Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.
For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator, or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.
This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.
- A rising 23-year-old Brazilian featherweight hopes to prove he’s wise beyond his years by picking up another LFA finish.
- A lengthy Colombian bantamweight aims to join the wave of Latin American fighters headed to the UFC.
- Wracking up win after win, one of the best pound-for-pound regional fighters in Texas hopes one more victory will push him through the UFC threshold.
- After a dominant wrestling career at Oklahoma State University, an undefeated welterweight fighter looks to pass his toughest test to date and attract big promotion eyeballs in the process.
- A surging flyweight hopes a CFFC title punches his ticket to the biggest stage of all.
Wellington Prado
Record: 13-2
Age: 23
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 5’8″
Birthplace: Itapecerica da Serra, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Next Fight: Friday vs. Marcio Barbosa (13-2) at LFA 162 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Born in Itapecerica da Serra, Wellington Prado grew up in Itapevi. Surrounded by crime, Prado found a way to a more comfortable life as the years progressed. Inspired by his brother, an MMA fighter, Prado picked up judo and jiu-jitsu before a full-on MMA transition. He took his first amateur fight earlier in his process than usual, but won by first-round submission. Three more first-round submissions later, Prado turned professional in September 2017 at age 17. Prado has finished 11 of his 13 victories inside the distance with eight submissions and three TKOs. In July 2022, Prado made his LFA debut in a three-round headliner against Italo Gomes, who he defeated by majority decision.
The skinny: Prado is one of Brazil’s top budding talents. At 23, he also has perhaps the highest potential ceiling out of any other Brazilian featherweight. Though his submission skills were evident from the start of his journey, Prado has finally found some significant success with his striking. Three of his most recent four wins have come by knockout against skilled opponents. Training out of the world-renowned Chute Boxe gym, Prado is getting some of the best advice and training rounds any fighter could ask for in the world. With his youth and expedited learning curve, expect a major promotion to onboard Prado should he defeat another tough test in the LFA 162 co-main event.
In his own words: “My biggest influence in MMA today is Conor McGregor. I don’t imitate his game, nor do I necessarily want to be like him, but he inspires me as a fighter. He changed the whole MMA business. He’s the highest-paid athlete in the history of MMA, and I want to one day be able to change the reality of me and my family as he did with his.”
“… My versatility (separates me). I do well in any circumstance in the fight and thrive in the chaos. … Training with some of the best fighters in the world every day has given me immense confidence to compete at the highest level. … Surely another win with LFA will be my passport to the UFC.”
This interview was conducted through a Portuguese-language translator.
Jhon Tacha
Record: 10-2
Age: 27
Weight class: Bantamweight
Height: 5’10”
Birthplace: Bogata, Colombia
Next Fight: Saturday vs. Ronald Vasquez (4-2) at Empire MMA 5 in Medellin, Colombia (Free video stream on Sunday)
Background: There have only been three Colombia-born fighters in UFC history, and budding Colombian Jhon Tacha is lucky enough to have brushed shoulders with one, Fredy Serrano, who he calls his “sports father,” early on in his career. As the Colombian regional scene continues to develop, so has Tacha’s skills. He’s taken on every challenge available and has spent time training under coach Eric Albarracin and alongside the Pitbull Brothers in Brazil. In 10 pro wins, Tacha has seven finishes including six knockouts and one submission.
The skinny: A 5’10” bantamweight, Tacha has utilized slick striking and his Serrano-engrained wrestling to round out his attack. Getting good looks from all over South America will be huge for his development. Albarracin and the Freires are A-list mentors for a youngster like Tacha. The UFC continues its efforts to spotlight and sign Latin American fighters – and the region as a whole has taken full advantage of their earned opportunities. Colombia could use another representative in the big show, as there are not currently any on the roster. Tacha could change that in 2023, especially if he pockets the Empire MMA strap.
In his own words: “Physically, I feel like I’ve been working my life whole life for this opportunity. Working in the mountains and building my endurance in the altitude, I’m top level. Mentally, I’m sharp. I’ve drawn great experience with my mentor formerly of the UFC, an advantage above most other Latin Americans and South Americans. I feel I can handle the move to the next level easily. That’s a major advantage for me.”
“… This weekend is a big weekend for me. It’s another step in the process. I feel like I’m ready or very close to it. Before my last fight, I did a camp in Brazil where I worked with the Pitbull Brothers and Eric Albarracin. A lot of the fighters there in camp have all fought in high levels of Bellator, PFL, ONE Championship, and UFC, and I did very well against them. I feel confident I’m ready for the next level and that I can do a good job. I also trust that my coaches and management will get me there.”
“… I’ve always wanted to be in the UFC. It’s my biggest dream. But to not only be in the UFC, I want to be in the UFC, get in the top 10, fight for a title, and represent Colombia. I’m just not happy with simply getting here. It would be a big honor and dream to represent my country in being the fourth UFC fighter from Colombia, but I don’t want to just get in. I want to win.”
