Prospect Thread

Hey guys,

I thought I'd put together a thread of lesser known prospects. I'll update with how they're doing, next fight data etc. and try to keep track of their careers. Hopefully we'll be able to track a few of them to major success if they turn out to be legit.

Feel free to contribute. This is just the first few I'll be doing now.

US

Name: Tyron Woodley
Weight: 170lbs
Record: 6-0-0
Team: ATT
Signed to: Strikeforce - defeated Nathan Coy by somewhat controversial split decision at Srikeforce Challengers 8.
Background: NCAA All American Wrestler, 2003/2005 Big 12 Champion.

Name: Dave Jansen
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 14-2-0
Team: Portland Team Quest
Signed to: WEC (lost a UD to Ricardo Lamas at WEC 50 )
Background:

Name: Calvin Kattar
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 10-2-0
Team:
Signed to: XCFL (defeated Conner by TKO 19/6/2010)
Background: Wrestling

Name: Jacob McClintock
Weight: 170lbs
Record: 6-1
Team: Arizona Combat Sports
Signed to: Bellator (Lost to Ryan Thomas at Bellator 15)
Background: BJJ - brown belt, pan am champ

Name: Bryan Travers
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 14-2-0
Team: Academy of Martial Arts and Fitness
Signed to: Strikeforce - (defeated Rocky Johnson at TWC 9)
Background: Wrestling - NCAA Divison 1 National Qualifier, BJJ purple belt

Name: Ben Askren
Weight: 170lbs
Record: 6-0-0
Team: Arizona Combat Sports
Signed to: Bellator - defeated Dan Hornbuckle at Bellator 22, will face fellow prospect Lyman Good at Bellator 33 for welterweight title.
Background: NCAA Division 1 Champion 2006/2007, Holds single season NCAA pin record, Final Collegiate record of 153-8. Competed in 2008 Olympics. BJJ Purple Belt.

Name: Joe Duarte
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 5-2-0
Team: Arena MMA Team
Signed to: Free Agent
Background: Boxing and Muay thai
9-0 in pro boxing
19-1 muay thai
was on one of the recent seasons of tuf but was beaten in the first round of the show by phillipe nover by decision and recently has beaten david"hello japan"gardner by ko in round one interesting to see how he progresses but think he has a big future ahead of him
(Shanemc)

Name: Phil Davis
Weight: 205lbs
Record: 7-0-0
Team: AKA/Team Lloyd Irvine
Signed to: UFC (defeated Rodney Wallace at UFC 117, will face Tim Boetsch at UFC 123)
Background : Outstanding Collegiate Wrestler, won 2008 NCAA title

Name: Roger Bowling
Weight: 170lbs
Record: 8-0-0
Team: Team Vision
Signed to: Strikeforce (will re-match Bobby Voelker at Sho-MMA 11)
Background: Boxing (9-0)

(Once Mohawked Pete)

Name: Tony Johnson Jr
Weight: 265lbs (?)
Record: 4-1-0
Team: ATT
Signed to: KOTC (Heavyweight Champion - will re-match Tony Lopez)
Background: Collegiate All-American Wrestler

Name: Cody McKenzie
Weight: 145lbs
Record: 11-0-0
Team: Fancy Pants Fight Team
Signed to: Appearing on TUF 12
Background: unknown but 9 straight wins by guillotine

Name: Joe Soto
Weight: 145lbs
Record: 9-1-0
Team: Nor-Cal Fighting Alliance
Signed to: Bellator - Lost title to Joe Warren at Bellator 27
Background: Division 3 Wrestling, Greco Roman, former training partner of Jon Jones/Cain Velasquez.

