UFC 283 Ismael and Gabriel Bonfim Hype Train

[HuskySamoan]

So I have a long list of Brazilian prospects I've followed and least of which were these brothers, both Ismael was my top LW prospect out of Brazil and Gabriel the best WW by far. With UFC 283 days away lets talk about the dynamic duo on the undercards. Both brothers have the unique background of being successful amateur and professional boxers in Brazil, Ismael was a 4-1 professional boxer and Gabriel Bonfim was a Brazilian national champion in boxing and 5-0 professional. Ismael is 18-3 riding a 12 fight win streak and Gabriel is 13-0 in MMA. Both brothers are BJJ black belts with, at least on the Brazilian and LFA scene noteworthy wrestling to boot. Training out of Cerrado MMA with the likes of Gilbert Burns and Vincente Luque they are in good company.

Gabriel Bonfim lets to mix it up between takedowns and putting them hands on guys, he rips the body better than almost anyone in the UFC, blistering hand speed, solid takedowns and great submissions from the front headlock position and back takes. At 25 years old he's one of the best prospects in the entire sport, really on the short list as hard as I am on the UFC for their lukewarm signings of fighters he and his brother are among the best. At 6'1 72.5in reach and 25 years old



Ismael Bonfim, I want to start off by saying Ismael Bonfim vs Nariman Abbasov was the highest level contender series fight we have seen thus far, Abbasov was 28-3 with a slew of big victories and titles in other promotions, Ismael putting a clinic on him, dropping him, slamming him, being so defensively superior and poised in the pocket was nothing short of impressive and it's why he's being matched up vs highly touted Terrence McKinney in his debut, he's on that level. Before Abbasov, Ismael fought Rangel De Sa who while still very green, reminds me of McKinney a lot in his aggression, speed and explosive punching and Ismael was a calm customer underfire exchanging there too. The elder Bonfim is 27 years old, 5'8 71.5in reach.

Who's on the Marreta train?

 

[Substance Abuse]

Gabriel looks to be the better prospect from what I've seen of him, but both looked good on DWCS. I look forward to their fights this weekend. I think Ismael might surprise McKinney in a coin flip fight. Neither guy got an easy matchup in their debuts.

Good job on the threads lately man.

 

[HuskySamoan]

Gabriel looks to be the better prospect from what I've seen of him, but both looked good on DWCS. I look forward to their fights this weekend. I think Ismael might surprise McKinney in a coin flip fight. Neither guy got an easy matchup in their debuts.

Good job on the threads lately man.

I'm going to keep doing the weekly prospect writeups, hopefully someone from the UFC sees it and we have an insane contender series lol (like thats going to happen). Gabriel seems supremely talented but considering the win streaks both guys are on we are going to see, Ismael has the stiffer test for sure, it's going to tell us a lot but I think he gets it done.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

I'm going to keep doing the weekly prospect writeups, hopefully someone from the UFC sees it and we have an insane contender series lol (like thats going to happen). Gabriel seems supremely talented but considering the win streaks both guys are on we are going to see, Ismael has the stiffer test for sure, it's going to tell us a lot but I think he gets it done.

Tbf last years contenders was pretty insane. Going into it I had 40 of the fighters they had on it on my prospect rankings.

 

[HuskySamoan]

Tbf last years contenders was pretty insane. Going into it I had 40 of the fighters they had on it on my prospect rankings.

Honestly I'd prefer to see it more consistent. Loads of guys who will not amount to much but also tons of the better prospects out there too. I do genuinely hope to see more French, Russian and Central Asian Competitors on it in the coming years. I honestly got back into watching Mma regularly around the halfway point of last years contender series. I'll have more to often this time around.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Honestly I'd prefer to see it more consistent. Loads of guys who will not amount to much but also tons of the better prospects out there too. I do genuinely hope to see more French, Russian and Central Asian Competitors on it in the coming years. I honestly got back into watching Mma regularly around the halfway point of last years contender series. I'll have more to often this time around.

The last two seasons have been pretty noticeable in terms of an upkick in quality of the kind of fighters they were getting on there. Previously it was 90% LFA, CFFC, ROC, CES, Fury guys (nothing wrong with those promotions, it was just a bit overkill) whereas now there's loads more.

 

[HuskySamoan]

The last two seasons have been pretty noticeable in terms of an upkick in quality of the kind of fighters they were getting on there. Previously it was 90% LFA, CFFC, ROC, CES, Fury guys (nothing wrong with those promotions, it was just a bit overkill) whereas now there's loads more.

Just also feels like a bit of a trend that they sign most prospects through contender series and for last notice replacements nowadays. The Sarvadzhon and a couple other situations where they turned down signing them and offered 8k contender series fights to fly around the world to compete in really soured me a bit. But yeah, super interested in seeing who they pick up for this year, one of my favorite things the UFC has done.

