One thing wonderful occurred to me final week. I used to be trying out the most recent season of UFC Contender sequence Once I heard Laura Sanko inform this little joke on air,
“Thirty % of the UFC roster is Contender sequence”
oh.I imply, I do know that Contender sequence Alumni make up a good portion of just about each battle card today, however perhaps 30 %? That is quite a bit. If this was baseball, Contender sequence He’ll be a Corridor of Fame slugger. If that is your blood alcohol focus, Contender sequence After betting all my cash on Valentina Shevchenko to beat Alexa Grasso, it could be me. If this… you get the purpose. 30% is a variety of issues.
And though I’m often towards it, Contender sequence And enterprise practices that harm labor prices, the truth is, that is the truth we reside in, and on this actuality the UFC has signed 47 new fighters previously 10 weeks. These fighters vary from card fillers to future title challengers, and since MMA would not have a draft (a legal oversight that MMA Preventing is doing their finest to repair), that is the very best to think about for a giant haul. That is your likelihood. Analyze incoming expertise and separate them into neat little piles of potential. And that is precisely what I am attempting to do.
I went again and watched it each time. Contender sequence To reply that very query, we analyzed this final season’s battles and grouped the contract winners into buckets. I name it the “Contender Sequence Prospect Listing.” Who’s right here to fill out the playing cards, and who’s the subsequent large factor? We’re right here to assist.
It isn’t that I did not obtain the contract, however I might have (or acquired it later)
George Hardwick, Kevin Vallejos, Eduardo Neves, Raimond Magomedaliev, Davi Bittencourt, Josephine Knusson
Not everybody who goes to does so Contender sequence You will get a contract. In actual fact, greater than half of individuals do not. That is what occurs with promotions that solely signal winners at finest (although they did signal a couple of losers this 12 months). This group of individuals misplaced, in order that they did not get the coveted $10,000 present charge and $10,000 to get a UFC contract, however for some motive they ended up making it to the UFC. It appears very probably. Whether or not it is as a result of they’re very younger (Vallejos, Neves), as a result of they’ve proven actual expertise (Hardwick, Bittencourt), or as a result of they simply knew the suitable folks (Magomedaliev), I believe all of them, if not a minimum of I am hopeful he’ll get one other likelihood on the present serving as a late-notified substitute fighter.
Knudsson was the odd man out within the group, not receiving a contract after defeating Isis Verbeek within the third week of the present, however he in the end signed a contract and already has his first UFC win beneath his belt.
Simply One other Man
Caio Machado, Charampos Grigoriou, Haider Amir, Dylan Budka, Steven Nguyen, Jose Medina, Angel Pacheco, Connor Matthews, Ramon Tavares, Shamil Gaziev
Not everybody can turn into a world champion. In a world the place the UFC owes his ESPN 42 occasions a 12 months, with about 12 fighters per occasion, typically they merely want cannon fodder to fill their recordsdata. They’re superb fighters who do their finest, however they do not have the flexibility to essentially impress.
One other thought: That is the group with the bottom ceiling, and really this class ought to in all probability embrace a couple of extra names, however the optimist in me is questioning about a few of these different signees. determined to err on the aspect of risk. That is not meant to be a condemnation of those superb males. They’re all professionals who come on website and do their job to the very best of their capacity. Nevertheless, I do not assume they’ve a lot potential, a minimum of from what I’ve seen.
However a particular due to Angel Pacheco. It was extremely enjoyable enjoying towards Danny Silva. His general ability set did not wow me, however he positively has that canine in him. If there’s one fighter I might choose to be the very best out of this group and have an incredible profession as an motion fighter, it is him.
Particular Teamers (younger fighters who want seasoning)
Kevin Borjas, Orban Elliott, Serhii Saidi, Giulia Polastri, James Lontop, Igor da Silva, Rodolfo Berato, Lucas Rocha
The NFL Draft is a really layered occasion. All first-round gamers are anticipated to be rapid gamers and turn into cornerstones of the franchise. The second and third rounders you count on are high quality starters and contributors. However when you get into the third day, it is all darts toss, and most of these picks find yourself being particular groups or apply squad gamers, contributors who in all probability will not turn into large names however sometimes turn into superstars. Individuals younger sufficient to develop up.
On the subject of the UFC, this class is for younger pups who’ve proven one thing that may earn them a contract, but additionally some apparent flaws that must be labored on. As a result of they’re younger, they’ve time to work on these issues and will finally turn into long-term UFC fighters.
Among the many fighters on this class who’ve the potential to exceed expectations prior to others, Rodolfo Verrato stands out as a result of he’s a bit older general, and the sunshine heavyweight division is one which has the potential to surpass expectations prior to others. It is a a lot weaker weight class that would come out and be the Brazilian Gian Villante. I do not know if there’s any extra upside than that, however hey, Villante has 18 fights within the UFC.
protection is non-obligatory
Zachary Reese, Blendson Ribeiro, Danny Barlow
Once I first got here up with this concept, this class did not exist, however these three have since damaged the mould by being a whole thriller. Rees, Ribeiro, and Barlow all confirmed a minimum of one very spectacular factor about his sport, however additionally they confirmed surprisingly dangerous protection and judgment. Dana White particularly informed Barlow that he was too argumentative. It will inform you what you must learn about this man.
