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Brazil’s Best Female Prospects
Creative Minds - Showcasing The Future
Jul 20, 2025
New
Brazil’s Best Female Prospects
New
Jul 20, 2025
Author - Shawn Bitter
Brazil has long been a powerhouse in MMA, producing legends across every era of the sport. Now, a new generation of female fighters is emerging—hungry, skilled, and ready to make their mark. These are the prospects turning heads on the regional scene and building the foundation for Brazil’s next wave of champions/stars.
Strawweight – Natalia Alves (7-0)
A standout from the Fighting Nerds team, 24-year-old Natalia Alves remains undefeated, with her last two victories coming under the LFA banner. Her most recent win over the talented Nawira Ferreira further cemented her status as a top prospect. While her success has largely come from dominant wrestling and grappling, Alves actually began her martial arts journey in karate—and it shows in her movement, sharp one-two combos, and effective kicking game.
What truly sets her apart, though, is her wrestling. Alves has excellent timing on her level changes, a strong single-leg entry, and fluid chain wrestling. A national runner-up in wrestling, she competes like a champion, consistently advancing position and mixing in heavy ground-and-pound. Her jiu-jitsu is equally strong, with smooth transitions and top control. Despite going to the judges in her last two outings, she’s always chasing the finish.
Atomweight – Isabella Araujo (3-1)
Primarily an atomweight, Araujo has stepped up to strawweight but gives up size at 5'1". What she lacks in physicality, she more than makes up for in aggression. Wild but dangerous, Araujo thrives in chaotic fights—always pressing forward, standing in the pocket, and throwing with bad intentions. She’s been tagged clean, but her durability and willingness to trade make her a tough out.
Araujo favors looping overhands, digs to the body, and mixes in opportunistic takedowns. She’s coming off a submission win, though grappling isn’t her main weapon. Her style prioritizes damage over position, whether it’s headhunting on the feet or unloading ground-and-pound. Still raw and in need of refinement, Araujo has youth on her side at 24 and trains out of Nova União, giving her the tools to grow.
Bantamweight – Nicoly Pedroza (6-0)
With a background in kickboxing, Nicoly Pedroza is at her best when she can fight at range, pumping out straight punches, sharp one-twos, and a steady stream of kicks. When she lets her hands go, the potential is obvious, and she looks like someone who could one day make the UFC jump.
While some past performances have been uneven despite the wins, Pedroza is coming off the best showing of her career against her toughest opponent to date. At just 22 years old, she’s already under close watch, especially in a division as thin as women’s bantamweight, where fresh talent is badly needed.
Bantamweight – Thalyta Silva (1-0)
Though not yet a full-time MMA fighter, Thalyta Silva is a high-level grappler poised to make the transition. Her jiu-jitsu credentials are elite—an IBJJF World champion, three-time European champion, two-time Pan-American champion, and a Brazilian national champ.
Silva trains out of Team Lucas Mineiro, one of Brazil’s most respected camps for rising talent. While it remains to be seen how her skills translate fully to MMA, she has a strong foundation and plenty of time to grow at just 25 years old. Given the success of other female BJJ standouts in MMA, Silva is one to watch.
Bantamweight – Jaqueline Lopes (1-0)
A prospect out of Team Lucas Mineiro, Jaqueline Lopes, is still raw but full of potential. Just 20 years old, she has time on her side and a solid base to build from. A national kickboxing champion with no-gi grappling experience, she’s already rounding out her skill set early in her career.
Lopes is also the partner of UFC flyweight Andre Lima, whose darn good himself. Her recent health issues have briefly slowed her activity. Still, with her athletic base, training environment, and striking pedigree, Lopes is a name to keep an eye on as she continues to develop.
Bantamweight – Rafaela Guedes (2-0)
Rafaela Guedes is a highly accomplished jiu-jitsu black belt under André and Angelica Galvão. Her accolades include IBJJF World No-Gi champion, IBJJF Pan American champion, and a silver medal at the 2022 ADCC, among other titles.
Though relatively new to MMA—just a year as a pro—Guedes has shown promising striking, with good volume and notable power. While still raw in some areas, her elite grappling foundation and developing stand-up make her a prospect to watch closely.
Flyweight – Beatriz Consuli (6-0)
Beatriz Consuli is one of Brazil’s most highly touted prospects, a reputation built from her dominant amateur career, where she captured both IMMAF World and European titles. She’s collected several impressive wins as a pro, including a standout victory over UFC fighter Eduarda Moura.
Consuli is a methodical striker who relies heavily on her jab and precise one-twos. Her clinch work is particularly effective—controlling opponents, delivering punishing knees, and setting up takedowns. On the ground, she actively advances position and applies heavy ground-and-pound, making her a difficult opponent to handle. Comfortable in all areas of the fight and tested against strong competition, Consuli is a complete, well-rounded prospect with a bright future.
Flyweight - Thay Xavier (3-0)
Based in a small southern region of Brazil, Thay Xavier remains largely under the radar due to her lack of affiliation with major gyms or well-known promotions. However, available footage shows she’s a solid striker who fights at a measured pace, utilizing an effective jab and short, sharp combinations.
