Number 20 to 11:-
20. Adam Wieczorek (9-1) Vs Arjan Bhullar (7-0) - Heavyweight
UFC on FOX 29 - April 14th
26-year-old Polish prospect Adam Wieczorek (9-1) had a difficult time getting his UFC debut to kick off, after both Wieczorek and his opponent Dmitry Smolyakov traded pullouts before his eventual bout with Anthony Hamilton was also rescheduled.
Wieczorek is capable with both submissions and striking, but seems to severely struggle off of his back which was the case for a lot of is contest with Anthony Hamilton. Although he emerged the winner, the fight was razor close and some weaknesses were exposed. This was also the case in the sole defeat of Adam’s career when he was out-grappled by Marcin Tybura early in his career.
Arjan Bhullar (7-0) is noted for representing Canada as a freestyle wrestler. Bhullar would compete for the nation at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, at which he won gold, and also the 2012 Olympic Games.
After a dominant run of 6 victories in the Canadian regional scene, Bhullar used his wrestling o control Luis Henrique at UFC 215 last September, picking up a decision win. Arjan perhaps uses his boxing a little bit more than he should, but he’s got decent strikes and his wrestling pedigree is an easy aspect to fall back on.
19. Brian Moore (10-5) Vs Giorgio Belsanti (7-6-1) - Featherweight
Bellator 196 - April 6th
A fighter not to be missed is Ireland’s Brian Moore (10-5). With an exciting striking style, Moore charges down opponents, tucking his chin and throwing impactful hooks in search of a highlight reel finish.
After a tour of the UK regional circuit, Moore was called up for Bellator’s Ireland event in 2016 and since then has been thrown in the shark tank. Moore’s Bellator debut was against German legend Daniel Weichel, and his last fight was an exciting affair with one of Bellator’s top fighters AJ McKee.
Giorgio Belsanti (7-6-1) may not have the most endearing record, but 6-2 in his last 8, proving that the Italian has made significant improvements to his game. Belsanti has fought all over Europe, and made his Bellator debut at the promotion’s first Italian event, outlasting Vando de Almeida for 15 minutes on the preliminary card.
Belsanti is going to look for submissions here, but Moore will have a decisive striking advantage, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a finish one way or another in this one.
18. Attila Vegh (31-8-2) Vs Jose Daniel Toledo Canellas (6-5) - Light Heavyweight
ACB 84 - April 7th
It’s a mystery as to why Attila Vegh (31-8-2) has never broken out into a bigger mixed martial arts name. A former Bellator tournament winner and champion, Vegh has competed in some of the world’s top organisations such as Bellator, KSW and M-1, challenging for a title in all 3.
This marks Vegh’s first contest in ACB, and off the back of a 2 fight win streak for the first time since 2013, he is desperate to continue this momentum. Conquests on his record include Emmanuel Newton, Travis Wiuff, Travis Fulton and Christian M’Pumbu, and we’ve seen Vegh demonstrate skills all across the board in his 10 year career.
Jose Daniel Toledo Canellas (6-5) bounced back from a rough start to his career, winning 4 fights by first round KO in his last 6. Canellas has adopted an attitude where he’s happy to fight anyone at any time, highlighted by his previous fights against Przemyslaw Mysiala and Thiago Silva, as well as this clash with Vegh.
While it’s expected that Canellas will be at a large disadvantage, his power is something you can’t count out and he’s not going to quit in the face of adversity.
17. Zhalgas Zhumagulov (10-3) Vs Tyson Nam (16-8-1) - Flyweight
ACB 84 - April 7th
Kazakhstan’s Zhalgas Zhumagalov (10-3) has really come into his own under the Fight Nights Global banner, going 4-1 with the promotion including a spot in the Flyweight grand prix final. But another fighter who’s stride has really fit with the organisation is Tyson Nam (16-8-1), who bust onto the scene in Russia with a knockout of the year contender against former UFC title challenger Ali Bagautinov.
