The Beaten Path: 5 Top MMA Prospects to Watch in December

'Tis the season for MMA prospects.

Aw yeah. In the world of cage fighting, there's a lot of not-so-silent nights coming up, if you get my meaning. UFC 194 and UFC 195 bookend a packed slate of MMA that will take us all the way through the winter holidays.

That includes plenty of smaller and international shows, as well as solid events from organizations like Bellator and World Series of Fighting. And you know what all of that means. It means prospects.

It's a good thing for you that you're keyed into The Beaten Path. That's our series covering MMA prospects here at Bleacher Report. We give you the info, you absorb the info and BOOM, you're the smartest person at your next family gathering. Although in all reality, they're probably just going to ask you about Ronda Rousey, if anything. 

Right, so check out these prospects. They're all very good. They are all in action in December. As always, no UFC fighters allowed, and we include Bellator and WSOF only sparingly—though this month may provide an exception.

They are ranked based on skills, record and potential. As always, record and event information courtesy of Sherdog.

5. A.J. McKee

Bellator

A.J. McKee flips off the cage.

Division: Featherweight
Age: 20
Record: 2-0 
Next Fight: John Donaldson, Bellator 147, December 4 
See It On: SpikeTV.com

Friday will make it three pro fights for A.J. McKee, all of them coming on the Bellator prelims. 

McKee has shown a flair for the dramatic and a skill set and maturity beyond his years. That may be why he's in Bellator at this fairly tender age and may have something to do with the fact that he is the son of longtime pro fighter Antonio McKee. But where the elder was a grinder, the younger is more stoppage-focused. If he gets another one Friday, he'll be perfect in that category, too.

Where might one learn more about this amazing family dynamic? Why, in a profile from The Beaten Path? Outstanding.

4. Shamil Gamzatov

Division: Light heavyweight
Age: 25
Record: 9-0
Next Fight: Andreas Spang, WSOF 26, December 18 
See It On: WSOF Live Stream

Light heavyweight prospects these days are worth their weight in gold. If Shamil Gamzatov can take care of business in this, his first fight in the United States, it could be a quick rise.

It doesn't hurt his MMA prospects that he is a native Dagestani, sharing a home in the North Caucasus with guys like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Rustam Khabilov. 

Gamzatov has yet to be seriously challenged, and his record—all stoppages, only two outside the first round—illustrates that. His game is as meat-and-potatoey as meat and potatoes gets, with a heavy grappling base and some ham-fisted stand-up. Aging veteran Spang is a good test, but he should be passable for Gamzatov.

3. Lowen Tynanes

Division: Lightweight
Age: 25
Record: 7-0 
Next Fight: Rasul Yakhyaev, ONE Championship - Kingdom of Khmer, December 5 
See It On: ONE Championship live stream (fee applies)

Lowen Tynanes lost a chunk of his fighting youth thanks to a strange dispute with King of the Cage that involved allegations of forged contracts. Yeesh.

Luckily for us all, that appears to be behind him now, and his career is back on track with ONE Championship in Asia. The Hawaii native is still young in his career, but has stoppage wins over well-known guys like Eduard Folayang and Felipe Enomoto.

With sharp boxing and a wrestling base that landed him state championships in high school, Tynanes is dangerous everywhere. So is Yakhyaev, his next opponent.

Tynanes has a knack for breaking people in the cage; we'll see if he can do it again. If he can, could a match with reigning champ Shinya Aoki be in the cards?

2. Victor Henry

Division: Bantamweight
Age: 28
Record: 11-1
Next Fight: Shintaro Ishiwatari, Pancrase 273, December 13
See It On: UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)

Victor Henry is quietly chewing through international MMA's bantamweight stockpile. Over five years and seven different promotions, he has taken out fighters like Hideo Tokoro and Masakatsu Ueda.

Henry's skill set is not mysterious. Training under Josh Barnett and others at CSW in Fullerton, California, the native Angeleno is a submission grappler through and through.

This is the biggest fight of his career. Ishiwatari is the champ, but he's only now returning from extended time off after tearing his triceps. If Henry can capture the belt, he might find himself on a fast train to his next organization.

1. Yuki Motoya

Division: Flyweight
Age: 26
Record: 15-4 
Next Fight: Nam Jin Jo, Rizin Fighting Federation 2, December 31
See It On: Spike TV

Yuki Motoya landed himself a plum spot on the main card of Rizin FF 2. That would be the same card featuring the return of one Fedor Emelianenko.

It speaks to Motoya's talent and following in Japan, where the event takes place. After defending his flyweight title in the DEEP promotion in October, he signed with Rizin. He'll face Korean standout Nam Jin Jo on New Year's Eve. That will be a great fight between two very well-rounded flyweights.

Scott Harris covers MMA prospects for Bleacher Report. For more, follow Scott on Twitter.