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 month, 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:
- An undefeated Oklahoma finisher who’s stepping into the LFA cage for the first time.
- A young English champion looks to keep his finishing streak alive in his first Cage Warriors title defense.
- A Tennessean whose MMA journey kicked off in an unlikely fashion hopes to extend his win streak to three.
- Flying under-the-radar, a slick Texas-based striker takes on arguably his toughest test to date.
- A CFFC champion from Brazil hopes his first title defense will punch his ticket into the UFC.
Scroll through the following pages to see the five fighters who this month find themselves on the doorstep:
Matt Dixon
Record: 8-0
Age: 24
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 5’10”
Birthplace: Oklahoma
Next Fight: Friday vs. Justin Patterson (11-5) at LFA 83 in Dallas
Background: Matt Dixon’s father loved boxing, so it makes sense that he’d enroll his son in self-defense classes at a young age. At 12, Dixon discovered MMA. His fandom turned into career aspirations, and he began training on a regular basis. At 14, Dixon met his head coach – the same one he has today. An undefeated amateur, Dixon’s lack of losses continued in the professional ranks. Largely competing for Oklahoma-based promotion Xtreme Fight Night, Dixon ran through the competition. To date, Dixon has accumulated six finishes with five knockouts and one submission. In November 2018, Dixon won the XFN welterweight title when he knocked out then-titleholder Brian Grinnell in 95 seconds. In his first title defense in April, Dixon continued his knockout streak with a second-round finish of Braden Smith.
The Skinny: Dixon has power, speed and the mentality of a contracted UFC or Bellator athlete. His attitude is positive and confident, and he’s very polished when it comes to his mic skills. Dixon is right there. In fact, he’s had major offers in the past, but contractual obligations have prevented him from accepting. Now with LFA, he’ll be able to pursue whatever comes his way. If he wins at LFA 84, Dixon will move to 9-0, making him a perfect option for a short-notice replacement, Dana White’s Contender Series participant, or maybe a straight signing to the UFC or Bellator.
In his own words: “There have been a lot of times in my life where I’ve liked certain things, but this is one thing that I’ve gravitated toward as a purpose. I’m a man of faith and I believe I was called to do this. Whenever I look at the sport, there are a lot of guys that are talented, look good and work hard. This is something I not only work hard at, this is something I believe I was called to do. That is one of the biggest things that separates me from other athletes in the sport. I’m not just doing this because it’s a sport I’m good at.
“At this moment right now, I see this fight opens a lot of doors. I’ve been blessed to have a lot of opportunities already presented my way. What’s wild about it is, every time I’ve gotten those opportunities, I’ve been in contract for other fights. When that happens, my hands are tied in those types of situations. That being said, I’m very excited about that bout because it’s definitely against an opponent that’s recognizable to the guys as the top as far as a promotion and matchmaking standpoint.”
Jack Cartwright
Record: 7-0
Age: 25
Weight class: Bantamweight
Height: 5’9″
Birthplace: Bolton, England
Next Fight: Saturday vs. Manuel Bilic (15-6) at Cage Warriors 112 in Manchester, England
Background: A relative unknown entering the Cage Warriors tournament championship, Jack Cartwright needed only 4:20 to dispatch of two of his fellow European prospects. By defeating Scott Malone and Marko Kovacevic with punches in September 2019, Cartwright earned the Cage Warriors bantamweight title. Delving deeper into his record, Cartwright’s methods of victory shouldn’t have been surprising. The man likes to finish fights. He has a 100 percent rate of ending fights inside the distance. In eight fights, Cartwright has four knockouts and four submissions under his belt.
The Skinny: Cartwright is well-rounded, exciting and would be a perfect addition to any promotion’s bantamweight division. Cage Warriors’ storied history of elevating champions to MMA’s big leagues makes Cartwright a perfect candidate for the next signee. At 25, Cartwright is still improving – a scary thought. Manuel Bilic is his most experienced opponent to date and win or lose will be a great learning opportunity for Cartwright. If he wins, he’ll seem like the perfect candidate for the UFC’s next short-notice opportunity European phone call.
In his own words (quotes via Cage Warriors): “Like you saw in my last fight, if somebody gets on my hips, I’m more than capable of getting them off my hips, get back up and put someone out standing up. That’s what everyone likes the most, isn’t it? Everyone likes a striker, so I’d rather be a fan favorite than a boring little crotch hugger.
“Growing up, I was a big Ricky Hatton fan. I can remember staying up and watching him when he fought Kostya Tszyu, and when he came back and fought Juan Lazcano at the Etihad, I went and watched that. Obviously I like (Michael) Bisping, but I’ve never gone to see him live. I’ve never been to a UFC event yet, so I’m still waiting for that one.”
