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MOORE: Breaking down the state of European fighters in the UFC (Part Two - Light Heavyweight)
Jun 22, 2015 - 12:45:46 PM MOORE: Breaking down the state of European fighters in the UFC (Part Two - Light Heavyweight)

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By: Dan Moore, MMATorch UK Columnist

A couple of years ago I wrote a series of articles for MMATorch covering every single European fighter on the UFC roster. As we know only too well, a lot can change in the MMA landscape, and it certainly has as far as who's still on the roster, and who isn't. Over the next few weeks I will take a look at who's on the roster in 2015 (division by division), and report on how they're all doing. I will also attempt to predict what outside talent may join them in the next year or two. This week I take a look at the UFC light-heavyweight division (Check out part one with the heavyweight division here):

CONTENDERS

One minute you've got fans campaigning for you to get another title shot, and then when you finally get it they deem you unworthy. Alexander Gustafsson (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) was a razor thin decision away from dethroning Jon Jones at UFC 165. Then after a tune-up win over Jimi Manuwa (UFC Fight Night 38) in London, his planned rematch with Jones failed to happen when he got injured. Any momentum behind him disappeared.

Gustafsson ended up fighting Anthony Johnson in Stockholm (UFC on Fox 14) for the right to face Jones again. He lost and he lost badly. Not to worry though, because it turns out the winner and loser of that fight will both end up getting a shot. Johnson already had his chance but now Gustafsson has been confirmed as the next challenger to face newly crowned champion Daniel Cormier later this year.

It's a bit of a reach to consider Jimi Manuwa (15-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) a contender of sorts, but he's ranked inside the top 10 so his status here should reflect that. Alexander Gustafsson exposed his weaknesses at UFC Fight Night 38 in March last year, but the American born Englishman has won his other four UFC fights convincingly. It's a pity his fight in Brazil with Mauricio Rua was called off because Jan Blachowicz (UFC Fight Night 64) is the biggest name he's beaten, and that's helping no one.


ESTABLISHED

No one can accuse Ilir Latifi (9-4 1 NC MMA, 2-2 UFC) of taking the easy option for a chance with the UFC. He was signed as a replacement for Alexander Gustafsson, only one week before a main event fight with Gegard Mousasi at UFC on FUEL 9 back in April 2013. We all knew he would lose, but he actually came away from the fight with a lot of credit. Opinion of him increased after solid wins over Cyrille Diabate (UFC Fight Night 38) and Chris Dempsey (UFC Fight Night 46), but his momentum was halted after a tough loss to Jan Blachowicz (18-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 53.

Blachowicz blitzed through Latifi, replicating the kind of form that had seen him build up a five-fight win steak fighting for KSW in his native Poland. Not long after he achieved top 15 ranking status, a position he still holds despite a decision loss to Jimi Manuwa (UFC Fight Night 64). He doesn't have another fight scheduled yet, but rest assured Blachowicz will provide a tough challenge for almost anyone in the division.

Nikita Krylov (18-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) was the first Ukrainian fighter to ever sign with the UFC. He came with a big reputation having previously fought for M-1 Global, but his debut was one of the worst fights I've ever seen. At UFC 164 both he and Soa Palelei gassed in the first round and then literally rolled around cuddling each other until the Australian summoned up enough strength in the final round to put us out of our misery. A rebound win over Walt Harris followed, but Krylov saw sense and made the decision to drop a weight class.

For his light-heavyweight debut he was paired with the highly touted Ovince Saint-Preux (UFC 171). He lost due to scintillating and very rare Von Flue choke, but he's since bounced back with two wins of his own, first against Cody Donovan (UFC Fight Night 46), and more recently over Stanislav Nedkov (UFC on Fox 14). Krylov was slated for a very winnable match-up against Marcos Rogerio de Lima at The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 4 finale this weekend, but due to visa issues for his opponent it has now been canceled.

Hans Stringer (22-6-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) entered the UFC after drawing his last fight against Francisco France at WSOF 6. It's not often that happens, but the Dutchman took his opportunity with both hands, and registered a split-decision win over Francimar Barroso at UFC Fight Night 38 in Natal, Brazil. No such good fortune came in his next fight when he was clearly outclassed by another Brazilian, Fabio Maldonado. The aforementioned Ilir Latifi is next at UFC Fight Night 72 in Glasgow where both guys could really do with a win.


NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

Two-weeks the UFC announced they'd signed Latvian light-heavyweight Misha Cirkunov (9-2 MMA) to a multi-fight contract. Cirkunov is on a four-fight win streak with his last two as part of HKFC in Canada (where he's lived for many years). One of those victories came against former UFC competitor Rodney Wallace. The Latvian is a very good grappler and extremely quick and agile on the ground. His striking is a little sluggish, but his overall size and talent will match-up well in such a depleted division.


ON THE RADAR

This signing is not going to happen, but I would love to see Liam McGeary (10-0 MMA) get a chance to fight the very best. He's clearly not as interested as I am though, because he only recently signed a multi-fight deal to stay with Bellator and he will fight Tito Ortiz in September. A former Bellator champion who may be more accessible is Slovakian, Attila Vegh (29-6 MMA). Immediately released by Bellator after losing his first title defence, he's now plying his trade in Poland with KSW, although he lost his debut fight there against Goran Reljic (15-4 MMA, 1-3 UFC); a man who's previous UFC tenure didn't exactly go according to plan.

There's an abundance of talented Russians in the UFC right now, but not one of them competes in the light-heavyweight division. If the UFC want to change that they should look no further than Gadzhimurad Antigulov (15-4 MMA) and Maxim Grishin (20-6 MMA). The former is on a nine-fight win streak, possesses a wicked ground game, and deserves to be tested at a higher level. Grishin meanwhile is another powerful and dominating Russian who's in the midst of a seven-fight win streak. Grishin's streak includes a win over Dane Joachim Christensen (11-3 MMA) who himself is a decent prospect, but one who needs more experience even though he did just beat the well regarded Swede, Max Nunes (15-3 MMA).


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