I guess I'm saying, I feel like they're devaluing talent and selling "the opportunity to fight in the UFC" A bit too much off of it and it's running away some top talent to places that pay better.

 

[PurpleStorm]

Yeah I’m stoked to see them Saturday. Mighty impressive on the contender series. Thanks for the thread @HuskySamoan. Glad hearing you’re planning on doing more of them.

 

[The_Renaissance]

What I like here is both have good opponents, too. No messing around. Two of my most anticipated fights on the whole card, actually.

 

[Jasper_RB81]

They both seem like really solid fighters... However, I feel they are getting a bit more hype than warranted because they are "The Bonfim Brothers". Not sure if each of them would be this hyped if they didn't have each other.

Nevertheless, they seem pretty solid but I wouldn't be to surprised if they become mid-low level fighters in the UFC in the end.
But i'm pretty stoked for their debut and I hope they do well.

 

[HuskySamoan]

They both seem like really solid fighters... However, I feel they are getting a bit more hype than warranted because they are "The Bonfim Brothers". Not sure if each of them would be this hyped if they didn't have each other.

Nevertheless, they seem pretty solid but I wouldn't be to surprised if they become mid-low level fighters in the UFC in the end.
But i'm pretty stoked for their debut and I hope they do well.

Some sink, some swim. It could certainly happen, they end up being midcarders. That's the thing people don't realize, prospects don't simply make it or not based on how good they are, a big part of making it is getting signed to a major promotion early enough.

When you're an 12-2 pro fighter thats 25 years old who didn't go to college and can barely find time to work part time or make rent because you get 3k a fight and train 3-5 hours a day, 5+ days a week, often still live with your parents and get by coaching for a few hundred bucks at one of the gyms you're constantly training at if you're lucky. You won't have good sponsors yet, you won't be able to afford great nutrition, won't always have ideal training partners, a specialized strength and conditioning coach, often times you won't really have much of a fight camp or that level of detail you need in your training because there's more important fighters at your gym, especially if you're at a prominent gym.

But if you get signed to the UFC start making 20k/20k? You immediately get sponsors outside of just Venum simply from being a UFC fighter, your gym starts investing in you because you earn more and they get a % along with your potential being immediately more valuable. Now you have a strength and conditioning coach, can bring in specialized sparring partners, better nutrition, more focus and attention to detail about your game, get your own place to live in, can cross train and network at other gyms and whatnot.

It's like one of those things...you prove yourself a talent prospect but some guys are way more talented or at least proven but maybe don't get signed and they have to grind with such limited resources then another guy might be half the prospect but does get signed and that changes everything, some much can become actualized, so much potential is found, improvements made etc. Sometimes it's like two different worlds.

So who knows, but pre UFC these guys have proven themselves to he about as good of prospects as there are in the sport with few exceptions, young, talented, experienced, great gym, athletically gifted. We will see though, could be end up cut or champions or anything in-between. From my view, they will both earn at minimum a top 15 rank.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

They both seem like really solid fighters... However, I feel they are getting a bit more hype than warranted because they are "The Bonfim Brothers". Not sure if each of them would be this hyped if they didn't have each other.

Nevertheless, they seem pretty solid but I wouldn't be to surprised if they become mid-low level fighters in the UFC in the end.
But i'm pretty stoked for their debut and I hope they do well.

Nah, Gabriel especially is destined for the rankings. Dude is great both on the feet and on the ground. If he doesn't at least make it to the top 5 at some point in the next few years I'll be amazed.

 

[HuskySamoan]

Nah, Gabriel especially is destined for the rankings. Dude is great both on the feet and on the ground. If he doesn't at least make it to the top 5 at some point in the next few years I'll be amazed.

I feel/felt this way about Soldic and Samandar and Adlan Amagov back in the day.

 

[ChimRichalds]

I'm worried for Ismael if only for the absolute madness McKinney brings in the first round. I think Gabriel shows out against Lazzez though.

 

[EricSpider]

They passed the text with flying colors, so lets talk about them

 

[fortheo]

I was more impressed by Ismael on saturday, but only because I like how composed, patient, and clinical he is. Gabriel obviously looked great, but I thought he took some unnecessary risks (that obviously paid off, though). Both of these guys look very promising.

Any idea of who you'd like them to fight next @HuskySamoan ?

 

[HuskySamoan]

I was more impressed by Ismael on saturday, but only because I like how composed, patient, and clinical he is. Gabriel obviously looked great, but I thought he took some unnecessary risks (that obviously paid off, though). Both of these guys look very promising.

Any idea of who you'd like them to fight next @HuskySamoan ?