Xavier is also dangerous in the clinch, where she controls opponents well. While her full potential remains largely unknown, she’s a reminder that some of Brazil’s best prospects often emerge from unexpected places.
Strawweight – Valesca Machado (15-4)
Valesca Machado is the most seasoned fighter on this list, and it's surprising she hasn't already been signed by the UFC. Despite a few setbacks—losing her Invicta FC title and a bout on Dana White’s Contender Series—her résumé speaks for itself.
Machado is a former Invicta FC strawweight champion, a one-night tournament winner, and an A1 Combat titleholder. Now living and training in the U.S., her recent form has made her nearly impossible to ignore. With her experience, skillset, and marketability, Machado has all the tools a major promotion should be looking for.
Strawweight - Yasmin Guimarães (9-2)
A Muay Thai black belt and national champion with a 16-1 striking record, Yasmin Guimarães is already a proven force on the feet. But what’s really set her apart is her development in other areas—showing solid cardio, growing grappling skills, and a lot of grit.
She suffered a tough setback in an LFA title fight last November, breaking her arm in the process. Recently, she made a short-notice return—up a weight class—in an eight-woman Jungle Fight tournament, where she’s now in the semifinals. If her trajectory continues, she has a strong shot at winning the whole thing.
Bantamweight – Ramana Toscanelli (5-0)
Ramana Toscanelli is a highly decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with a strong résumé that includes multiple titles on the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro circuit, as well as being a two-time Brazilian No-Gi champion.
Her striking is still a work in progress, but she trains under the Bonfim brothers—one of Brazil’s top rising MMA camps—so improvement is expected. With women’s bantamweight in need of fresh talent, Toscanelli has the grappling pedigree and team support to become a real contender with time.
Strawweight – Giovanna Canuto (6-1)
Giovanna Canuto is quickly emerging as one of Brazil’s top women’s MMA prospects—arguably the best of the bunch. A five-time IBJJF world champion and six-time IBJJF champion overall, her grappling credentials speak for themselves.
Her lone loss came to seasoned judoka Natasha Kuziutina, and even in defeat, Canuto looked impressive. Her transitions, control, and submission attacks are all high-level. She moves with purpose, always a step ahead. On top of her elite jiu-jitsu, she’s developed strong wrestling. The future looks incredibly bright for Canuto.
Strawweight – Aieza Bertolso (6-0)
Aieza Bertolso is one of the most credentialed young fighters in Brazil, boasting IMMAF World and European championships and a gold medal at the IMMAF Senior Tournament. She went 16-1 as an amateur and is now 6-0 as a pro—riding an impressive 20-fight win streak overall.
Bertolso has the ideal size for the strawweight division and shows well-rounded skills, though her grappling remains her strongest asset. That said, she’s more than capable wherever the fight goes. Just 23 years old, Bertolso looks like a future staple in women’s MMA.
Strawweight – Naizi Cantanhede (9-1)
Naizi Cantanhede has been competing for nearly a decade, yet she’s still only 26 years old. Whether she’s still with KSW is unclear—she was scheduled to fight last year but withdrew—but her resume speaks for itself.
She owns solid wins over Delphine Benouaich, Lany Silva, and UFC fighter Rayanne dos Santos. Cantanhede brings a physical, punishing style—whether it’s dominating in the wrestling exchanges, controlling from top position, or ripping body-head combos in the pocket. She’s a strong, imposing presence at strawweight and still very much worth keeping an eye on.
Strawweight – Fabiola Nascimento (3-0)
Just three fights into her pro career, Fabiola Nascimento is already the Shooto Brazil strawweight champion—a major milestone for any Brazilian prospect. She was also a standout amateur, going 10-1 and winning gold at the Asian IMMAF Championships.
Nascimento is still developing her striking, but she uses it well to close the distance. Her cage wrestling is solid, and she excels in chaining takedown attempts together. On the mat, she’s comfortable and dangerous—mixing ground-and-pound with active submission hunting. There’s plenty of work to be done, especially as competition stiffens, but the early signs are very promising.
Flyweight – Carol Foro (8-1)
No female prospect in Brazil is on a tear like Carol Foro. She’s riding a six-fight KO/TKO streak, finishing opponents across multiple divisions with the same violent consistency. Her lone loss came to elite prospect Beatriz Consuli, who exposed some ground game gaps, but Foro’s takedown defense has looked much improved since.
On the feet, she’s a force—relentless pressure, sharp cage-cutting, ripping combinations, and brutal kicks, even in tight spaces. She sets a punishing pace and carries real knockout power. Foro is set to appear on this season’s Contender Series, and it won’t be long before everyone knows her name.
Strawweight – Michele Oliveira (5-1)
A BJJ black belt and former IMMAF world champion (2017), Michele Oliveira was once seen as one of Brazil’s top rising prospects. She suffered a narrow split decision loss to current UFC fighter Stephanie Luciano in 2021, then stepped away to recover from knee surgery and other health setbacks.
