5 Heavyweights I Expect UFC to Sign in 2017

In 2016 UFC really worked to bulk up their heavyweight division. They added several of the best prospects out there. I expect that UFC continues to target this division. Here are five names that I think will be in the UFC in 2017.

My 2017 Predictions

• I predict 2017 will be a year of retirements of fighters we have watched for years. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, B.J. Penn, Frank Mir, Mark Hunt, Vitor Belfort, Tito Ortiz, Anderson Silva, Michael Bisping, Josh Barnett and Gray Maynard come to mind
• Georges St. Pierre will re-sign with the UFC and will fight in 2017
• Jon Jones will win the Light Heavyweight title
• Justin Gaethje and Marlon Moraes will sign with UFC
• Rampage Jackson will fight in UFC
• Lorenz Larkin will sign with Bellator
• The Ultimate Fighter will finally die
• Ronda Rousey will not fight again.  Cris Cyborg will not fight in 2017 either
• Mackenzie Dern will make her UFC debut
• Helen Maroulis will sign with UFC
• Ryan Bader will sign with Bellator
• UFC will hold a live event in Russia
• The Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Middleweight, Welterweight, Lightweight, Featherweight and Bantamweight UFC belts will change hands
• UFC will renew their deal with Fox
• MMA Unions will still be a big story in 2017
• UFC will start a female flyweight division
• Vitaly Minakov will fight in UFC
• WSOF will not die, but will end 2017 on life support (again)
• Rory MacDonald will lose his Bellator debut
• M-1 Middleweight champion Ramazen Emeev will sign with UFC
• As @talkMMA reported, Jim Rome will replace Mike Goldberg
• UFC pay-per-view numbers will really struggle the first half of 2017, but will rebound in the second half
• Prospects UFC will sign: Tom Duquesnoy, Arjan Bhullar, Denis Goltsov, Darko Stosic, Magomed Ankalayev, Mikhail Mokhnatkin, Jordan Johnson, Paulo Costa, Oskar Piechota, Rob Wilkinson, Logan Storley Mukhamed Berkhamov, Muslim Salikhov, Yaroslav Amosov, Thiago Moises, Paddy Pimblett, and Leandro Higo
• UFC champions at the end of 2017: Francis Ngannou, Jon Jones, Yoel Romero, Stephen Thompson, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Max Holloway, TJ Dillashaw, Demetrious Johnson, Amanda Nunes, Joanna J.
• Bellator champions at the end of 2017: Phil Davis, Rafael Carvalho, Douglas Lima, Michael Chandler, Daniel Weichel, and Eduardo Dantas

