The Beaten Path: 5 Prospects to Watch in October

The MMA world will be occupied in the month of October with plenty of UFC, Bellator and regional MMA action. If you like lots of MMA, get excited because your time is here.

With all these events and fights, you are bound to see some great prospects in action. Here at The Beaten Path, it's our job to find you the men and women with the best potential and point you toward them, as they could be the future of the sport.

So, who are the prospects you should watch in October? Here is a guide to the five to keep tabs on.

Konstantin Erokhin

Division: Heavyweight
Age: 32
Record: 7-1
Next fight: vs. Richard Odoms at Far Eastern Federation of Modern Pankration
See it on: TBD

The UFC is in need of bodies to fill its heavyweight division, which is dwindling in size. With that thought in mind, the company should be keeping an eye on Konstantin Erokhin, a Russian bruiser who has a chance to be a very solid competitor with the company.

While Erokhin (5'11", 233 lbs) is not the biggest heavyweight in the world, he makes up for it with speed and underrated strength. He has proved that it's not the biggest dog in the fight by winning seven of his eight pro bouts.

The Russian is a striker with great hands and foot speed. Not only that, but he is powerful and can end a fight with one shot to the head. In fact, when Erokhin has scored his finishes, they have all been in the first round.

He faces UFC fighter turned suspiciously now-unemployed fighter Richard Odoms, who was set to make his debut at UFC 177 before an injury. An impressive win here could be enough for him to earn a spot on the UFC roster.

Marat Gafurov

Division: Featherweight
Age: 29
Record: 9-0
Next fight: vs. Rob Lisita at One FC 21
See it on: Pay-per-view

Possibly one of the best lighter weight prospects in the world, Marat Gafurov will make his One FC debut in October. The M-1 champion is undefeated at this point and gunning for a major title with the Asian MMA company.

Gafurov is a submission specialist and ground technician who is able to force mat wars with his impressive takedowns. When he gets the fight down, he has good chokes, as well as the ability to get the back thanks to ground-and-pound.

His striking is sufficient enough on the feet, but he is uses it to set up single and double legs. He will need that when he takes on Rob Lisita, who is known for his striking and knockout power.

Gafurov will probably be with One FC for a while, and this fight is likely an audition for bigger things. If he takes out Lisita, he will likely get the next crack at the featherweight title.

Lowen Tynanes

Division: Lightweight
Age: 23
Record: 5-0
Next fight: vs. Victor Meza at King of the Cage: Battle for the Belt
See it on: TBD

The UFC runs through lightweights like they are going out of style. One has to wonder if they have their eyes on the prizes currently in the free-agent market, especially a young stud like Lowen Tynanes.

At 5-0, Tynanes has gone undefeated as an amateur and pro by beating some very stiff competition. While in the Pacific regional circuit, he knocked out Felipe Enomoto and Eduard Folayang while tapping out Vuyisile Colossa and Kris Armbrister.

Tynanes is one of the new breed coming out of Hawaii with very good all-around skills. He is a wrestler with submission ability, but he can also hold his own on the feet.

He takes on another impressive prospect in Victor Meza next. If Tynanes passes this test with flying colors, one has to believe the UFC will take a serious look at him.

Marcus Edwards

Division: Lightweight
Age: 25
Record: 8-2
Next fight: vs. Shane Campbell at MFC 41
See it on: AXS TV

Speaking of top lightweight prospects outside the UFC, Marcus Edwards may be one of the strongest competitors out there. He is 8-2, with his only losses coming to WSOF champ Justin Gaethje in his pro debut and Efrain Escudero in a controversial decision that many thought Edwards won convincingly.

Edwards is an all-around threat and a finisher. In his eight wins, he has finished an equal amount by knockout and submission (four each).

His striking is especially impressive, as his work with FactoryX Muay Thai has really made him into a destroyer. He has knockout power in his hands, but his knees and kicks are also very dangerous.

He also has good wrestling and submissions, which is why he has become a sought-after commodity. He takes on Shane Campbell in the main event of MFC 41. A win would be his fifth in a row and should be enough for him to get a call from Dana White and Co.

Michael Page

Division: Welterweight
Age: 27
Record: 6-0
Next fight: vs. Nah-Shon Burrell at Bellator 128
See it on: Spike TV

If you have never seen Michael Page fight, hit up YouTube. The guy is an absolute dynamo.

With Page, you get a little Anderson Silva styling packed into his long, lanky, athletic body. His movement and footwork are unbelievable, and he's extremely hard to hit.

He is a finisher too. In all six bouts, he has finished opponents in the first round, with his longest fight lasting four minutes, 29 seconds. That was his most recent bout, where he took a step up in competition against Bellator vet Ricky Rainey.

His submission skills are overlooked because of his impressive striking ability. He does own two submissions by rear-naked choke and armbar, which means he's not a one-trick pony.

Next up is a UFC veteran in Nah-Shon Burrell. A win there in impressive fashion would really show how legit he is.