Mattandbenny's Undefeated Prospects 2017 - #8 The Bantamweight's

[mattandbenny]

Links to the previous lists are below:

The Heavyweights: http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/m...17-7-the-heavyweights.3448791/#post-126234783
The Light Heavyweights:http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/m...ospects-2017-3-the-light-heavyweights.3443357
The Middleweights: http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/m...ed-prospects-2017-6-the-middleweights.3447487
The Lightweights: http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/mattandbennys-undefeated-prospects-2017-1-the-lightweights.3439747
The Featherweights: http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/m...d-prospects-2017-4-the-featherweights.3444789
The Flyweights: http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/m...2017-2-the-flyweights.3441587/#post-125831389
The Women: http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/m...prospects-2017-5-the-womens-divisions.3446127

Today is the penultimate list – Bantamweights!


A quick recap of the rules I go by. In order to be included in the list, each fighter must pass all 6 rules:

1) All fighters must be unbeaten in professional MMA
2) Any fighters signed to UFC or Bellator will be excluded from the lists
3) All fighters must have fought at least once in the year 2016 - Inactive fighters are not included
4) Fighters in the Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight & Women's divisions must have at least 2 professional fights. Fighters in all other divisions must have had at least 3 professional fights.
5) *New Rule* Maximum age limit of 29 years old. Fighters aged 30 or older will not be included. (Heavyweight & Women's division are allowed up to 32 years old, although I have tried to keep these to a minimum).
6) *New Rule* Champions from the 10 largest promotions (other than UFC & Bellator) have been disallowed. Promotions I am disallowing champions of are WSOF, M1, One, KSW, Rizin, Invicta, Legacy, Titan, Cage Warriors & RFA.

On with the Bantamweight list! I originally planned to do 40 fighters for this weight class, but upped it to 50 last month when some more solid guys qualified for the list. Some guys just missing out on the top 30 include Rinat Sayakbaev (5-0), Mikhail Shtin (4-0), Wataru Mimura (6-0), Kevin Terceros (4-0) & Jeff Brilhante (4-0). Fighters not eligible due to inactivity include Josh Baker (8-0), Joseph Maness (5-0), Gabriel Silva (5-0), Yeung Seung Cho (4-0) & Temryuk Berkhamov (5-0).



The Bantamweights

1) Daniel Santos - 5-0 - Brazil - 21 Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 60% (3 KO, 2 Dec)
Key Wins: Irwing Machado (11-3), Cleverson Silva (7-0), Jose Alexandre (19-8)
Height: 5’7”; Amateur Record: N/A

2) Benito Lopez - 6-0 - USA - 22 Years Old
Signed to: KOTC; Finish Ratio: 67% (2 KO, 2 Sub, 2 Dec)
Key Wins: Journey Wilson (3-0)
Height: 5’10”; Amateur Record: 7-0

3) Imran Zhulagov - 6-0 - Russia - 19 Years Old
Signed to: WFCA; Finish Ratio: 83% (1 KO, 4 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: 5’9”; Amateur Record: N/A

4) Amir Albazi - 8-0 - Sweden - 23 Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 100% (4 KO, 4 Sub)
Key Wins: Rafal Czechowski (6-2), Andre Batista (4-1)
Height: 5’6”; Amateur Record: N/A

5) Khalid Taha - 10-0 - Germany - 23 Years Old
Signed to: GMC; Finish Ratio: 80% (6 KO, 2 Sub, 2 Dec)
Key Wins: Timo Hirvikangas (10-2), Omar Cankardesler (5-1)
Height: 5’7”; Amateur Record: 1-1

6) Kyler Phillips – 3-0 - USA - 21 Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 100% (2 KO, 1 Sub)
Key Wins: George Garcia (4-2)
Height: 5’7”; Amateur Record: 4-0

7) Raufeon Stots - 7-0 - USA - 28 Years Old
Signed to: VFC; Finish Ratio: 57% (2 KO, 2 Sub, 3 Dec)
Key Wins: Jeff Curran (36-17), Rob Menigox (7-1), William Joplin (13-11)
Height: 5’9”; Amateur Record: 6-1

8) Mark De La Rosa - 7-0 - USA - 22 Years Old
Signed to: Legacy FC; Finish Ratio: 57% (1 KO, 3 Sub, 3 Dec)
Key Wins: Artur Oliveira (13-3), Joseph Sandoval (7-5)
Height: 5’6”; Amateur Record: 2-0