Oliveira’s wrestling is strong, and her grappling remains a clear strength, but with limited recent footage and only one fight since her return in 2023, questions remain about where she currently stands. Still, her pedigree and past performances suggest she’s still a name worth keeping an eye on.
Bantamweight – Myllena Messias (6-2)
A national boxing champion and undefeated Muay Thai fighter, Myllena Messias is riding a four-fight win streak—all first-round finishes. She’s the current Open Fight Latam champion and one of the most dangerous strikers in Brazil’s bantamweight pipeline.
A tall, rangy fighter, Messias uses her length well, snapping straight punches down the pipe and firing knees like jabs. Her hands sit low in that classic Muay Thai stance, but she’s comfortable in the chaos. The ground game remains a question mark, but on the feet, her size and skillset make her a serious threat.
Flyweight – Lana Karine (1-0)
Boasting a perfect 6-0 combined record as a pro and amateur, Lana Karine is off to a promising start in MMA. Her background in multiple martial arts shows clearly in her well-rounded skill set.
On the feet, Karine is a powerful striker with a sharp lead left hand and strong kicks from the outside. While her striking can be a bit wild at times—throwing punches a bit too wide—her physicality helps her impose pressure. Her wrestling relies on good level changes and strength, though her technique and grappling are still developing.
Karine is dangerous both standing and on the ground, capable of finishing fights with ground-and-pound or submissions. Though still raw at just 22 years old, she already has a solid foundation for flyweight and plenty of upside.
Strawweight – Lany Silva (7-1)
Lany Silva is arguably Brazil’s top female prospect outside the UFC. She recently captured the LFA strawweight title with a win over Contender Series alum Rose Conceição.
A national kickboxing champion, Silva is an elite striker known for her high volume, punishing body shots, and relentless pressure. She excels in the clinch and maintains a relentless pace throughout her fights. Silva has also been steadily improving her ground game, recently securing a heel hook submission.
Her only setback came from physicality issues, which contributed to her sole loss, but she’s clearly made strides since then and continues to develop into a complete fighter.
Strawweight – Gabriela Fujimoto (7-0)
At just 22, Gabriela Fujimoto has been competing in LFA since her pro debut. While early fight footage is limited, she’s shown steady improvement and promising potential.
Fujimoto boasts solid Muay Thai striking but truly shines on the mat. Her wrestling is effective and seems to improve as fights progress. Her jiu-jitsu is her standout weapon—she’s aggressive with fluid hips, constantly attacking arms and legs. Training with KO Squad, a top gym, should continue to accelerate her development and help her reach new levels in her career.
Bantamweight – Emily Martins (4-1)
Emily Martins is a jiu-jitsu specialist with an impressive pedigree, including four IBJJF World Championships and an IBJJF Pan title. Her only MMA loss came in a tough 10-second knockout by Autumn Norton, but Martins avenged that defeat by winning the rematch for the CFFC bantamweight title.
While her grappling remains elite, Martins is still developing her wrestling and striking, where she can feel uncomfortable. At just 21 years old, she has plenty of time to round out her game and become a more complete fighter as she gains experience.
Strawweight – Aline David (3-1)
Though still developing, Aline David has delivered nothing but exciting fights in her young pro career. She earned a WMMA Fight of the Year nod in her debut, followed by a loss, then bounced back with a first-round rear-naked choke finish and a recent 12-second front kick KO.
David is a skilled striker and kickboxer, dangerous at range with sharp kicks and straight punches thrown from various angles. While her grappling defense remains a concern, her recent submission win shows clear progress. At 27, David benefits from training with the reputable California Mixed Martial Arts team and has plenty of room to grow.
Flyweight – Gabrielle McComb (1-0)
Gabrielle McComb is a highly accomplished second-degree BJJ black belt who transitioned to MMA earlier this year. In jiu-jitsu, she’s a two-time IBJJF World Champion in both Gi and No-Gi, as well as a two-time Pan-American champion.
In her MMA debut, McComb quickly submitted a talented opponent with IMMAF experience in under four minutes. While it’s still early in her career, she’s definitely a prospect to keep an eye on.
Strawweight – Laura Vasconcelos (5-0)
In just five professional fights, Laura Vasconcelos has already captured and successfully defended the Jungle Fight strawweight title. She consistently demonstrates the ability to compete at every level, managing distance expertly with sharp striking and showing no hesitation in taking the fight to the mat.
Her most recent victory came via a devastating head kick, while the fight before that saw her dig deep to secure a fifth-round finish. With her well-rounded skill set and composed mindset, Vasconcelos has the tools and potential to be UFC-ready right now.
Strawweight – Nawira Ferreira (5-2)
Nawira Ferreira is a rising talent destined for a major promotion. Unafraid to face tough competition, she’s shown steady improvement with every fight. Her only losses came against top prospects Lany Silva and Natalia Alves.
Ferreira made a statement by handing Marina Monteiro her first defeat after a 5-0 start. Grappling is her strength, but her striking is developing—especially in the clinch where she excels at controlling opponents and securing takedowns. Her slick jiu-jitsu is evident, as most of her wins come from dominant ground control, active ground-and-pound, and submission hunting. At just 23 years old, Ferreira has plenty of time to refine her skills and make a big impact.