Name: Pat Curran
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 13-3-0
Team: Curran Martial Arts Academy
Signed to: Bellator - defeated Toby Imada by split decision at Bellator 21
Background: Wrestling, BJJ

Name: Lyman Good
Weight: 170lbs
Record: 10-0-0
Team: Team Tiger Schulmann
Signed to: Bellator welterweight champion - faces Ben Askren for title at Bellator 33
Background: Karate

Name: Daniel Cormier
Weight: 250lbs
Record: 5-0-0
Team: AKA
Signed to: Strikeforce - next faces Soa Palelei for XMMA in November
Background: Outstanding wrestler, 2004 Olympics 4th place, Bronze medal at Worlds, Olympic team captain

Name: Cole Konrad
Weight: 265lbs
Record: 6-0-0
Team: Minnesota Martial Arts Academy
Signed to: Bellator - defeated Damien Grabowski at Bellator 29, will face Neil Grove in heavyweight tournament final.
Background: Decorated collegiate wrestler, NCAA title holder, All-time Minnesota winstreak holder, Gold at Pan-ams

Name: Michael Chandler
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 3-0-0
Team: Xtreme Couture
Signed to: Bellator
Background: Wrestling team mate of Askren and Woodley

Name: Mike Easton
Weight: 135lbs
Record: 10-1-0
Team: Team Lloyd Irvin
Signed to: UWC Bantamweight champion, defeated Chase Beebe by split decision for the belt
Background: BJJ black belt under Irvin, good striker

Name: Chris Weidman
Weight: 185lbs
Record: 2-0-0
Team: Team Serra
Signed to:
Background: All American, BJJ purple belt, natural grappler, competed at ADCC


Canada

Name: Rory Macdonald
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 10-1-0
Team: Toshido Fighting Arts
Signed to: UFC (lost to Carlos Condit at UFC 115, next facing Matt Brown at UFC 123)
Background: Muay Thai/BJJ. 20 years old and KOTC Canada Lightweight Champion. Never been the distance.

Name: Cory Macdonald
Weight: 170lbs
Record: 10-2-0
Team: Gladiator MMA
Signed to:
Background: Just defeated Team Nogueira prospect Thiago Goncalves (11-3).

Name: Claude Patrick
Weight: 170lbs
Record: 12-1-0
Team: Elite Training Centre, trains with Mark Bocek
Signed to : UFC (defeated Ricardo Funch at UFC 115, next faces James Wilks at UFC 120)
Background: BJJ

Index:

Page 1 - US/Canada
Page 2 - Brazil, Japan/Korea, UK/Europe
Page 3 - Other nationalities

Gunnar Nelson sounds very interesting. To beat Monson at the ADCC is no joke.

As a grappler, he's no joke. He only lost to Magalhaes on points, finished 4th overall in the absolute division. He had a Karate background before starting BJJ too.

Ronneh wrote:Gunnar Nelson sounds very interesting. To beat Monson at the ADCC is no joke.

yeah thought the same when i read it and good idea for a thread il keep an eye out for anyone who i think will be a star and post him

Thanks for this thread, great idea, i'll keep an eye out

Great thread Sunthunder!

Well researched mate.

Thanks for the support guys.

Had a few updates. Khalidov is reportedly fighting Santiago at Sengoku 11! Exciting business as Santiago is a top 10 fighter and this will really tell us Mamed's abilities. Also our UK prospect Ronnie Mann takes on Shigeki Osawa on the same card. Sengoku 11 is an amazing card.

Kudos Sunthunder, I'll be keeping an eye out for these guys.

Great list sunthunder, very well researched, thanks.

What about this guy Jimi Manuwa at LW from the UK? He's got a shiteload of potential and the attitude to match.

Paolo_73 wrote:Great list sunthunder, very well researched, thanks.

What about this guy Jimi Manuwa at LW from the UK? He's got a shiteload of potential and the attitude to match.

Thanks for bringing him to my attention. I'll add him.

Sunthunder,

Any chance on a special on the next generation of Gracie's when you get a chance mate?? There's a lot of talk about Rolles and Igor as well as the obvious one in Roger. Then there's the other who haven't yet made the move to MMA but are competiting in ADCC every year.

Just a thought.

Name: Jung Chan Sung
Weight: 145lbs
Record: 7-1-0
Team: Korean Top Team
Signed to: Sengoku
Background: Kickboxing/Hapkido - only loss an extremely close decision (fight of the year contender) to Sengoku Grand Prix winner Kanehara.