9) Michael Tobin - 12-0 - Australia - 24 Years Old
Signed to: Brace; Finish Ratio: 92% (11 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: Johnny Mendez (5-2), David Greaves (4-1)
Height: 5’8”; Amateur Record: 2-0

10) Demarte Pena - 12-0 – South Africa - 27 Years Old
Signed to: EFCA; Finish Ratio: 33% (2 KO, 2 Sub, 8 Dec)
Key Wins: Irshaad Sayed (11-2), Leo Gloss (8-2), Cedric Doyle (7-1), Nkazimulu Zulu (6-1), Wesley Hawkey (7-2), Francois Groenewald (8-3), Wentzel Nel (8-3), Alain Ilunga (5-1)
Height: 5’7”; Amateur Record: N/A

11) Shamil Banukayev - 3-0 - Germany - 20 Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 100% (2 KO, 1 Sub)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: 5’7”; Amateur Record: 1-1

12) Willian Lima – 6-0-1 - Brazil - 19 Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 83% (2 KO, 3 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: 5’8”; Amateur Record: 3-1

13) Kaua Fernandes – 5-0 - Brazil - 21 Years Old
Signed to: Shooto Brazil; Finish Ratio: 60% (1 KO, 2 Sub, 2 Dec)
Key Wins: Eduardo Santiago (4-0)
Height: 6’0”; Amateur Record: N/A

14) Daichi Takenaka – 10-0-1 - Japan - 26 Years Old
Signed to: VTJ; Finish Ratio: 55% (2 KO, 4 Sub, 4 Dec)
Key Wins: Jun Doi (8-2), Alan Philpott (15-7), Shoko Sato (24-14), Kosuke Eda (9-6)
Height: 5’6”; Amateur Record: N/A

15) Trent Girdham – 4-0 - Australia - 19 Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 50% (1 KO, 1 Sub, 2 Dec)
Key Wins: Kairin Moses (3-0)
Height: ??; Amateur Record: 3-0

16) Johnny Munoz Jr – 3-0 - USA - 23 Years Old
Signed to: KOTC; Finish Ratio: 67% (1 KO, 1 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: 5’9”; Amateur Record: 3-0

17) Ricky Turcios – 8-0 - USA - 24 Years Old
Signed to: FF; Finish Ratio: 38% (3 KO, 5 Dec)
Key Wins: Steve Garcia (6-0), Trent Meaux (4-1)
Height: 5’8”; Amateur Record: 4-1

18) Maharbek Karginov – 8-0 - Russia - 24 Years Old
Signed to: ACB; Finish Ratio: 100% (3 KO, 5 Sub)
Key Wins: Diego Marlon (26-9), Denis Mutsek (11-2), Arsen Ubaidulaev (14-7)
Height: 5’8”; Amateur Record: N/A

19) Melquizael Costa – 7-0 - Brazil - ?? Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 57% (2 KO, 2 Sub, 3 Dec)
Key Wins: Jonas Dos Santos (11-5), Severino Da Silva (4-1)
Height: 5’10”; Amateur Record: N/A

20) James Najim – 3-0 - Australia - 21 Years Old
Signed to: UFN; Finish Ratio: 100% (2 KO, 1 Sub, 3 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: ??; Amateur Record: 5-0


Fighters ranked 21 - 50 in the below post

 

[mattandbenny]

21) Tamerlan Kulaev – 4-0 - Russia - ?? Years Old
Signed to: WFCA; Finish Ratio: 75% (2 KO, 1 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: Anzor Abdulikov (3-0)
Height: ??; Amateur Record: N/A

22) Movsar Evloev – 5-0 - Russia - 22 Years Old
Signed to: M1 Challenge; Finish Ratio: 75% (1 KO, 2 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: Zhenlon Lu (6-2)
Height: 5’8”; Amateur Record: N/A

23) Miles Johns – 3-0 - USA - 22 Years Old
Signed to: Legacy FC; Finish Ratio: 67% (1 KO, 1 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: Elizar Rodrigues (8-5)
Height: 5’7”; Amateur Record: 4-1

24) Brad Katona – 4-0 - Canada - 24 Years Old
Signed to: Prestige FC; Finish Ratio: 50% (1 KO, 1 Sub, 2 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height:??; Amateur Record: 3-0

25) Ayton De Paepe – 5-0 - Belgium - 22 Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 60% (2 KO, 1 Sub 2 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: 5’10”; Amateur Record: 5-1

26) Cheydon Leialoha – 3-0 - USA - 22 Years Old
Signed to: Victory FC; Finish Ratio: 67% (2 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: 5’8”; Amateur Record: 3-0