Weekend Update: Results From MMA Sun Prospects

• Welli Zhang (MMA Sun #38 WSW) Def. Karla Benitez by KO in Round 1 @ Kunlun Fight MMA 7
• Yanan Wu (MMA Sun #31 WBW) Def. Anjela Pink by TKO in Round 1@ Kunlun Fight MMA 7
• Marilia Santos (MMA Sun #21 WSW) Def. Qihui Wan by Unanimous Decision @ Kunlun Fight MMA 7
• Kirill Sidelnikov (MMA Sun #26 HW) Def.  Baga Agaev by Unanimous Decision @ Fight Nighs Global
• Saigid Izagahmayev  Def. Nikolay Aleksakhin (MMA Sun #31 WW) by Unanimous Decision @ Fight Nighs Global 57
• Dmitry Minakov (MMA Sun #47 LHW) Def. Myktybek Mamasaliev by Submission in Round 1 @ Fight Nighs Global 57
• Omar Nurmagomedov (MMA Sun #60 BW) Def. Rishat Kharisov by Submission in Round 2 @ Fight Nighs Global 57
• Kuat Khamitov (MMA Sun #63 LW) vs. @ Gadzhi Rabadanov by Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) in Round 3 @ Fight Nighs Global 57
• Tom Duqesnoy (MMA Sun #1 BW) Def. Alan Philpott By Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in Round 2 @ BAMMA 27
• Nathan Jones Def. Walter Gahadza (MMA Sun #8  WW) by Split Decision @ BAMMA 27
• Rhys McKee (MMA Sun #34 FW) Def.  Jai Herbert by TKO in Round 1 @ BAMMA 27
• Tanner Boser (MMA Sun #9 HW) Def. Rakim Cleveland by Unanimous Decision @ Unified MMA 29
• Oskar Piechota (MMA Sun #4 MW) Def. Nikos Sokolis by Submission in Round 2 – Spartan Fight 6
• Agnieszka Niedzwiedz (MMA Sun #1 WBW) Def. Samara Santos by TKO in Round 3 @ Ladies Fight Night 4
• Darko Stosic (MMA Sun #7 HW) vs. Dion Staring @ Final Fight Championship 27
• Filip Pejic Def. James Brum (MMA Sun #25 BW) vs.  @ Final Fight Championship 27 – Saturday – Zagreb, Croatia
• Dominic Mazzotta (MMA Sun #12 BW) Def. Solon Staley by Unanimous Decision @ Pinnalce FC 15
• Mark Cherico (MMA Sun #23 LW) Def.  Antonio Castillo Jr.by TKO (Injyry) in Round 1 @ Pinnalce FC 15
• Sean Santella (MMA Sun #23 FlyW) Def. Matt Lozano by Submission in Round 3 @CFFC 62
• Joe Solecki (MMA Sun #65 LW) Def. Andrew Chiricho by Submission in Round 1 @ CFFC 62
• Alexander Keshtov (MMA Sun #26 FlyW) Def. Billy Giovanella by TKO in Round 1 @ Global Proving Ground 27
• Dashawn Boatwright (MMA Sun #47 LHW) Def. Eric Ellerbee by TKO in Round 4 @ Global Proving Ground 27
• Juan Archueleta (MMA Sun #56 FW )vs. Derrick Mandell @ KOTC: Warranted Aggression
• Denis Goltsov (MMA Sun #3 HW) Def. Salimgirey Rasulov by Unaimous Decision @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution
• Brett Cooper  Def. Aslambek Saidov (MMA Sun #21 WW) by TKO in Round 3 @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution
• Magomed Magomedov (MMA Sun #5 BW) vs. Oleg Borisov (MMA Sun #2 FW) by Submission (Guillotine) in Round 4 @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution
• Marat Bataev Def. Yusup Raisov (MMA Sun #7 FW) by Unanimous Decision @ @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution
•  Marcelo Alfaya Def. Beslan Isaev (MMA Sun #24 WW) by Unaimous Decision @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution
• Alexey Butorin (MMA Sun #12 MW) Def. Jake Bostwick (MMA Sun #38 MW) by KO in Round 1 @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution
• Alexander Sarnavskiy Def. Ramazan Esenbaev (MMA Sun #42 LW) by TKO in Round 3 @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution
• Adlan Bataev (MMA Sun #18 FW) Def. Donald Sanchez by Unanimous Decision @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution
• Tural Ragimov (MMA Sun #21 FW) Def. Ed Arthur (MMA Sun #43 BW) by Unanimous Decision @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution
•  Ilya Shegov Def. Wallyson Carvalho (MMA Sun #41 LHW) by TKO in Round 2 @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution
• Kaue Fernandes (MMA Sun #54 FW) Def. Eduardo Santiago @ Shooto Brazil 68
• Carlos Felipe Def. Wagner Maia (MMA Sun #14 HW) vs.  @ Shooto Brazil 68

MMA Sun Prospects in Action This Weekend (December 16-18)

