Highlighting the best MMA prospect in each weight class fighting this week
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With so much MMA going on this week regionally, it’s hard to pinpoint which prospects you should be watching and which show they will be on. Well, have no fear – The Scrap has you covered with a list of the best MMA prospect in each division that you should be keeping a close eye on this week.
Read about the nine hungry, talented and young prospects competing over the next few days…
Heavyweight – Rizvan Kuniev
From Russia
Standing at 6’4″
28-years-old
11-2-1
Accolades: EFC heavyweight champion
Fight this week: Eagle FC 46, Mar. 11th
Kuniev made a big impression by beating Shamil Abasov back in 2019. After that, he won the Eagle FC title and following that fight on the Contender Series. Although he won, he didn’t impress enough to earn a contract. Maybe beating former UFC fighter in Anthony Hamilton will be enough for the UFC brass to bring him in.
Kuniev has a background in Wushu Sanda, which you can tell from watching his fights. On the feet, he doesn’t hold that heavyweight power. But he’s agile and diverse, unlike most of the big guys out there. Kuniev is a primarily a kickboxer who fights behind some flashy kicks from a lot of different angles. He’s well-rounded also being able to wrestle well, and he has a good top game.
Potential: 70%
Light-Heavyweight – Murtaza Talha Ali
From Bahrain
Standing at 6′0″
27-years-old
4-0
Accolades: 2X IMMAF world champion
Fight this week: Brave CF 57, Mar. 11th
Young as a pro, Ali is one of the highest-level light heavyweight amateurs in a long time. Ali is a two-time IMMAF world champion which is the biggest accomplishment out there as an amateur. Now, Ali is 4-0 as a pro and has looked outstanding. Fighting Mikheil Sazhiniani this weekend, he poses the biggest challenge for Ali. A challenge Ali will pass with flying colors.
Ali is a good striker and is an excellent wrestler. He’s had no issue closing the distance and powering guys to the mat. Ali has solid ground and pound, and can grab the neck at any time. He has the blueprint to be the next big thing at light heavyweight, and I think he will real soon.
Potential: 90%
Middleweight – Ikram Aliskerov
From Russia
Standing at 6’0″
29-years-old
11-1
Accolades: N/A
Fight this week: Eagle FC 46, Mar. 11th
Along with other accomplishments, Aliskerov is a two-time world combat sambo champion out of Makhachkala, Russia. His only career loss is to UFC star Khamzat Chimaev. Since that loss, Aliskerov has won his next three fights. What he’s missing on his resume is a win over a former UFC fighter, and this week he has a chance over Nah-Shon Burrell.
While he has a wrestling background, Aliskerov likes to stand and trade with his opponents. He has a good jab, along with some impressive accuracy and timing on both his strikes and level changes. A lot is still unknown about him, but he’s shown power, speed, and accuracy on the feet while being an accomplished wrestler.
Potential: 85%
Welterweight – Gabriel Bonfim
From Brazil
Standing at 6’1”
24-years-old
11-0
Accolades: N/A
Fight this week: LFA 126, Mar. 11th
Even though Bonfim had just one fight last year, it was a big year. He debuted for LFA and in a memorable fight handing prospect Brenner Alberth his first loss. That fight was a one-night tournament for the LFA title, but Bonfim had to bail out due to medicals. If he was to continue I believe he would have won it…
Bonfim is a long striker who at times gets drawn into brawls but his accuracy and power has held up. Where he excels more is on the mat using his superior jiu-jitsu. He has eight submission wins all coming by a way of a choke. If he can at least get a fight or two he’s going to be hard to deny.
Potential: 85%
Lightweight – Ismael Bonfim
From Brazil
Standing at 5’8”
26-years-old
16-3
Accolades: Federal Fight lightweight champ
Fight this week: LFA 126, Mar. 11th
Bonfim is a really good talent out of Brazil, with a lot of upside. Along with a good amount of MMA experience, he has competed in boxing as well. As an amateur boxer, his record was 24-3 and as a pro, it’s 4-1. He’s unbeaten in MMA finishing all eleven of his fights. Another win for LFA may be the fight to get him to a bigger promotion.
