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Prospects for UFC

2K views 13 replies 11 participants last post by  UFC86 
#1 ·
Which fighters outside of the UFC would be contenders within a few years if they came to the UFC?

Here's my top list
1. Gilbert Melendez - avenged all his losses against fighters like Josh Thomson, Kawajiri,

2. Luke Rockhold - on a solid winning streak beating Jacare and Keith Jardine

3. Gegard Mousasi - beat alot of big names and is running out of opponents

4. Mo Lawal - beat Mousasi but relies mostly on his wrestling

5. Alexander Shlemenko - has vast experience with notable wins over Bryan Baker, Brian Rogers and Vitor Vianna.

6. Michael Chandler - undefeated with most notable win being over Eddie Alvarez

7. Pat Curran - since moving down to featherweight is on a roll beating the likes of Marlon Sandro and Daniel Strauss

8. Patricio Freire - has a great record 17-1 with controversial loss to Joe Warren, and a win over Daniel Strauss

9. Ben Askren - mostly 1 dimensional wrestler but is undefeated 10-0

10. Tyron Woodley - also mostly a wrestler with 10-0 record
 
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#2 ·
Mamed Khalidov - should have been in the UFC years ago. He has notable victories over Igor Pokrajac, James Irvin, Jorge Santiago and Matt Lindland.

Rashad Magomedov - 14-1, lone loss was by split dec., He's a Master of Sports in Boxing and Hand to Hand Combat, meaning he is a Russian National Champion in both.

I like Patricky and Patricio Freire, both are incredibly exciting with top notch striking and submission skills, they would be great additions to the LW and FW divisions of the UFC.

Also if guys like Lavar are winning fights in the UFC then I don't see why Kharitonov shouldn't be brought over. They could bill him as "The only man to defeat HW Mike Russow!" or I could imagine Joe saying "This guy is a beast, he's a high level boxer and he's the last man to knock out Alistair Overeem."
 
#3 ·
I want to see Mike Chandler move up. Mostly because I think he derserves it. He not only beat Eddie, who is coming in, but he stopped him... and I love Eddie, don't misunderstand me. But also, because he's a local boy to me... and I love seeing my fellow Mizzou guys kicking ass!
 
#4 ·
Mousassi and Eddie Alvarez cuz they'll have entertaining fights. People seem to dog on Mouassasi...he's a very solid fighter. Lawal did very limited damage...simply controlled em. Can't remember if he ever got finished.

I'll also say Justin Lawrence down the line once he tightens up his ground game. Oh and Giorgio Petrosyan if he ever decided to cross train. His Muay Thai is feckin ridiculous! Probably one of the best I've ever seen.
 
#5 · (Edited)
I really think Mike Chandler is gonna be a Beast in the UFC...

I wasn't impressed at all last night with Gilbert Melendez...He looked tired in the 4th and 5th rounds. He also should have had a point taken away in that fight for the 3 eye pokes to Thompson... There is no way Gilbert beats any top 5 guy in the UFC...Chandler right now crushes him IMO....


BTW...For the love of all the MMA Gods, can someone please teach Ben Askren how to Strike...LOL
 
#6 ·
Top prospects in Strikeforce & Bellator
HW: Cole Konrad
LHW: Gegard Mousasi
MW: Luke Rockhold
WW: Ben Askren
LW: Gilbert Melendez/Michael Chandler
FW: Pat Curran/Patricio Freire
BW: Eduardo Dantas

Top prospects outside of UFC, Strikeforce & Bellator
HW: Jared Rosholt
LHW: Vinny Magalhaes
MW: Mahmed Khalidov
WW: Assan Njie/Rashid Magomedov
LW: Alexander Sarnavskiy
FW: Renato Moicano
BW: Bibiano Fernandes
 
#8 ·
Top prospects in Strikeforce & Bellator
HW: Cole Konrad
LHW: Gegard Mousasi
MW: Luke Rockhold
WW: Ben Askren
LW: Gilbert Melendez/Michael Chandler
FW: Pat Curran/Patricio Freire
BW: Eduardo Dantas

Top prospects outside of UFC, Strikeforce & Bellator
HW: Jared Rosholt
LHW: Vinny Magalhaes
MW: Mahmed Khalidov
WW: Assan Njie/Rashid Magomedov
LW: Alexander Sarnavskiy
FW: Renato Moicano
BW: Bibiano Fernandes
I've had the priviledge of watching this guy fight live. He's a sick...sick BJJ practictioner who's lightening fast in his transition and submission. He had Faber in trouble before awhile ago, had his back threatening a RNC til Faber reversed it and got a doctors stoppage. He's an entertaining fighter for sure!
 
