Yahoo Sports On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make UFC with January wins
Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.
For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.
This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.
A Dricus Du Plessis training partner had his ticket booked for Canada, so when an opportunity to fight on “Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight” popped up he took it with the intentions of earning a UFC contract.
One of the prospects in all of Canada hopes the second time fighting in front of Dana White will be his ticket to the UFC.
A Team Alpha Male flyweight has already changed his life through fighting, so imagine what a UFC deal would do.
An Italian-born UAE Warriors titleholder welcomes another tough challenge that could attract the eyeballs of UFC matchmakers.
A New England-based fighter, who is an alum of both “The Ultimate Fighter” and Dana White’s Contender Series angles to show he’s finally UFC ready.
Mark Hulme
Mateo Vogel
Record: 8-3
Age: 27
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 5’8″
Birthplace: Canada
Next Fight: Friday vs. John Nguyen (6-3) at Unified MMA 55 in Toronto (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: A lifelong athlete, Mateo Vogel played hockey growing up. Somewhere along the way, jiu-jitsu entered his life and became his first martial arts. Grappling tournaments were his first form of competition, but his UFC fandom pivoted him into fighting. Without an amateur fight, Vogel hopped into the professional ranks and debuted in 2018. He won his first three fights by submission and the fire inside him grew even bigger. In 2023, he won the BFL featherweight title, then had his first international break – an opportunity on Dana White’s Contender Series. Vogel lost to Timmy Cuamba by unanimous decision in a competitive affair. It’s evident the defeat on the biggest stage to date has bugged Vogel.
The skinny: Vogel has wins over current UFC fighters Garrett Armfield and Serhiy Sidey. He’s always aimed to take on the best competition available. Even when it results in a loss, Vogel grows from the experience. He isn’t afraid to fail, which is a positive character trait for any fighter. Even though he disagrees with the decision, Vogel doesn’t think he was himself – largely because of mental lapses and not finishing the fight. Vogel said he tried to be “too perfect” rather than shoot for the stoppage. With a fire lit under him like never before, Vogel vows to show his true self against Dana White on what many are calling one of the most high-profile events in Canadian MMA history. If contracts are handed out (which they likely will be) look for the winner of Vogel vs. Nguyen to walk home with the paperwork.
In his own words: “People like to ask all these questions on fight week like, ‘How do you feel about Dana being there? How do you feel about this thing that’s different or this thing that’s different?’ A good friend of mine gave me some good advice. There is no difference. There is no difference between any fight. Every fight is the same as any other fight. The only thing that’s different is the eyeballs looking at it. I just really got to fixate on bringing my game and doing my thing. That’s what I’m best at. That’s when I belong with the best of the world.”
“… I bring big balls in terms of the way I fight. I come in there and I don’t usually hold anything back. I go for the kill. I have an exciting style. It’s very rare you’ll ever see a dull fight of mine. I think that’s been evident in most of my outings. It’s just I go out there with a different kind of intention. Very quickly, I became a fan favorite because I bring the action every time. A lot of guys say that, but in my case, I really do. How many fights have you seen me where I’m dripping in blood or came back from almost being knocked out? I go in there and I really make it a war.”
“… I know that I can compete with the best in the world and I’ve known for a while. I train with guys in the UFC like Charles Jourdain. Look what he’s done recently. Him and I talk about it all the time. I belong at the UFC level. I think I can hit the ground running as soon as I get a contract. It’s not a matter of if, it’s when.”
Jack Duffy
Wisem Hammami
Mitch Raposo
Record: 8-1
Age: 25
Weight class: Flyweight
Height: 5’5″
Birthplace: Fall River, Mass.
Next Fight: Jan. 27 vs. Justin Valentin (4-2) at Cage Titans 63 in Plymouth, Mass. (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Around 2010, Mitch Raposo was introduced to MMA through a neighbor. “The bug got me,” Raposo says. He fell in love instantly and became a hardcore fan. Too young to fight amateur or pro, Raposo supplemented his drive to compete with high school wrestling. It was all part of his bigger plan to become a professional fighter. In 2019, Raposo turned professional at 21 following a 6-0 amateur career. Over the years, Raposo got looks at Lauzon’s MMA and with The New England Cartel, all the while keeping his home base of Regiment Training Center. Raposo competed at bantamweight on “TUF 29” as part of Team Volkanovski. He was eliminated in the opening round by Liudvik Sholinian. He then competed on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021 and lost by submission to Jake Hadley. Since, Raposo has finished back-to-back fights including a highlight-reel knockout to win the CES flyweight title.”