• Bryony Tyrell (MMA Sun #23 WSW) vs. Welli Zhang (MMA Sun #38 WSW) @ Kunlun Fight MMA 7 – Thursday – Beijing, China
• Yanan Wu (MMA Sun #31 WBW) vs. Cindy Dandois @ Kunlun Fight MMA 7 – Thursday – Beijing, China
• Marilia Santos (MMA Sun #21 WSW) vs.  Qihui Wan @ Kunlun Fight MMA 7 – Thursday – Beijing, China
• Kirill Sidelnikov (MMA Sun #26 HW) vs. Baga Agaev @ Fight Nighs Global 57 – Friday – Moscow, Russia
• Nikolay Aleksakhin (MMA Sun #31 WW) vs. Saigid Izagahmayev @ Fight Nighs Global 57 – Friday – Moscow, Russia
• Akhmet Aliev (MMA Sun #29 LW) vs. Peter Queally (MMA Sun #48 LW) @ Fight Nighs Global 57 – Friday – Moscow, Russia
• Kuat Khamitov (MMA Sun #63 LW) vs. @ Gadzhi Rabadanov @ Fight Nighs Global 57 – Friday – Moscow, Russia
• Tom Duqesnoy (MMA Sun #1 BW) vs. Alan Philpott @ BAMMA 27 – Friday – Dublin, Ireland
• Walter Gahadza (MMA Sun #8  WW) vs. Nathan Jones @ BAMMA 27 – Friday – Dublin, Ireland
• Rhys McKee (MMA Sun #34 FW) vs. Jai Herbert @ BAMMA 27 – Friday – Dublin, Ireland
• Tanner Boser (MMA Sun #9 HW) vs. Rakim Cleveland – Unified MMA 29 – Friday – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
• Oskar Piechota (MMA Sun #4 MW) vs. Nikos Sokolis – Spartan Fight 6 – Saturday – Plock, Poland
• Darko Stosic (MMA Sun #7 HW) vs. Dion Staring @ Final Fight Championship 27 – Saturday – Zagreb, Croatia
• Pavel Doroftei (MMA Sun #8 MW) vs. David Mitchell @ Final Fight Championship 27 – Saturday – Zagreb, Croatia
• James Brum (MMA Sun #25 BW) vs. Filip Pejic @ Final Fight Championship 27 – Saturday – Zagreb, Croatia
• Dominic Mazzotta (MMA Sun #12 BW) vs. Solon Staley @ Pinnalce FC 15 – Saturday – Pittsburgh, PA – Watch Live on FloCombat
• Mark Cherico (MMA Sun #23 LW) vs. Antonio Castillo Jr. @ Pinnalce FC 15 – Saturday – Pittsburgh, PA – Watch Live on FloCombat
• Sean Santella (MMA Sun #23 FlyW) vs. Matt LOzano @CFFC 62 – Saturday – Philadelphia, PA
• Joe Solecki (MMA Sun #65 LW) vs. Andrew Chiricho @ Pinnalce FC 15 – Saturday – Pittsburgh, PA
• Juan Archueleta (MMA Sun #56 FW )vs. Derrick Mandell @ KOTC: Warranted Aggression – Sunday – Ontario, CA
• Denis Goltsov (MMA Sun #3 HW) vs. Salimgirey Rasulov @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution – Sunday – St. Petersburg, Russia
• Aslambek Saidov (MMA Sun #21 WW) vs. Brett Cooper @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution – Sunday – St. Petersburg, Russia
• Magomed Magomedov (MMA Sun #5 BW) vs. Oleg Borisov (MMA Sun #2 FW) @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution – Sunday – St. Petersburg, Russia
• Beslan Isaev (MMA Sun #24 WW) vs. Marcelo Alfaya @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution – Sunday – St. Petersburg, Russia
• Ramazan Esebaev (MMA Sun #42 LW) vs. Alexander Sarnavskiy @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution – Sunday – St. Petersburg, Russia
• Adlan Bataev (MMA Sun #18 FW) vs. Donald Sanchez @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution – Sunday – St. Petersburg, Russia
• Tural Ragimov (MMA Sun #21 FW) vs. Ed Arthur (MMA Sun #43 BW) @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution – Sunday – St. Petersburg, Russia
• Wallyson Carvalho (MMA Sun #41 LHW) vs. Ilya Shegov @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution – Sunday – St. Petersburg, Russia
• Albert Duraev (MMA Sun #34 WW) vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky @ Absolute Championship Berkut 50: The Evolution – Sunday – St. Petersburg, Russia
• Kaue Fernandes (MMA Sun #54 FW) vs. Eduardo Santiago @ Shooto Brazil 68 – Sunday – Brasilia, Brazil
• Wagner Maia (MMA Sun #14 HW) vs. Carlos Felipe @ Shooto Brazil 68 – Sunday – Brasilia, Brazil

Weekend Prospect Results (December 9-11)

