The Beaten Path: 5 Featherweights the UFC Should Sign Now
We left off with the lightweights. It's now time for the featherweights.
That's right, the Prospects the UFC Should Sign series is back with a vengeance.
The featherweight division has recently become one of the deepest divisions in the UFC. Jose Aldo is the champion, but there is a seemingly endless stream of challengers in his way.
Jim Alers and Brian Ortega are two guys who would have made the list, but they were signed by the UFC in the past year. That shows the UFC is intent on replenishing its talent at this weight class.
With that being said, there are still many featherweights who could be signed by the UFC.
Here are five such prospects the UFC should sign to further strengthen its ranks.
Memory Lane
1 of 6
We have had some good prospects make this series whom the UFC has signed. We have also had some good fighters the UFC hasn't gotten its hands on...yet.
The ones who have made it are Doo Ho Choi, Andre Fili, Joe Soto and Bekbulat Magomedov (who's yet to make his debut). While Soto got a late-notice title shot due to Renan Barao's weight-cutting mishap (he lost), Fili and Choi have looked very good in their wins so far in the UFC.
Then you have guys such as Georgi Karakhanyan, Rick Glenn and Lance Palmer, all of whom have been champions in the World Series of Fighting. They have made names for themselves and have shown they are quality 145ers.
Here are the rest of the men from the previous installments:
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| Doo Ho Choi | Doo Ho Choi | Bekbulat Magomedov |
| Joe Soto | Andre Fili | Alexandre Bezerra |
| Lance Palmer | Rick Glenn | Gleristone Santos |
| Georgi Karakhanyan | Georgi Karakhanyan | Raoni Barcelos |
| Henrique Bilcalho | Deividas Taurosevicius | Marat Gafurov |
Ivan Buchinger
2 of 6Home Country: Slovakia
Team: Team MMA Spirit
Record: 28-4
Last Fight: Knockout win vs. Tural Ragimov
Ivan Buchinger made an appearance in this series once, but that was at lightweight. He is now a featherweight who looks to be incredibly skilled and a true top guy outside the UFC at 145 pounds.
Buchinger, a Slovakian submission specialist, is an exciting featherweight with a great finishing rate. In 28 wins as a pro, Buki has finished 23 men, including 16 who succumbed to a submission.
He has been a staple on the European circuit and has taken on some tough guys. In fact, in the last three years, he has only lost to UFC vet Anton Kuivanen and a notorious featherweight known as Conor McGregor.
Otherwise, the Slovakian finisher has been gold. In recent times, we have seen him dominate Cage Warriors and M-1, utilizing his high-level submission skills, which has seen him use a scarf-hold armlock, a triangle armbar and rear-naked chokes, among other techniques.
His ability to finish fights past the third round shows his commitment to ending fights as well. This exciting 145er needs a bigger audience, which means one of the major leagues needs to ink him as soon as possible.
James Jenkins
3 of 6Home Country: United States
Team: Serra-Longo Fight Team
Record: 8-1
Last Fight: Knockout win vs. Terrell Hobbs
One of the two prospects on this list representing the East Coast of the United States, James Jenkins is one of the many Serra-Longo Fight Team members who are at a high level and could be stars in this sport. Given that camp in his corner, Jenkins is only going to get better than he already is.
Jenkins, a veteran of the prestigious Ring of Combat promotion in New York, is a wrestler who has developed his submission skills with Matt Serra. Not only that, but he throws big-time strikes from top position, which has forced some stoppages as well.
He is also physically strong, as he can muscle opponents around in the clinch and eventually ground them. It is also the reason his chokes are so effective, as his squeeze allows him to quickly put opponents in trouble.
Jenkins is definitely a blue-chipper to look at for in the featherweight division. His move to the big show may not be immediate, but you can expect to see him there at some point.
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Andre Harrison
4 of 6Home Country: United States
Team: Bellmore Kickboxing
Record: 8-0
Last Fight: Unanimous Decision win vs. Aaron Neveu
The second East Coast prospect in this featherweight countdown, Andre Harrison is like James Jenkins in that they both are longtime vets of the Ring of Combat promotion. And like Jenkins, he was highly successful there.
Harrison, a wrestler by base, is another physically imposing fighter, using superior physical strength to bully people around. In fact, Harrison goes by The Bull, showing that he relies on brute strength and a strong-arm style of fighting.
Although not the most prolific finisher, Harrison is usually dominant in his fights because of his strength, wrestling, explosiveness and top control. That skill set caught the eye of Titan FC, who signed Harrison and already displayed him on a card in 2014 (unanimous-decision victory vs. Aaron Neveu).
Obviously, Titan FC already caught the scent of Harrison, but that platform will only lead to bigger and better things. Harrison is a stud and with continued work on his all-around game, he'll be a future threat to the top fighters in this division.
Henry Corrales
5 of 6Home Country: United States
Team: De La O Jiu-Jitsu
Record: 11-0
Last Fight: Submission win vs. Seth Dikun
We jump from the East Coast to the West Coast for our next fighter, and for good reason. Henry Corrales has quietly become a top prospect with his impressive undefeated record and knack for stopping opponents.
Corrales, who is primarily a jiu-jitsu fighter, has terrorized the King of the Cage promotion with his brand of fighting, which mostly includes setting up takedowns with strikes, getting top position and manhandling fighters on the ground. His ground-and-pound is about average, but it's used more to open guys up for submissions than inflict high amounts of damage.
His submissions are pretty to watch as well. His favorite technique thus far has been the armlock, as he has utilized an armbar, kimura and keylock to earn finishes. He also has a nasty guillotine choke that is tough to escape when he slaps it on.
He owns two victories over WEC veteran Seth Dikun, showing that he is capable of stepping up in competition. He may not be the knockout artist the average fans have come to love, but watching him on the mat is truly fun to watch.
Mark Dickman
6 of 6Home Country: United States
Team: One Kick's Gym
Record: 10-2
Last Fight: Submission win vs. Donald Sanchez
Mark Dickman was probably the top 145-pound prospect going into his fight with UFC veteran Justin Lawrence, but he suffered a setback that took away a little of his glimmer. However, that loss could have taught him something, and I still consider him to be one of the top prospects in the featherweight division.
Dickman is a wrestler who makes no secret about what he wants to do with you. His plan is to get you on your back, slam your face with heavy punches and either finish you with strikes or find a way to tap you out. It's that simple.
He has improved his stand-up, though, despite the fact he needs continued work. His continued work with One Kick's Gym would be advised, as it will continue to improve his striking significantly.
Two of his last three fights have seen very impressive submission wins in Dickman's favor over grappler Raoni Barcelos and Donald Sanchez. That is the type of brilliance that has given Dickman the attention he has received, and if he continues to do things like that while improving, the sky is the limit for this guy.
Below are the previous installments of the list:
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