The skinny: Raposo has matured tremendously throughout his pro career. He was highly touted from the jump, so the spotlight was on. But don’t mistake bumps in the road for lasting failure. He’s improved from his defeats, which have only come in UFC tryout-esque experiences. Cross-training at the best locations across New England, alongside guys like Rob Font and Calvin Kattar, can only help him. He was a pivotal part of Font’s camp for Deiveson Figueiredo in December. He’s also spent time in Las Vegas at Xtreme Couture, getting different looks with top-tier talents including Amir Albazi and Cody Durden. Raposo’s biggest challenge has been finding willing opponents. He went through a training camp to fight top regional talent Cleveland McLean in November, only to have McLean pull out on fight day. His upcoming opponent will serve as a litmus test and an opportunity for matchmaker Mick Maynard to take another look should Raposo win.
In his own words: “With the way I’m feeling right now, I know in a year I will be in a completely different position. This will all be worth it. My frustration and my hunger (to stay active) is just all part of the plan. That’s the truth of it all. There are so many guys who believe they deserve to be in the UFC. I’m going to go out there and just let my performances speak for themselves. I feel like I’ve done that and I’ve just got to really go out there and remind them. If I go out there and do what I know I can do, there’s no denying me after this one.”
“… I feel like when I go out there now, I want to show the UFC. It wasn’t that I wasn’t skilled enough to be there before. It was maybe that I wasn’t mature enough. Now, you’re seeing it in my performances. The No. 15 guy in the country (per Tapology regional rankings) Cleveland McLean pulled out the day of our fight. There’s only so much I can do. Just is a stud. We’ve been on the same circuit for a while. I have a lot of respect for Justin. But I have the most to lose. These guys beat me and they think they can get their shot. I kind of take it personal in a way. I really want to go out there and show this guy is not in my league. He’s 4-2 and beat some good guys and has been around, but he’s facing a whole different beast, a whole different animal. It’s kind of like that Kobe Bryant quote, ‘Different animal, same beast.'”
Fighters worth watching who didn’t crack the list, yet are on the verge of something big:
Zackery Powell (6-1) – Friday vs. Mark Hulme (11-3) at Unified MMA 55 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (UFC Fight Pass)
John Nguyen (6-3) – Friday vs. Mateo Vogel (8-3) at Unified MMA 55 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (UFC Fight Pass)
Cody Peterson (6-1) – Friday vs. Quang Le (6-0) at LFA 174 in Prior Lake, Minn. (UFC Fight Pass)
Quang Le (6-0) – Friday vs. Cody Peterson (6-1) at LFA 174 in Prior Lake, Minn. (UFC Fight Pass)
Kegan Gennrich (7-2) – Friday vs. JaCobi Jones (6-2) at LFA 174 in Prior Lake, Minn. (UFC Fight Pass)
Samandar Murodov (9-0) – Jan. 20 vs. Bobur Kurbonov (13-5) at UAE Warriors 46 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UFC Fight Pass)
Alex da Silva (23-5) – Jan. 20 vs. Dinislam Kamavov (13-2-2) at UAE Warriors 46 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UFC Fight Pass)
Alden Coria (7-2) – Jan. 21 vs. Alberto Trujillo (8-3) at Fury FC 85 in Houston, Texas (UFC Fight Pass)
Magomed Kadimagomedov (5-0) – Jan. 26 vs. Nacim Belhouachi (3-2) at Hexagone MMA 13 in Paris
Michael Aljarouj (10-3) – Jan. 27 vs. Liridon Ramani (6-3) at JSC 1 in Nimes, France
Mathias Poiron (7-0) – Jan. 27 vs. Keweny Lopes (9-1-1) at JSC 1 in Nimes, France
Keweny Lopes (7-0) – Jan. 27 vs. Mathias Poiron (7-0) at JSC 1 in Nimes, France
Vinicius Pires (6-0) – Jan. 27 vs. Apollo Gomes (9-1) at LFA 175 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass)
Anderson Ferreira (18-4) – Jan. 27 vs. Samuel Silva (11-4-1) at LFA 175 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass)
Fernando Laurenco (17-3) – Jan. 27 vs. Rafael Pereira (10-4) at LFA 175 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass)
Marco Tulio (9-1) – Jan. 27 vs. Vinicius Pires (9-1) at LFA 175 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass)