Atomweight – Giulliany Perêa (3-0)
Giulliany Perêa fights out of the renowned Nova União gym and currently competes for Invicta FC. As an amateur, she compiled a 14-2 record while capturing both IMMAF World and Pan-American championships.
Originally fighting at strawweight, Perêa moved down to atomweight (105 lbs) as a pro and claimed the Shooto Brasil title in her debut. A relentless force, she consistently presses forward, mixing powerful combinations with aggressive physicality. Her strength on the inside and on the ground—controlling opponents and delivering heavy ground-and-pound—sets her apart.
Perêa is a solid wrestler with equally strong jiu-jitsu skills. Whether competing at 105 or 115 pounds, she has a bright future ahead.
Strawweight – Maria Silva (11-1)
Maria Silva emerged as one of the top women’s MMA prospects in 2022, earning an invitation to Dana White’s Contender Series. Although she suffered an upset loss there, she quickly bounced back by signing with KSW. Fighting under the nickname "Viúva Negra," Silva went undefeated in her first three KSW bouts. While her current contract status is unclear and she may now be a free agent, her resume speaks volumes.
A multi-time champion in Sanda and a Muay Thai titleholder at Strike Down and Rainhas da Luta, Silva also claimed championships in NFC MMA and Prime Kickboxing. With her striking pedigree and well-rounded skill set, she’s a legitimate top-level prospect who could compete today within the UFC’s strawweight top 15.
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Brazil’s Best Female Prospects
Creative Minds - Showcasing The Future
Jul 20, 2025
New
Brazil’s Best Female Prospects
New
Jul 20, 2025
Author - Shawn Bitter
Strawweight – Natalia Alves (7-0)
Atomweight – Isabella Araujo (3-1)
Bantamweight – Nicoly Pedroza (6-0)
Bantamweight – Thalyta Silva (1-0)
Bantamweight – Jaqueline Lopes (1-0)
Bantamweight – Rafaela Guedes (2-0)
Flyweight – Beatriz Consuli (6-0)
Flyweight - Thay Xavier (3-0)
Strawweight – Valesca Machado (15-4)
Strawweight - Yasmin Guimarães (9-2)
Bantamweight – Ramana Toscanelli (5-0)
Strawweight – Giovanna Canuto (6-1)
Strawweight – Aieza Bertolso (6-0)
Strawweight – Naizi Cantanhede (9-1)
Strawweight – Fabiola Nascimento (3-0)
Flyweight – Carol Foro (8-1)
Strawweight – Michele Oliveira (5-1)
Bantamweight – Myllena Messias (6-2)
Flyweight – Lana Karine (1-0)
Strawweight – Lany Silva (7-1)
Strawweight – Gabriela Fujimoto (7-0)
Bantamweight – Emily Martins (4-1)
Strawweight – Aline David (3-1)
Flyweight – Gabrielle McComb (1-0)
Strawweight – Laura Vasconcelos (5-0)
Strawweight – Nawira Ferreira (5-2)
Atomweight – Giulliany Perêa (3-0)
Perêa is a solid wrestler with equally strong jiu-jitsu skills. Whether competing at 105 or 115 pounds, she has a bright future ahead.
Strawweight – Maria Silva (11-1)
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Fighter In-depth: Jaden Ortega
Author - Shawn Bitter Weightclass: Welterweight Record: 5-0 Age: 22 Height: 6'1" Born in: Newport Beach, California, US Training out of: ? C
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PART 2: UAE Warriors 62
Author - Cedric Dumas It’s a hectic week ahead in Abu Dhabi as the UFC will host a high-level card this weekend in the middle eastern city.
