This week does feels like the first instance where I’m less sure of how things are going to play out for the three athletes highlighted below not because of their abilities, but because of the pairings and the dynamics of those fights, so it’s going to be interesting to see if the red-hot start to the year continues.
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Here’s a look at three ascending talents to watch out for at UFC 326 this weekend.
Raul Rosas Jr.
When “El Nino Problema” punched his ticket to the UFC and set his sights on breaking Jon Jones’ record for being the youngest champion in UFC history, I said he had the best chance of anyone that has shared that ambition simply because of how much time Rosas Jr. had in order to achieve the feat. The clock is ticking, my confidence is wavering a little, but I think this weekend’s pairing with Rob Font will provide some important clarity on the matter.
Rosas Jr. turned 21 in October, so he still has more than two years to get to the title, and if he starts getting anywhere close, you best believe the UFC will work to take full advantage of the situation. He’s 5-1 inside the Octagon and has built up some more cage time by going to the scorecards in each of his last two fights, earning 29-28 wins across the board in both contests. His grappling remains his strong suit, and physically, the Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) alum has tremendous size for the division although it could eventually force a move to featherweight.
The path to victory is on the ground, obviously, as we’ve seen Font get wrestled and largely controlled on the canvas a couple different times. That has been against much more seasoned competition, so how those first few grappling entanglements shake out should be telling. The Massachusetts man, who has been spending his camps at Tristar Gym in Montreal of late, has a great job, good footwork, and all the savvy to hand Rosas Jr. a second loss and stifle his momentum, but he’s coming off a loss to another emerging name in the division and turned 38 last summer.
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If Rosas Jr. is going to have any chance of challenging Jones’ record, this is where he really starts to make that push. Beating Vince Morales and Aoriqileng were solid wins and needed learning experiences, but this is his first significant step up in competition and it’s time to show he’s ready to hang with those in the Top 15. Font isn’t an easy out and despite losing last time out, beating him still carries real weight.
This is a massive fight for the Mexican prospect and one everyone should be paying close attention to on Saturday night.
Gregory Rodrigues
Some may quibble with my selection of Rodrigues over his opponent Brunno Ferreira given that (1) “The Hulk” beat him in their first meeting at UFC 283 and (2) has a longer active winning streak than Rodrigues at the moment, but for me, “Robocop” has shown to be a little further ahead in the pecking order than his Brazilian compatriot, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that shows on Saturday.
Fighting out of Kill Cliff FC in South Florida, Rodrigues arrives at UFC 326 having gone 5-1 in the six fights since his initial encounter with Ferreira, with his lone setback coming in a main event pairing with Jared Cannonier. His decision win over Christian Leroy Duncan at UFC 304 showed tactical awareness, his knockout of Jack Hermansson at UFC 317 still appears in my nightmares every couple of weeks, and grinding out a decision win over Roman Kopylov is a quality victory in my books.
As much as Rodrigues is known for his crushing power, he does have some real grappling chops in his back pocket and has used them a little more in recent bouts, showing a greater focus on doing what it takes to earn a victory rather than simply wanting to chase a knockout and trade on the feet. That bodes well here as Ferreira has big power of his own that has already put the 34-year-old out once and gives up some real size to Rodrigues.
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Some of the impending departures from the middleweight Top 15 will automatically create room for the winner of this one to move up a spot or two, which would put Rodrigues on the doorstep of the Top 10 should he emerge victorious. While he may not project to climb too much higher than that because of his age and the talent ahead of him, the thunder in his hands makes him an ever-present threat against whomever he faces, and it would only take one highlight reel stoppage of a contender for him to surpass those supressed expectations.
Luke Fernandez
Given how we constantly talk about the heavier weight classes being in constant need of new talent, it only makes sense to spotlight a debuting light heavyweight with some promise here.
Fernandez is 6-0 as a pro and needed just 15 seconds to claim his spot on the roster last season on Dana White’s Contender Series, blowing through Rafael Pergentino. As good as he looked there, it’s the success he had under the CFFC banner — both in MMA and grappling — that really up the level of intrigue as he heads into his debut appearance opposite Rodolfo Bellato in Saturday’s UFC 326 opener. CFFC is one of the best promotions in the sport, and Fernandez thrived there, beating Eryk Anders and Phil Hawes in grappling matches while earning five wins and four finishes.
He’s 30 years old, which is slightly older than more newcomers, but a positive in my books, trains with good crew at Dante Rivera BJJ, and went 6-0 as an amateur as well, earning five finishes. Thus far, he’s a straight up winner and finisher, and I’m excited to see what he can do in the UFC.
Bellato is a good initial test as someone with a handful of UFC appearances under his belt that is solid everywhere, but not some battle-tested vet looking to rebound at the expense of a divisional freshman. He’s had a weird run since winning his debut against Ihor Potieria, so he should serve as a quality measuring stick in this one.
Light heavyweight is one of those divisions where three or four wins puts you within reach of the Top 10, higher if you’re winning with style points, and so far, Fernandez looks like someone that might be able to make that push.
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