Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.
For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, but few will succeed.
This November, five fighters on the verge of achieving major-promotion notoriety return to the cage for what could be their stepping stone fights. There are dozens of fighters inches away from making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.
This month:
- A 22-year-old Canadian featherweight phenom will look to once again show he’s wise beyond his years.
- With MMA soon to be legalized in his home country, a French bantamweight will look to get back to the UFC – where he went 3-1 from 2015 to 2016.
- A hard-hitting Brazilian will look to piggyback off the momentum of a violent knockout win in his LFA headliner debut last time around.
- After he was passed over on “Dana White’s Contender Series,” a Donald Cerrone training partner hopes another tally in the win column will be the tipping point.
- The older brother of a UFC champion looks to continue his ascent up the ladder to join his brother in the big leagues.
Scroll through the following pages to see the five fighters who this month find themselves on the doorstep:
TJ Laramie
Record: 10-3
Age: 22
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 5’7″
Birthplace: Canada
Next Fight: Friday vs. Andrew Cruz (7-3) at Prospect Fighting Championships 12 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Background: At 22, TJ Laramie already has gotten the reps of a seasoned veteran. Unafraid to take tough fights despite his ever-evolving game and high potential ceiling, Laramie has fought Canada’s toughest tests. His only two losses since 2016 have come to the same fighter – Alex Morgan. His other loss was suffered at the hands of Vince Murdock – a fight which ended in controversial split decision.
Throughout his come-up, Laramie has competed mostly under the TKO banner. Highly regarded as the highest-level regional promotion in Canada, TKO has consistently tested him. Laramie holds wins over UFC fighter Charles Jourdain and WSOF veteran Jimmy Spicuzza. He trains alongside his brother Tony Laramie – a top prospect in his own right.
The Skinny: A well-rounded finisher through-and-through, Laramie is able to take the fight wherever necessary. With six knockouts on his professional resume, he has power – especially for a bantamweight. Don’t believe me? Check out his knockout against Yvon Agenord from Hard Knocks Fighting 48. Yikes. If the fight hits the mat, that’s not a problem. His wrestling and grappling are solid, too. An explosion waiting to happen, Laramie’s speed, energy, and cardio make him a nightmare outing.
Laramie is a monster and a tough outing for the most seasoned of regional fighters. Often that’s a signal that despite a younger fighter’s consistent evolution, it’s time for him to grow in the big leagues. With a win this month, Laramie will have won three straight fights. The UFC is allegedly aiming for three Canadian events in 2020, so Laramie seems destined to debut.
In his own words: “My well-roundedness is pretty hard to come by for most people. I’ve got wins across the board in every way. I’ve got decisions, knockouts – I’ve been five rounds. I’ve gotten a fifth-round finish. There’s nothing you can really say about my game where it’s like, ‘He doesn’t have skills here.’… I have a more dominating fashion. I don’t really have close fights. My fights have been pretty much dominant for the most part.
“I feel like (a deal with a major organization) is super close to happening. It was close to happening before this fight, but this fight is just going to solidify that for me. At the end of the day though, I’m not too worried. Just because I’ve been there before. I’ve been on the doorstep before and it can be gone in a second, right? For me, my next goal is always my next fight.”
Taylor Lapilus
Record: 15-3
Age: 27
Weight class: Bantamweight
Height: 5’6″
Birthplace: France
Next Fight: Dec. 14 vs. Mauro Chaulet (12-1) at ARES FC 1 in Dakar, Senegal
Background: Taylor Lapilus has already competed at the highest level there is. His four-fight UFC tenure ended in surprising fashion, and now he’s looking to get back there. The French fighter went 3-1 in the UFC from 2015-2016 with wins over Rocky Lee, Ulka Sasaki, and Leandro Issa. His lone promotional loss came to Erik Perez.
A training partner of Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane under coach Fernand Lopez, Lapilus is angling for a 2020 UFC return. With French MMA legalization going into effect in February, Lapilus seems like a layup signing for a home-country UFC return. In order to do so though however, he has to continue his winning ways.
The Skinny: The slick technical striking has always been there for Lapilus – and that’s still his bread and butter. However, the newly added facets to his game are going to make him an even better, more successful fighter if he’s able to secure a UFC roster spot for the second time. As exemplified by his TKO MMA title-clinching sidekick finish in May, he possesses power. Lapilus’ grappling is continuing to evolve, making him a threat wherever the fight goes.
It was hard to argue the UFC made the correct call when they cut him coming off a win in 2016. With three years of experience under his belt since his departure, Lapilus has gained valuable cage time against game opponents including former WSOF title challenger Josh Hill. The UFC’s impending debut in France looming, so I expect Lapilus to be a shoe-in for the new market.
In his own words: “I think I’m better now (than in 2015). This is my time, you know? Two years ago, I was a good fighter, but I think I missed the power punches – the knockout power. Now, I have the knockout power. I have more technique and precision and more strategy. I’m better now.”