1 question what the hell is Hapkido?? i've heard of Aikido as i used to practice it.

pinsman wrote:Name: Jung Chan Sung
Weight: 145lbs
Record: 7-1-0
Team: Korean Top Team
Signed to: Sengoku
Background: Kickboxing/Hapkido - only loss an extremely close decision (fight of the year contender) to Sengoku Grand Prix winner Kanehara.

1 question what the hell is Hapkido?? i've heard of Aikido as i used to practice it.

i think its basically a hybrid of judo, aikido and taekwondo emplying techniques from those arts and more even. I would like to learn it one day it sounds really good. anyway i always wanted to see a practitioner in mma as the techniques include techniques for striking to a grounded opponent! which is unusual for tmas to teach.
does anyone on here practice it?

Name: Joe Duarte
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 5-1-0
Team: Arena MMA Team
Signed to: Free Agent
Background: Boxing and Muay thai
9-0 in pro boxing
19-1 muay thai
was on one of the recent seasons of tuf but was beaten in the first round of the show by phillipe nover by decision and recently has beaten david"hello japan"gardner by ko in round one interesting to see how he progresses but think he has a big future ahead of him

Thanks Shane, I'll add him, sorry for not replying sooner.

I've got some updates to do today, also thinking I'll split up the prospects into different posts grouped by country/continent.

Oh and Anfield, I will have a look and see what I can find about the newest generation of Gracies, don't know if I'll be able to make anything as extensive but I'll have a go.

Brazil

Name: Hacran Dias
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 16-1-0
Team: Nova Uniao
Signed to: M-1/Shooto Brazil - defeated Cesario di Domenico at Shooto Brazil 17
Background: BJJ

Name: Ronnys Torres
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 14-3-0
Team: Nova Uniao
Signed to: Released from UFC following loss to Jacob Volkmann
Background: BJJ

Name: Renan Barao
Weight: 145lbs
Record: 23-1-0
Team: Nova Uniao - training partner of Jose Aldo
Signed to: Signed to the WEC (defeated Anthony Leone at WEC 49)
Background:

Name: Willamy Chiquerim
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 17-3-0
Team: Nocaute Fight
Signed to: Shooto 155lb Champion - defended his Shooto belt May 30th against Yusuke Endo, vacated title after winning saying he has signed for the UFC.
Background:

Name: Eduardo Pamplona
Weight : 185lbs
Record: 13-2-0
Team: Never Shake
Signed to: Shine Fights - won at Jungle Fight 22
Background: Only losses to Sanae Kikuta (decorated grappler) in his debut and Robbie Lawler in his 7th fight. Wins over Daniel Acacio and Pele.

Name: Patricio Freire
Weight: 145lbs
Record: 14-1-0
Team: Team Nogueira
Signed to: Bellator (lost split decision to Joe Warren at Bellator 23)
Background:

Name: Charles "do Bronx" Oliveira
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 14-0-0
Team: Bronx's Gold Team
Signed to: UFC - submitted Efrai Escudero at UFN 22
Background: BJJ

Name: Eduardo Dantas
Weight: 132lbs
Record: 9-2-0
Team: Nova Uniao
Signed to: Shooto, defeated Japanese prospect Hiromasa Ogikubo via submission on May 30th
Background: Only 21, only losses by DQ and one to Masakatsu Ueda.

Name: Edson "Barboza" Mendes Jr
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 6-0-0
Team: The Armory
Signed to: UFC - debuts at UFC 123 against Darren Elkins
Background: Muay Thai - 25-3 - 22 KO's

Name: Erick Silva
Weight: 170lbs
Record: 10-1-0
Team: Team Nogueira
Signed to: Jungle Fight
Background: BJJ

Name: Rodolfo Marques
Weight: 135lbs
Record: 9-1-0
Team: Nova Uniao
Signed to: Shooto Brazil
Background:

Name: Bruno Santos
Weight: 185lbs
Record: 7-0-0
Team: Ze Mario Team
Signed to:
Background: Strong wrestler with good ground and pound, unlike many other Brazilian fighters.