Jaleel Willis
Record: 11-2
Age: 27
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Memphis
Next Fight: Saturday vs. James Horne at Summit FC 34 in Tupelo, Miss.
Background: Jaleel Willis’ journey through MMA is an improbable one. He never intended to be a fighter, but that’s the direction life swung him in. Working at a T-shirt stand at a local fair, Willis stepped into his first fight the day of the show. Against all odds, Willis won. The victory lit a fire under the Tennessean. He delved deep into MMA, and his success continued. Willis won his first eight pro fights, competing in Bellator and WSOF prelims along the way. In the span of three fights, Willis lost two fights against Kyle Stewart and Harvey Park. Both were LFA headliners. Since then, Willis has won back-to-back fights by unanimous decision.
The Skinny: Fighting on a scrappy regional scene, Willis hasn’t had a ton of finishes. While he could improve in that department, he dominated in making fights ugly, wearing down his opponent and picking him apart. His success in the wrestling and ground-and-pound department is undeniable. Let it be clear: Willis is a very good fighter. He’s just lost at the least ideal times. It’s unlikely the bad luck will continue the next time he reaches such a peek. A win Saturday could set him up for a next-level fight, whether it be in the UFC, Bellator or Dana White’s Contender Series.
In his own words: “I think the way I get ready for fights (makes me stand out) – my preparation. … My idea is, if you give me a date to prepare for him, my team and I will have a game plan together. Like Jon Jones and his team, we’ll pick this fighter apart or at least have it to where I’m comfortable enough to implement the game plan and keep it going from there.
“We absolutely know the Contender Series is within in our reach. It’s been within our reach before, but I’ve had blown opportunities. With that being said, I could sit back and wait. I’d be coming off (three) wins. When they start matching up Contender Series, I firmly believe I’ll get on. The bottom line is I want to perform. When I get my time to shine in front of (UFC matchmakers) Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby, I want them to see I’ve grown. This isn’t the same Jaleel they’ve seen on the prospect lists over the past couple of years.”
Adrian Yanez
Record: 10-3
Age: 26
Weight class: Bantamweight
Height: 5’7″
Birthplace: La Porte, Texas
Next Fight: March 13 vs. Ricky Turcios at Fury FC 43 in Houston
Background: Adrian Yanez inherited his love of fighting from his father. While the father-son combination loved watching boxing during Yanez’s youth, the future fighter began gravitating toward MMA. One day while walking through the mall with his mother, Yanez stumbled across a jiu-jitsu gym, and the rest was history. Competing for top promotions across Texas including LFA, Fury FC and a one-off in Bellator, Yanez has compiled a solid record through 13 fights. His only three losses have come to UFC fighters Domingo Pilarte and Miles Johns, as well as fellow top prospect Levi Mowles.
The Skinny: If you haven’t seen Yanez fight before, go back and watch his performance against Kyle Estrada at LFA 78 in November. Both fighters had their moments in an exciting display of high-level technicalness. Yanez’s boxing reminds me a lot of Dustin Poirier’s – it’s powerful, sharp and decisive. He’s fielded all on-comers, so the experience and heart have been crafted, too. If Yanez wins March 13, that’ll be four in a row. His opponent that night is arguably his toughest to date, so he has the opportunity to make a real statement here. He could – and should – find himself in the UFC with an impressive victory.
In his own words: “I don’t like be the guy who goes around and says, ‘I’m going to be the next big thing.’ I’m going to be the guy who’s going to show you that’s where I’m heading. I’ve been grinding really hard. All the tough fights I’ve taken, they’re super close decisions. These guys weren’t fighting the same way they fought other people. They were fighting with nervousness, trying to hold on to me the whole entire time, trying to wrestle. I’m just a finisher. I try to take people’s heads off. That’s how I take fighting.
“I’ve had those tough fights where I had to go five rounds. I’ve had those tough fights where I’ve had to dig deep. Getting those finishes for me, it just sets up a great highlight for me. It highlights how I work. If you look at my finishes, they’re all calculated. … I think with a win over Ricky Turcios, that puts me in the UFC. But I’ve also been close to getting a UFC call and haven’t got it. I’m just going to keep on fighting. I’ll fight until I get there.”
Nikolas Motta
Record: 11-3
Age: 27
Weight class: Lightweight
Height: 5’6″
Birthplace: Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Next Fight: March 21 vs. TBA at CFFC 82 in Atlantic City, N.J.
Background: Nikolas Motta first entered the national and international spotlights as a participant on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4.” He went through the ringer, competing in Shooto Brasil in his native country. All the while, he trained with UFC champs Jose Aldo and Renan Barao. Dedicated to his craft, Motta moved to the United States in order to find fights. He competed for 864 Fighting Championship, then took on a plethora of challenges and won the vacant CFFC title. CFFC 82 will be his first defense, though no challenger has been sought yet.
