Best Prospects of Week (5/22-5/24)

After a solid weekend of regional MMA, we have a somewhat slow weekend in the regional MMA scene. Here are quick notes on ten prospects to look out for this weekend:

1. Jonathan Piersma (Welterweight, United States, LFA): We lead off this week with the main event of the LFA event and Road to UFC vet Jonathan Piersma. While certainly think the ceiling is limited with Piersma as a prospect, he’s undoubtedly a tough out with a solid ground game and a gritty on-the-feet game. He’s coming off a huge win over formerly undefeated Luis Francischnelli, a guy that was being groomed for the UFC roster. That win now has Piersma in a position to potentially score a UFC look or Contender Series invite with a win over current opponent and TUF vet Diego Bianchini.
2. Richie Miranda (Lightweight, United States, LFA): The other fighter to watch on the LFA card is Richie Miranda, a guy that should be on the UFC roster right now. Miranda is tough as nails and well-rounded, two traits that make him a top lightweight. His never-quit attitude and ability to not be out of the fight make him dangerous from bell to bell. He takes on fellow prospect Robert Varricchio on the LFA card in a fight that should provide the UFC with their next lightweight signing.
3. Ze Machado (Featherweight, Portugal, WOW): Moving over to Europe for the WOW card, Portuguese prospect Ze Machado will be taking the biggest fight of his career when he fights 11-fight Brazilian Henrique Barbosa. Machado is a bull with great physical strength and an aggressive, powerful mixed martial arts game. All five of his pro MMA wins are by finish, as opponents have found out the danger of his ground game. If he can get by Barbosa, he can prove that he’s truly a top European prospect right now.
4. Patrick Habirora (Welterweight, Belgium, PFL): It appears Bellator has stumbled upon a great welterweight prospect in Patrick Habirora, a nasty striker from Belgium who has the knack for the finish. He’s a physical specimen with impressive athleticism, which combined with his fight skills make him an extremely tough opponent. He headlines the PFL card in his home country against MMA legend Benson Henderson.
5. Boris Atangana (Light Heavyweight, Cameroon/Belgium, PFL): Sticking in the PFL, another Belgian local will be taking back to the cage in Boris Atangana, a fighter in the similar mold of Habirora who is skilled, athletic and powerful. All eight of his pro fights have been by finish, whether it’s with his nasty striking or his underrated ground game. He fights UFC veteran Jared Gooden.
6. Asael Adjoudj (Featherweight, France, PFL): Another solid prospect the PFL has taken in from the European continent is Asael Adjoudj, a big, nasty welterweight. He’s a big 145-pounder who has good power striking, solid takedowns and a strong top game while grappling. The SBG Ireland disciple has scored his two biggest wins of his career in his last two fights against Jose Perez and Yves Landu, showing he’s truly a legit prospect. For his outing this weekend, Adjoudj takes on Japanese veteran Keisuke Sasu.
7. Baris Adiguzel (Bantamweight, France, PFL): The last PFL prospect we will take a look at this weekend is Baris Adiguzel, a nasty striker that has a good variety of power, techniques and accuracy. Adiguzel has very impressive kickboxing skills that cause great damage to his opponents on the feet. He does a good job keeping distance as well, so that he cannot get caught off guard with the wrestling game. Adiguzel takes on fellow tough prospect Gustavo Oliveira this weekend.
8. Ezra Elliott (Featherweight, United States, Rage in the Cage): Moving on to one of the busier prospects in the sport so far this year, Ezra Elliott returns after fighting last month in another winning effort. He kept his perfect record and his consecutive first-round finish spree intact when he knocked out Ashton Caniglia in April, which continued to prove the MMA Lab product is a legit 145-pound prospect. He will look for win number eight this weekend at Rage in the Cage when he takes on Alejandro Quero in what should be a gimme.’
9. Jair Farias (Featherweight, Brazil, Money Moicano MMA): Moving over to Renato Moicano’s first MMA show, Contender Series veteran Jair Farias is on a campaign to get back into the prospect spotlight when he main events against Ricardo de Almeida. Farias, a Fighting Nerds rep, competed on the 2023 edition of the Contender Series where he lost to Connor Matthews. Since then, he has fought just once, which he won to get back into the win column. That Contender Series loss was the lone blemish on his record. Farias looks to get more active starting with this fight.
10. So Yul Kim (Women’s Strawweight, Japan, Deep Jewels): On to a female competing for Deep Jewels in So Yul Kim, a fighter that I thought would be on this season’s tournament of Road to the UFC. Kim is an outstanding grappler and submission fighter that has put away six of her nine opponents with the tapout. She also has pro kickboxing experience, showing she’s got a rounded game. He takes on undefeated Nonoka Sakamato this weekend in what should be another good piece of experience for Kim.

LAST WEEK’S PROSPECT RESULTS

1. Shamil Gazanov fell to ONE Champion Kai Tang via TKO. There is speculation it could be his last fight, as ONE appears to be moving away from MMA and sticking solely with Muay Thai and kickboxing.
2. Erick Viscondi won the LFA Featherweight Championship in the main event, scoring a split decision win over Gustavo Pintos.
3. Ansar Khamzaev stayed undefeated with an impressive first-round submission over Jordon Tague, as the 20-year-old continues to be a blue-chip prospect.
4. Mochamed Machaev had his opponent drop out of their feet less than a week before the event and unfortunately did not compete at Oktagon.
5. Max Holzer blasted through UFC veteran Khalid Taha in the Oktagon main event, winning via TKO to stay undefeated.
6. Wiktoria Czyzewska was upset by Sara Luzar Smajic via decision on the KSW card.
7. Salahdine Parnasse demolished Kenny Cross via TKO on the MVP card on Netflix.
8. David Mgoyan came up victorious on the MVP card, scoring a decision over Albert Morales.
9. Phumi Nkuta lost his late-notice bout against former ONE Champion Adriano Moraes, falling via submission at the MVP card.
10. Khuseyn Shaykaev had his fight vs. UFC vet Eric Shelton cancelled the night of the fight at Fusion Fight League.