Zhumagalov is the home town fighter here, in his native Kazakhstan. He’ll be looking to use this energy and momentum to his advantage, but the American Nam would have expected this in all of his fights when he signed for the Russian promotion.
Both fighters are excellent strikers, so you can expect this one to play out on the feet at least until one fighter gets hurt. Nam has been scoring some insane knockouts as of late, so if he manages to live up to his recent form you may be in for a treat in this fight.
If this continues FNG’s trend of having barn burner main events, expect fireworks.
16. Magomed Bibulatov (14-1) Vs Ulka Sasaki (20-5-2) - Flyweight
UFC Fight Night 128 - April 21st
Magomed Bibulatov (14-1) came into the UFC as one of the biggest flyweight prospects in the world, having won two separate grand prixs, one in ACB and one in Akhmat Fight Show, as well as being the owner of the World Series of Fighting Flyweight Championship.
Everything Bibulatov throws is earmarked to end the fight. We’re yet to see him finish a fight in the UFC, after he took a unanimous decision over Jenel Lausa and suffered a knockout at the hands of John Moraga, but a KO to remember if coming and this could be the fight it arrives.
Japan’s Ulka Sasaki (20-5-2) has 7 fights in the world’s top promotion, and has shared the cage with some of the world’s best flyweights. At 5’10, Sasaki is extremely tall for the weight class and uses his reach effectively.
Sasaki will be a big threat if this hits the floor, but I don’t expect it to and feel this plays out vertically. Sasaki will look for straight punches and kicks at distance, whereas Bibuatov will want to get passed the reach, landing punches and setting up a lethal spinning heel kick.
15. Krzysztof Jotko (19-3) Vs Brad Tavares (16-4) - Middleweight
UFC on FOX 29 - April 14th
Two of the most experienced guys in the UFC’s Middleweight division, Krzysztof Jotko (19-3) and Brad Tavares (16-4) are set to battle it out in Arizona on the undercard of the Poirier Vs Gaethje headlined event.
Jotko was lining himself up to be one of the major players in the division, with wins over the likes of Thales Leites, Scott Askham and Brad Scott, all during a 5 fight UFC winning streak. Unfortunately the Polish fighter ran into David Branch and Uriah Hall, finding himself on a 2 fight skid for the first time in his career.
While Jotko’s style isn’t one that will have everyone on the edge of their seats, his technical approach to the game is one to be admired and with so much riding on a victory in this outing, I fully expect him to bring his A-game to the table.
Looking to spoil the Polish party is Brad Tavares, who is on top of the world as he rides a three fight win streak. Barring losses to champion Robert Whittaker and challenger Yoel Romero, Tavares would be 11-2, something that will come to the surprise of many fans.
While this isn’t the 15 minute war that would be expected on a list like this, the skill level involved certainly merits it’s standing alongside Brad Tavares’ climb up the rankings. The winner of this fight will surely go on to get something pretty big next time out.
14. Norman Parke (23-6-1) Vs Lukasz Chlewicki (14-7-1) - Lightweight
KSW 43 - April 14th
I don’t know who Lukasz Chlewicki (14-7-1) upset, but considering he’s shared the cage with Demian Maia, Paul Daley, Mateusz Gamrot, Mansour Barnaoui, Artur Sowinski and Paul Redmond, the last 3 being in his recent run, it must have been someone important.
Fight after fight Lukasz is thrown in with the wolves, and despite being on three fight skid, once again he’s going to be pushed to the limit as the Polish fighter takes on one of Europe’s most elite fighters, ‘Stormin’ Norman Parke (23-6-1).
Parke is certainly not everyone’s favourite fighter, and since 2017 he seems to have become a professional at pissing people off. But if you take bitter rivalries and questionable ethics out of the equation, there’s absolutely no denying his pedigree.
After two title fights with Mateusz Gamrot, both overflowing with controversy, Parke is ready to get his name back in the mix and a win over Lukasz Chlewicki would be the first step towards doing so.
