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By: Dan Moore, MMATorch UK Columnist
A couple of years ago I wrote a series of articles for MMATorch covering everysingleEuropean 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 both the UFC bantamweight and flyweight divisions (Check out part one with the heavyweight division here, part two with the light heavyweight division here, part three with the middleweight division here, part four with the welterweight division here, part five with the lightweight division here, and part six with the featherweight division here).
CONTENDER
Flyweight Ali Bagautinov (13-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) earned himself a UFC title shot after only three victories inside the Octagon. Wins over Marcos Vinicius (UFC Fight Night 28), Tim Elliott (UFC 167), and John Lineker (UFC 169) were enough to convince the UFC to pit him against the champion. When he did eventually face Demetrious Johnson at UFC 174 he was outclassed like everyone else, and then failed a post-fight drug test. His next fight is to be confirmed although his suspension period has since expired.
VETERANS
His 'One Punch' nickname has to be considered false advertising, but as a fan you're guaranteed entertainment when Brad Pickett (24-11 MMA, 4-6 UFC) steps inside the Octagon. Four wins in his last ten fights doesn't look good on paper, but Dana White rightly loves him, and his status as a UFC fighter will be guaranteed for as long as he wants it. At UFC 189, Pickett, along with Thomas Almeida, set the tone for quite possibly the greatest MMA main card we've ever witnessed.
Another wily veteran of the bantamweight division is Armenian Manvel Gamburyan (14-9 1 NC MMA, 6-6 1 NC UFC). His UFC tenure has also been hit-and-miss, but he's currently riding a two-fight win streak after defeating both Cody Gibson (UFC 178) and Scott Jorgensen (UFC Fight Night 71). Gamburyan will never fight for the UFC Featherweight Title, unlike when he was part of WEC (he lost to Jose Aldo at WEC 51), but if he keeps winning fights every so often he'll remain part of the roster for a while yet.
ESTABLISHED
Bantamweight Ian Entwistle (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has seen plenty of scheduled fights canceled since he made his UFC debut in a loss to Dan Hooker (UFC Fight Night 43). Most of them have been attributed to his own injury problems, but he has at least managed one fight that ended with him being victorious over Anthony Birchak (UFC on Fox 13).
Irishmen Patrick Holohan (12-1-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) and Neil Seery (15-11 MMA, 2-2 UFC) have capitalised on the success of fellow countryman Conor McGregor, but both thoroughly deserve it. Seery is a particular favourite of mine, but the fact he still needs his other job for a second income, despite having fought on the biggest MMA event of all time, is absolutely ludicrous. For me it's the biggest tell tale sign that the sport of MMA is not even close to being at mainstream level.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
It's debatable as to whether or not David Grant (8-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) even belongs in the category of new kids on the block. He made his UFC debut (and lost to Chris Holdsworth) in the finalz of The Ultimate Fighter 18. However a constant run of bad luck with injuries has meant his second fight in the organisation has been delayed over and over again. Hopefully the Englishman finally gets back to full health and we get to see him fight again in the not so distant future.
He only made his UFC debut in late June, but Swede Sirwan Kakai (12-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has a chance to make it two consecutive wins this weekend since he signed. He beat Danny Martinez (UFC Fight Night 70) in his debut, although his task of beating Frankie Saenz at UFC Fight Night 73 on Saturday night appears a far tougher proposition. One fighter who already owns two UFC wins is Frenchman Taylor Lapilus (10-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC). Solid victories over Rocky Lee (UFC Fight Night 64) and Yuka Sasaki (UFC Fight Night 69) have increased his profile tenfold since he was signed earlier this year.
HEADING FOR THE EXIT
Bantamweight didn't work out for Vaughan Lee (14-11-1 MMA, 3-5 UFC) and it appears flyweight won't either. To his absolute credit, he's fought some of the very best, such as T.J. Dillashaw (UFC on FUEL TV 4) and Raphael Assuncao (UFC on FUEL TV 10), but he was sadly out of his depth, and lost convincingly to both. His win over Kid Yamamoto (UFC 144) will forever remain a highlight, but his last defeat to Patrick Holohan (UFC Fight Night 72) could be his last.
RECENTLY DEPARTED
Alpetkin Ozkilic (9-4 MMA, 0-3 UFC) was supposed to set the world alight when he joined the UFC just under two-years ago. The Istanbul born talent was previously considered one of the very best at flyweight, expected to add real depth to a division still in its infancy. It never happened, though, and he fell the same way as other highly touted prospects Darren Uyenoyama and Josh Sampo.
ON THE RADAR
There are three very talented British fighters in the lower weight classes of MMA who may very well end up in the UFC one day soon. Welshman Brett Johns (12-0 MMA) and Englishmen Mike Wooten (9-0 MMA) and Pietro Manga (12-0 MMA) are all making waves in the UK and all of them are currently undefeated. Johns has looked particularly impressive as the Titan FC Bantamweight Champion over in America, and he will probably be the first to make the leap.
Almost every division in MMA seems to have a talented Russian waiting in the wings and Bantamweight and Flyweight are no different. Magomed Bibulatov (9-0 MMA) appears to be the most promising, but Timur Valiev (9-1 MMA) and Kurban Gadzhiev (10-0 MMA) will no doubt dispute my claim and probably prove me wrong in the future once signed with the UFC.
23 year old Ukrainian Ruslan Abiltarov (18-5 MMA) and 27 year old Kazakhstani Kairat Akhmetov (21-0 MMA) are two other flyweights certainly worth keeping an eye on. The inevitable step-up in competition they will find in the UFC will test them greatly, but I for one can't wait to see them give it a good go.
Next week in the series finale, I'll cover both women's divisions.
Follow me on Twitter, @MMATorchDan and let me know your opinion on anything I've written about.
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