“This is my opportunity to go back to the UFC. For sure. I don’t doubt that… To be honest, I want to be in the UFC before it comes to France. But I’m very excited to fight in France for the UFC in front of my family, friends, and teammates. I’m sure my manager Fernand Lopez and my team MMA Factory will work for that.
Joanderson Brito
Record: 11-2-1
Age: 24
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 5’9″
Birthplace: Santa Helena, Maranhao, Brazil
Next Fight: Dec. 14 vs. Steve Aimable (19-8) at ARES FC 1 in Dakar, Senegal
Background: Joanderson Brito, also known as “Tuburao” or “Shark,” earned his nickname from his first coach. Why? Fifteen days after he started training, Brito competed in his first MMA fight. That night, he showed off an aggressive, going for the “kill” the entire time. A winner of nine straight outings, Brito has defeated an impressive spread of fighters. Brito grew up in Maranhao, a state more enthusiastic about fighting than soccer – unusual in Brazil. So it only makes sense he’d be as successful as he is in sphere.
In his most recent fight in May, Brito made his North America debut. The fight served as the LFA 65 main event and saw Brito make quick work of then-surging Jose Marsical. Dodging the onslaught of strikes from Mariscal, Brito floored Masical with a brutal knockout blow.
The Skinny: Brazil is one of the toughest regional MMA scenes to gauge on planet earth. Why? Well, not all Brazilian fighters with impressive records are created equal. For Brito however, the hype is real. A true finisher, Brito can end a fight from anywhere.
His striking is terrifyingly fast and powerful. His skills are advanced way past the point of your average 24-year-old prospect. Athleticism and technique meet in a phenomenal crossroads. Simply put, Brito is legit.
It would have been totally reasonable for the UFC to ink Brito after his 44-second win in his LFA debut. In the end, the UFC didn’t extend an offer. But if Brito goes out and picks up another finish at ARES FC 1, they’d be insane not to.
In his own words: “My biggest advantage is my want. My biggest want is to make a living and live 100 percent from fighting MMA. All fighters want to live from MMA. But not all of the fighters think about it and focus on it 24 hours a day like I do. That’s all I think about. That’s all that’s on my mind. I go to sleep thinking about it. I wake up thinking about it.
“As a fan, you can expect a complete fighter. You can’t expect (my fights) to be standing up or on the ground, but you can expect a very dynamic fighter. I’m not giving my opponent any room to breathe. The minute the fight starts it’s going to be pressure and I’m going to try to finish him the whole time.
“All the major organizations have to do is see me fight. They just haven’t seen me yet. As soon as they see me, they’ll see what I’m made of. That’s it. I just need the opportunity to be seen.”
Daniel Rodriguez
Record: 9-1
Age: 32
Weight class: Light heavyweight
Height: 6’3″
Birthplace: California
Next Fight: Dec. 19 vs. TBA at Smash Global 9 in Los Angeles
Background: This past summer, Daniel Rodriguez was victorious on Season 2 of Dana White’s Contender Series. Despite handily winning a three-round unanimous decision against Rico Farrington, Rodriguez wasn’t offered a UFC contract.
A winner of his most recent five bouts, Rodriguez has competed for numerous promotions including Combate Americas, Bellator, and KOTC. Out of his nine career victories, eight have come inside the distance. Training out of Donald Cerrone’s Ranch, Rodriguez plans on serving as one of “Cowboy’s” training partners ahead of his UFC 246 bout against Conor McGregor.
The Skinny: Gritty. Seasoned. Well-rounded. Rodriguez is a talent and is ready for the big show right now. While his DWCS performance wasn’t his most flashy, it’s tough to paint all matchups with same brush – especially considering he went against such an awkward matchup: a lengthy counterpuncher.
Like so many other DWCS winners who don’t earn immediate deals, Rodriguez is presumably on the UFC’s radar. According to Rodriguez, he’s stayed in close contact with the promotion and believes another win or two will secure his spot on the UFC’s roster. It’s hard to argue against that, especially when UFC president Dana White specifically mentioned Rodriguez in his August sitdown interview with Laura Sanko.
In his own words: “(DWCS) was one of those things where I felt like I won, but at the same time, I felt like I lost. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to get signed… I knew once the bell rang and I didn’t finish him – I had a feeling I wasn’t going to get signed. But I know Contender Series that’s what they’re looking for. They’re looking for crazy finishes or extremely dominant performances.
“I bring excitement. I’ve got an in-your-face pace. I love striking. Going into the Contender Series, I had a 100 percent finish rate – TKOs, KOs, submissions. I think my fights are really exciting. I feel like I have a lot more to prove to myself.”
