After a busy weekend of prospect action, we have a solid weekend in the regional MMA scene. Here are quick notes on ten prospects to look out for this weekend:
- Kyle Mayocchi (Featherweight, Australia, Lemino Shooto): We kick off the weekend over in Japan with Australian Kyle Mayocchi, a City Kickboxing product with an impressive amateur career and a 6-0 pro career thus far. The 23-year-old has looked sharp so far, possessing a strong ground game coming from a great striking gym like City Kickboxing. All but one of his wins come by way of finish, including three by way of submission. He looks to stay undefeated when he takes on 20-plus fight veteran Hikaru Yoshino this weekend.
- Lisa Zimmo (Women’s Bantamweight, England, UAE Warriors): Though she’s getting up there in prospect age at 33 years old, Lisa Zimmo is one of the few women’s bantamweight prospects out there that is in consideration for a UFC contract any time soon. An understudy of UFC vet Brad Pickett, Zimmo has a crisp striking attack that she employs while on the feet, mixing things up well. She does have a good grappling game as well, especially on offense. She takes on Gase Sanita this weekend, where Zimmo looks to move to 6-0.
- Ata Atdayev (Flyweight, Ukraine, UAE Warriors): Also on that UAE Warriors card will be undefeated Ata Atdayev, an unheralded 125er who has gone under-the-radar in a division that is stacked with prospects. He is a good mix of frantic striking and aggressive grappling, which makes him hard to plan for. He’s coming off the biggest win of his career against Paulo Victor, who he outclassed to a decision back in July. He has another major test in Bekhzod Abdurakhimov in a fight that could really push him up the prospect rankings.
- Rashid Vagabov (Flyweight, Russia, UAE Warriors): A veteran of last year’s Contender Series, Rashid Vagabov was one of the few fighters that the UFC did not sign despite his win over Paulo da Silva. Vagabov is an aggressive striker who heavily relies on his wrestling and grappling from top position. He is a strangler, as most of his wins come from his tight grip strength and his ability to win via choke. He takes his current seven-fight win streak into this fight with Marciano Ferreira to remind the UFC he’s ready for the big leagues.
- Juscleino Pantoja (Flyweight, Brazil, UAE Warriors): The last UAE Warriors prospect we will look at is Juscelino Pantoja, a striker with excellent boxing skills. He’s quick on the feet and lands impressive combos, mostly with his lightning hands. His lone loss is to UFC fighter Jose Ochoa, and outside that, he’s looked highly impressive thus far as a pro. He comes into this fight with Murad Ibragimov on a four-fight winning streak and the Shooto Brasil title belt in his back pocket.
- Jake Woodley (Middleweight, United States, LFA): One of the best prospects running with LFA right now, Jake Woodley is coming off a major four-second knockout that really put him in the middleweight spotlight. A disciple of Antonio McKee, Woodley is a very good wrestler with physical strength and major power in his hands. He has big ground-and-pound on the mat, which is a major weapon of his. The one thing he is susceptible to is defensive chokes when he’s going for the shot, as he does leave his neck out from time to time. He fights Zayne Havener in the main event this weekend.
- Lom-Ali Eskiev (Lightweight, Germany, FNC): A few months from hitting his 35th birthday and officially being ineligible for prospect rankings, Lom-Ali Eskiev is really a guy that should have had a major league look earlier in his career. A really good submission wrestler who has taken some pro striking matches as well, Eskiev is a tough customer. He has really strong takedowns, and from there, he has nasty ground-and-pound and chokes from top position. His strength of schedule is impressive as well, whether he wins or loses. He takes on a former top prospect in Marko Bojkovic, who will be trying to re-establish himself as a feared prospect on major league scout’s radars.
- Ernane Pimenta (Welterweight, Brazil, Jungle Fight): Running in a major slot at the Jungle Fight event will be Ernane Pimenta, an underrated welterweight prospect out of Brazil. The guy is a wrecking machine on the feet, scoring knockouts frequently. In fact, in his 10 wins, he has finishes in all of those, with nine coming by way of knockout. He brings that aggressive style with him this weekend when he fights 30-plus fight vet Fabricio Martins.
- Nagila Bruna (Women’s Strawweight, Brazil, Jungle Fight): Also on that Jungle Fight card in a tournament finale is Nagila Bruna. While she’s 33 and her prospect window is closing, she does have a 7-1 record against some decent opposition. The Chute Boxe rep is a very good kickboxer who uses her striking as her primary weapon. She does have a jiu-jitsu game as well, but she showcases her on-the-feet prowess more often. She takes on .500 journeyman Bianca Sattelmayer this weekend.
- Clayton Pye (Welterweight, Canada, PFC): One of the handful of Canadian prospects currently coming out of the country, undefeated Clayton Pye is looking to keep his record perfect against Abdul Sami Wali Fayzi. Pye is a powerful striker that has a strong top game on the mat. He is another guy that has a so-so record in terms of competition level, but again, he’s a guy that has found it tough to get those types of opponents on the regional scene.
LAST WEEK’S PROSPECT RESULTS
- Ilias Bulaid took a loss to Erick Viscondi at the Contender Series.
- Smilla Sundell ran her record to 3-0, besting fellow striker Aline Pereira at the Contender Series and earned a UFC contract.
- Luis Francischinelli scored another knockout victory to his record, putting away Will Rantz to score a UFC contract at the Contender Series.
- Douglas da Lapa scored a third-round knockout over Davi Cabral at the Contender Series, netting a UFC contract.
- Jason Asher dropped a unanimous decision to Greg Foster at the Contender Series.
- Timur Khizriev took a split decision win over Gabriel Braga at PFL.
- Kevin Pease scored a submission win in his PFL debut over Cassio Barao.
- David Mgoyan scored a submission win over Muay Thai ace Asa Ten Pow at the Rkena vs. PFL card.
- Elene Loladze scored a submission win against Ekaterina Yar overseas at the Rkena vs. PFL card.
- Tom Mullen defended his FightStar Championship.