Can they turn into a authentic mainstay of their division inside a 12 months or two? Completely. they’re responsible. May somebody be carried off on a stretcher 3 times in a row after which amputated as a result of they do not perceive the worth of self-preservation? completely. The vary of outcomes right here is sort of infinite, so we ignore the standard classification.
Even if you’re previous, you continue to have expertise
Cesar Almeida, Jonara Diniz
One other particular bucket whose title says all of it. Almeida and Diniz are each former Glory kickboxers (Almeida famously gained over Alex Pereira) and are in all probability too previous to essentially do something large within the UFC, however they He additionally has a pedigree that makes it price not excluding him fully. In any case, the “former Glory Kickboxer” is rapidly changing into among the finest bases for fulfillment in MMA.
Three-and-D, rotation participant
Abdul-Kerim Al Serwadi, Luis Pajuelo, Bolaji Oki, Thomas Peterson, Carlos Prates, Keiynan Kruszewski, Vinicius Oliveira, Ernesta Karekite, Mauricio Ruffi, Victor Hugo
The anchor of a profitable NBA franchise is a deep bench of gamers who can provide up 12 minutes, hassle opponents on protection, and hit some open seems to be. The identical goes for MMA promotions. Sure, you need LeBron James to hold the load and promote tickets, however you additionally need J.R. Smith to indicate up as soon as a sequence and lightweight the fireplace. That is what these great individuals are. Plug-and-play starters can contribute instantly, stick round for years to return, and whereas they could fail each every so often and win Battle of the Evening, in the event that they’re the headliner on an APEX card , then one thing has gone terribly and horribly unsuitable. mistaken.
I fee Pajuelo, Oki, and Oliveira the best as high-quality motion fighters who will enliven the undercard. And please do not choose Kalekite, who already fights like a ladies’s flyweight model of Tim Means, solely six fights into her profession. .
Leonardo DiCaprio will not name you a prospect, however you may make somebody very completely happy sometime
Dione Barbosa, Eduarda Maura, Magomed Gadziaslov
It’s a merciless actuality that sports activities of all types, particularly martial arts, are the area of younger folks. In another life, these three of her could be thought of younger puppies, however that is not MMA. If you happen to’re pushing 30 (or have already got), you are not a prospect.
Barbosa, Maura and Gadziaslov all confirmed nice ability of their matches. Contender sequence In the event that they have been youthful, I might fee them very extremely for his or her potential as future title challengers and top-10 staples. Quite, it is a good guess to remain within the promotion for a couple of years, win greater than you lose, and perhaps even earn a rating in some unspecified time in the future. And in a couple of years, in the event that they determine to check the waters elsewhere, see the way it goes with Olivier Aubin-Mercier. He appears very proud of the PFL title and tens of millions of {dollars}.
pet large paws
Peyton Talbot, Ivo Aslan, Jean Silva, Gene Matsumoto, Stephanie Luciano, Carli Giudice, Danny Silva, Markel Mederos, Andre Lima
The kinds of folks we need to come to the UFC are: He’s younger, gifted and has a variety of upside. Everybody on this group confirmed both superb athletic capacity or superb ability, and plenty of confirmed each.
Carli Giudice is 24 years previous, has been coaching for 2 years, and will battle tomorrow towards a high 30 ladies’s flyweight (plus, she has that canine and nearly made it to the ultimate class). Stephanie Luciano is 23 years previous and meaner than a stepped on rattlesnake. Danny Silva strikes 1.25x sooner than he does and from day one he is the very best boxing within the UFC. Gene Matsumoto is 24 years previous and fights with the composure of Jon Jones. I perceive.
Every fighter on this group has the potential to be a mainstay within the division for years to return. We’re speaking about fighters who earn their method via the ranks, keep within the ranks, and perhaps, with a couple of good breaks, battle for the belt sometime. Will all of them work out? Most likely not. They’re all younger and progress just isn’t linear. The younger fighter could possibly be Tyra Santos, or it could possibly be Jake Matthews. You by no means understand how the ball will break, however that is the very best guess for the UFC’s future star.
Which brings us to the final class…
the ceiling is the roof
tom nolan
If you happen to needed to guess on one fighter this season; Contender sequence Tom Nolan is your best option to turn into a champion. Is he within the tier of prospects like Bo Nickal and Jaylton Almeida? No, not fully. However he is nonetheless an excellent particular person.
Nolan is 23 years previous, undefeated, and has the largest ft of any pup on this class, each actually and figuratively. Nolan is a 6-foot-3 light-weight who seems to be like a cross between Jalin Turner and Dan Hooker. And that dimension is what separates Nolan from the remainder of this up-and-coming class. To be a authentic title contender in as we speak’s period of the UFC, you must have some form of superpower. Nolan positively has that. It is merely a query of whether or not he can leverage it to maximise his potential.
And in that respect, I believe he has an honest shot at it. First, like featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, Nolan is a former rugby participant who brings athleticism to the cage (which, by the best way, suits very nicely along with his large dimension). ). Another excuse is that Oceania is a hotbed for MMA expertise growth.
Excessive hopes are excessive that Nolan will be a part of Metropolis Kickboxing (among the finest gyms on the earth and one which has additionally proven a transparent capacity to harness expertise and develop fighters) to maximise his potential. It is about letting go. If that is the case, and he has the cash, he’ll battle for a title sometime, even within the unlikely division of light-weight.
full Contender sequence Season 7 outcomes and match movies:
