After a slower weekend of prospect action, we have a decent weekend in the regional MMA scene. Here are quick notes on ten prospects to look out for this weekend:
- Ansar Khamzaev (Lightweight, Russia, LFA): We kick off the week at LFA in their main event, as Russian blue chipper Ansar Khamzaev is set to compete. The undefeated Russian has been highly touted by scouts since basically his second pro fight. He’s now 6-0, and at just 21 years old, he truly is the definition of a prodigy. He has heavy hands and an impressive wrestling/grappling attack. He’s finished all but one of his fights, with most of those coming in the first round. He main events against Juliano Prescendo this weekend looking to move to 7-0.
- Shealor Ladd (Light Heavyweight, United States, LFA): The brother of UFC vet Aspen Ladd, Shealor Ladd is a guy we are still examining as a prospect to see if he’s legit or not. In a division like light heavyweight, though, Ladd is on the short list of prospects, especially those from the United States. He’s a 6’3″ fighter who prefers to fight on the mat. He’s 4-1 as a pro thus far, but that followed a perfect 10-0 record as an amateur. All of his wins as a pro come by way of TKO, with his lone loss coming by knockout on the feet. He fights Contender Series vet Matt Adams this weekend.
- Felix Klinkhammer (Welterweight, England/Germany, Oktagon): A fighter who was to be on the Contender Series in 2022, but did not compete, Felix Klinkhammer is a guy that has long been on the prospect radar, but has a hard time getting fights. The undefeated German-English fighter has fought just once a year since 2023, with that lack of activity hurting his momentum. It’s been hard to find fights for him, as the physically gifted submission grappler is not a guy many fighters want to share the cage with. He has a massive opportunity this weekend when he takes on Amiran Gogoladze with Oktagon gold on the line. It won’t be easy, but a win here should net him a UFC contract in the near future.
- Tyrone Pfeifer (Welterweight, Germany, Oktagon): Out under-the-radar prospect of the week is Germany’s Tyrone Pfeifer. The 8-1 fighter’s lone loss was to now-UFC fighter Alvi Dasuyev, but outside of that, he’s been dominant. He’s a ground fighter who thrives from top position, using big ground-and-pound and a solid submission game to dominate his opponents. He’s coming off a win over UFC vet Nikas Stoltze. He has another big test this weekend against Ronald Paradeiser, which could really give him a big boost should he win.
- Aboubakar Younousov (Bantamweight, France, Ares FC): Possibly one of the best prospects outside the UFC, Aboubakar Younousov is the Ares FC Champion and a guy that is incredibly talented. He’s not only a great wrestler/ground fighter, but he also has a skillful, flashy striking style that will see him put together the basics well while throwing things like spinning elbows. He finished UFC vet Gustavo Lopez in his most recent outing, showing that he’s ready to hit the big leagues. He fights another UFC vet this weekend in Tyson Nam who is known for putting opponent’s lights out.
- Alena Agisheva (Women’s Bantamweight, Russia, MFP): At the top of a short list of prospects in the women’s bantamweight division is Alena Agisheva, a 7-0 Russian who has dominated since turning pro. She is a gifted submission wrestler who gets the takedown early and methodically breaks down her opponents. Six of her seven wins are by finish, with five of those being rear-naked chokes. This weekend, she takes on Ksenya Rumyantseva.
- Faridun Odilov (Middleweight, Tajikistan, ACA): Headlining the ACA card this weekend is Faridun Odilov, who recently dropped from 205 to 185 and looks to be a guy that could compete in the major leagues. The wrestler and sambo practitioner uses those skills to dominate his opponent. He achieves takedowns with ease and then dominates from top position. His resume is full of recognizable opponents, with his losses coming to fellow top prospects and holding wins over UFC vets/regional prospects. He has a huge fight here with ACA gold on the line when he takes on proven Russian Artem Frolov.
- Bakhtovar Yunusov (Bantamweight, Tajikistan, ACA): A Tajikistani fighter now based in the United States for his training, Bakhtovar Yunosov was a top bantamweight prospect that could have been a UFC prospect or fighter by now. His lone loss came to TUF finalist Mehemmedali Osmanli in a bout that scouts all over the world kept their eye on, which eventually propelled Osmanli to the UFC. He’s a dominating wrestler and ground fighter that has strong GNP and submissions, though his lone loss is to submission against Osmanli. He’s still a quality prospect, but he has a huge test in the form of UFC vet Saidyokub Kakhramonov who presents great danger to Yunusov.
- Alikhan Musaev (Lightweight, Russia/Turkey, ACA): The last ACA fighter we will look at is 11-0 Alikhan Musaev, a Russian-born fighter now based out of Turkey. Like many other of the fighters we have looked at this week, Musaev has a good wrestling attack and overall ground game from top position. Half of his fights are against bad or inexperienced fighters, but his more recent fights have seen him step up a bit in competition. He takes on Jahongir Saidjamolov this weekend.
- Renata Mascena (Women’s Bantamweight, Brazil, SFT): We end the weekend in Brazil at SFT, which is holding an all-women’s fight card that includes undefeated bantamweight prospect Renata Mascena. Mascena has a Muay Thai style on the feet with a kick heavy approach. She mixes her strikes up well, landing with volume and damage. She has a solid ground game as well, though we prefer watching her fight on the feet. She takes on near-20 fight veteran Tatiane Aguiar this weekend in a pivotal bout for Mascena if she wants to make the UFC.
LAST WEEK’S PROSPECT RESULTS
- Kyle Mayocchi took his first career loss, dropping a decision to Hikaru Yoshino at Lemino Shooto.
- Rashid Vagabov won with an impressive twister submission over Marciano Ferreira at UAE Warriors.
- Juscelino Pantoja was tapped out by Murad Ibragimov at UAE Warriors.
- Ata Atdayev scored a big knockout win over Bekhzod Abdurakhimov at UAE Warriors, keeping his undefeated record.
- Lisa Zimmo kept her record perfect with a decision win over Gase Sanita at UAE Warriors.
- Jake Woodley scored another TKO win, this time at LFA over Zayne Havener.
- Lom-Ali Eskiev was brutally knocked out by Marko Bojkovic at FNC.
- Ernane Pimenta was choked out by Fabricio Martins at Jungle Fights.
- Nagila Bruna scored a doctor stoppage win over Bianca Sattelmayer at Jungle Fights.
- Clayton Pye scored a TKO win over Abdul Sami Fayzi at PFC.