This interview was conducted using a Spanish-language interpreter.
Kris Vereen
Record: 8-0
Age: 33
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Enid, Okla.
Next Fight: July 15 vs. Evan Cutts (15-6) at Peak Fighting 30 in Frisco, Texas
Background: A college football player at East Central University in Ada, Okla., Kris Vereen tried out for the CFL and landed in the Arena Football League. After a few weeks, he was cut. In order to expand his alethic horizons, he walked into an MMA gym. His friend Kelvin Rayford challenged him to a judo class. Vereen admits he was cocky, but quickly ate humble pie while a teenage kid tossed him around. Competitions or fights weren’t on the agenda, but opportunities presented themselves and his life trajectory changed. Eventually, he met up with UFC alum Mark De La Rosa and the rest was history.
The skinny: Undefeated at 8-0, Vereen has had 10 professional fights including two no contests. He’s 33, which is on the older side for his experience level, but it’s important to remember he brought an unusual level of athleticism into MMA as a collegiate and professional football player. Thus far, he’s proven to be a finisher – with a 90 percent rate of ending fights inside the distance. If he goes out there and takes care of business at Peak Fighting, he seems like a perfect candidate for Dana White’s Contender Series. It’s time. If the UFC has doubt, what better gauge than to go against another top prospect with a potential contract on the line?
In his own words: “As a fighter, you want to say, ‘I’ve been ready. But maybe the other guys haven’t seen it like that. So I’m happy to fight Evan Cutts. … It’s very exciting to be able to fight someone of his caliber. That just goes to show you that I’ve been doing the proper things to share the cage with such a name like Evan. I don’t know why he hasn’t been in the UFC or ‘Dana White’s Contender Series’ yet. He has the record. He has the skill. It just goes to show that I must be doing something pretty well to have the honor to share the cage with him.”
“… This is a high-risk, high-reward. With high risk, if something doesn’t go my way, then we have to fight a couple more regionals. But it’s a high reward in that if everything goes the way I want it to go, then I should go to the big show. Taking these tough fights is always nerve-racking, but we don’t turn down tough fights. Any fight we get, we know we’re at and we have to take it to get where we want to go.”
“… I just need to focus on July 15 and handle July 15 and then we’ll be able to worry about the rest of the year. I won’t overlook that date and start making plans. That would be the worst thing I could do.”
Jacobe Smith
Record: 5-0
Age: 27
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 6’2″
Birthplace: Muskogee, Okla.
Next Fight: July 16 vs. Austin Jones (13-9) at Fury FC 81 in San Antonio (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Jacobe Smith was an athlete to be from the start of his life, since his father was an NFL draftee. While Smith played football, he found his niche in wrestling instead. Born in Oklahoma, Smith spent time in Louisiana growing up. When it was time to pursue college athletics, it was a no-brainer. Oklahoma State University (OSU) was the move. Following the conclusion of his wrestling career, Smith pivoted to MMA while he healed nagging injuries. Initially, he trained at AKA, brought in by Daniel Cormier, alongside fellow prospects Kyle Crutchmer and Nick Piccininni. After a few successful outings, Smith decided to move to Fortis MMA under coach Sayif Saud – and hasn’t looked back. Happy and healthy, Smith is 5-0 with four TKO victories.
The skinny: Smith is likely already circled on Sean Shelby’s future signee list, given his credentials in wrestling and connections to multiple of the world’s top gyms. Thus far in his MMA career, Smith has made each test look like a breeze – impressive considering some of those outings he was very unhealthy during. Now with Fortis, Smith said the effort he’s put into recovery has reshaped him back into form. His upcoming fight will be a great gauge. It’s a clear step up in competition. Should he win, Smith will assert his plan of one follow-up test prior to the UFC.
In his own words: “You won’t catch me coming in the gym and only doing the things I know will help me win. I know those things will help me. Instead, I put myself in vulnerable situations and positions often just to make myself work and make myself feel like I don’t want to do this and that I don’t want to be here. I put myself in those positions more often than putting myself in a position to get a takedown and coast.
“… I know that I can get in there and go. I can compete with the top 15 or 20 right now, maybe top 10. My partner Geoff Neal, we exchange rounds and I’m getting to the point I don’t need to use my wrestling with him now. I can win rounds against him with my striking pedigree and baiting him with my wrestling. I’ll sneak rounds away from him every now and then. … I know I’m ready. I just don’t want to rush it.”
“… Right now, I have myself mapped out where I’ll fight July 16 here, then I’ll take one more fight with Fury. My contract will be up with them. Then, I’ll go to “Dana White’s Contender Series.” Two more fights and I’ll be done with the small show, then one to get me into the UFC.
Shamel Findley
Record: 6-1-1
Age: 26
Weight class: Flyweight
Height: 5’6″
Birthplace: Los Angeles, Calif.
