Welcome to year eight of the annual “Prospects the UFC Should Sign” series, in which we’ll examine five MMA prospects per division the UFC should sign in the upcoming year.
This series started during my time as a writer for Bleacher Report, continued through my tenures at Today’s Knockout and FanSided, and now it stays alive another year here at Combat Press.
Let’s examine the featherweight division, a weight class that is loaded with good, young talent.
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In picking these prospects, I’ll try my hardest to stay away from fighters who are currently in top organizations, such as Bellator or the Professional Fighters League, but a couple may pop up. In the past, I’ve had some great picks on the list and some that haven’t worked out. Below are the previous year’s selections, followed by the five men the UFC should offer roster spots to in the coming year.
Weekly MMA Prospect Report: No Kayla, But Plenty of Other Prospects in Action
Honorio Banario vs Lowen Tynanes Credit: ONE Championship
Thursday’s Titan FC 66 was supposed to have one of the hottest prospects in MMA competing, with Kayla Harrison set for a rematch with Jozette Cotton. However, with Cotton missing weight by a country mile and hospitalized in the process, that fight is off.
Still, between Titan FC, ONE Championship, KSW, and a number of regional promotions hosting shows this week, plenty of other prospects were ready to big up the slack.
Titan FC 66 | Thursday | US
Flyweight, Juan Puerta (20-6)