• Igeu Kabesa (MMA Sun #42 FW)  Def. Hanru Botha by Submission in round 1
• Ramazan Emeev (MMA Sun #1 MW) Def. Anatoly Tokov (MMA Sun #2 MW) by Majority Decision
• Magomed Idrisov (MMA Sun #9 FW) Def. Ivan Buchingr MMA Sun #6 FW) by TKO round 1
• Maiquel Falcao  Def. Vladimir Mineev (MMA Sun #3 MW) by Majority Decision
• David Bear (MMA Sun #25 WW) Def. Jean Dutriaux by armbar in Round 1
• Kassius Holdorf Ded. Maki Pitolo (MMA Sun #30 WW) by KO in Round 2
• Jordan Johnson (MMA Sun #13 LHW) Def. Lemarcus Tuckerby Unanimous Decision
• James Nakashima (MMA Sun # 11 WW) Def. Dez Hill by Unanimous Decision
• Kenny Fredenburg  Def. Dontale Mayes (MMA Sun #13 HW) by DQ due to Illegal Strike to the back of head
• Soo Chul Kim (MMA Sun #8 BW) Def. Shunichi Shimizu by Submission in Round 2
• Jung Hwa Cha (MMA Sun #41 MW) Def. Young Choi by TKO in Round 4
• Davi Ramos (MMA Sun #13 LW) Def. Nick Piedmont by Unanimous Decision
• Pavel Kush (MMA Sun #28 WW) Def. Christophe Vandicky by TKO in Round 1
• Amir Albazi (MMA Sun #49 BW) Def. Dino Gambatesa by Submission
• Daniel Teymur (MMA Sun #32 LW) Def. Manolo Scianna by TKO in Round 1
• Jonothon Westin (MMA Sun #40 WW) Def. John Palaiologos by TKO in Round 1
• Ary Farias (MMA Sun #45 BW) Def. Esteban Zuniga by TKO in Round 1
• Dan Spohn Def. Jeff Hughes (MMA Sun #12 HW) by TKO
• Carlston Harris  Def. Wellington Turman (MMA Sun #41 WW)
• Liana Pirosin (MMA Sun #36 WSW) Def. Vanessa Guimaraes by Unanimous Decision

Notes:

• 7 MMA Sun ranked prospects lost this weekend
• 2 of those losses were prospect vs. prospect matches
• Heavyweight Dontale Mayes lost by disqualification due to an illegal strike to the back of the head.  This loss was akin to Jon Jones’ loss to Matt Hamill.  It was a fight Mayes was clearly winning and perhaps should have been stopped before the shot to the back of the head
• The biggest win was Ramazan Emeev’s victory over Anatoly Tokov
• The most surprising result was Vladimir Mineev’s loss to Maiquel Falcao.  I still like Mineev as a prospect, but feel that is a fight he should have won.  I look for a re-match soon.
• I believe Jordan Johnson is the most likely victor to get a UFC call up after this weekend

MMA Sun Prospects in Action This Weekend (December 9-11)

• Igeu Kabesa (MMA Sun #42 FW) vs. Hanru Botha @ EFC Worldwide 56 – Friday–Johannesburg, South Africa
• Ramazan Emeev (MMA Sun #1 MW) vs. Anatoly Tokov (MMA Sun #2 MW) @ M-1 Challenge 73: Battle of Narts – Friday – Nazran, Russia
• Ivan Buchingr MMA Sun #6 FW) vs. Magomed Idrisov (MMA Sun #9 FW) @ M-1 Challenge 73: Battle of Narts – Friday – Nazran, Russia
• Vladimir Mineev (MMA Sun #3 MW) vs. Maiquel Falcao @ Fight Nights Global 56 – Friday – Vladivostok, Russia
• David Bear (MMA Sun #25 WW) vs Jean Dutriaux @ Gladiator Fighting Arena 5 – Friday –  Rouen, France
• Maki Pitolo (MMA Sun #30 WW) vs. Kassius Holdorf @ VictoryFC 54 – Friday – Omaha, NE – UFC Fight Pass
• Jordan Johnson (MMA Sun #13 LHW) vs. Lemarcus Tucker @RFA 46 – Friday – Branson, MO – AxsTV
• James Nakashima (MMA Sun # 11 WW) vs. Dez Hill @RFA 46 – Friday – Branson, MO – AxsTV
• Dontale Mayes (MMA Sun #13 HW) vs. Kenny Fredenburg @RFA 46 – Friday – Branson, MO – AxsTV
• Arjan Bhullar (MMA Sun #7 HW) vs. Leroy Johnson @ Hard Knocks 52 – Friday – Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• Soo Chul Kim (MMA Sun #8 BW) vs. @ Shunichi Shimizu @ RoadFC 35 – Saturday – Seoul, South Korea
• Jung Hwa Cha (MMA Sun #41 MW) vs. Young Choi @ RoadFC 35 – Saturday – Seoul, South Korea
• Davi Ramos (MMA Sun #13 LW) vs. Nick Piedmont @ PhoenixFC 1 – Saturday – Beirut, Lebanon
• Pavel Kush (MMA Sun #28 WW) vs. Christophe Vandicky @ PhoenixFC 1 – Saturday – Beirut, Lebanon
• Amir Albazi (MMA Sun #49 BW) vs. Dino Gambatesa @ Fight Star Championship 8 – Saturday – London, England
• Daniel Teymur (MMA Sun #32 LW) vs. Manolo Scianna @ Battle of Botnia 2016 – Saturday -Umea, Sweden
• Jonothon Westin (MMA Sun #40 WW) vs. John Palaiologos @ Battle of Botnia 2016 – Saturday -Umea, Sweden
• Ary Faria (MMA Sun #45 BW) vs. Esteban Zuniga @ NCE 9 – Saturday – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Jeff Hughes (MMA Sun #12 HW) vs. Dan Spohn @ IT Fight Series 48 – Saturday – Columbus, OH
• Wellington Turman (MMA Sun #41 WW) vs. Carlston Harris @ Imortal FC 6 – Saturday – Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
• Killys Mota (MMA Sun #28 LW)  vs. Willian Cilli @ Imortal FC 6 – Saturday – Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
• Liana Pirosin (MMA Sun #36 WSW) vs. Vanessa Guimaraes @ Imortal FC 6 – Saturday – Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

