WEEKLY PROSPECT WATCH THREAD

Hello everyone, after lurking in this forum for a while I have found that we are missing a prospect watch thread where we can talk about the guys who may become 'the next big thing' that will be fighting soon. I've called it weekly, but feel free to talk about any relevant announcement you find.

I would rather use it for guys outside UFC, Bellator, PFL or similar, but if there is one guy in these promotions you would like to talk about there is no problem

You can say anything you find relevant about the prospect: weight class, amateur record, some info about them. But please, in case you know where to watch it write it here so all of us can watch it too!!

* Edited at 05.23.2022, 1:55 PM ET *

You forgot Sora Rakhmonova( 3-1). Shavkats sister.

Damir Tolenov fighting at Octagon 45 this week IMO is one of the most talented prospects at 125 outside of the UFC

also worth keeping an eye on Sanzhar Zakirov from Naiza, really high on him - his grappling is truly out of this world

* Edited at 05.24.2023, 6:02 AM ET *

100%, I have Tolenov close to Maksum and Almabaev in terms of skill. Also Zakirov was so impressive against Madiev, he manhandled him, and Madiev is really good himself.

Daniyar Toychubek and Sanjar Zakirov are incredibly skilled and only 21 and 20. The talent in the lower weight's coming out of Central Asia is absolutely crazy and it's just getting started. 

* Edited at 05.24.2023, 6:30 AM ET *

Central Asia will 10000000000% shine in the UFC in late 2023/2024

Maksum, Asu and Gafurov will all be making their UFC debuts very very soon which will set the tone for the Central Asia theme for the rest of 2023/2024

* Edited at 05.24.2023, 7:15 AM ET *

Hoping Samandar Murodov makes his UFC debut soon as well, legitimately feel Samandar is one of the sports best prospects. Muin Gafurov was a Sambo world champ but my god did he gas and disappoint on the contender series last time, since he's done the 2 month camp with Merab to help him prepare for Yan and he seems to have been polishing things up, I'm excited to see how much he's improved. 

I also expect big things from Asu and Azat in the UFC. I know Bakhtovar wants in the UFC and just signed with Ali in hopes that they can sort out of the visa. Just a lot of talent rising up. Hope yo see some names from the region on the contender series along with some of the key Russian prospects. 

Don´t know if you guys saw it, but Muin is debuting on short notice in the next card against John Castañeda. 

I didn't see that, is it official yet? Assuming Mendonca got injured? Too bad for Mendonca, I was curious to see if he'd shine vs Castaneda but I'm glad Muin is getting his shot in the UFC. 

I would say so, multiple reliable twitter accounts have posted about it

@Khanate
Shamil Gaziev is added to the system but no more fighters from that region yet.

another insane prospect who's fighting this week that I don't think many people know about is Yryskeldi Duysheev, 5-0 from Kyrgysztan fighting at EFC Global 32 and ATF 17. (yes, he's actually booked to fight twice this week):

https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/320146-yryskeldi-duysheev

IMO he's by far one of the best kept secrets among Central Asia prospects and he's bound to be something very very special.

there's not much info out there about this guy but he trains at Evolve Gym which is probably the best gym in Russia and is notorious for the absolute killer Central Asia and Russian prospects that train there (Nurullo Aliev, Adilet Ashimov, Hurshed Nazarov, Magomed Yunusilau, Dorobshokh Nabotov, Badmatsyren Dorzhiev, Radzhab Ramazanov, Stalbek Sayitov, Marsel Nurlanbek and Azatbek Kochorov off the top of my head. he's really close with Marsel Nurlanbek specifically which is another absolute beastly prospect out of Kyrgysztan.)

when I say Duysheev's wrestling and overall grappling, with an emphasis on bjj, are genuinely out of this world I really really mean it. he's already being booked against decent competition and his last fight was pretty insane. he literally picked his opponent up, ran across the cage with him on his shoulders, slammed him down, swiftly took his back and executed a twister - all in less than 2 minutes in the 1st round.

lastly, the fact that he's being booked so much, so quickly and against really good competition this early is a pretty telling sign of the expectations surrounding this guy. him being booked to fight TWICE this week, 3 days apart from each other, against 2 undefeated guys is a huge indication that they're building up his record so that he's fast-tracked to a bigger organization very soon

* Edited at 05.25.2023, 9:25 AM ET *

Curious to see if both fights actually get booked, regardless either opponent is a big win for him. Yryskeldi is only 21 too, looks very promising, good mention. I assume a lot of these guys will end up in ACA but I've noticed ONE has snagged a few guys recently from Kyrgyzstan like Akbar Abdullaev and Nursultan Toktorov. 

And yeah, Evolve along with Eagles MMA are two of the best Russian gyms. Evolve also has Samandar Murodov, Faridun Odilov, Rinat Fakhretdinov. It's like an ATT equivalent in Russia, tons of dudes come through there. 

* Edited at 05.25.2023, 7:39 AM ET *

yeah ONE is absolutely killing it with the Kyrgyzstan signings recently, they've also signed Rajabali Shaidullaev who I really really like at only 22 years old

Speaking of Kyrgyz check out this proper beast wrestler from over there only 24 and already an Olympic medal winner I hope this guy gets into MMA, Kyrgyzstan has legions of fighters, tons of them. I wonder could Akzhol be one of their best ever if not the best with the right training


https://uww.org/athletes/makhmudov-akzhol

* Edited at 05.25.2023, 10:25 AM ET *

funny coincidence, I talked about this guy on the tap discord last night


this guy might genuinely have the best throws in all of greco, he's a beast. i don't think he's ever switching to MMA though

Do you mind sharing the discord link?

Yeah he has nearly 500k followers on instagram it seems he has a great wrestling life and is famous in Kyrgyzstan but Kyrgyz are real fighters not posers, he may get the itch for it. Kyrgyzstan has good Soviet boxing too though so if he hits some gyms there and join the top MMA gym there as well he could be the Kyrgyz MMA star they have been waiting for

* Edited at 05.25.2023, 12:03 PM ET *

I was hoping to see Edil Esengulov on dwcs this year but looks like they still are not interested in the region too much. Kubanychbek is worth straight up signing I guess.

https://discord.gg/rmKhPQgR

Edil might be because he doesn’t have a visa. He’s pretty solid tho & eventually he will get picked up somewhere; that winstreak is hard to deny