“Me and my coach, we’ve had talks with the (UFC) matchmakers. We told them that I want to stay busy. Asked if I would be able to have an opportunity. The matchmakers responded with ‘Yeah, go ahead and take fights. We’ll keep you in mind.’ As of now, they’re booked up until March or April. So I’m trying to fight at least two more times before that date comes – before I come knocking on the door again.
Mohammed Usman
Record: 5-1
Age: 30
Weight class: Heavyweight
Height: 6’1″
Birthplace: Auchi, Nigeria
Next Fight: Dec. 20 vs. Reggie Cato (5-3) at Titan FC 58 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Brother of UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, Mohammed Usman hasn’t always pursued MMA greatness. Prior to his declaration he’d be pursuing MMA in late 2016, Usman played collegiate football for the University of Arizona. A few fights into his professional career, Usman found Fortis MMA. Coach Sayif Saud possesses many of the same mindset attributes Usman enjoyed in his favorite football coaches. The pairing made too much sense.
Coming from humble beginnings in Auichi, Nigeria, Usman hopes to motivate others who were born into less fortunate situations. Alongside his brother, Usman hopes to become the first sibling tandem to simultaneously hold UFC titles.
Usman’s lone career loss came by decision to current UFC heavyweight Don’Tale Mayes in April 2018. Since then, he’s won back-to-back fights under the Titan FC banner.
The Skinny: Improvement is the name of the game for Usman. He only has six fights under his belt, but the advancement from the first fight to the sixth is drastic. His cardio, pacing, and fight I.Q. continues to progress along a trajectory pointed towards the ranks of the UFC.
UFC, Bellator, PFL – you name it, Major organizations need heavyweights. The free agent market for talented big men isn’t huge right now. Usman is ahead of the pack – especially in North America. When it comes to his game, arguably the most impressive thing isn’t his physical abilities. It’s his deeply embedded mentality. He sees the bigger picture and indicates he’s focused on progressing as correct as possible – not as quickly as possible.
In his own words: “My culture, my nature, how my mind works – that’s one thing you have to realize about me and my brother. We’re not from here. We’re from Auchi, Nigeria. Our minds just work in a different way where we’ve seen the bottom. A lot people say they’ve seen the bottom, but they don’t understand because they haven’t lived in a third-world country or a country where they have to walk miles to get food.
“I’m not in a rush (to get to the big stage). I’ve said it for years. I’m not in a rush. A lot of people want to rush into the UFC and get in and do this and do that. I’m not in a rush. I just want to keep growing and training at the gym. At Fortis MMA. With coach Sayif and my kickboxing coach Steven Wright… And just keep getting better one fight at a time. I feel like it’ll naturally happen the right way.
Here are some fighters worth watching who didn’t crack the list, yet are on the verge of something big:
- Theo Christakos (10-2) – Dec. 1 def. Andrew Mills (10-4) via submission (rear-naked choke) at Australian FC 23 in Melbourne
- Andrew Cruz (7-3) – Friday vs. TJ Laramie (10-3) at Prospect Fighting Championships 12 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- Bruno Roverso (15-5) – Saturday vs. Pedro Henrique (7-4-1) at Katana Fight 10 in Pinhais, Pirana, Brazil
- Melissa Martinez (6-0) – Saturday vs. Desiree Yanez (5-1) at Combate: Hidalgo
- Desiree Yanez (5-1) – Saturday vs. Melissa Martinez (6-0) at Combate: Hidalgo
- Ismael Bonfim (13-3) – Saturday vs. Jose Flores (8-1) at Combate: Hidalgo
- J.J. Ambrose (33-8) – Dec. 13 vs. Kitt Campbell (10-4) at Hex Fight Series 20 in Melbourne
- Ricky Camp (11-4) – Dec. 13 vs. Mohammad Alavi (5-0) at Hex Fight Series 20 in Melbourne
- Mohammad Alavi (5-0) – Dec. 13 vs. Ricky Camp (11-4) at Hex Fight Series 20 in Melbourne
- Laurynas Urbonavicius (12-1) – Dec. 14 vs. Ildemar Alcantara (26-13) at ARES FC 1 in Dakar, Senegal
- Glenn Sparv (21-6) – Dec. 14 vs. Gregory Babene (19-11) at ARES FC 1 in Dakar, Senegal
- Josh Parisian (10-3) – Dec. 14 vs. Matunga Djikasa (3-1) at ARES FC 1
- Gregory Rodrigues (6-2) – Dec. 19 vs. Brandon Hester (4-1) at Smash 9 in Hollywood, Calif.
- Irwin Rivera (8-4) – Dec. 20 vs. Danny Sabatello (6-0) at Titan FC 58 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- Danny Sabatello (6-0) – Dec. 20 vs. Irwin Rivera (8-4) at Titan FC 58 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- Levi Mowles (11-4) – Dec. 20 vs. Sam Guardiola (7-1) at Fury FC 41 in Dallas