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Myself, @patdannamma , @GelfandHudson , @mma_prospect , @hellowhosthat , @MMA__Matchmaker , @FdrNphw , @mmameditations , and @jameslikesmma got together to put out undoubtedly the best prospect rankings there are. Before we get to the rankings, here is what we are excluding from the list. -Nobody signed to a major promotion such as the UFC, PFL, Oktagon, Rizin, ONE, KSW, or ACA. -Nobody on the upcoming season of the Contender Series. Only because a lot of the rankings would be filled up with these guys, and they are already one step closer to signing with the UFC. -Nobody 30 or older. -Nobody with 20+ fights Amru Magomedov (9-0) , Russia, 26, Lightweight Asaf Chopurov (8-0) , Azerbaijan, 23, Bantamweight Ramazan Gitinov (5-0) , Bahrain, 28, Lightweight Bilal Hasan (7-0) , Indonesia, 24, Flyweight Khotam Boynazarov (11-0) , Uzbekistan, 21, Welterweight Tiago Pereira (8-0) , Brazil, 28, Bantamweight Yryskeldi Duysheev (12-0) , Kyrgyzstan, 24, Bantamweight Isaac Moreno (7-0) , USA, 28, Welterweight Sean Clancy Jr. (7-0) , Scotland, 22, Welterweight Harry Webb (5-0) , Australia, 25, Lightweight Samandar Murodov (11-0) , Tajikistan, 26, Welterweight Aieza Bertolso (7-0) , Brazil, 24, Strawweight Daniiar Toichubek (11-0) , Kyrgyzstan, 23, Flyweight Shakhban Gapizov (5-0) , Russia, 25, Bantamweight Ivan Podrugin (8-0) , Russia, 24, Welterweight Marcos Degli (13-0), Brazil, 25, Flyweight Damien Anderson (4-0) , USA, 27, Bantamweight Otabek Rajabov (4-0) , Tajikistan, 22, Featherweight Dzhamaludin Aliev (11-0) , Russia, 26, Bantamweight Milijan Zdravkovic (9-0) , Serbia, 29, Bantamweight Vinicius Pires (11-1) , Brazil, 28, Bantamweight Aboubakar Younousov (7-0) , France, 24, Bantamweight Virgil Augen (8-0) , France, 28, Middleweight Gigi Canuto (6-1) , Brazil, 22, Strawweight Eduardo Penha (7-0) , US, 29, Featherweight Monthly Notes Santiago Luna (#14) was signed to the UFC Salamat Isbulaev (#3) was signed to the PFL Lany Silva lost her LFA title and was ranked out of the top 25 The woman to beat her, Aieza Bertolso, debuts at #12 Daniiar Toichubek debuts at #13 Dzhamaludin Aliev debuts at #19 Aboubakar Younousov is back in the rankings after being unranked last month
Top 25 Prospects Worldwide
Myself, @patdannamma, @GelfandHudson, @mma_prospect, @hellowhosthat, @MMA__Matchmaker, @FdrNphw, @mmameditations, and @jameslikesmma got tog
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Author - Frank Pieri Two absolute legends meet in a trilogy fight on Saturday night in New Orleans but before getting into it, a quick recap from last week's inaugural Creative Minds MMA betting breakdowns. With nine units risked on UFC Nashville, bets finished up +5.75u for a 64% ROI. Our Creative Minds MMA collab parlay also cashed for a whopping +2215 hit, so keep an eye out for that article later in the week. A fantastic start to writing up bets. Let's keep it going. Daniel Zellhuber vs Michael Johnson: Classic UFC matchmaking kicks off the betting breakdown as talented prospect Daniel Zellhuber takes on veteran Michael Johnson. "Golden Boy" Zellhuber is looking to bounce back after taking a split decision loss to the very talented Esteban Ribovics, and bookies expect that to happen as he comes in as a giant -650 favorite. Clearly, a pretty unplayable moneyline, but there's a violence angle I think looks like nice value. Michael Johnson has seen it all in the octagon as he's fought a list of absolute killers throughout his career, but as of late, he's fought extremely low-level competition in Ottman Azaitar and Darius Flowers. At 39 years old, I expect the lengthy technical striking of Daniel Zellhuber to cause massive issues for Johnson in the striking department. In the event Michael gets hurt and decides to shoot a takedown, Zellhuber has a nice submission game to potentially finish Johnson, who has been subbed nine times in his career. Whether it's through striking or grappling, I expect the 26-year-old Zellhuber to find a finish as he continues to sharpen his game and grow into his physical prime. Bet: 2u Zellhuber ITD -115 Jimmy Crute vs Marcin Prachnio Jimmy Crute, a once heralded prospect, comes into a matchup vs Marcin Prachnio without a win since 2020. A disgusting run of fights, including two draws and multiple finish losses, doesn't inspire much confidence, but the UFC is trying to salvage his career by matching him up with Marcin Prachnio. Admittedly, Prachnio has a decent striking game, but this matchup has the potential to look really one-sided in the grappling department. Crute is, unfortunately, a bit gassy as he often sells out looking for the finish early in fights, but this stylistic matchup probably won't make Crute pay the price for that style. Prachnio has an extremely low-level ground game, which is a massive issue should he find himself on the bottom of Crute, which he probably will, as he sports a terrible 53% takedown defense. Getting subbed by Modestas Bukauskas his last time out is an awful look and spells trouble heading into a matchup with a more capable grappler in Crute. Despite expecting this fight to end in submission, let's cover our bases and simply play inside the distance, as Prachnio has also been finished by KO/TKO three times in his UFC run. Bet: 2u Jimmy Crute ITD -130 Max Holloway vs Dustin Poirier: Despite UFC 318 being an underwhelming PPV card in terms of title implications and name value, we get a banger of a main event in Dustin Poirier's send-off fight. A rare trilogy fight in which one side is 0-2 in previous matchups, but there isn't much to be gathered from those fights, especially considering the first was in 2012. In the rematch from 2019, Max Holloway suffered from being the smaller fighter, as Poirier's shots simply landed with more power. I expect size to be a complete non-factor this time around as Holloway has fully committed to lightweight and his body has matured into a true 155 frame. On the other hand, I've been underwhelmed by Poirier's movement and volume in recent performances. I expect the power of each fighter's shots to be more even, and the volume of Holloway to pay dividends late in the fight. I taped this matchup a week ago as I expected money to come in on Max and played him at -115, which I tweeted upon placing the bet (@SaucyPicksMMA on X if you want my bets the moment they are placed). The line has swelled to roughly -135, but don't let that stop you from still getting a bet down, as I think the true line for this fight is closer to Max -200. Bet: 2u Holloway -115 (still playable at current line of -135) Beer money sprinkles A few + money small dollar amount sprinkles I think have a little value: Gautier by Dec +550 Paulo Costa inside the distance +400 Carli Judice by KO/TKO +350