Name: Edinaldo "Molusco" Oliveira
Weight: 235lbs
Record: 7-0-1
Team: Nordeste/Champion Team
Signed to: WFE - defeated Joaquim Ferreira by UD
Background: Not really background, but he's 6'7, so has potential to add mass to his frame.

Name: Jussier da Silva
Weight: 125lbs
Record: 7-0-0
Team: Nova Uniao Kimura
Signed to: Shooto Brazil/Palace Fights
Background: Considered to be among the best flyweights in the world. BJJ black belt and CBJJE World Champion.

Name: Francisco Drinaldo
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 6-0-0
Team: Constrictor Team, BTT
Signed to: Jungle Fight
Background: BJJ, Kickboxing (Brazilian Champion). Kneebarred Buscape in 2 minutes!

Name: Yan Cabral
Weight: 170lbs
Record: 7-0-0
Team: Nova Uniao
Signed to:
Background: BJJ, accomplished grappler who regularly competes in Mundials - all 7 wins by submission

Japan

Name: Ikuo Usuda
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 6-1-0
Team: Kiguchi Dojo
Signed to: Sengoku - dropped a split decision to Do Hoo Choi at Sengoku 13
Background: Wrestling - 2002 All-Japan University Greco-Roman Championships 66kg Winner
2002 World University Greco-Roman Championships 66kg 3rd Place, Shooto Rookie Champ 2008

Name: Koetsu Okazaki
Weight: 132lbs
Record: 7-1-1
Team: Cobra Kai MMA Dojo
Signed to: Shooto (Pacific Rim 132lb champion)
Background: Shooto Rookie Champion 2004. Only loss to undefeated divisional stalwart and Shooto 132lb Champion Masakatsu Ueda.

Name: Hiromasa Ogikubo
Weight: 132lbs
Record: 7-2-2
Team: Paraestra Matsudo
Signed to: Shooto - defeated So Tazawa at Way of Shooto 5.
Background: Shooto Rookie Champ 2007.

Name: Katsunori Kikuno
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 12-3-1
Team: Alliance Square
Signed to: DEEP (LW Champ)/DREAM (defending his DEEP title against Kazunori Yokota)
Background: Judo - Regional Champion. Kyokushin - best 16 in All-Japan Tournament

Name: Fumihiro Kitahara
Weight: 123lbs
Record: 9-1-1
Team: Paraestra Sapporo
Signed to: Shooto (facing divisional stalwart Mamoru Yamaguchi )
Background:

Name: Issei Tamura
Weight: 143lbs
Record: 5-1-0
Team: Krazy Bee
Signed to: Shooto - lost to Taiki Tsuchiya at Way of Shooto 4.
Background: Shooto Rookie Champion 2008

Name: Tatsunao Nagakura
Weight: 145lbs
Record: 6-1-0
Team: Yoshida Dojo
Signed to: DEEP
Background: Judo,Rugby

Name: Yoshiyuki Nakanishi
Weight: 205lbs
Record: 8-1-0
Team: Team M.A.D.
Signed to: DEEP (defeated French prospect Christian M'Pumbu to become DEEP LHW Champion, supposed to feature in DREAM GP)
Background: Wrestling

Name: Yusaku Inoue
Weight: 170lbs
Record: 7-0-0
Team: Purebred Kawaguchi
Signed to: Shooto
Background:

Name: Shigeki Osawa
Weight: 145lbs
Record: 5-1-0
Team: Yoshida Dojo
Signed to: Sengoku
Background: All Japan freestyle wrestling champion, almost made Olympic team. Only loss a close fight with Ronnie Mann.

