ESPN’s 25 MMA fighters under 25 was well received by the MMA community. However, despite doing a brilliant job highlighting some of the best young fighters in the world, we at MMA Scout felt that they have also missed out a lot of interesting prospects. In this article, we have decided to expand on the idea and dive a bit deeper into the regional scenes around the world to familiarise you with the stars of tomorrow.
25. Daniel Zellhuber (20) 8-0, Lightweight, Combate Americas
If you were lucky enough to tune into Combate 38 in Peru, you might’ve watched the Golden Boy square off against fellow undefeated prospect Gian Franco Cortez. At the 155lb limit, it’s rare to see a fighter who stands 6’ feet tall, let alone two square off against each other. Zellhuber stands 6’1” to be exact, and in a wide stance with his lead hand pawing far in front of him, he makes every inch count. Switching from southpaw to orthodox and back again, feinting at the hip, Zellhuber unleashed a barrage of leaping mid kicks, teeps, front kicks, spinning back heel kicks, inside leg kicks, and more all in fluid succession. The end came in the third, long after Cortez abandoned trying to land a lights-out straight over the kicks, instead opting to become the tallest wrestler in the weight class, paying for it when Zellhuber mounted him and pounded on him until the ref intervened. Zellhuber has already drawn comparisons to fellow Mexicano kicker Yair Rodriguez, and similar questions surround his boxing and grappling, but having just recently turned 20, he has a lot of time to figure the rest of his game out.
24. Norbert Novenyi Jr. (20) 4-0, Middleweight, Bellator
What’s that? You’re a big fan of Darren Till and Michael Venom Page but a little disappointed they might be too old to fix the holes in their games? You can rest easy knowing there’s another flawed yet promising striker on the horizon. This time, however, he can wrestle! Son of a Hungarian Olympic Greco Gold Medalist and two-time kickboxing world champion, Norbert Novenyi Jr was bred for this, growing up in the gym, treating it like a second home. Now with the London Shootfighters, Nobert sports a side-on stance with a wispy lead hand swinging to and fro not unlike a floss dance, a zoomer phenomenon he’s already pulled out in one fight. Much like Gunnar Nelson, his idiosyncratic striking style merely serves as window dressing for his meat and potatoes grappling game which should buy him enough time to figure out his standup along the way.
23. Max Rohskopf (25) 4-0, Welterweight, Final Fight Championship
Losing out on his senior year wrestling for NC State, a division I program his high school credentials really didn’t justify his presence in, Max Rohskopf has been making up for lost time ever since. Just this year Max has had three MMA fights, winning all three in the first round via submission thanks to his smothering top game currently being honed by Robert Drysdale. His latest victory came against Hawaii’s Zach Zane who you might remember falling short in a decision loss on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. Max choked him out in the first round. When he wasn’t strangling fighters in a cage in 2019, Max was attending grappling events like the ADCC North American Trials, WSOF Submission 1, and the 10th Planet epiphany Shugyo Invitational. Max told Cageside Press after his Final Fight Championship 38 victory that he’s interested in “jumping levels fast” and that he’s experienced “little adversity” in his career thus far. With his work ethic, Max’s opportunity to prove himself against opposition he deems worthy should come soon enough.
22. Usman Nurmagomedov (20) 7-0, Lightweight, Gorilla Fighting Championship
Listen, I know. Another Nurmagomedov. This one is different! Unlike Khabib, Usman appears to be a strike-first fighter who uses his endless variety of kicks and kick feints to set up his wrestling in a much less precarious way than his reckless cousin. Instead of pressuring opponents haphazardly, he can suck them in and shoot reactive double legs in open space. Unlike Said, he actually is Khabib’s cousin. He’s situated between his other cousin Abubakar, a welterweight, and his brother Umar, a bantamweight, at 155. He’s also the youngest of the bunch. With all of his blood relatives in major promotions, from PFL to the UFC, expect to see Usman punch his ticket to the big leagues eventually.