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Author: James Colwell Welcome to a new monthly column I’ll be writing here on Creative Minds, where I’ll focus on a part of the sport that captures the mind of every MMA fan: undefeated fighters. Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the most dominant UFC champions in recent years, and his aura is amplified by the fact that no one ever figured out a way to beat him. Right now, Ilia Topuria is the biggest active star in the sport and is also unbeaten while improving significantly despite already being a champion in two divisions. However, the focus of this column will not be on the undefeated fighters who have already cemented themselves among MMA’s elite, like Topuria, Khamzat Chimaev, or Shavkat Rakhmanov. Instead, I will be tracking over 500 undefeated fighters across all men’s weight classes with an emphasis on scouting outside major promotions to find the next set of potential superstars. The Rankings: For the last five years, I’ve been keeping extensive (maybe excessive) rankings on Tapology, which can be viewed here . I use a rating system that goes from 0.5 to 100; fighters in the 0.5 to 9.5 range are not yet considered international-level and ranked in increments of 0.5. A grade of 10 and above is international-level, and these fighters are tiered in increments of 5 (10, 15, 20, 25, etc) to reflect how big the skill gap is between this level and the prospects in lower tiers. To save you all the time of combing through the many gatekeepers, inactive fighters, and various veterans that I’ve got ranked, I’ve compiled a spreadsheet for each men’s division with every fighter that meets the following criteria: No professional losses. This is an obvious one, but it’s important to note that amateur losses or exhibition fights like TUF won’t disqualify someone from this list. Graded in my rankings. I automatically rank every fighter who gets to 6-0 or better, even if they’ve beaten terrible cans six straight times. In many cases, I won’t watch them fight until they face a good opponent, and can-crushers often lose before that happens. If I find prospects with potential before they have six wins, I’ll rank them too, especially if they’ve had good amateur careers. At least three professional fights. There are fighters in my rankings who have just made their pro debuts after excellent amateur careers, but being 1-0 or 2-0 feels a little silly on a list like this. Once they get a little pro experience, I’ll add them here. At least one fight in the last two years. In the spreadsheets, you’ll see a column with the month/year of each fighter’s most recent fight (not including No Contests). If a fighter is inactive for two years, they’ll be removed, and if someone has been inactive and fights again, they’ll be added back to the rankings. In their most recent weight class. Regardless of what weight a fighter usually fights at, to keep things simple, I rank them in whatever division they most recently competed in. For catchweights, I choose whichever class is closest. The Reports: So, what will I be writing about? There are far too many fighters ranked for me to watch all of their fights, not even accounting for guys who fight in the depths of the Brazilian or Russian regional circuits, where finding tape is often impossible. Instead, I will emphasize prospects who are getting major improvements in their grade from stepping up in competition or particularly impressive performances. I’ll provide scouting reports on these risers based on the tape I’ve watched and try to highlight guys who are ready for a call-up to a major promotion or a top-level regional challenge. I’ll also include a brief report on higher-level undefeated fighters who’ve competed and at least a quick sentence for low-level guys who I didn’t watch but are still working their way up the rankings. For each weight class, I’ll make a note of any new fighters joining the list in the past month and briefly summarize why they’ve been added, then list fighters who’ve been removed for losing or inactivity. In this introduction, I’ll just include the database as it’s currently set up, but in the coming weeks, I will write about the selection of undefeated fighters in each weight class to help familiarize everyone with the wide range of talented (and not-so-talented) fighters who are out there. Rankings Details: A few more things to clarify about the rankings: Ages are accurate as of a fighter’s most recent fight. Some fighters don’t have a birthdate listed online, so I go off what’s listed pre-fight or leave a “?”. Nationality is based on what is listed on Tapology, which sometimes conflicts with Sherdog or other databases. This includes some disputed territories. Please don’t take any of this as a political statement. The listed record is mostly based on Tapology, though I will include wins only listed on Sherdog and some modified-rules fights if I can verify that they were essentially the same rules as MMA. I mark these cases in the notes column. I disagree with Tapology’s policy of not counting some wins when they’re squash matches or in shady organizations. Those are the realities of regional MMA in many countries, so I still count those fights as wins even though they don’t add much to a prospect’s grade. I put these discrepancies in the notes column, where “1?” means that Tapology has made one of their wins ineligible, 3?s means three ineligible fights, and the current record holder Khanzala Magomadov has an unbelievable 9?s. If a fighter’s grade has a * next to it, it means I haven’t had time yet to update it from his most recent fight. Heavyweights Light-heavyweights Middleweights Welterweights Lightweights Featherweights Bantamweights Flyweights Is there someone I missed? Do you disagree with my ratings and think your favorite prospect should be 10 tiers higher? Leave a comment or send me angry messages @JamesLikesMMA on Twitter.
