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By: Brad Walker MMATorch Columnist
I have been contemplating this column for some time now since I have become very accustomed to the fighters in the area over the last couple of years. Do you know that feeling when you see someone fight and you just see a glimmer of greatness that makes you think "This guy is going to be unstoppable?" Very few fighters have given me that kind of image of their fighting abilities, but here in Illinois I can think of more than a few who possess the talent to eventually become top tier in their weight class. Others from the state already have: Clay Guida, Pat Curran, Ricardo Lamas, and Rashad Evans all hail from my home state, so who is next? Here's my safest bets on who can break the barrier of greatness, as well as some Honorable Mentions for those who I believe will see themselves in the big leagues in the future.
Flyweight: Andre Feliciano
Illinois has a very talented flyweight division, but one name stands out and that is the undefeated - both professionally and amateur - Andre Feliciano, fighting out of Elgin, IL from the Midwest Training Center in Schaumburg. He has dominated nearly every fight from bell to bell with his incredibly strong wrestling game and has rarely seen a bad spot in a fight. He has established himself as the man to beat in the state, and will look to continue that streak. With a 3-0 professional record and a prior 5-0 amateur record it remains to be seen if anyone can actually beat this incredibly gifted fighter. Time will tell what heights he can reach, but for now I have to rank him at number one in the state.
Honorable Mention #1: Joey Diehl. Joey is an extraordinarily gifted fighter from Team Curran in Crystal Lake, IL who has been on the big stage already, having fought in Bellator once, and he will be making his XFC debut this Friday. His 3-4 record does not reflect the level of talent and potential which he carries.
Honorable Mention #2: David Williams. Another one of Team Curran's flyweights, Williams amassed a dominant 9-1 record during his amateur run and will be making his professional debut at American Predator FC on June 22 in McCook, IL. Williams' only career loss is to the aforementioned Andre Feliciano, and with Williams's mix of speed, strength and well-rounded martial arts game he is going to be a force in the professional circuit.
Bantamweight: Cory Galloway
Illinois also has a very deep talent pool for the bantamweight division, but one fighter stands out amongst the rest, Cory Galloway. He is a Team Curran fighter with a 3-1 record who actually made his professional debut (and took his only loss) in the Bellator cage. Since then he has bounced back to finish three consecutive fights and is now signed to RFA. Galloway to me looks like a fighter who has infinite potential because of his ability to adjust and adapt extremely quickly during the course of a fight. He may get popped and dropped but as soon as he hits that mat he will grab your arm and damn near yank it off if you don't tap. His jiu-jitsu is incredible and pairs well with his great technical striking to make him a threat no matter where the fight goes. Galloway is a fighter who I feel very secure in saying we will see in the top 10 one day not too far from now, and with his present three fight win streak giving him momentum, I hope we see him on the largest stage very soon.
Honorable Mention #1: Ramy Daoud. Ramy is a fighter who will be completely content tearing you to pieces in the center of the cage to get a win. He is presently undefeated and holds the capability to be one of the scariest men in the cage, his performance at XFO 46 was fantastic and left his opponent unable to answer the bell for round two. Daoud is one of those guys that just looks like he should be great, but luckily for him he has the talent to back it up.
Honorable Mention #2: Danny Aguirre. With a fantastic 8-2 record and a penchant for finishing fights, Aguirre has quickly made a name for himself on the local scene. I hope and expect that we will see him move up the ladder quickly, and in his wake he will probably leave numerous submission victims. In fact his only two losses have come to UFC vet Chico Camus and WEC vet Carson Beebe, everyone else has been stopped in their tracks.
Featherweight: Will Brooks
This is a division that Illinois isn't exactly overflowing with, but there is plenty of talent, like Bellator and Dream vet Will Brooks. His 9-1 record properly reflects his ability to make mid-fight adjustments and finish his opponents seemingly at will. His striking and submission games are both fantastic, and after moving to the national scene he is making us proud. Only 10 fights into his career he has made his stamp on the sport and will continue to do so. Brooks could be a force to be reckoned with in the near future, and his huge in in Dream was the first indication of his greatness.