27) Eduardo Matias Torres – 7-0 - Chile - 21 Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 57% (1 KO, 3 Sub, 3 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: 5’8”; Amateur Record: N/A

28) Alexandru Ynsuratsel – 5-0 - Moldova - 21 Years Old
Signed to: WWFC; Finish Ratio: 100% (2 Sub, 3 Dec)
Key Wins: Viktor Bundeev (5-2)
Height: 5’9”; Amateur Record: N/A

29) Ali Motamed – 3-0 - Iran - 25 Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 67% (2 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: 5’7”; Amateur Record: 8-1

30) Wanderley Ferreira Jr – 4-0 - Brazil - 22 Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 50% (2 Sub, 2 Dec)
Key Wins: Edson Lourenco (8-4)
Height: 5’7”; Amateur Record: 0-1

31) Giorgi Kudukhashvili – 3-0 - USA - 21 Years Old
Signed to: CFFC; Finish Ratio: 3% (1 Sub, 2 Dec)
Key Wins: Jesse Stirn (3-0)
Height: 5’4”; Amateur Record: 4-0

32) Alexander Keshtov – 7-0 - Russia - 29 Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 57% (3 KO, 1 Sub, 3 Dec)
Key Wins: Azamat Gashimov (5-0), Billy Giovanella (9-4), Caleb Lally (6-2)
Height: 5’8”; Amateur Record: N/A

33) Oscar Askar – 3-0 - USA - 22 Years Old
Signed to: HFC; Finish Ratio: 67% (2 KO, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: 5’6”; Amateur Record: 0-1

34) Ricky Steele – 5-0 - USA - 28 Years Old
Signed to: RFA; Finish Ratio: 0% (5 Dec)
Key Wins: Lynn Schulz (4-1), Jay Pressley (3-0)
Height: 5’11”; Amateur Record: 2-0

35) Paulo Sergio Santos – 5-0 - Brazil - 25 Years Old
Signed to: Imortal FC; Finish Ratio: 80% (4 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: Ewerton Blitzkow (9-5)
Height: 5’6”; Amateur Record: 1-0

36) Muhammad Abdou – 3-0 - Australia - 25 Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 67% (2 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: 5’8”; Amateur Record: N/A

37) Tagir Ulanbekov – 3-0 - Russia - 25 Years Old
Signed to: Fight Nights; Finish Ratio: 67% (2 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: Shyngis Kairanov (3-0)
Height: 5’6”; Amateur Record: 0-1

38) Stipe Brcic – 4-0 - Croatia - ?? Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 50% (1 KO, 1 Sub, 2 Dec)
Key Wins: Filip Macek (14-9)
Height: ??; Amateur Record: N/A

39) Taito Kubota – 7-0 - Japan - ?? Years Old
Signed to: DEEP; Finish Ratio: 29% (2 KO, 5 Dec)
Key Wins: Tatsuya Ishida (10-7), Kazuhide Shirota (6-4)
Height: ??; Amateur Record: N/A

40) Nawras Abzakh – 6-0 - Jordan - 26 Years Old
Signed to: Desert Force; Finish Ratio: 50% (3 Sub, 3 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: 5’7”; Amateur Record: 3-0

41) Azamat Kerefov – 5-0 - Russia - 24 Years Old
Signed to: Tech-Krep FC; Finish Ratio: 40% (2 KO, 3 Dec)
Key Wins: Aren Akopyan (3-0)
Height: 5’8”; Amateur Record: N/A

42) Josh Reed – 6-0 - Wales - 25 Years Old
Signed to: Cage Warriors; Finish Ratio: 84% (1 KO, 4 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: Martin Sheridan (8-6)
Height: N/A; Amateur Record: 4-1

43) Silas Da Silva Lima – 4-0 - Brazil - 21 Years Old
Signed to: Fight Nights; Finish Ratio: 67% (2 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: Kirill Tripillin (4-1)
Height: 5’9”; Amateur Record: N/A

44) Magomed Al-Abdallah – 3-0 - Russia - 23 Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 67% (2 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: Romualdo Lucas (3-0)
Height: 5’8”; Amateur Record: N/A

45) Martin Day – 4-0 - USA - 27 Years Old
Signed to: Tachi Palace; Finish Ratio: 50% (2 Sub, 2 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: 5’6”; Amateur Record: 3-0

