The Beaten Path: 5 MMA Prospects to Watch in May

Man cannot live on Chael Sonnen alone. That's why the prospect scene is so important in MMA. For if the great draw of MMA is its athletic purity, then truly must we look beyond the news cycle when attempting to discover its true essence.

Plus, following the prospect scene allows you to smugly wag your finger at somebody when you've heard a name they haven't. That is another great truth.

So as May begins and all those top-skimmers roll around in Cain Velasquez's prerecorded soundbites and Ronda Rousey's magazine covers, let us true fans take a deeper focus. 

The Beaten Path has previously provided a series of interviews with some of the sport's brightest prospects. That will continue. But now, we're adding this new series: five non-UFC prospects to watch in a given month, including quick capsules on why each one is noteworthy and where and when you can watch. Let the Kiperization begin. Fighters listed in no particular order. 

Collin Reuter

Division: Welterweight
Record: 9-1
Age: 22
Next fight: Jack Mason, May 11, Cage Warriors Fight Night 8
See it on: MMAjunkie.com (free) 

Ah, The Gumby Knockout. It's the sensation that's sweeping the nation.

Collin Reuter was the perpetrator of that little Internet virus. He will have a chance to follow his own act when he faces much stiffer competition in veteran Cage Warriors submission artist Jack Mason.

This will be the Cage Warriors debut for Reuter, and if his well-rounded game can best Mason in the main event, he's serious. 

Patrick Ybarra

Division: Bantamweight
Record: 5-0
Age: 22
Next fight: Damacio Page, May 31, Legacy Fighting Championship 20
See it on: AXSTV 

Patrick Ybarra is another fighter who rode a highlight-reel finish into the MMA public's consciousness. In his case, it was a flying armbar on February 1 against Billy Buch (see video).

Ybarra takes a big step up in competition on May 31 when he faces UFC veteran and prison movie extra Damacio Page. Page is highly submittable, with seven of his eight pro losses coming that way.

This match seems to have the makings of a big feather in the cap of the undefeated Ybarra.

Andre Fili

Division: Featherweight
Record: 11-1
Age: 22
Next fight: Adrian Diaz, May 3, West Coast Fighting Championship 5
See it on: Online pay-per-view (www.westcoastfighting.com)

The great beta test of Team Alpha Male, Andre Fili, does not have a crazy wrestling background. But he is slick in all phases and knows how to finish.

A former standout in the off-again, on-again Tachi Palace Fights promotion, Fili is staying busy on the regional circuit, defending his WFC belt against another young buck in Stockton, California's Adrian Diaz.

Added Bonus: Fili's friend and fellow Alpha Male Anthony Avila, himself 10-1, also appears on this card. 

James Brum

Division: Bantamweight
Record: 11-2
Age: 26
Next fight: Olivier Pastor, May 11, Cage Warriors Fight Night 8
See it on: MMAjunkie.com (free) 

James Brum is a big, powerful bantamweight who looks first for knockouts and loves to clinch but can also roll a bit if need be. A win over Pastor would be his sixth in a row.   

Michinori Tanaka

Division: Bantamweight
Record: 7-0
Age: 22
Next fight: Crisanto Pitpitunge, May 18, Pacific Xtreme Combat 37
See it on: Facebook Livestream (https://www.facebook.com/pxcmma)

Lots of bantamweights on this list. Interesting.

Michinori Tanaka, the Shooto veteran, has finished all seven of his professional MMA contests, mainly by submission. He is a tenacious judo player who doesn't tend to let go once he has a hold of you, but doesn't seem to have an ounce of lay-and-pray in his body.

On May 18, Tanaka will fight for the hard-hitting Pitpitunge's PXC bantamweight strap. Should be interesting.

For more on rising prospects and other MMA stuff, follow Scott Harris on Twitter.