Undefeated Update: The Introduction
Author: James Colwell Welcome to a new monthly column I’ll be writing here on Creative Minds, where I’ll focus on a part of the sport that c
Jul 17, 2025
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Russia’s Abdulmalik Siriev — Elite Amateur Turns Pro
Author - FdrNphw Abdulmalik Siriev is 21 year old flyweight that is making his pro debut this week at ACA Young Eagles 56. Most likely reaso
Jul 14, 2025
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Fighter In-depth: Ivan Podrugin
Author - Shawn Bitter Weightclass: Welterweight Record: 7-0 Age: 24 Height: 6’3” Born in: Russia Training out of: Raty Team Combined opponen
Aug 13, 2025
Author - Hudson Gelfand Inspired by the recent video on Southern Cross Combat with Benny P. I tried to keep this realistic with both the matchups and the likely Australian/New Zealand names we see taking into consideration injuries/availability. I also tried to pick fighters who I think would realistically fly to Perth for the fight if asked, given there are some who would not do it. It’s a busy card with 15 fights on it, but I didn’t want to leave out any of the matchups I suggested so I figured given it's not out of the realms of possibility, I’ll share them all even though we’re probably more likely to see 12-13 fights if I had to guess. Out of total transparency the following fights I suggest were also discussed on Southern Cross Combat’s video: Jake Matthews v Randy Brown, Casey O’Neil v Cong Wang, Jamie Mullarkey v Tom Nolan, Kaan Ofli v George Mangos. UFC Perth Full Card Key: Bold = Confirmed Fight, Italics = Rumoured Fight Main Card Carlos Ulberg v Dominick Reyes – With the other 205ers now booked this feels like the only real fight that makes sense for Carlos – maybe you could do Jamahal but not sure it does as much for him as it would’ve a few months ago Jake Matthews v Randy Brown – Potential redemption for Randy Brown in Perth who arguably could be on a 6-fight win streak since losing to JDM in the very same arena Quillan Salkilld v Viacheslav Borshchev – A striker’s delight, this would be utterly enthralling as long as it lasts. Expect to see Quillan high on the card as a Perth native Jimmy Crute v Dustin Jacoby – A fun striker v grappler matchup between two highly experienced martial artists; where the winner could go onto a ranked fight next Casey O’Neil v Cong Wang – Another striker v grappler matchup which would see the winner catapulted into a significant fight next. Would be interesting to see if Cong can handle Casey’s relentless attempts to grapple Jack Jenkins v Billy Quarantillo – I just want to see this happen and I feel like Billy would make the trip over if asked to (especially for a fun matchup like this would be). It’d be interesting to see the type of volume these guys could put out over the course of 15 mins if given the opportunity. Prelims Cody Haddon v Serhiy Sidey – A fun test for Cody that can see him build on the momentum he generated in his debut & DWCS wins. Justin Tafa v Chris Barnett – This just feels fun and fight week vibes will be immense. Will hopefully set the winner back up for a fight right around the rankings given how shallow Heavyweight is. Dooho Choi v Daniel Santos – Confirmed bout that should be fun, big opportunity for Daniel Santos. Tom Nolan v Jamie Mullarkey – Really fun matchup that arguably could be higher on the card – this would be fireworks as long as it lasts Navajo Stirling v Rodolfo Bellato – Confirmed bout that's a big opportunity for Stirling to steal Bellato’s shine given he’s coming off two big spots against Jimmy Crute & Paul Craig. Early Prelims Colby Thicknesse v Josias Musasa – Confirmed bout I'm excited to see what Colby can do on a full camp and the improvements he’s made since the Topuria fight Loma Lookboonmee v Alexia Thainara – Confirmed bout - I'm looking forward to seeing Loma again it’s fun to see her technical work in person Kaan Ofli v George Mangos – Ambitious to put a DWCS competitor on this, but I think George wins a contract and turns around quickly for this card. This would be a tonne of fun and really allow both fighters to showcase their grappling Michelle Montague v Luana Carolina – Rumoured bout that is effectively confirmed – genuinely can’t wait to see Michelle at 135 this fight will answer a lot of questions
UFC Perth Fantasy Matchmaking
Author - Hudson Gelfand Inspired by the recent video on Southern Cross Combat with Benny P. I tried to keep this realistic with both the mat
Jul 23, 2025
RTU Season 5 Fantasy Season
Author - Hudson Gelfand This mock tournament for the next Road to UFC (RTU) tournament is more stacked than it traditionally would be with e
Oct 24, 2025
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DWCS 2025 Awards
Authors: James Colwell & Nicholas Holt After 10 thrilling weeks, DWCS 2025 is finally wrapped up and has given us a massive crop of new UFC
Oct 19, 2025
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Undefeated Update: September 2025
Author - James Colwell September now holds the record for the busiest month in this series’ brief history, with 62 different undefeated figh
Oct 10, 2025
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Amateur Prospect of the Month: September
