Unsigned Heavyweights - Thread Two

[venivedivici]

Huge thanks for the info! UFC/Bellator would probably demand exclusivity for contracts. I'd like to see Tony in TitanFC, that way he can fight lots of former UFC HW's in Titan to add to his resume, and finish off his OneFC fights.

No problem brother! Titan would be awesome! I would like to see Tony fight another former training partner Dave Herman. Dave and Tony weren't at Nashville MMA at the same time, so they would have no problem fighting. In a perfect world, tony will finish out his contract with some fun One Fc fights and go to the UFC. I appreciate the thread!

 

[Slongkong]

Don't care where he goes as long as he' happy with it and get paid what he deserves. Too much pressure to accept less than what you should be getting or what you can get elsewhere just to sign with a big organization

 

[venivedivici]

Huge thanks for the info! UFC/Bellator would probably demand exclusivity for contracts. I'd like to see Tony in TitanFC, that way he can fight lots of former UFC HW's in Titan to add to his resume, and finish off his OneFC fights.

No problem brother! Titan would be awesome! I would like to see Tony fight another former training partner Dave Herman. Dave and Tony weren't at Nashville MMA at the same time, so they would have no problem fighting. In a perfect world, tony will finish out his contract with some fun One Fc fights and go to the UFC. I appreciate the thread!

 

[Paul L]

Going over my lists, we're kind of at a weird point for unrestricted free agency in the HW division.

Right now, if I had to guess which fighters who are unrestricted free agents would be making the move to the UFC, I am at a slight loss aside from 3 fighters.

Denis Goltsov
Cody East
James Mulheron

Goltsov is one of the guys they need to grab right now. He has a fight with undefeated 10-0 LHW Zoumanna Cisse in December, and should he win, he needs to be in the big show without a doubt.

East is the Legacy FC HW champion and has a proven record against solid regional competition. He is ready now.

Mulheron as I've stated before probably isn't the highest level guy out there, but if he defeats Dayman Lake at the end of the month, he's cleaned out all the mid/high level HW's in the UK who aren't with Bellator or OneFC, and really you can't ask for more than that for a big show shot.

M-1, OneFC, WSoF, and KSW have a fair bit of guys locked up right now, and while there are several others close to being big show ready, they need another year and a handful of meaningful fights in preparation.

 

[Slongkong]

Goltsov is one of the guys they need to grab right now. He has a fight with undefeated 10-0 LHW Zoumanna Cisse in December, and should he win, he needs to be in the big show without a doubt..

for the sake of French mma lets hope not

 

[Slongkong]

according to sam caplan tybura could be available by end of January

 

[sdy]

Mixfighter4: Kudin def Fulton via KO 1 round

 

[Sinspartan]

Do you guys also think that the TOP 1 Unsigned Heavyweight will come out of the winner of the Tybura vs. Smoldarev fight?

 

[Paul L]

according to sam caplan tybura could be available by end of January

Wow, if he beats Smoldarev and goes into free agency he's going to have more than a few suitors.

 

[Paul L]

Do you guys also think that the TOP 1 Unsigned Heavyweight will come out of the winner of the Tybura vs. Smoldarev fight?

The winner will be undeniably #1. Honestly if Minakov weren't around I'd put the winner higher than any HW outside the UFC.

 

[Sinspartan]

The winner will be undeniably #1. Honestly if Minakov weren't around I'd put the winner higher than any HW outside the UFC.

Good, this fight will be great, I'm really looking forward to it. So, do you think Minakov is the best heavyweight outside the UFC after all??

 

[Paul L]

As a side note, with Smoldarev and Tony Johnson weighing in the low 260's without cutting weight recently, none of the 30 prospects on this list cut to reach 265.

It seems that successful heavyweights that cut weight were more of an aberration rather than a rule when it comes to the development of the division.

 

[Paul L]

Good, this fight will be great, I'm really looking forward to it. So, do you think Minakov is the best heavyweight outside the UFC after all??