21. Manel Kape (25) 14-4, Bantamweight, Rizin
A self-proclaimed showman, Prodigio is a surefire highlight on any RIZIN card. An Angolan who trains out of AKA Thailand, he provides the perfect brand of fireworks to endear him to Japapnese MMA fans of old. Thus far, his losses have come during his longer fights: one a submission at the hands of the venerable Kyoji Horiguchi, recalling Kyoji’s own loss to the more experienced Demetrious Johnson, another on the wrong side of a decision against fellow stand out prospect Kai Asakura. Ulka Sasaki also showed Kape’s wrestling to be a tad underdeveloped in their bout, Sasaki making his intentions clear entering the ring in wrestling shoes. Despite his losses, Kape’s constant body feints, quick twitch athleticism, and power in all 8 limbs have seen him dispatch his lesser foes in brutal fashion earning his spot on this countdown.
20. Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev (24) 8-2, Lightweight, ONE Championship
Among the new breed of fighters, Arslanaliev enrolled in a boarding school for martial arts at the age of five. ‘Dagi’s’ bases include Wushu, Sanda and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (in which he is a black belt under Burak Deger Bicer), making him a very well-rounded fighter who is equally comfortable on the feet and on the ground. His standup game thus far has showcased the most limitations: he largely relies on powerful hooks to badly hurt or finish his opponent. Arslanaliev has also shown a solid wrestling base, especially with his ability to perform high-amplitude slams. Having recently dropped a decision to a fellow prospect Christian Lee, Arslanaliev has shown that he still has a lot of work to do. Especially when it comes to his cardio. However, the future is still very bright for ‘Dagi’ should he take the right lessons away from his setback.
19. Melissa Martinez (21) 6-0, Strawweight, Combate Americas
Despite being only 21, Melissa “Supper Melly” Martinez is already one of the stars of Combat Americas. This is due to her exciting style and tendency to finish fights in spectacular fashion. All but 1 of Super Melly’s professional fights have ended inside the distance. The young Mexican is mainly a striker, her boxing can look a bit crude and scrappy but at times she shows good straight punches from mid range. However, her main weapon are her kicks, Martinez is equally comfortable kicking at all levels and variates her kicks well. Being a southpaw often allows her to benefit from open stance fights in which she can target the body. Super Melly also possesses great cardio which allows her to utilise her kicking attack throughout the fight and usually increase the pace as the fight goes on. When she has her opponent hurt, Martinez is unlikely to let them off the hook and looks to seal the deal with a barrage of strikes. Due to her young age, fan friendly style and nationality it would be surprising if the UFC don’t make an effort to sign Super Melly in the near future.
18. Ilia Topuria (22) 7-0, Featherweight, Brave CF
Topuria is perhaps the fighter with the most question marks on this list. He comes from a Greco-Roman wrestling and a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu background and has been training MMA since his teenage years. Now in his early 20s, Topuria has captured our attention after he submitted Brian Bouland with a slick anaconda choke in his Cage Warriors debut. Having recently signed with Brave CF, Topuria called out the current featherweight champion Bubba Jenkins after a successful debut, in what would be a huge test for the Spaniard should the fight happen. Topuria is a skilled, opportunistic grappler, but he also has a good jab and understands the importance of going to the body. His seemingly well-rounded skill set portends a high level of success on the regional scene; his call-up to the major leagues seems imminent.
17. Muslim Magomedov (24) 6-0, Light Heavyweight, ACA
Magomedov has had a distinguished amateur career, comprising wins in Russian and European MMA championships. Like many fighters from Dagestan, Magomedov is primarily a grappler and utilises a variety of takedowns including shot based takedowns as well as takedowns from the clinch . Magomedov has impressive positional control on the ground as well a good ability to secure mount. Even if Magomedov’s opponent gets back to his feet, he is great at keeping hold of them in the clinch and returning the fight to the mat. Despite being young in his career, Magomedov has picked up wins over solid competition including UFC veteran Chris Camozzi.