Gabriel showed the same issues I had mentioned concern over, I feel he can be a little too over aggressive and leave himself open which I think just comes with being 25 and supremely talented. Funny thing is, his hand speed and combinations left a seasoned striker in Mounir so uncomfortable he immediately shot, but yeah what I am hoping is as he gets some money and exposure maybe he can train stateside with Gilbert Burns in Florida to help polish and clean up his striking. Brazilian prospects seem to have a trend of being a little too aggressive and defensively irresponsible standing, not sure Cerrado will fix this problem. I wouldn't mind Matt Semelsberger, Nicholas Dalby, Jeremiah Wells, Bryan Barberena or Khaos Williams. Those are the fights I particularly like next for him.

Ismael Bonfim is a weird one, he looked exactly how I hoped vs McKinney if not better, he should basically after the Abbasov and then McKinney win be a top 15 guy now but how fast tracked will he get? I would like the Drakkar Klose, Mark Madsen or Matt Frevola. Frevola might be the best choice honestly, he's shown great reslience, had a fairly competitive fight vs Arman, beat Jalin Turner and just knocked out Azaitar. It would be fun to see Bonfims grappling tested a bit by a hard nosed guy like that, I think it's a fairly calculated risk, one Ismael should be able to handle. I am skeptical of his size and eventual need to drop weigh though and a fight like Guram would show us, who's an absolutely huge LW in comparison.

Lotta good fights for them, hopefully fast turnarounds I doubt they are injured. Super important to be active at these ages, 3-4 fights a year should be the norm in your 20s.

 

[fortheo]

Gabriel showed the same issues I had mentioned concern over, I feel he can be a little too over aggressive and leave himself open which I think just comes with being 25 and supremely talented. Funny thing is, his hand speed and combinations left a seasoned striker in Mounir so uncomfortable he immediately shot, but yeah what I am hoping is as he gets some money and exposure maybe he can train stateside with Gilbert Burns in Florida to help polish and clean up his striking. Brazilian prospects seem to have a trend of being a little too aggressive and defensively irresponsible standing, not sure Cerrado will fix this problem. I wouldn't mind Matt Semelsberger, Nicholas Dalby, Jeremiah Wells, Bryan Barberena or Khaos Williams. Those are the fights I particularly like next for him.

Ismael Bonfim is a weird one, he looked exactly how I hoped vs McKinney if not better, he should basically after the Abbasov and then McKinney win be a top 15 guy now but how fast tracked will he get? I would like the Drakkar Klose, Mark Madsen or Matt Frevola. Frevola might be the best choice honestly, he's shown great reslience, had a fairly competitive fight vs Arman, beat Jalin Turner and just knocked out Azaitar. It would be fun to see Bonfims grappling tested a bit by a hard nosed guy like that, I think it's a fairly calculated risk, one Ismael should be able to handle. I am skeptical of his size and eventual need to drop weigh though and a fight like Guram would show us, who's an absolutely huge LW in comparison.

Lotta good fights for them, hopefully fast turnarounds I doubt they are injured. Super important to be active at these ages, 3-4 fights a year should be the norm in your 20s.

For ismael, I'm hoping he doesn't need to go the long route and rack up 4-5 ufc wins before he cracks the top 15. I say one more fight against the mid level guys like Klose or Frevola, then a top 15 guy. He looks ready to me.

 

[ExitLUPin]

So I have a long list of Brazilian prospects I've followed and least of which were these brothers, both Ismael was my top LW prospect out of Brazil and Gabriel the best WW by far. With UFC 283 days away lets talk about the dynamic duo on the undercards. Both brothers have the unique background of being successful amateur and professional boxers in Brazil, Ismael was a 4-1 professional boxer and Gabriel Bonfim was a Brazilian national champion in boxing and 5-0 professional. Ismael is 18-3 riding a 12 fight win streak and Gabriel is 13-0 in MMA. Both brothers are BJJ black belts with, at least on the Brazilian and LFA scene noteworthy wrestling to boot. Training out of Cerrado MMA with the likes of Gilbert Burns and Vincente Luque they are in good company.

Gabriel Bonfim lets to mix it up between takedowns and putting them hands on guys, he rips the body better than almost anyone in the UFC, blistering hand speed, solid takedowns and great submissions from the front headlock position and back takes. At 25 years old he's one of the best prospects in the entire sport, really on the short list as hard as I am on the UFC for their lukewarm signings of fighters he and his brother are among the best. At 6'1 72.5in reach and 25 years old



Ismael Bonfim, I want to start off by saying Ismael Bonfim vs Nariman Abbasov was the highest level contender series fight we have seen thus far, Abbasov was 28-3 with a slew of big victories and titles in other promotions, Ismael putting a clinic on him, dropping him, slamming him, being so defensively superior and poised in the pocket was nothing short of impressive and it's why he's being matched up vs highly touted Terrence McKinney in his debut, he's on that level. Before Abbasov, Ismael fought Rangel De Sa who while still very green, reminds me of McKinney a lot in his aggression, speed and explosive punching and Ismael was a calm customer underfire exchanging there too. The elder Bonfim is 27 years old, 5'8 71.5in reach.

Who's on the Marreta train?

 

[Pious Augustus]

Smoked