The Skinny: Motta didn’t take the easy road to the UFC, as evidenced by his lengthy and diverse resume. Despite suffering losses, the experience gained in defeat is proving to be worth the hassle. His fighting style is highly aesthetically pleasing. His knockouts over UFC fighter Joe Solecki and CFFC standout Cesar Balmaceda rounded out an already violent highlight reel. While jiu-jitsu is his base, Motta has largely elected not to use it unless he has to. He cites grappling as being “boring,” and would rather entertain the fans instead. Enthusiastic, energetic, and a personality that translates well to American fans. It certainly helps he’s fluent in English and has a good sense of humor.
In his own words: “When we trained, Aldo gave me a lot of confidence. I’ll always have a lot of confidence (going forward). … I have good jiu-jitsu and wrestling, but I never use submissions in any of my fights. I thin it’s boring. I like to knock these guys out. I like standup. … I’m not a boring fighter. I’m like Justin Gaethje. Watch my fight against Cesar Balmaceda. He was undefeated and this special guy. When I knocked him out, it was pretty scary. We thought he was dead.
“I think I have enough fights to go to the UFC. A lot of guys are going to the UFC who have seven or six fights. I already have so many fights on my record with 11 wins and three losses. … I don’t know why I’m not in a big promotion. … (Other fighters) think it’s great the UFC is signing a lot of guys on short notice. I’m excited and want to do (Dana White’s) Contender Series in the summer.”
Here are some fighters worth watching who didn’t crack the list, yet are on the verge of something big:
- Chris Ocon (4-1) – Friday vs. Victor Altamirano (4-1) at LFA 83 in Dallas (UFC Fight Pass)
- Austen Lane (6-2) – Friday vs. Vernon Lewis (7-4) at LFA 83 in Dallas (UFC Fight Pass)
- Shannon Ross (12-4) – Saturday vs. Steve Erceg (5-1) at Eternal MMA 52 in Southport, Queensland, Australia (UFC Fight Pass)
- Madars Fleminas (7-0) – Saturday vs. Adam Proctor (11-1) at Cage Warriors 112 in Manchester, England
- Batsumberel Dagvadorj (7-0) – March 14 vs. Takashi Yamashita at Mongol FC 3 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Jamey Simmons (6-2) – March 14 vs. John de Jesus (6-2) at 247 FC: Brawl In The Burgh 3 in Canonsburg, Penn.
- Graham Park (7-2) – March 14 vs. Neil Berry (6-6) at Unified MMA 40 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (FITE TV)
- Chris Larsen (5-2) – March 14 vs. Grayson Wells (5-3) at Unified MMA 40 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (FITE TV)
- Mason Jones (8-0) – March 20 vs. Danilo Belluardo (12-5) at Cage Warriors 113 in London (UFC Fight Pass)
- Mohammad Alavi (5-0) – March 20 vs. Nurbolat Kuandyk (5-1) at Superfight MMA 15 in Punchbowl, New South Wales, Australia
- Daniel Madrid (17-6) – March 20 vs. Impa Kasanganay (6-0) at LFA 84 in Phoenix (UFC Fight Pass)
- Kevin Natividad (8-1) – March 20 vs. Kyle Estrada (10-5) at LFA 84 in Phoenix (UFC Fight Pass)
- Richard Palencia (7-0) – March 20 vs. Desmond Torres (7-2) at LFA 84 in Phoenix (UFC Fight Pass)
- Jordan Williams (8-3) – March 20 vs. Kyle Stewart (12-3) at LFA 84 in Phoenix (UFC Fight Pass)
- Ary Farias (9-2) – March 20 vs. Anthony Birchak (15-6) at LFA 84 in Phoenix (UFC Fight Pass)
- Christoper Daukaus (8-3) – March 21 vs. Shawn Teed (8-3) at CFFC 82 in Atlantic City, N.J.
- Kevin Wirth (8-1) – March 20 vs. Terrion Ware (17-11) at LXF 6 in Sycuan Casino Event Center in El Cajon, Calif.
- Phil Caracappa (8-1) – March 21 vs. Terry Bartholomew at CFFC 82 in Atlantic City, N.J. (UFC Fight Pass)
- Chris Stone (7-1) – March 27 vs. Darrell Flores (7-5) at Front Street Fights 22 in Boise, Idaho
- Daniel Rutkowski (10-2) – March 28 vs. Adrian Zielinski (19-9) at Fight Exclusive Night 28 in Lublin, Poland
- Bret Martin (9-1) – March 28 vs. Tony Lopez (64-32) at Big John’s MMA in Sault St. Marie, Mich.
The following fighters were ineligible for this month’s list because they have already been featured as an “MMA Junkie: On the Doorstep” prospect to watch.
