamweight, United States, CFFC): The next CFFC prospect to watch will be fellow undefeated American prospect Lucas Seibert, a former University of West Virginia wrestler looking to grab his second promotional belt in two fights. The current 247 MMA Champion will bring his grappling-heavy approach to the cage this weekend against Sebastian Ruiz.
6. Itso Babulaidze (Welterweight, Georgia, CFFC): A Georgian fighter now training in New York, Itso Babulaidze is the Ring of Combat Champion making his CFFC debut opposite DeWitt Dixon. Babulaidze has a strong grappling background, but does have immense power in his hands and can stop a fight with one shot. He even owns a win over Contender Series vet Jimmy Drago, showing his half dozen pro MMA fights include some tough opposition.
7. Taner Trembley (Featherweight, United States, LFA): Moving over to the LFA, American Taner Trembley headlines the card opposite Elijah Johns in an attempt to continue his perfect record and announce himself to UFC scouts in a big way. Trembley is a collegiate wrestling standout from St. Cloud St, which explains his style in the cage. He makes to quips about it. He is quick to shoot, get the takedown and outgrapple his opponents. All six of his wins come by finish, with five coming by way of submission.
8. Juscelino Pantoja (Flyweight, Brazil, Shooto Brasil): Heading to Brazil, we have an appearance by flyweight prospect Juscelino Pantoja, an underrated fighter from that country. A fighter with solid hands and a good submission game, Pantoja is the reigning, defending champion of Shooto Brasil. His lone loss comes to UFC fighter Jose Ochoa under the LFA banner, so Pantoja is clearly sniffing around the major leagues. This weekend’s fight will be against Micael de Jesus in an attempt to keep his Shooto Brasil gold and push his win streak to four.
9. Magdalena Czaban (Women’s Atomweight, Poland, Canggu Fight Night): Poland’s Magdalena Czaban is a very solid prospect in a weight class that there aren’t as many solid bodies in: the atomweight division. She moves up to 115 pounds here to get a fight when she fights Dede Dina Mariyana on enemy territory. Czaban is a ground fighter with a well-rounded mat game, using a combination of ground-and-pound and submissions. Another win here keeps her undefeated pro record intact.
10. Radley da Silva (Featherweight, Canada, Battle at the Creek): Radley da Silva is one of the few fighters of the Contender Series last year that won his fight and did not get signed. Instead, the capoeira fighter with a solid jiu-jitsu game looks to get back into the UFC by way of the regional scene. He throws wild techniques on the feet, but he’s actually quite sound, including on the mat. He fights journeyman Charon Spain in the unknown Battle at the Creek event this weekend.

LAST WEEK’S PROSPECT RESULTS

1. Amiran Gogoladze won in a big way at Oktagon, scoring a knockout over Ion Surdu.
2. Stefano Paterno had his fight cancelled at Cage Warriors.
3. Jovan Leka got another big win at ARMMADA, TKO’ing Danilo Suzart in the main event.
4. Ilias Bulaid stayed undefeated at LFL, scoring another knockout win over Edgar Oliveira.
5. Damian Rzepecki also stayed undefeated, besting Corneliu Rotaru at WOW in the co-main event.
6. Ilian Bouafia lost his perfect record, falling via first-round knockout to Matthieu Duclos at Hexagone.
7. Renat Khavalov scored a massive win under the PFL banner, taking a decision win over Raufeon Stots.
8. Razhabali Shaydullaev continued to show he’s the best featherweight outside the UFC, scoring a knockout victory over Yuta Kubo at Rizin.
9. Daniil Matsola was knocked out in his ACA fight, losing to UFC vet Khadis Ibragimov.
10. Nick Piccininni was outpointed by Ricky Rojas at Fury FC.