16. Leonardo Limberger (25) 13-1, Featherweight, Shooto
Limberger has spent the better part of his recent career with Shoot Brasil, an organization whose fights are broadcast domestically on Brazilian cable. As an American, trying to watch those fights is nigh impossible. When he popped his head out in S-70, an equally obscure Russian organization which happens to put their cards online, it was like witnessing a flower which blooms but once a decade open its petals to the world. On a 7 fight win streak himself, Boris Fedorov probably didn’t think much of the impeccably groomed man from across the sea nicknamed after a Tekken character. Kazuya introduced himself with a jab. After a cagey first round in which Limberger was briefly stunned, but mostly spent finding his range, Fedorov’s right eye and Limberger’s lead left hand became inseparable. He’d jab once and dare Fedorov to do something about it. He’d jab twice and double dare him. He’d hook off the unanswered jab. He’d jab, take a half step back, watch Fedorov fall short, and return in combination. By the final bell, Fedorov’s eye was a ruin, and another featherweight boxer puncher was introduced into the popular consciousness. With nearly 12 months of down time between his last two fights, when Limberger will resurface for further consideration is a mystery, but an occasion to be anticipated nonetheless.
15. Impa Kasanganay (25) 6-0, Middleweight, LFA
Called up to Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series earlier this year, Impa Kasanganay was the biggest underdog on the card at +440. Stepping in versus the human highlight reel Kailin Hill, many expected another flamboyant finish for the Blackhouse MMA prospect. What unfolded that night was the tried and true tale of fundamentals over flash, substance over style, as Tshilobo pumped his jab and alternated between feinting and throwing his leg kicks, getting Hill’s back to the cage repeatedly, and often winding up on top of him or on his back after a bodylock takedown or scramble. With his responsible guard and inability to be held down, the North Carolina native cruised to a clear decision victory. On commentary, Bisping might have oversold this fairytale by telling you Kasanganay had only been training for 18 months, and that all 6 of his pro fights had come in 2019, but the truth is Kasanganay has an amateur career stretching back to 2017. Still, it’s clear he’s been brought along the right way, and his conservative pressure game is backed up by very real athleticism.
14. Yuya Wakamatsu (24) 12-4, Bantamweight, ONE
Wakamatsu might be the Little Piranha to his teammates, but his arrival in the ONE bantamweight division has been set to the Jaws theme. Immediately tossed into fights with Danny Kingad then Demetrious Johnson, the men who fought for the strap at the dual ONE Century event last weekend, Wakamatsu took bites out of both. While he ultimately lost a decision to Kingad, and was submitted by Johnson, Wakamatsu proved his mettle by stunning both men whenever his heavy hands found their target. Four years removed from his professional debut, 16 fights into his career Wakamatsu only just won his first unanimous decision. That’s as good a sign as any that Wakamatsu is learning how to win without finishing his opponent.
13. Mariya Agapova (22) 8-1, Flyweight, Invictia FC
Mariya Agapova’s performance on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contenders wasn’t a memorable one. She mostly spent the fight being taken down and giving up her back. Arguably it’s her opponent, Tacy Cortez, who should be on this list. But since that wake-up call in July, Agapova has moved to American Top Team, the same MMA powerhouse that sured up another wiry european prospect’s wrestling game allowing her to become the Boogeywoman. Agapova has taken two fights with Invicta in the three months since Cortez, running over Alexa Conners and Marilia Santos both in the first round. Expect to see this awkward kickboxer plucked from Zuffa’s farm system soon enough.
12. Mukahmed Berkhamov (25) 14-1, Welterweight, ACA
Mukhamed Berkhamov is the former ACB welterweight champion and holds impressive wins over successful veterans Jesse Taylor and Brett Cooper. Berkhamov is a dangerous grappler with 8 of his wins coming by submission. After being out for two years due to injuries, Berkhamov picked up a decision win over Ciro Rodriguez in his comeback fight and will now be looking to challenge to the ACA welterweight title. A southpaw, Berkhamov has a patient striking game, utilising sidekicks to measure and control the distance at which the fight takes place. He doesn’t tend to put power behind every shot, exchanging brute force for a high level of accuracy. However, Berkhamov’s natural power is clear, as seen in his knockout over Brett Cooper. Berkhamov has a solid reactive takedown game by using his opponent’s momentum against them. On the ground is where Berhamov does his best work: he is a great scrambler and is equally comfortable from bottom and top positions.