Author - Nicholas Holt Sean Clabough Welterweight | Age: 20 | Record: 7-0 | Fighting out of Tennessee, United States Sean Clabough, training
Sep 18, 2025
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Author - Nicholas Holt The UFC may be stacked this month, but the regional scene is just as exciting. Across the U.S. and Europe, prospects with serious potential are looking to make their mark. These cards might not have the spotlight of major promotions, but they’re packed with matchups worth circling on your calendar. Ohio Combat League 40 September 20 Fighter to Watch: Josiah Harrell At first glance, this one looks like a mismatch. Daniel Keepers (4-2 pro, 3-4 amateur) is 29 years old with limited long-term upside, though he’s riding a four-fight win streak with late-round finishes. He’ll make his OCL debut against the undefeated Josiah “Muscle Hamster” Harrell (10-0 pro) . Harrell is the real story here. He’s already fought three times in 2025, most recently beating LFA vet Kegan Gennrich on August 2 to claim the lightweight title. Known for slick submissions and a strong ground game, Harrell was once signed to the UFC in 2023 but had his debut canceled after a pre-fight MRI revealed a rare brain disease. Now fully cleared and surging again, he’s chasing that dream shot once more. Tuff-N-Uff 148 📅 September 26 Fighter to Watch: Eduardo Penha Unlike the Ohio Combat League headliner, this one is more of a showcase. Luciano Ramos (9-15) enters on a three-fight skid and has already been finished twice this year, including by DWCS alum David Mgoyan. Across from him is Eduardo Penha (7-0) , a 29-year-old featherweight who’s been a submission machine—finishing his last four fights in the first round. Penha has only seen the scorecards once in his career and owns a highlight-reel d’arce choke over former UFC fighter Joshua Weems. Expect him to hunt another early finish here. (Fun fact: Ramos is 1-1 on Jake Paul–headlined boxing cards.) Cage Warriors 194 September 27 Fighter to watch #1: Anthony Orozco Aldo Pereira (12-8-2) is coming off a Cage Warriors debut win over DWCS alum Francesco Mazzeo. The 5’7” fighter has mostly competed at light heavyweight but is now making a big drop to welterweight. That adds intrigue, but the spotlight is on Anthony Orozco (7-0) , a 26-year-old fan favorite who’s already proven himself against a variety of challenges. A strong grappler with improving stand-up and range control, Orozco is pushing for a UFC shot, and a win here would strengthen his case. Fight to watch #2: Ben Ellis vs. Max Lally This is perhaps the most evenly matched fight of the month. Ben Ellis (4-2) returns after a three-year layoff, last competing in the 2022 PFL Playoffs against Nathan Kelly. Despite his time away, his two losses aged well—Kelly went on a strong run, and Nik Bagley (another Ellis opponent) could soon challenge for Cage Warriors gold. Waiting for him is Max Lally (4-0) , a 22-year-old phenom with four straight first-round finishes and a 13-fight win streak, including his amateur career. Lally thrives in the clinch and on the mat, often ending fights quickly. For Ellis, survival past Round 1 could turn this into a gritty scrap, but the young Irishman will be a heavy favorite to keep his streak alive. September is loaded at the top level, but the regional cards are just as important. Prospects like Harrell, Penha, Orozco, and Lally could be on the verge of breaking into bigger promotions.
Regional MMA Fights to Watch: September
Author - Nicholas Holt The UFC may be stacked this month, but the regional scene is just as exciting. Across the U.S. and Europe, prospects
Sep 12, 2025
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LFA 220 - Who to Watch
Author - Patrick Danna LFA 220 lands the promotion back in Arizona for the first time this year on Saturday night. After a heap of big fight
Oct 22, 2025
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UAE Warriors 64 - Who to watch
Author - Hellowhosthat The United Arab Emirates is certainly the place to be for MMA action this week. As anyone who’s into MMA enough to be
Oct 20, 2025
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Relevant Pro debuts of September
Author - Cangrejo Ruiz Hello everyone, in this section I will be highlighting the best pro debuts of the month, emphasizing background, stre
Oct 15, 2025
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Undefeated Update: July 2025
Author - James Colwell Click here for an introduction to the rankings and an explanation of this series. My undefeated rankings for each wei
Aug 3, 2025
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Fighter In-depth: Cesar Vazquez
Author - Drew Beaupre Weightclass: Bantamweight Age: 22 Height: 5’9” Born in: Mexico Training out of: Entram Gym Combined opponents' record
Aug 3, 2025
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Fighter in depth: Otabek Rajabov
Author - Cedric Dumas Weightclass: Bantamweight Age: 22 Height: 5’8” Born in: Tajikistan Training out of: Evolve Gym Moscow Combined opponen
Aug 2, 2025
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Undefeated Ins and Outs: September 2025
Real life and an absurdly busy September schedule that saw 28 fighters enter and 29 more leave the rankings have conspired to delay this ins
Oct 10, 2025
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