Bellators biggest prospects - highest ceilings?

[JonSnitchPhones]

I dunno how Goiti Yamauchi isn't being mentioned, only 21 years old with the best skill set and wins then any other prospect in Bellator

You're right, although I don't know about skill-set. Liam, Caldwell, and maybe Page certainly have a case there. In addition to having the physical advantage.

Overall I think I'd rank him 6th behind Caldwell, McGeary, Neves, Page, and Honeycutt. Right now ahead of Halsey, Primus, Lins, Jenkins, etc. I think that would be my Bellator top 10 prospects right now.

 

[jamesgalb]

A lot of the guys mentioned above I believe to be beyond the 'largely un-tested prospect' point of their career... For example, I barely added Adam McDonough and probably shouldnt have, as he has fought some 'testing' opposition already...

 

[KeeSmyth]

I'm curious if Jonas Billstein still has contract with Bellator, still only 23 with 13-3 record. Bellator could use the added depth at MW

 

[Arkridge]

The hype on Bubba Jenkins was through the roof a year ago but now I hear nothing about him around the worldwides. I still think he's got a bright future at 145.

 

[Kingz]

I think Darrion Caldwell has the highest ceiling. He has shown the most well rounded game. His first fight in Bellator he showed a lot of confidence on the feet and i liked how he faked shots to set up strikes. Obviously the wrestling is top shelf and he has shown a crafty submission game. Plus, he's a huge FW...kind of has a potential Jon Jones of FW look to him. Time will tell though...i think he's ready to fight stiffer competition.

Neves is also a big FW as far as length but i think there is still a lot of rawness to him and i think he needs to get stronger. For example, if he fought a strong veteran who has good grappling like Will Martinez next, i think he could be in for a rude awakening. His record will end up pushing him into fights he's not ready for but maybe i'm underrating him. He destroyed his last two opponents with little effort that we really haven't seen everything he has to offer.

Honeycutt looked vicious. Probably the second best.

Jenkins showed some improvement vs. Poppies on the feet, but i still think he has a lot to prove even against fringe competition.

As for Goiti, i think since he's already started fighting guys like Richman and Martinez. Mainstay Bellator guys, i don't think people consider him a prospect at the same level as guys like Caldwell, Jenkins, Neves, Honeycutt. It seems Goiti is in the game now..We can very well see Goiti fighting near the top rankings of the leagues FW division by his next fight. They were bringing up guys like Pitbull and Curran in his post fight...so it's likely we're going to see him in a good matchup next. Maybe Marlon Sandro or Fabricio Guerreiro..at worst Justin Wilcox.

 

[Paul L]

Dmitriy Sosnovskiy is the best out of the Heavyweights in terms of chance of success.

Liam McGeary, Phelipe Lins, Brandon Halsey, Michael Page, Chris Honeycutt , Darrion Caldwell are all amazing fighters.

McGeary and Halsey will win the belts in their divisions in their next fights, and if not then, during a rematch after getting more experience.

Page and Honeycutt are opposite styles, but they are amazing at what they are good at. If you combined both of them, you would have the #1 WW in the world. That being said, I can't pick which one I like better, I think Page is way more fun to watch, but Honeycutt has the wrestling to take fights where he wants them.

Caldwell may not be able to stop Pitbull, since I think Pitbull is probably in the top 3 fighters in Bellator now, if not #1, but I think he will be a title contender in the near future.

 

[CC27]

The hype on Bubba Jenkins was through the roof a year ago but now I hear nothing about him around the worldwides. I still think he's got a bright future at 145.

Though him and Goiti are still good prospects the hyped died off when both of them lost. Goiti was kind of exposed vs a mediocre fighter. Doesnt mean he cant get better and become bigger but there are so many prospects in mma once a guy loses or gets exposed its on to the next guy thats gonna be the next star.

Bubba and Goiti were it at one point then lost and everyone moved on to Caldwell and now Liam and now Honeycutt and Neves.

 

[China Chin]

McGeary and Halsey are both fighting for the Bellator belts, I don't think they're prospects anymore.

 

[Meathead Jock]

Who has the highest ceiling?

Which fighters will turn out to be consistently ranked in the top 20 over the next 5 years?


-Featherweight
Julio Cesar Neves (30-0)
Darrion Caldwell (5-0)
Bubba Jenkins (7-1)

Love all three of them at 145. Bubba Jenkins is underrated in these parts after getting upset at 155.

 

[qw3rty]

FW is their best division by far. So many top fighters and prospects

 

[superkal]

Check

 

[GNP45]

Caldwell is a monster. That featherweight division is NASTY. Jenkins, Yamauchi, Caldwell, Neves, and Fabricio Guerreiro. Who else am I missing from the prospects in FW?

 

[qw3rty]

Caldwell is a monster. That featherweight division is NASTY. Jenkins, Yamauchi, Caldwell, Neves, and Fabricio Guerreiro. Who else am I missing from the prospects in FW?

Diego Marlon & Cleiton Duarte are very good prospects from BRA too

 

[Slongkong]

although he looked pretty bad JBB is still a prospect in FW.

 

[KeeSmyth]

although he looked pretty bad JBB is still a prospect in FW.

i don't think he looked bad, how many div 1 wrestlers in there 2nd fight stand and trade the entire fight. I was really impressed how much damage he did with his low kicks, he was reaching and missing with his hands. Maybe a drop to BW would help with his reach disadvantage but will wait till see him in couple more fights. Still interesting prospect just not deserving of hype like Caldwell

 

[Meathead Jock]

although he looked pretty bad JBB is still a prospect in FW.

Who is JBB?

Edit: Nevermind figured it out Jonny-Bonilla Bowman. I didn't see his prelim fight, is there somewhere to see it online still?

 

[CoffeeAndBeer]

Oddly, he fights like I imagine a tree that came to life would fight like.
Strong, solid... long reaching branches/arms coming at you from crazy angles.. limbs that just entangle you.