11. Khusein Askhabov (24) 20-0, Bantamweight, WWFC
A Chechnyan who trains at Tiger Muay Thai, Lion returned from an ~18 month absence in September without losing a step, winning via guillotine choke in the first round. Khusein might be named for the king of the jungle, but he tends to play with his food like a housecat. He chews legs and midsections to bits in standard nak muay fashion to set up his flashier techniques down the road. Most of his counters are launched over his opponent’s kicks unless he’s catching them to drive for a takedown where his grappling chops become apparent. Something else which sets him apart from other eight limbed artists is Khusein’s insatiable appetite for spinning. He throws spinning wheel kicks to the head, spinning back heel kicks to the solar plexus, and spinning back fists as opponents try to close kicking range, one at a time or in rapid succession. With that kind of panache, it’s no wonder WWFC VP Denis Perch hinted we could see Khusein in the UFC soon.
10. Ramazan Kuramagomedov (22) 6-0, Middleweight, ACA
Although Kuramagomedov is just over two years into his professional career, his talent is tantalizing. Ramazan has an impressive strength of schedule throughout his first four fights with an oppositional record of 48-15-2, so it is fair to say that is not taking the easy way up. Having competed on the most recent season of DWCS, Kuramagomedov came out on top in a gruelling fight against Jordan Williams. Although Dana White did not sign him, Kuramagomedov proved his mettle, which is very important for a young fighter.
9. Bibert Tumenov (22) 7-1, Featherweight, BYE
Bibert Tumenov is the cousin of former UFC fighter Albert Tumenov. Much like his cousin, Bibert comes from a successful amateur boxing background. Despite having ambitions of going to the Olympics, Tumenov turned his focus to MMA to follow in his cousin’s footsteps. Since turning pro in 2017, Tumenov has gone 6-1 with 5 first-round finishes. Tumenov is a very good boxer by MMA standards and is able to operate out of both stances. Tumenov also shows impressive fighting acumen: avoiding the pitfalls of headhunting, Tumenov has shown the willingness and ability to work his opponent’s body, often through a strong jab paired with a dangerous lead hook. Unsurprisingly, most of his opponents have tried to take him down but Tumenov has demonstrated solid takedown defence on the initial shot. His only loss came in a very competitive fight against Timur Khizriev despite being controlled for portions of the fight, Tumenov showed the ability to grapple which is a good sign for his future.
8. Luiz Gustavo (23) 10-1, Lightweight, RIZIN
Having made his name in RIZIN, Gustavo reminds you of Wanderlei Silva, who can often be found in his corner. Gustavo’s only loss has come to fellow top prospect Mikuru Asakura which is nothing to be ashamed off. The Brazilian is currently involved in the RIZIN Lightweight Grand Prix. A throwback to the Chute Box years, Gustavo combines an aggressive striking with a sharp ground game, making him dangerous in all areas of the fight. He tends to fight without any fear or respect for his opponents, constantly pressing forward and unleashing wild strikes. In the clinch, Gustavo is relentless with his attack, going both to the body and the head. His knees are ace—the flying knee is usually a low percentage move but Gustavo has made it work for him on a consistent basis. On the ground, Gustavo is great at transitioning from different positions and has shown relentless ground-and-pound as well as submissions.
7. Mads Burnell (25) 12-3, Featherweight, Cage Warriors
Don’t let his 1-2 UFC record fool you—Burnell is still a top prospect at featherweight. His losses in the UFC came to perennial weight-misser Michel Prazeres on short notice in a division above his own and to fellow prospect Arnold Allen in a fight that Burnell was largely dominating. Leaving the UFC might turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Burnell as he has the opportunity to develop his game in a less punishing environment. Having recently captured the Cage Warriors featherweight title, Burnell is likely one or two wins away from getting back into a top promotion. Burnell started off mainly as a grappler with heavy top control and a tricky submission game. The Dane is actually one of the few people who were able to acquire their BJJ black belt in three years or less. In his recent fights, Burnell has started to show off much-improved boxing skills, especially in close range. Burnell has also started to utilise a cross guard which is nearly unseen in MMA and shows his willingness to implement boxing techniques in MMA.
