After a solid weekend of regional MMA, we have a busy weekend in the regional MMA scene. Here are quick notes on ten prospects to look out for this weekend:
- Shamil Gasanov (Lightweight, Russia, ONE Championship): Leading of the weekend at ONE Championship will be Shamil Gasanov, a top lightweight with the company for the while. The problem is that ONE does not really promote MMA as much anymore, so Gasanov doesn’t compete as much. Gasanov is a suffocating wrestler with great physical strength and a solid submission game. He dominates when he controls the wrestling and grappling game, with his only loss coming to submission ace Garry Tonon (who Gasanov later scored a revenge win over). He fights former champ Kai Tang in a high-stakes bout.
- Erick Viscondi (Featherweight, Brazil, LFA): Moving over to the LFA, Erick Viscondi is set to headline that card when he takes on Gustavo Pintos. Viscondi is an impressive Thai stylist who mixes in submission grappling well. He’s on a very good run right now since his last loss, picking up strong victories over Chris Mecate and Ary Farias. He is likely a guy that will struggle vs. wrestling-based fighters at the next level, but he is a guy that provides fun striking exchanges and can compete at a high level.
- Ansar Khamzaev (Lightweight, Russia, LFA): Our under-the-radar prospect of the week is a guy that many talent scouts have their eyes on, as he could have a huge future in Ansar Khamzaev. Khamzaev is just 20 years old and is already a blue chipper who has implications at fighting in the UFC in the near future. He will continue to improve as he collects cage time, though right now he’s 5-0 as a pro. He’s an excellent submission wrestler that is continually adding to his striking game, which will make him a serious all-around threat going forward. This weekend he fights Jordan Tague.
- Mochamed Machaev (Featherweight, Russia/Austria, Oktagon): Moving over to the Oktagon promotion, we take a look at Mochamed Machaev, a guy who has seemingly been a prospect forever despite the fact he’s only 26 years old. Machaev is an aggressive, dangerous striker that likes to move forward and throw hammers on the feet. He is submission wrestling in his back pocket as well, making him a rounded threat that can fight wherever the fight ends up. He headlines the Oktagon card against Gjoni Palokaj this weekend.
- Max Holzer (Featherweight, Germany, Oktagon): Also on that Oktagon card is one of the best prospects Germany currently has in Max Holzer. While he’s become known for antics in a recent fight where he air humped his opponent after finishing him, causing a ruckus, Holzer should be known for his overall skills. He has a dominating ground game where he combines wrestling, ground-and-pound and submissions to dominate his opponents. He has the biggest fight of his career this weekend when he fights UFC veteran Khalid Taha.
- Wiktoria Czyzewska (Women’s Bantamweight, Poland, KSW): Sticking in Europe but heading to the KSW promotion, Wiktoria Czyzewska is set to compete as she continues to be one of the top females outside the UFC/PFL atmospheres. Wiktoria is only 22 years old and is very experienced as a pro and amateur. She is a very good striker and has solid athleticism, which aids her on the feet. Her kicks are especially strong, though she mixed them up well with her punches. Five of her seven wins come by way of knockout, with her only pro loss coming by TKO from ground-and-pound. She fights Sara Luzar Smajic this weekend to keep her winning streak alive.
- Salahdine Parnasse (Lightweight, France, MVP): Moving over to the upstart MVP Promotions card on Netflix, Salahdine Parnasse will be one of two prospects on the card to watch. While the top of the card is filled with “big names” and “fight legends”, some of the lower card fights actually include some pretty good prospects like Parnasse. He’s long been considered a top prospect. Now 28, Parnasse has accumulated a bunch of cage time against some legit opponents and has continued to prove he’s one of the best outside the major promotions. He is extremely well-rounded and battle hardened, which is why it’s curious he’s yet to see the UFC or PFL. Parnasse takes on tough vet Kenny Cross this weekend.
- David Mgoyan (Lightweight, Russia, MVP): Another MVP fighter to watch in terms of prospects this week is David Mgoyan, a Contender Series vet who is just 21 years old but another potential blue chipper. Mgoyan has an aggressive striking style that mixed well with his wrestling. He goes for the finish early and often, which is why he can be prone to slow down and gas with that crazy style. He takes on UFC veteran Albert Morales this weekend.
- Phumi Nkuta (Flyweight, United States, MVP): On late notice, top flyweight Phumi Nkuta gets the call for the MVP event when he takes on former ONE Champion Adriano Moraes. Nkuta is widely seen as the best 125-pound prospect in the world and for some time at that. He’s well-rounded and athletic, a combo that makes him tough to deal with in the cage. This is the biggest fight of his career.
- Khuseyn Shaykhaev (Featherweight, Russia, Fusion Fight League): Khuseyn Shaykhaev is the case of a guy that was a top prospect that fell off the radar after just one loss. The big reason for that, though, is because he just hasn’t stayed very active. He’s still a strong prospect with an excellent submission wrestling ability and physical abilities. His lone loss was a close decision, but it did take wind out of his sail when it really shouldn’t have. He has a chance to get back into the graces of the MMA scouting world when he fights UFC vet Eric Shelton this weekend.
LAST WEEK’S PROSPECT RESULTS
- Radley da Silva scored a vicious knockout win over Rander Junio in the Battlefield Fight League main event.
- Aren Akopyan notched another major victory in the ACA main event, scoring a unanimous decision over Azam Gaforov.
- Dzhambulat Zelimkhanov suffered a decision loss to Alimardan Abdykarrov at the ACA event.
- Alikhan Musaev stayed undefeated with a unanimous decision victory over Furkat Komilov at the ACA event.
- Badr Medkouri fell in the Friday UAE Warriors main event, getting choked out by Eduardo Neves by rear-naked choke.
- Vladislav Rudnev scored a submission victory over Martun Mezhlumyan in the UAE Warriors main event on day two.
- Muhammad Said blasted through UFC vet Luiz Henrique with a quick first-round knockout at the same UAE Warriors event Saturday.
- Jaden Ortega had his fight cancelled and did not compete at Combate Global.
- Hannah Ramos had her fight moved to May 29th, so did not compete this weekend.
- Ilkhom Nazimov was destroyed in the main event of Rizin, losing via knockout to Luiz Gustavo.
MMA Intel 