Name: Koichiro Matsumoto
Weight: 145lbs
Record: 11-2-0
Team: Imada Dojo
Signed to: Deep - captured Featherweight title from Takafumi Otsuka
Background:

Korea

Name: Won Sik Park
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 8-2-1
Team: CMA Korea Ulsan Gym
Signed to: DEEP/DREAM (defeated Norihisa Amimoto at Gladiator 9)
Background: aspires to be a sort of Machida figure for TKD

Name: Jung Chan Sung
Weight: 145lbs
Record: 10-2-0
Team: Korean Top Team
Signed to: WEC - facing George Roop at WEC 51.
Background: Kickboxing/Hapkido - only loss an extremely close decision (fight of the year contender) to Sengoku Grand Prix winner Kanehara.

Name: Ui Cheol Nam
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 9-2-0
Team:
Signed to: Strikeforce (rumoured) fought Adrian Pang to a draw in Legend Fighting Championships, one of Hong Kong's first MMA events.
Background: Win over Brazilian prospect Hacran Dias. Losses by decision to WEC's undefeated Dave Jansen and solid Russian fighter.

Name: Dong Yi Yang
Weight: 185lbs (former heavyweight)
Record: 8-0-0
Team: Korean Top Team
Signed to: UFC - debuting at UFC 122 against Chris Camozzi.
Background: former Sengoku heavyweight, has been absent from fighting for a while but been added again because of planned new bout.

Name: "Hungry" Hae Joon Yang
Weight: 230lbs
Record: 5-0-0
Team:
Signed to: Bellator - was due to face Mike Hayes in Bellator tournament but had Visa problems, fighting at Legend Fighting Championship event September 24th.
Background: High school wrestling championships silver medalist, Collegiate wrestler. Big KO power, KO win over Joaquim Ferreira.

Name: Seung Ho Yang
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 5-0-0
Team: Evolve MMA
Signed to:
Background: Last defeated David "Hello Japan" Gardener on 15th of September

UK

Name: Paul Sass
Weight: 155lbs
Record: 10-0-0
Team: Team Kaobon/Next Generation MMA
Signed to: UFC - expected to debut at UFC 120
Background: BJJ (8 wins by triangle choke - hence nickname - Sassangle)

Name: Ronnie Mann
Weight: 145lbs
Record: 17-2-1
Team: Team Trojan
Signed to: Sengoku/Cage Gladiators (beat Japanese prospect Shigeki Osawa by decision at Sengoku 11)
Background: Boxing/Wrestling - only losses a decision to Robbie Oliver and submission loss to top featherweight Hatsu Hioki

Name: Jimi Manuwa
Weight: 205lbs
Record: 8-0-0
Team: Semtex MMA
Signed to: Ultimate Challenge UK (defeated Reza Mahadavian at UCMMA on 8th of May)
Background: Boxing, BJJ at Nova Forca under Ricardo Da Silva, Muay Thai at Keddle's Gym.
(Paolo_73)

Name: Jim Wallhead
Weight: 170lbs
Record: 18-5-0
Team: Rough House
Signed to: Bellator - forced to pull out of Bellator 15 due to a certain Icelandic Volcano.
Background: Judo
(Thanks to KJGould and Anfield for the contribution!)


Europe

Name: Stanislav Nedkov (Bulgaria)
Weight: 205lbs
Record: 11-0-0
Team: Bushido Bulgaria
Signed to: UFC - debuting against Rodney Wallace at UFC 117
Background: Wrestling/Submission Wrestling

Name: Gunnar Nelson (Iceland)
Weight: 170lbs
Record: 6-0-1
Team: Renzo Gracie
Signed to: BAMMA - (defeated Sam Elsdon at BAMMA 2)
Background: BJJ prodigy, earned blackbelt in 3.5 years. ADCC 2009 competitor, beat Monson

Name: Mamed Khalidov (Poland/Chechnya)
Weight: 185lbs
Record: 20-4-2
Team: KSW Team
Signed to: Sengoku/KSW - Drew with Ryuta Sakurai at KSW XIII.
Background:

Name: Karl Amoussou (France)
Weight: 185lbs
Record: 11-2-2
Team: Haute Tension
Signed to: DREAM/Strikeforce (Technical Draw with Trevor Prangley at Strikeforce Challengers 6)
Background: Judo/Savate

Name: Simeon Thoresen (Norway)
Weight: 170lbs
Record: 12-1-1
Team: Team Hellboy
Signed to: BAMMA (defeated John Maguire at BAMMA 3)
Background: Submission grappling. Joachim Hansens protege.