6. Yusuf Raisov (24) 15-1, Lightweight, ACA
At 24 years old, Raisov is one of the brightest prospects coming out of Russia. Having faced tough veterans and fellow prospects for the majority of his career, Raisov is ahead of the development curve; he’s already had his “prospect loss” against the grinding veteran Marat Balaev. Despite being dominated for a large portion of five rounds, Raisov went back to the drawing board and submitted Balaev in the rematch. This shows Raisov’s ability to learn from his mistakes as well as his mental fortitude, both of which are needed to make it to the top level and then stay there. ‘Borz’ prefers to control his opponents on the ground with his suffocating top game and, when the time is right, latch on to a submission. However, in his recent fights he has shown improvements in his striking which makes him an even more dangerous fighter going forward.
5. Shavkat Rakhmonov (24) 12-0, Welterweight, M-1 Challenge
“I’ll show you what I can” were the unassuming words Shavkat offered the M-1 production crew shortly before stopping his 11th straight opponent earlier this year. He’s stopped another since. Hailing from Kazakhstan, a country known for its immense boxing talent, Shavkat is driven by his country’s high standards in the sporting world. Not unlike fellow countryman Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, the boxer who began his professional career by finishing 23 consecutive opponents, Shavkat’s penchant for ending fights early is his calling card. Standing 6 ‘1 with stick thin limbs and a swimmer’s torso, Shavkat’s sharp, straight punches and eclectic kicking arsenal emphasizing his length is to be expected. It’s his grappling which might come as a surprise. Whether he’s tripping and throwing in the clinch, shooting in for a double leg, squatting over the guard to rain down powerful blows, or locking in a submission off of his back, Shavkat has proven how well rounded he is as a fighter. Although we haven’t seen him taken the distance, he’s already claimed M-1 Global’s welterweight title. The onus has shifted to his opposition to prove not if he can win a decision, but if anybody can take him to one. With his new UFC contract in hand, expect to find that out in the near future.
4. Kai Asakura (25) 14-1, Bantamweight, Rizin
It was just last weekend that Kai broke Ulka Sasaki’s jaw in two places with as many punches. It was just two months ago that Kai intercepted one of Kyoji Horiguchi’s signature blitzes with a cracking straight heard around the world. A minute after the opening bell of the non-title bout, the P4P face of Rizin, the newly crowned champion of the Bellator bantamweight division, was being helped to his feet, his belt intact but his claim over it tarnished. The two will meet again on one of Rizin’s NYE Shows, this time with the belt up for grabs. At 25 years old, Kai is poised to succeed where Kyoji himself once failed by upending a champion many considered far ahead of the pack.
3. Khamzat Chimaev (25) 6-0, Welterweight, Brave CF
Khamzat Chimaev is a Swedish welterweight prospect currently competing in Brave Combat Federation. A national wrestling champion, Chimaev trains at the reputable Allstars Gym alongside an impressive stable of UFC fighters that includes former title-challenger Alexander Gustafsson. Having gone 4-0 in the Bahrain based promotion, the Swede is likely looking at a title shot in his next bout. Chimaev has demonstrated dominating wrestling in combination with surprisingly crisp striking, which was on full display when he knocked out Ikram Aliskerov.
2. Roberto Soldic (24) 17-3, Welterweight, KSW
The current KSW welterweight champion is one of the brightest prospects in the world across all weight classes. Soldic has a vicious yet technical striking game. He combines sharp boxing combinations, lighting-quick kicks and impressive athleticism. Similar to his compatriot Mirko Cro Cop, Soldic’s most dangerous weapon is his left high kick, with which he knocked out Lewis Long. Soldic also likes to go to the body with every limb, which slows down his opponents and opens them up for bigger strikes. ‘Robocop’ also seems to have solid takedown defence which allows him to keep the fight in his preferred realm.
1. Salahdine Parnasse (21) 13-0-1, Featherweight, KSW
Paranasse is one of the brightest prospects out of Western Europe and is currently the interim KSW featherweight champion. A slick striker and poised beyond his years, the young Frenchman exercises mastery of patience and distance, stalking his prey, keeping his hands low, sliding in and out of striking range. He operates out of the southpaw stance and generally relies on straight punches and snapping kicks. Parnasse has also shown some crafty takedowns from the clinch as well as the ability to take his opponent’s back. Despite his young age, Parnasse has fought battle-tested competition: he holds wins over two former KSW champions in Artur Sowinski and Marcin Wrzosek. A quick look at Aaron Pico’s recent struggles should tell you how difficult it is to face much more experienced fighters at such an early stage in your career.