The Beaten Path: 5 Light Heavyweights the UFC Should Sign Now

We started the series with the heavyweights, and now we move on to the light heavyweights. That's right—The Beaten Path continues its "Prospects the UFC Should Sign" series.

The light heavyweight division is in need of bodies due to the small number of fighters in its ranks. To keep matchups fresh and provide different faces, the UFC needs to look at inking some 205-pounders.

The UFC already snagged a couple of guys off my radar recently in Corey Anderson, Antonio Carlos Jr. and Hans Stringer. That shows the company is serious about restocking the division, but it shouldn't stop there.

So with that, we enter the world of possibilities. Here are five more light heavyweights the UFC should sign.

Memory Lane

Felipe Dana/Associated Press

In previous years, the UFC has been pretty good about picking up guys from this series. Despite the fact those numbers have dwindled in recent years, there is no doubt some of these guys are still talented enough to make it to the big show.

Four men have been signed to the UFC since their participation on this list. Two—Tom DeBlass and Wagner Prado—have washed out relatively quickly, while Jimi Manuwa and Jan Blachowicz continue to hold their roster spots.

Manuwa has been one of the fastest-rising 205-pounders in the world, showing a destructive style that has carved up the light heavyweight midcard and made him a potential contender. As for Blachowicz, he has had just one fight with the UFC, but it was an absolutely dominant and violent thrashing of established Swede Ilir Latifi.

Here is a look at the previous three years and some of the talent that has thrived and fizzled:

2012	2013	2014
Jan Blachowicz	Jan Blachowicz	Marcus Vanttinen
Jimi Manuwa	Moise Rimbon	Philipe Lins
Tom DeBlass	Linton Vassell	Brandon Ropati
Wagner Prado	Carlos Eduardo	Maxim Grishin
Roy Boughton	Angel DeAnda	Viktor Nemkov

Maxim Grishin

Home Country: Russia

Team: Strong Style Fight Team

Record: 18-6

Last Fight: Knockout win vs. Trevor Prangley

I'm sure I am not the only one who is surprised Maxim Grishin has yet to find his way into a UFC Octagon. The guy has been at a high level for years and continually takes on tough competition to prove he is ready.

Grishin, who has spent time in the United States with the underrated Strong Style Fight Team, is a Russian with a mean streak on the feet and power to match. In fact, most of his wins come by way of knockout, proving him to be a formidable beast on the feet. 

The knock on Grishin in the past has been his submission defense and ground game, but he has tightened those areas up in recent times. In fact, his strength of schedule proves his improvements, as he owns recent wins over UFC veterans Trevor Prangley, Mario Miranda and Rodney Wallace.

The time is now to pull the trigger on Grishin. He has an impressive arsenal of tools and has the ability to hang with UFC-level talent. Otherwise, he will continue to dominate on the regional scene, as he has been doing thus far.

Alexey Butorin

Home Country: Russia

Team: Barbarians Fight Team

Record: 9-0

Last Fight: Submission win vs. Vladimir Brik

The light heavyweight division is home to some mammoths of men in terms of physical strength. It might be overassertive to make the statement that none may be has physically imposing as Alexey Butorin, but if he's not at the top of that list, he's damn close.

Butorin, an undefeated Russian with a violent mean streak, is one of the many Russians currently taking this sport by storm. The 28-year-old slugger is an absolute brute who goes for the kill any time he tastes blood in the water.

Thus far, it's been his knockout power and hellish striking that has carried him with an aura of invincibility. He throws with no regard for human life, and when he lands one of his devastating punches, it usually results in a concussive state.

His ground game is also solid, as he can achieve takedowns and pound on guys from the top. He even achieved his first submission win in his latest fight, when he utilized a rear-naked choke to earn his victory. 

Any man who engages in a war of power and punching with Butorin risks major damage to their body. Any one of Butorin's meat hook punches or crowbar-like kicks could cause horrible bodily harm.

Josh Stansbury

Home Country: United States

Team: Team Impact

Record: 6-2

Last Fight: Submission win vs. Jeremy Osheim

The show was TUF 19 and the opponent was Chris Fields. Josh Stansbury, a prospective UFC employee, was dominating the Irishman with heavy hands and a controlling ground game, when all of the sudden, Stansbury blew out his knee.

It was a devastating end to a fight that should have earned Stansbury a spot in the house. Instead, it put him on the shelf and out of the spotlight in a season where he could have easily won.

Stansbury is back and looks to be as good as he was before. 

Known as The Sandman, he got off to a rough start to his career, as he went 0-2 in his first two bouts against John Hawk and Dan Spohn. Not only has Stansbury gone on to a 6-0 record since then, but he has avenged losses to Spohn and Hawk, making him a top 205-pound prospect in the process.

Stansbury is well-rounded, possessing heavy hands, good takedowns and an underrated submission prowess. He is especially known for his tight guillotine choke, which has led to four of his wins as a pro. 

Taking his dominance on TUF before his injury in unison with his continued development as a solid fighter, Stansbury is a guy to keep your eye on. He is rough, rugged and mean, something that can take him a long way.

Ken Hasegawa

Home Country: Japan

Team: Kingdom Ehrgeiz

Record: 9-0-1

Last Fight: Unanimous Decision win vs. Matt Thompson

There is the potential that Ken Hasegawa makes the drop to middleweight based on his size, but for now, the Japanese fighter is a coveted light heavyweight that the UFC should pursue. 

Hasegawa, who recently made a successful debut in the United States at Titan Fighting Championship 31, is one of the top, if not the top fighter at a heavier weight class that Japan has to offer. He garnered that honor by defeating long-time man near the top Kazuhiro Nakamura, whom he bested by impressive decision.

Hasegawa is well-rounded, though he is not the most technical guy out there. He likes to brawl at times and has good top position on the ground, which he uses effectively, as evidenced in his win over Matt Thompson.

There aren't a ton of fighters from Japan who are elite in the heavier weight class. That makes Hasegawa even more attractive than he already is, seeing how he can be marketable in his home country, especially when the UFC goes back.

Stephan Puetz

Home Country: Germany

Team: Team MMA Spirit

Record: 12-1

Last Fight: Knockout win vs. Valery Myasnikov

There are not a lot of heavyweights these days who are 6'6", as that is an above-average height. That's why having a light heavyweight at that height is a nice commodity, which we see in the form of German Stephan Puetz.

Puetz, a 27-year-old striker, is the M-1 light heavyweight champion, something he earned by besting fellow top prospect Viktor Nemkov of Russia. It was a close fight, but ultimately, the German known as T-800 took a split decision that earned him the belt.

His only loss came early last year to the underrated Joachim Christensen, but it was followed up by wins over Nemkov, Luis Fernando Miranda and Valery Myasnikov. Those wins prove that he has gotten better and is a force to be reckoned with.

Puetz's size and striking ability make him a tough out for anybody in the weight class. He is long, tall and willing to brawl, which is why he would make an interesting addition to the UFC.