5 CFFC Fighters You Need To Watch In 2025
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Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) stands as one of the best regional MMA promotions today. The East Coast-based promotion held several events this year. Aside from MMA cards, they promoted their debuting Muay Thai brand, Fury Pro Grappling, and the launch of Match Day.
CFFC has an impressive list of UFC alumni and former champions. They have been known to bring fighters from the East Coast into the UFC. Even Dana White once said, “This [CFFC] is where we find the future champions.”
After an impressive year, it’s time to look at the young up-and-coming talent you should be keeping an eye on in 2025. The fighters on this list have a real shot at getting called up to the UFC very soon.
Kaushik Saikumar (Bantamweight)
The Indian sensation currently holds an undefeated record at 5-0, with four of his victories coming by way of stoppage. Training out of the Fifty/50 Martial Arts Academy in Virginia, his natural fighting ability quickly gained the attention of Head Coach, Ryan Hall. Saikumar possesses both a high-level grappling game, as well as a well-rounded striking skillset. He brought his professional fighting experience all the way from India, and now resides in the United States.
The bantamweight made the move to improve his grappling ability. It’s something he knew he needed to improve if he wanted to make a living being a professional fighter. The move seems to have worked out, as his last performance showcased that he can hang with high-level competition.
Kaushik recently scored a TKO victory over Adamu Isah, who was making his CFFC debut. Isah came in sharp, however, it was a knee by the Indian prospect that got the job done. Saikumar looks to continue his activity in 2025, so make sure you keep a close eye on him.
Christian McAuley (Bantamweight)
One of the more overlooked names on this list, Christian McAuley, stands undefeated at 5-0 with four victories by stoppage. This electric bantamweight is one of the more dedicated fighters you will come across. He puts an immense level of time and effort into his training, dieting, film studies, and teaching.
Training out of the Tiger Schulmann’s gym in Hoboken New Jersey, McAuley has a plethora of good training partners, like flyweight prospect, Ryan Burgos. The 25-year-old brings an in-your-face, high-paced high-action style to the cage, with a diverse skillset to go along with it. It’s hard enough to keep up with his relentless pressure, let alone his crisp kickboxing skills.
His last UFC Fight Pass appearance saw him take on a ONE Championship veteran. McAuley battered Tial Thang around the cage for a round and a half until he sunk in his signature anaconda choke. Christian McAuley remains one of the names you don’t see many people mention as one of the top CFFC prospects. However, his dedication to the sport, and his performances prove that he deserves the attention from here on.
Anthony Dilemme (Featherweight)
After his first-round KO championship victory over Beau Samaniego at CFFC 137, Anthony Dilemme stamped his name emphatically as a name to watch in 2025. The Ray Longo MMA pupil currently holds a 7-0 record with four knockouts. He possesses unreal power for his weight class.
Dilemme certainly hunts for finishes in his fights, as he brings an aggressive fighting style. He trains with top-level UFC talent in the Longo gym, and now as the current CFFC Featherweight Champion, eyes that next level. Dilemme remains ready for a call at both 145, and 155.
Champions, nevertheless those with undefeated records, don’t tend to last in CFFC very long. So as far as watching him under the CFFC banner goes, there may not be many more regional fights left for him.
Luke Fernandez (Light Heavyweight)
The Dante Rivera BJJ pupil out of Lacey Township, New Jersey surely fits the bill of an exciting fighter to watch. His last performance saw him capture CFFC gold with an electric finish over Peter New at CFFC 128. Unfortunately, Luke Fernandez has yet to defend his belt. Aside from injuries sustained, a previous opponent prevented him from getting inside the cage for almost a year.
Despite setbacks, the light heavyweight has remained active on the regional scene. He scored a victory over UFC veteran, Eryk Anders, in a professional grappling match at Fury Pro Grappling 10. Since turning pro, he’s amassed a 3-0 record with a 100% finish rate. He also utilizes an explosive style that he can only describe as “poetry in motion”.
Luke Fernandez is a brutal finisher, that relentlessly seeks to end the fight before the sound of the final bell. He’s lasered in on increasing his activity over the next year so that he can knock on Dana White’s door.
Bilal Hasan (Flyweight)
Of course, this list would never have merit without “The Indoninja” on it. Bilal Hasan is easily one of the most exciting prospects to enter the professional MMA space. He remains atop the list of exciting prospects worldwide that fans and media alike expect to deliver on the big stage in the UFC one day.
Bilal is the first Indonesian to win an international MMA world championship. The victory came by way of submission over Jose Leon at CFFC 136. Hasan, primarily known as an elite striker, utilizes his unique Taekwondo striking style to pick apart his opponents in impressive fashion.
At 23 years old, Bilal has had one hell of a 2024. He scored a highlight reel finish over Jacob Romano that you can see played at UFC events showcasing regional talent. We saw a dominant victory over American Top Team prospect, Shamel Findley, in which he took zero damage. He then topped it off scoring his first submission victory to win his first MMA championship.
Hasan’s fighting style, paired with his flashy over-the-top personality makes him a must-watch fighter in 2025. There is no doubt we will see him in the UFC very soon.
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