Name: Rogent Lloret (Spain)
Weight: 236lbs
Record: 9-1-1
Team: Gracie Barcelona
Signed to: M-1 (defeated Miodrag Petkovic 10th of April)
Background: BJJ blackbelt, competed in this years ADCC, lost in first round to Werdum.

Name: Alexander Gustafsson (Sweden)
Weight: 205lbs
Record: 9-1-0
Team: Stockholm Shoot
Signed to: UFC - Lost to US prospect Phil Davis at UFC 112
Background: Boxing/wrestling.

Name: Christian M'Pumbu (France)
Weight: 205lbs
Record: 15-2-1
Team: Jucao Achille Team
Signed to: M-1/DEEP - Lost to Japanese prospect Yoshiyuki Nakanishi at DEEP 47. Taking part in DREAM LHW GP
Background: BJJ, Savate

Name: Besike Gerinava (Russia)
Weight: 205lbs
Record: 10-1-0
Team: Legion Fight Team
Signed to: M-1 - defeated Chuck Grigsby 3/12/2009
Background:

Name: Magomed Shikhshabekov (Russia)
Weight: 170
Record: 6-0-0 (fight finder) 11-0-0(m1 states this is his record)
Team: Legion fight team
Signed to: M1 - on fight finder all of his 6 fights are for m1
Background: Sambo

(manchesthair_utd)

Name: Alan Omer (Germany)
Weight: 145lbs
Record: 14-3-0
Team: Stallion Cage
Signed to: BAMMA (lost controversial decision to Mark Adams at BAMMA 3)
Background:

Mate Jimi's background was in Boxing originally but nowadays he trains BJJ at Nova Forca under Ricardo Da Silva, as well as a bit of Muay Thai at Keddle's Gym.

Thanks again Paolo.

Just a reminder, top Japanese prospect Katsunori Kikuno takes a big step up in competition against Eddie Alvarez tomorrow, and Won Sik "Parky" Park takes on UFC vet Kuniyoshi Hironaka, who has looked rejuvenated since dropping to lightweight, having knocked out highly touted Japanese prospect Yoshihiro Koyama.

Korean prospect Ui Cheol Nam has just signed with Strikeforce to debut on the 7th of November.

Update:

Karl Amoussou has signed a 4 fight deal with DREAM according to fiveouncesofpain.com

Being super lame and bumping my own thread. European prospects Stanislav Nedkov and Mamed Khalidov picked up wins at Sengoku 11, as did UK prospect Ronnie Mann.

Added some other prospects recently. Eduardo Pamplona (easily one of the scariest looking fighters out there) and Patricio Freire for Brazil, and Rogent Lloret (Spain) and Alexander Gustafsson (Sweden).

Surprised Jim Wallhead's name hasn't come up yet. He's long been hyped as the best British fighter not to be in a big international promotion and is a part of the Rough House gym in Nottingahm. Bizarrely he was turned down for TUF 9 (rumours has it he was too good at the open mat auditions). His upcoming fight with Che Mils could be make or break for him getting to the next stage of his career.

Then there's Abdul Mohammed who made it past the first set of TUF 9 auditions, but it's been rumoured Spike TV axed his chances because they didn't want a fighter with Afghani roots on the show.

i have seen Abdul lose twice recently, and he is pretty old so i cant see him as much of a prospect. As for Judo Jimmy, he won his "upcoming" fight with Mills by a unanimous decision

manschesthair_utd wrote:i have seen Abdul lose twice recently, and he is pretty old so i cant see him as much of a prospect. As for Judo Jimmy, he won his "upcoming" fight with Mills by a unanimous decision

Ahh oops, I didn't think it had happened yet. Thanks for the info.