Honorable Mention #1: Guillermo Serment. Although Serment has appeared in many weight classes, I believe his natural weight could and should be at featherweight. Despite being on a three fight losing skid, he has been up against top tier competition and has for the most part held his own. Guillermo is a very talented fighter who needs to meet his potential in order to fulfill his destiny in the sport of MMA. He is a former Ring of Combat champion, and although his 4-6 record does not reflect his skill, he puts in plenty of work at Team No Comment MMA to raise his game.
Lightweight: Charlie Radtke
Lightweight in Illinois has one of the brightest and fastest rising stars in the state right now, and that is Team Curran pro Charlie Radtke. He has only had one professional fight, but the win was both dominant and brutal all at once. Most recently he competed in the XFC open tryouts and to my knowledge won a contract with the organization, not too bad for a guy who just went pro about six months ago, eh? Radtke is a massive lightweight, standing over six feet tall, and the power in his hands may very well be second to none. Radtke will make an impact at 155 wherever he goes, but I do not imagine it will be very long before we see him fighting with the greatest in the sport on the largest of stages.
Honorable Mention #1: Damian Norris. Norris and his 3-1 record are definitely seeing an uptick in interest right now as he has yet to make it from bell to bell in the cage. He can submit you or knock you it, it all depends on where you want the fight to end. He's incredibly gifted and swift for his size, and he is a fighter I could see breaking the barrier into the top tier not too far from now.
Welterweight: Kent Rexford
This is a pretty thin division in the state right now in the pro ranks, but one man who has really shined lately is Kent Rexford. Although he is 37 years of age, he proves that your youth can be extended through good fitness and some damn talented fighting. Every win he has is a finish and most recently he finished Devon Morris with a brutal rear naked choke at XFO 47. Rexford is a guy I haven't seen fight many times, but every time I have his power and sheer strength present a "wow" factor from my vantage point. I'm unsure of what the future holds for him, but I certainly hope to see him fight again soon.
Honorable Mention #1: Lawrence Dunning. Dunning is that one guy whose career got started on the wrong foot with three consecutive losses, so he hit the gym and trained harder before massacring his next two opponents. Now standing with a record of 2-3 Dunning looks to continue his success; he is a mountain of a man, but as you would expect him to knock you out, he's more likely to submit you. His talent is incredible, and where he goes next is going to depend on how long he can keep his winning streak intact.
Middleweight: Ron Imhoff
This is another rather thin division in the state, but Ron "The Marine" Imhoff is showing us how to turn back the clock at 41 years of age. His record stands at 6-3 but his true potential is yet to be seen. He lives and trains out of southern Illinois, and is a fantastic finisher. His age may ultimately determine whether or not he is able to make it to the big leagues, but if he continues at his determined pace he is definitely increasing his chances.
Honorable Mention #1: Ed Blake. Despite not having fought since 2011, I believe Ed Blake is one of the best middleweights to grace the Illinois circuit. With a 7-1 record that includes five finishes, I know I am not the only one hoping he makes a return to the cage soon.
Light Heavyweight: Daniel Vizcaya
Finding a light heavyweight in the state of Illinois is like finding a needle in a haystack, and the only name that even comes to mind presently is Daniel Vizcaya. He holds a 7-2 record, and after a successful run in XFO he made his Bellator debut in December, defeating Jack Hermanson. He has defeated talent on multiple levels, and will continue to do so, hopefully again in Bellator. Vizcaya has a well evolved submission game to go with a great wrestling skill. He holds literally no glass ceiling and can be every ounce as good as he wants to be. His style is brutal, and seeing someone get locked into one of his submissions is like watching a car get crushed in the junkyard.
Heavyweight: Erick Correa
In Illinois the heavyweight class has truly become a one dog race, and the dog in question is former super heavyweight golden gloves winner and professional boxer Erick Correa. Erick fights out of Team Curran and has in his two pro fights dominated the better part of them. His second fight was not nearly as good as his first, but his striking is absolutely jaw dropping. He may need to do some work on his conditioning and clinch work but good lord when this guy hits someone you half expect their head to pop off. Erick has infinite potential to be a top tiered elite fighter in the sport, now it's up to him to reach his fullest potential.
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