I do. His sambo is amazing, he has power, he has cardio (when he has a good camp), and he can hang with top wrestlers in the cage. He's basically the prototype of a future top 5 HW, however ever since the Kongo fight he hasn't seemed to be really into MMA and is set on his political career.

If he decides to focus on MMA fully again and make a strong run, he's the best guy outside the UFC bar none.

 

[Sinspartan]

I do. His sambo is amazing, he has power, he has cardio (when he has a good camp), and he can hang with top wrestlers in the cage. He's basically the prototype of a future top 5 HW, however ever since the Kongo fight he hasn't seemed to be really into MMA and is set on his political career.

If he decides to focus on MMA fully again and make a strong run, he's the best guy outside the UFC bar none.

I see, I didn't know he was focused on a political career, hopefully he will be back into MMA.

What's your thoughts about Konstantin Erokhin? As you probably know, he was recently signed by the UFC, the guy seems to have potential to crack to the TOP 5-10 of the division.

 

[Paul L]

I see, I didn't know he was focused on a political career, hopefully he will be back into MMA.

What's your thoughts about Konstantin Erokhin? As you probably know, he was recently signed by the UFC, the guy seems to have potential to crack to the TOP 5-10 of the division.

I agree, he has blistering power, he's super fast, and he's very accurate. His takedown defense is serviceable too, so he's going to pose some major problems to anyone who can't get him down or outstrike him.

 

[Slongkong]

Wow, if he beats Smoldarev and goes into free agency he's going to have more than a few suitors.

even if he doesn't beat him he'll be getting calls

 

[Hypetrainhipsta]

As a side note, with Smoldarev and Tony Johnson weighing in the low 260's without cutting weight recently, none of the 30 prospects on this list cut to reach 265.

It seems that successful heavyweights that cut weight were more of an aberration rather than a rule when it comes to the development of the division.

Smoldarev was 121kg for a few of his last fights
http://fightnetwork.com/news/45412:m-1-challenge-45-weigh-in-results-photos-from-russia/ 266,5 pounds
and 121 kg vs Evgeni Guryanov.

 

[Nathanli]

I saw that Maurice Greene (2-1) upset Bellator vet Kevin Asplund by Triangle Choke at the last KOTC event. Obviously Asplund wasn't ever the most talented Heavyweight, but anyone whose 6'7, 265 is at least worth keeping an eye on. Losing to Dan Charles also isn't the worst loss to have on your record. Paul have you seen any footage of him?

Anthony Mcdonald (2-1) also defeated Brett Murphy (6-4) by TKO at this event.

 

[Paul L]

I saw that Maurice Greene (2-1) upset Bellator vet Kevin Asplund by Triangle Choke at the last KOTC event. Obviously Asplund wasn't ever the most talented Heavyweight, but anyone whose 6'7, 265 is at least worth keeping an eye on. Losing to Dan Charles also isn't the worst loss to have on your record. Paul have you seen any footage of him?

Anthony Mcdonald (2-1) also defeated Brett Murphy (6-4) by TKO at this event.

I've watched Greene's fights, and he's amateur fighter raw. He does have tricky subs and creative striking though. That fight with Dan Charles was the one Charles took on short notice and puked in between rounds he was so tired. Charles basically just took him down for 3 rounds.

So my answer is, Greene may end up a prospect but he's a couple years away from a second look in my books. But he's not a write off, he has the tools for success and he's young.

Anthony Mcdonald had a fairly bad amateur career and is in his 30's, so I'm not sold on him, he would be a good fight for Greene next actually.

 

[Paul L]

Smoldarev was 121kg for a few of his last fights
http://fightnetwork.com/news/45412:m-1-challenge-45-weigh-in-results-photos-from-russia/ 266,5 pounds
and 121 kg vs Evgeni Guryanov.

Yeah, Smoldarev and Tony Johnson have had to cut 10 pounds or so in the past, but that was more carrying un-needed fat than having to cut. Smoldarev would probably settle at around 255 if he keeps up tough training camps. His weight shows he is taking the Tybura fight seriously though, it's only going to help his cardio.