Since Parke was surprisingly released by the UFC after a close fight with Rustam Khabilov, after going 5-3-1 in the company, Parke picked up wins over top fighters Andrew Fisher and Paul Redmond in ACB and BAMMA respectively, before committing his near future to Polish outfit KSW.
This fight should be an interesting affair of technical striking and strong cardio work.
13. Denise Kielholtz (1-1) Vs Lena Ovchynnikova (12-5) - Woman's Flyweight
Bellator 196 - April 6th
From Netherlands, Denise Kielholtz (1-1) is an extremely high level muay thai and kickboxing fighter, with an 18-2 record in the latter. Denise went 4-1 in Bellator Kickboxing, avenging her split decision loss to Gloria Peritore along the way, before switching to mixed martial arts for the same company.
It was in MMA that Kielholtz surprised everyone, locking in a scarfhold armbar submission at Bellator 188. Her ability to add this jiu jitsu asset to her game is huge, with her striking being at such a high pedigree.
However, she’s taking on Ukraine’s Lena Ovchynnikova (12-5), one of Bellator’s favourites who’s had a mixed bag since signing for the promotion.
Lena arrived in the promotion to much fanfare, but her fire was quickly put out when she lost to Rebecca Ruth in her debut. She’s since when 2-1 with the second best organisation in the world, and she desperately needs a win here to keep her popularity in tact.
While Bellator has had a rather unfortunate time of their striker Vs striker matches turning into low level grappling matches, I remain optimistic that the extremely high calibre of striking prowess that these warrior women hold will produce us a bloody war for the ages.
12. Michal Andryszak (20-6) Vs Phil De Fries (14-6) - Heavyweight
KSW 43 - April 14th
The big men battle it out with a title on the line at KSW 43. Poland’s Michal Andryszak (20-6) wages war with former UFC fighter Phil De Fries (14-6) with the Heavyweight Championship on the line.
Andryszak hasn’t lost a fight since 2015, with 4 wins in ACB and 2 in KSW, every single won being finished in under 4 minutes. In fact, it’s been 5 years and 16 fights since he even saw a fight leave the first round, and he’s never been to a decision in his 8 year career.
However, Phil De Fries has been able to win fights by all methods, and his experience in the UFC saw him cross paths with fighters such as Todd Duffee, Matt Mitrione and current heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
It’s expected that De Fries will try and slow this one down, dragging it into deep waters in an attempt to avoid the early enslaught of Michal Andryszak early. But I wouldn’t put my money on it. No matter who walks out as the new KSW Heavyweight Champion, my best guess is that they do so in under 5 minutes.
11. Marvin Vettori (12-3-1) Vs Israel Adesanya (13-0) - Middleweight
UFC on FOX 29 - April 14th
When a fighter has all eyes across the globe on him, other fights start chomping at the bit to get the opportunity to steal their hype. ‘The Italian Dream’ Marvin Vettori (12-3-1) gets that chance when he stepped into the Octagon with one of the most hyped fighters in the sport today, Isreal Adesanya (13-0) of Nigeria.
Vettori never really broke out before making his UFC debut in 2016, fighting for the lesser known Venator FC and picking up some good wins against Jack Mason and Igor Araujo. UFC aimed to test his metal early, sticking him in there with a trio of tough Brazilians, before having him face Omari Akhmedov in a fight that ended with both men getting their hands raised.
While UFC has been giving Vettori a iserate push, having him fight on Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg cards, the promotion are certainly hoping Israel Adesanya gets the rub in this contest.
With a confident swagger and the skills to impress even the least invested fans, Adesanya burst onto the MMA scene with a spectacular performance against Australia’s Rob Wilkinson in front of his home country. ‘The Last Style Bender’ is a knockout machine, and Marvin Vettori is going to have to mind his Ps and Qs at every turn in this one because he’s got a badass Nigerian looking to take his head off.