#7 ·
The thought of Tyron Woodley in the UFC is suicidal! Iv'e watched two of his fights and never again, If there's one guy that i have seen take someone down and just lie on them for all three then this guy Tyron Woodley is the world's worst and the fact the ref didn't stand him up against Jordan Mein i think it was at Rockhold vs Jardine card was a disgrace.

I can't sit and watch him sit on someone for 15 mins **** that.

Every other fighter i would agree with but not Woodley, he doesn't go in to fight just sit on them.
 
#9 ·
I'd like to see Alexander Sarnavskiy in the UFC. He's 18 - 0 with 13 first rd finishes, a submission specialist, and a "Master of Sport" in hand-to-hand combat.

Plus, they added Khabib Nurmagomedov who pretty much has the same resume, they might as well add this guy as well. :thumb02:

A few years ago, I would've said Bobby Lashley, but with this recent loss to journeyman James Thompson, I'd say his chances are pretty much shot.
 
#10 ·
The thing is with guys like Sarnavskiy, is that M1 contracts are notoriously hard to get out of - they tie guys up for long contracts and have clauses which means if they match a UFC offer, they must accept the M1 offer (as seen in the Vinny Magalhaes debacle).
 
#11 ·
I have a bit of a list of guys.Some have already been mentioned but these are like my personal faves outside of the UFC

HW
1. Cole Konrad
2. Jared Rosholt
3. Sergei Kharitonov
4. Guram Gugenishvili
5. Shamil Abdurahimov
6. Tyler East

LHW
1. Gegard Mousasi
2. Vinny Magalhaes
3. Jimi Manuwa
4. Tom DeBlass
5. King Mo
6. Feijao

MW
1. Tom Watson
2. Mamed Khalidov
3. Jacare
4. Luke Rockhold
5. Tom Kennedy
6. Jake Rosholt

WW
1. Tarec Saffiedine
2. Ben Askren
3. Gregor Gracie
4. Bobby Voelker
5. Jim Wallhead
6. Ryan Ford
7. Brian Foster

LW
1. Gilbert Melendez
2. Josh Thompson
3. Michael Chandler
4. Eddie Alvarez
5. Mairbek Taisumov
6. Alexander Sarnavskiy
7. Lukasz Sajewski
8. Gordon Bell
9. Rick Hawn
10. Nick Newell

FW
1. Pat Curran
2. Patricio Freire
3. Chris Horodecki
4. Radley Martinez
5. Henrique Bilcalho

BW
1. Eduardo Dantas
2. Bibiano Fernandes
3. Jimmie Rivera
4. Josh Hill
5. Yusup Saadulaev
6. Nick Mamalis
 
#13 ·
Khalidov is No1 for me. The guy is a finishing machine, and is building a pretty impressive HL reel of ex UFC competitors.

Beyond that i like Tom Watson and Rob Sinclair from BAMMA.

Rob Sinclair is 6-1 in the last 3 years and the one loss was a SD to Paul Sass who is doing well in the UFC. He has crazy KO power for a LW and an underrated ground game.


Am i the only one who isn't overly excited about Gil Melendez. The guy is clearly a good fighter but he is WAAAY overhyped. I thought he lost last night and he hasn't really impressed me in SF. Add to that his fights can be hit and miss in terms of excitement and i don't see what all the fuss is about.
 
#14 ·
I read Mamed Khalidov, Daniel Cormier and Eddie Alvarez are close to signing with the UFC once their contracts expire.
I think Feijao also has 1 fight left in SF contract
 
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