All his boxing experience has played dividends for Bonfim in MMA. His hands are super sharp and not only is his striking good, he has a ground game in his back pocket. His boxing skills show he’s a good counter striker, with frequent combinations, a good jab, and excellent bodywork.
Featherweight – Edwin Cooper Jr.
From Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
Standing at 6’0”
28-years-old
5-1
Accolades: N/A
Fight this week: PFL Challenger Series 4, Mar. 11th
Cooper is a three-time Illinois high school state champ, an NJCAA National Champ, a D2 finalist, and he was a national qualifier at the University of Iowa. His sole loss came by a submission where the ref made a mistake saying Cooper tapped. He’s a product out of Jackson-Wink MMA and a staple out of LFA. Now, this weekend he has a chance of earning a PFL contract.
Cooper is a top-level wrestler. To wrestle is his intention in every fight, as it should be. He’s very aggressive, strong, and crafty. Cooper has a deep gas tank being able to impose his will on you constantly. He’s got lock-down top control and some good ground and pound when the opening is there. Cooper is destined for big fights this year.
Potential: 73%
Bantamweight – Farid Basharat
From Afghanistan
Standing at 5’6”
23-years-old
7-0
Accolades: N/A
Fight this week: War of Titans 2, Mar. 12th
Farid Basharat is the brother of recent UFC fighter and Contender Series contract winner Javid Basharat, who makes his debut this weekend. Just like his brother, Farid has tons of upside being a really good talent with a high ceiling. Still fighting on smaller shows, he’s at least been beating some decent competition.
On the feet, Basharat fights comfortably with his hands low relying on counters and movement. He also switches stances frequently and uses a lot of backward movement. Basharat mainly fights in bursts when standing, throwing many flying knees. That said, he takes a lot of risks. Basharat has excellent kickboxing and a wide diverse attack. He’s stronger on the mat, and to get it there he has a good single leg and trips along the cage.
Jiu-jitsu is his best weapon, even if that is just with control or winning important scrambles.
Flyweight – Asu Almabaev
From Kazakhstan
Standing at 5’5”
28-years-old
14-2
Accolades: Naiza flyweight champ, M-1 Interim flyweight champ
Fight this week: Brave CF 57, Mar. 11th
Almabaev fought for M-1 Challenge back in the day from 2018 to 2019. He won their interim title in 2019 beating former UFC fighter Chris Kelades. Almabaev has a background in freestyle wrestling, was a national champion in jiu-jitsu, and has a BJJ world cup. He’s on a current nine-fight win streak taking out solid competition.
On the feet Almabaev is quick, he has good fast hands, and he throws a lot of volume with combinations. His takedown defense is his glaring weakness, but his good BJJ bails him out of bad positions. He’s mostly well-rounded and with proven cardio, he’s a solid fighter. Almabaev is a bright flyweight prospect in a stacked division.
Potential: 78%
Women (Strawweight) – Maria Silva
From Brazil
Standing at 5’3”
26-years-old
7-0
Accolades: N/A
Fight this week: Ares FC 4, Mar. 10th
Yes, the best female isn’t fighting on the Invicta card. In fact, the two best females this week are fighting each other. Silva is the spotlight here, but her opponent Ewelina Wozniak is a top prospect as well. “Viuva Negra” is a multi-time champion in Sanda and a Muay Thai champion at Strike Down and Rainhas da Luta. Silva fought last Summer on the Contender Series and although she won and dominated the UFC contract didn’t come, surprisingly.
With the skillset she brings on the feet, Silva is a decent wrestler with a credible ground game. She’s an athletic explosive striker on the feet with excellent kickboxing. Silva has good movement, fast hands, and puts together her punches and kicks well. Not sure why she wasn’t signed off her Contender Series fight, but I feel she will be signed if she wins this.
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