Prospect in the Spotlight (June 26-27): Nik Bagley

Introduction

Saturday, June 27th, Ukrainian-English featherweight prospect Nik Bagley will be in action for Cage Warriors, where he will be looking continue his winning ways against Aiden Lee. He will be looking for another win, as Bagley looks to inch closer to a UFC contract. He represents Great Britain Top Team, a solid camp in MMA. Let’s take a closer look at this prospect as this week’s “Prospect Spotlight.”

Strengths

Submission Wrestling: When it comes to offensive wrestling and exerting a strong offensive wrestling output, Bagley is an animal, especially early in the fight (more on that later). Bagley is very good at setting up the shot and then chaining his wrestling together. From there, he is good at advancing positions on the mat and getting to a spot where he can finish the fight. In fact, he’s tapped out six of his eight opponents with five rear-naked chokes and one arm-triangle choke.

Physical Strength: Bagley is a physical specimen that has good physical strength, which aids in his grappling. It makes him explosive on the mat, as well as the feet. He’s a good natural athlete as well, as seen in him landing an impressive flying knee knockout earlier in his career. That kind of strength and athleticism only aids him in his fights.

Needs Improvement

Longevity/Gas Tank: If Bagley is not able to get a finish before the third round, he does seem to slow down a bit, which can turn the tide of the fight. Those gas tank issues are a slight issue that need to be addressed. Because he’s so physically strong and explosive, it tends to wear on him as the fight goes on. Especially when he’s exerting energy with his wrestling.

Outlook

Regional Champion: While I wouldn’t be shocked if the UFC were to pick Bagley up, I think most of his career will be in the regionals and I think that’s where his best work will be done. He has a good skill set, but he doesn’t really stand out further than his biggest strengths and there are plenty of major league fighters that do it better. He also has the option for the PFL, especially as they have tapped into European talent. I could be wrong, but only the future will tell.