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STRONG: Searching for the next British MMA star - A look at potential names in and out of the UFC
Oct 14, 2014 - 3:10:25 PM STRONG: Searching for the next British MMA star - A look at potential names in and out of the UFC

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By: Tom Strong, MMATorch Contributor

After seeing the rise of Conor McGregor, it got me thinking as to where the next Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy, or Brad Pickett will be coming from. I remember when Bisping burst onto our screens, winning 'The Ultimate Fighter 3" series, and how it galvanised the British fans, getting us to believe that maybe one day we'd see a British UFC Champion.

Let's be honest here, there isn't anyone at the forefront at the moment who will compete for a title, let alone win one. Michael Bisping may be the closest if he can overcome Luke Rockhold next month, though with his age and eye injury this dream is looking very unlikely. However, let's take a look at the potential options both in the UFC and out who could step up as the next UK superstar in MMA.

UFC Contenders

Brad Pickett - His move to flyweight hasn't gone as smoothly as planned, with an average performance victory over Neil Seery and a unanimous decision defeat to Ian McCall at UFC Fight Night 46 in Dublin, Ireland. Pickett finds himself back down the flyweight ladder, with a long road ahead to get back into the title contention. Brad will always be a firm favourite with the fans as he comes to fight every single time, but that's also his downfall when facing some of the best fighters.

Star Potential: 6.5/10

Jimi Manuwa - He isn't getting any younger. He's 34-years-old, and the light heavyweight is 14-1 after suffering his first professional loss when he stepped up in class to fight number one contender Alexander Gustafsson in March.

Manuwa will always be a fan favourite, none of his 14 fights have gone the distance, and 13 of his 14 wins have come via knockout. Jimi really could do more promote himself; sure, he doesn't have to be Conor McGregor and trash talk his way into fights, but he could take a leaf out of his book to get himself more noticed by the public, as he could carry the torch for English fans.

Star Potential: 8.5/10

Ross Pearson (16-7-1NC) - Ross' stand up is some of the best in the UFC, and his movement and footwork makes him a very tough opponent for anyone in the lightweight division. There's potential for him breaking into the top 10, and he'll continue to be in some very entertaining fights, though it's likely he will fall just short of ever fighting for the lightweight belt.

Star Potential: 7.5/10

John Hathaway (17-2) - A fighter many forget when talking about British competitors, Hathaway has some very impressive wins behind him. He's defeated Rick Story, Diego Sanchez, and Pascal Krauss during his UFC run, to name a few. Hathaway was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2010, and along with injuries has only fought once in 18 months. That long lay off made having to face someone as dangerous as Dong Hyun Kim far from ideal, and it proved to be just that as he lost via 3rd round TKO.

Hathaway is one of the nicest guys you'll every meet, and we all know nice guys don't come first!

Star Potential: 7/10

Luke Barnatt (8-1) - Coming off a very close split decision loss to Sean Strickland in a fight we'd all like to forget, I feel Luke has all the potential to go onto great things. His main advantage is his height, at 6' 6" he may be the tallest middleweight in the division. With the right coaching and good match ups, I can see Luke breaking into the top 15 and upsetting a few fighters along the way.

Star Potential: 8/10

Leon Edwards (8-1) - He will be making his UFC debut when he faces Claudio Da Silva at UFC Fight Night 56 in November. Edwards' only defeat come via DQ after an illegal knee to his opponent. Edwards comes over to the UFC as the BAMMA Lonsdale British Welterweight Champion, though this will be a big step up in class for Edwards, having fought most of his career for BAMMA. He's another very exciting talent and I'm looking forward to him making his debut.

Star Potential: 8/10



Outside of the UFC:

Paul Daley (35-13-2) - When you hear the name Paul Daley, it's a name everyone knows for one reason. That's the Josh Koscheck sucker punch he landed after the bell at UFC 113, a fight which was for a title eliminator. Not only did he lose the fight, he lost his job for his antics.

Daley hasn't helped himself at times, and has done little to make up for his errors. That said, he recently signed with Bellator, which is great news for the fans, though it's a case of what could've been with Daley, as the best days are nearly behind him now. If things had been different, I really think Daley could've fought for the welterweight title within the UFC.

Star Potential: 7/10

Karl Etherington (8-0) - England has not been blessed with many heavyweights in MMA, and by many, I mean many who are decent. At 39 years old, time isn't on Etherington's side. He's undefeated in his MMA career, and will have a chance to make a name for himself when he faces ex-WWE star Bobby Lashley when the pair meet at Bellator 130 next week.

Star Potential: 5/10

Liam McGeary (9-0) - Bellator light heavyweight and summer series light heavyweight tournament winner, McGeary is certainly making waves within the Bellator promotion. All of his wins have come via knockout (5) or submission (4), and since making his Bellator debut last year, none of his fights have gone past the first round. With a real need for a light heavyweight prospect in England, Liam McGeary could fit the bill.

Star Potential: 8/10


Arnold Allen (8-1) - He is a Cage Warriors featherweight fighter with only one defeat on his record. Allen is only 20 years of age and likely learned a lot from his first defeat. A fighter that impresses me more and more, and with plenty of time on his hands he will only get better and better. I have few doubts he'll go on to become CWFC Featherweight Champion before getting his big move to the UFC.

Star Potential: 8.5/10

Danny Roberts (11-1) - Roberts is another welterweight prospect on the horizon. Roberts, who currently fights for CWFC, is riding a five fight winning streak within the promotion, and edging near a shot at the Welterweight Title. Roberts possesses knockout power and submission skills, and will be a fighter to keep a close eye on.

Star Potential: 6.0/10

Pietro Menga (12-0) - Menga is one of the top European flyweights, and gets overlooked by many. With only two of his 12 fights going to a decision, he's one of the more exciting flyweights around. With the UFC flyweight division not being one of the most stacked divisions, it will only be a matter of time before we get to see Menga fighting for the UFC.

Star Potential: 7.5/10


Additionally, Walter Gahadza (14-0), an undefeated welterweight, will be facing another prospect in Ryan Scope (8-0) when the pair meet at M4TC 15 in November. Could the winner go onto big things?


The One To Watch:

Michael Page is currently signed to Bellator MMA. The 27-year-old welterweight fighter stands at 6'3", and despite only seven professional MMA fights to his name, he's managed to defeat all of his opponents save Nah-Shon Burrell last week inside the first round via submission or knockout. Page has a unique/flashy fighting style, almost to the point of cocky, which will either make you love him or hate him. If you haven't seen this guy fight, you must.

He's got to rebuild a bit after a duller decision, but if he can continue his progress over the next year, he will undoubtedly be a superstar in the making!

Star Potential: 9.5/10

[Michael Bisping art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]