46) Atsushi Fujino – 3-0 - Japan - 27 Years Old
Signed to: Pancrase; Finish Ratio: 67% (1 KO, 1 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: Yasuhiro Kawamura (7-2), Tetsuya Yamamoto (5-2)
Height: 5’7”; Amateur Record: 4-0

47) Tjaart Henning – 3-0 – South Africa - 24 Years Old
Signed to: EFCA; Finish Ratio: 67% (2 Sub, 1 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: 5’9”; Amateur Record: 2-0

48) Daniel Marcos – 6-0 – Peru - 23 Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 67% (4 KO, 2 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: ??; Amateur Record: 6-0

49) Mohammad Babadivand – 5-0 – Sweden - ?? Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 60% (1 KO, 2 Sub, 2 Dec)
Key Wins: N/A
Height: ??; Amateur Record: N/A

50) Victor Madrigal – 6-0 – Mexico - ?? Years Old
Signed to: N/A; Finish Ratio: 67% (3 KO, 1 Sub, 2 Dec)
Key Wins: Cleber Vinieri (5-1), Gilberto Aguilar (12-8)
Height: ??; Amateur Record: N/A

 

[Feniamin]

Al-Abdallah is at least half-Arab according to social media (Syrian, according to social media if somebody cares). So seems like he is the first Russian mma fighter with Arabian roots.

 

[mattandbenny]

Here's a little more about the top 5.


1) Daniel Santos

19 year old Brazilian Daniel Santos takes my number 1 spot for the bantamweight division. Santos reminds me a lot of a younger version of compatriot Thomas De Almeida. He is a striker with good boxing and excellent kicks, putting together excellent combinations. He has fought an unbelievable level of oppoisition for a 19 year old with 5 fights – among his wins include Irwing Machado (11-3), Cleverson Silva (7-0) & Jose Alexandre (19-8). More impressively he stopped Silva & Alexandre via strikes. The potential of ‘Willycat’ is huge.

Daniel Santos with his spinning kick TKO win over Cleverson Sivla (7-0) in April



2) Benito Lopez

American fighter Benito Lopez had an extensive amateur career before turning professional, going a perfect 7-0 with 6 finishes. Since turning professional he has continued this form with a perfect 6-0 record. Among this includes 8, 48 & 56 second victories. Lopez is another of the young stars training out of Team Alpha Male where training partners include fellow bantamweights Cody Gardbrandt & Uriah Faber. He has been fighting for the KOTC banner in California and his best win is over fellow prospect Journey Newson (3-0).

Benito Lopez with an 8 second KO last year



3) Imran Zhulagov

Another teenager at 19 years old, Russian fighter Imran Zhulagov is one of the best prospects from the Akhmat Fight Club banner. He trains in Russia but has also spent time training at Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand. Zhulagov is an exciting grappler with an excellent top game. He has finished 5 of his 6 opponents and among his submission wins include a 45 second heel hook & 42 second armbar victory.

Zhulagov’s win over Marko Rovnak



4) Amir Albazi

Albazi is a prospect who has been around a while – he was my 10th ranked bantamweight in 2015 – but he is still just 23 years old and has a steadily improving game. He is a Swedish fighter but trains in England at London Shootfighters – also home to Bellator star Michael Page. Albazi is arguably the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter on the bantamweight list – 3 years ago he became a BJJ World Champion in the blue belt division. He has never seen the judges scorecards with 8 finishes in 8 fights – perhaps a reason why he has stated that he is finding it tough on the regional circuit to find opponents that are willing to fight him, so hopefulyy the UFC comes calling soon.

Albazi’s most recent win over Dino Gambatasar (10-8)



5) Khalid Taha

German fighter Khalid Taha is all about explosiveness and athleticism. Probably the most well rounded of the top 5, Khalid Taha combines his wrestling and boxing game excellently and none of his 10 opponents have managed to stop his game so far. In his most recent fight he gained the best win of his career when he won a close decision over Timo Hirvikangas (10-2). He is still improving at just 23 years old and can’t be far from a UFC call.

Taha winning a dominant decision over Omer Cankardesler

 

[CDF47]

Great list. That flying knee by Lopez in the video was impressive.

 

[TCE]

Great stuff, thanks.

What happened to your weekend MMA fight threads?

 

[mattandbenny]

Great stuff, thanks.

What happened to your weekend MMA fight threads?

I'll be doing them again from next week, just been spending all my spare this the last month or so with my prospect lists

 

[TCE]

I'll be doing them again from next week, just been spending all my spare this the last month or so with my prospect lists

Awesome, thanks.

Keep up the great work.