After a solid weekend of regional MMA, we have a bit of a slower weekend in the regional MMA scene. Here are quick notes on ten prospects to look out for this weekend:
- Shukurjon Abdurakhimov (Middleweight, Uzbekistan, ATF): Bouncing between light heavyweight and middleweight, Uzbeki fighter Shukurjon Abdurakhimov is now dropping back to 185 pounds where he will defend is ATF Championship against Magomed Aliev in what should be a gimme fight. Abdurakhimov has nasty submission wrestling and some solid power striking to go with that. He has finished all but one of his fights primarily fighting in Uzbekistan. He’s a guy that looks talented and could be somebody that develops into a really good fighter down the road.
- Norbert Novenyi Jr (Middleweight, Hungary/England, Hexagone): I think the best prospect of the week that will be fighting is Norbert Novenyi Jr, a fighter who debuted in Bellator when he was just 18 years old and that was eight years ago. He continues to be a guy that should be in the UFC, but for now he will fight Contender Series vet Matthieu Duclos. Novenyi has a great wrestling pedigree and some really good boxing on top of that. He is a hellacious finisher and could get the nod with another big win here over Duclos.
- Mathilde Aschenbrenner (Women’s Strawweight, France, Hexagone): One under-the-radar female fighter that will be in action will be Mathilde Aschenbrenner, a 3-0 fighter with a very respected amateur record. She is a very good submission fighter with most of her wins coming by way of submission. She’s coming off a highlight-reel Peruvian Necktie in her last fight, which she got in under a minute of the fight. This weekend, she has the biggest test of her career when she takes on ONE Championship veteran Noelle Grandjean.
- Paul Denis Navero (Bantamweight, France, Hexagone): Keeping with the 3-0 prospects, our under-the-radar prospect this week is Paul Denis Navero. Navero was another longtime amateur who has quietly emerged on the pro MMA scout’s radars. He is a very nasty striker with one-strike KO ability. In fact, he’s blasted through all three of his pro opponents to date. He has downed two of his pro opponents with body shots, showing his diversity in striking between head, abdomen and legs. In his last fight, he one-punch KO’d his opponent. That striking has a lot of people really interested in Navero, especially if he gets by this weekend’s opponent Anzor Baybatyrov.
- Kim Tran (Women’s Strawweight, Australia, Eternal MMA): Another undefeated fighter that is building experience in the cage as a pro is 4-0 Kim Tran, a ONE Friday Fights veteran who will be familiar with a lot of those hardcore fans. Tran is a vicious striker on the feet that can follow up the knockdown with precise, nasty ground-and-pound. She’s also a BJJ purple belt to help round out that game. There are still questions about her considering her amateur career was so-so at best, but so far as a pro she has looked strong. She takes on a fighter with double her pro fight experience in Alish Smith this weekend.
- Azamat Nuftillaev (Heavyweight, Uzbekistan, Octagon): A lot of the luster that Azamat Nuftillaev had accumulated as a prospect certainly faded in losing on the Contender Series in 2025, as it was a very lackluster (no pun intended) performance. However, in a division as thin on talent as heavyweight, he’s still an interesting fighter that we should keep our eyes on. An extremely physically dominant submission wrestler, Nuftillaev’s game revolves around him closing the distance, shooting a takedown and dominating on the feet. In the Contender Series loss to Jovan Leka, he was outstruck by the taller, rangier fighter and struggled to implement his ground game. It left him a sitting duck. This weekend, he takes his first fight since that Contender Series loss when he takes on the undefeated Aybek Ermetov.
- Patrick Ocheme (Featherweight, Nigeria, PFL Africa): The PFL’s endeavor into Africa is developing not only the market for MMA, but also the talent coming from that continent. One of the guys they have been featuring is Patrick Ocheme, an exciting striker known for his solid kickboxing ability. He’s a very good natural athlete, which aids him in his MMA quest. He has knockout power as well, which makes him dangerous from bell to bell. He fights Ayinda Octave this weekend on a prominent spot on the card.
- Karim Henniene (Bantamweight, Canada, PFL Africa): An undefeated PFL Africa vet, Karim Henniene looks to be another guy featured on these cards that has some unheralded talent. He’s a very good striker who is coming off the best win of his career where he scored a vicious flying knee knockout. His hands are to be feared too, as they are crisp and fast. He fights Thimna Mhlauli this weekend.
- Elisandra Ferreira (Women’s Atomweight/Strawweight, Brazil, PFL Africa): Coming over to PFL Africa after a long stint with Invicta FC, Elisandra Ferreira is looking to use this platform to maybe get into the regular PFL world tournament. She’s very well-rounded, but has most recently been doing karate rules fights under the Karate Combat banner where she’s showed some improved striking. She used to fight at 105 pounds, so she could be undersized here fighting at 115 pounds, but she should have a fight where she can show her skills against Juliet Ukah this weekend.
- Omar Tugarev (Lightweight, Finland, Beatz Fight Night): The final prospect we will feature this weekend is former Cage Warriors champion Omar Tugarev. He’s best known for his wrestling, ground-and-pound and submission skills. He has some solid striking as well, though he was out struck in his one career loss to Omiel Brown. He’s taken to some of the bigger regional shows, so the bright lights should affect him as bad, especially against a UFC veteran in Alex Oliveira.
LAST WEEK’S PROSPECT RESULTS
- Smilla Sundell continued her successful move from Muay Thai to MMA, scoring a knockout win over Maya Stewart at Tuff-n-Uff.
- Alan Martinez outgrappled Contender Series veteran Mo Miller to a victory at WFC 192, staying undefeated at 13-0.
- Khotam Boynazarov dropped out of his Mangu Professional League main event the day of the fight due to health related issues.
- Clayton Pye won a decision victory to keep his BTC championship against Ljae Simminz.
- Pavel Dailidko kept his Brace CF Heavyweight Championship by scoring an 80-second knockout over Miha Frlic.
- Alvi Dasuyev scored a rear-naked choke victory in the Ares FC main event, choking out Mohamed Soumah to stay undefeated.
- Magomed-Giri Umarkhadziev fell via split decision in the Ares FC co-main event to Walid Masmoudi.
- Nikola Gradinac fell off the prospect train, falling via decision to journeyman Taffarel Brasil at ARMMADA.
- Abdelrahman Essam scored a submission win in the main event of the FLA event to stay undefeated.
- Hannah Taylor had her opponent back out due to visa issues and was unable to compete at FLA.
MMA Intel 