Next Fight: July 20 vs. Badmatsyren Dorzhiev (7-0) at CFFC 122 in Tampa, Fla. (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Shamel Findley looks back on the start of his MMA journey as an accident. A kid who scrapped throughout his childhood, Findley moved to Georgia from California. He followed his brother down the football path, then to wrestling. After his high school wrestling career ended, Findley pivoted to MMA on the advice of his team captain. He went and watched an event and was hooked. This was around the time of peak Conor McGregor popularity, which drew Findley in even further. Fighting was no longer a hobby. It was a career aspiration. After a 6-3 amateur career, Findley turned pro. Since a loss in his pro debut, he’s been undefeated with five knockouts in six wins. At CFFC 122, Findley will look to capture his first major regional promotion’s title.
The skinny: In a timeline filled with a lot of talkers and many less doers, Findley has persistently proven he’s hungry for tough challenges. With his upcoming fight factored in, Findley will face a combined opposition record of 26-5 over five bouts (at the time of the fights). He’s fighting an opponent who is undefeated and holds the Anthony Pettis FC flyweight title – another prospect knocking on the UFC doorstep. The UFC can always use promising flyweights, so why wouldn’t they sign a 7-1-1 fighter with a high finishing rate.
In his own words: “I can fight in both stances and there’s a lot of silent pressure when you’re watching me fight. You have to pay attention because you might miss the setup. I might lull my opponent into false senses of security. It only takes one shot and I can land that shot from both stances with both hands – with fight-finishing power, especially for a flyweight. I’m not going out there to score points.”
“At American Top Team Lima, I was training with some high-level guys. Cody Durden is still over there. He’s in the UFC. Now (at ATT Coconut Creek), I’m getting some great looks with Alexandre Pantoja. Kyoji Horiguchi, and a lot of other guys. This fight is to know what the world know what I already do about myself.”
“… I feel pretty good about this fight and what it does for my career. I think it really gets me knocking on the door. So far, I’ve fought a Contender Series alum, the former champion for CFFC. Then this guy that I’m fighting next, my new opponent, he’s undefeated at 7-0. He has a title under his belt for another UFC Fight Pass promotion. This is a Contender Series-level fight. When I get the job done, it’ll be two (opponents) I feel will show I deserve to be fighting up there with the best guys in the world.”
Fighters worth watching who didn’t crack the list, yet are on the verge of something big:
- Gabriel Silva (7-0) – Friday vs. Thiago Ivan (7-2) at LFA 162 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass)
- Jefferson Nascimento (9-0) – Friday vs. Italo Gomes (12-3) at LFA 162 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass)
- Elaine Lopes (6-1) – Friday vs. Rose Conceicao (6-0) at LFA 162 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass)
- Rose Conceicao (6-0) – Friday vs. Elaine Lopes (6-1) at LFA 162 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass)
- Jose Perez (7-1) – July 14 vs. Chris Vasil (6-3) at CFFC 121 in Tunica, Miss. (UFC Fight Pass)
- Robert Hale (14-6) – July 16 vs. Peter Petties (9-7) at Anthony Pettis FC 6 in Richmond, Va. (UFC Fight Pass)
- Badmatsyren Dorzhiev (7-0) – July 20 vs. Shamel Findley (6-1-1) at CFFC 122 in Tampa, Fla. (UFC Fight Pass)
- Robert Watley (12-3) – July 20 vs. Cedric Gunnison (6-1) at CFFC 122 in Tampa, Fla. (UFC Fight Pass)
- Cedric Gunnison (6-1) – July 20 vs. Robert Watley (12-3) at CFFC 122 in Tampa, Fla. (UFC Fight Pass)
- Lone'er Kavanagh (5-0) – July 21 vs. Shawn Marcos Claudina da Silva (5-0) at Cage Warriors 157 in London (UFC Fight Pass)
- Jordan Vucenic (10-2) – July 21 vs. Brice Picaud (13-8) at Cage Warriors 157 in London (UFC Fight Pass)
- Morgan Charriere (17-9-1) – July 21 vs. Diego Silva (15-8) at Cage Warriors 157 in London (UFC Fight Pass)
- Elijah Johns (9-2) – July 21 vs. Javier Garcia (10-5) at LFA 163 in Belton, Texas (UFC Fight Pass)
- Ernie Juarez (5-0) – July 22 vs. Andrew Coyne at Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat 12 in Wheatland, Calif. (UFC Fight Pass)
- Andrew Coyne (6-1) – July 22 vs. Ernie Juarez (5-0) at Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat 12 in Wheatland, Calif. (UFC Fight Pass)
- Shajidul Haque (15-5) – July 29 vs. Michele Martignoni (8-1) at Cage Warriors 158 in Rome, Italy (UFC Fight Pass)
- Michele Martignoni (8-1) – July 29 vs. Shajidul Haque at Cage Warriors 158 in Rome, Italy (UFC Fight Pass)