Looking Back at RFA: The Top RFA Alumni

The Resurrection Fighting Alliance has long been considered the top feeder organization to the UFC.  The promotion has sent nearly 50 fighters into the UFC’s roster.  Recently, it was announced that RFA and Legacy were merging to create one big regional promotion.  With RFA’s last event on the horizon, we take a look at who the top RFA alumni are.

1. Mirsad Bektic –

Bektic is only 4-0 in the UFC, but he has all the makings of a future contender or even a title holder.  I believe when all is said and done, Bektic will be the best of the RFA alums.  He probably would have been closer had it not been for a serious injury that sidelined him.

2. Tim Elliott –

Tim Elliott was in the RFA before his first stint in the UFC.  He has fought against some of the best in the world at flyweight and is now on the brink of a title shot against Demetrious Johnson.  If he were to somehow pull off the upset, he would move to number 1.

MMA Sun Prospects in Action This Weekend (December 2-4)

• Ottman Azaitar (MMA Sun #13 WW) vs. Kevin Koldobsky @ Brave CF 2: Dynasty – Friday–Isa Town, Bahrain
• Gary Mangat (MMA Sun #13 FlyW) vs. Troy Bantiang @ Brave CF 2: Dynasty – Friday–Isa Town, Bahrain
• Alex da Silva (MMA Sun #54 FW) vs. Daniel Swain @ Brave CF 2: Dynasty – Friday–Isa Town, Bahrain
• Gadzimusa Gadziev (MMA Sun #58 WW) vs. Carl Booth @ Brave CF 2: Dynasty – Friday–Isa Town, Bahrain
• Tyree Fortune (MMA Sun #48 LHW) vs. Ben Forsyth @ Brave CF 2: Dynasty – Friday–Isa Town, Bahrain
• Sid Wheeler (MMA Sun #23 MW) vs. Brendan Allen @ Valor Fights 39 – Friday – Knoxville, TN
• Arman Ospanov (MMA Sun #10 FW) vs. Ryan Hayes @ Legacy FC 63 – Friday – Tulsa, OK – AxsTV
• Jimmy Flick (MMA Sun #46 FLyW) vs. Levi Mowles @ Legacy FC 63 – Friday – Tulsa, OK – AxsTV
• Karol Bedorf (MMA Sun #18 HW) vs. Fernando Rodriguez Jr. (MMA Sun #24 HW) @ KSW 37: Circus of Pain – Saturday – Krakow, Poland
• Borys Mankowski (MMA Sun #3 WW) vs. John Maguire @ KSW 37: Circus of Pain – Saturday – Krakow, Poland
• Mansour Barnaoui (MMA Sun #9 LW) vs. Lukasz Chlewicki @ KSW 37: Circus of Pain – Saturday – Krakow, Poland
• Marcin Wojcik (MMA Sun #40 LHW) vs. Marcin Lazaraz @ KSW 37: Circus of Pain – Saturday – Krakow, Poland
• Kevin Petshi (MMA Sun #58 BW)  vs. Vando De Almeida @ European Beatdown 1  – Saturday – Mons, Belgium

Making the Switch: 13 Athletes Who Could Transition to MMA

A lot of high level prospects have jumped into MMA hoping to find success.  Recently wrestling standout Ed Ruth and Tyrell Fortune debuted for Bellator.  Jarod Trice is set to debut on December 3rd for the promotion.  Aaron Pico is also under contract with Bellator.  Russian Olympian Bilyal Makhov was signed by the UFC with no professional MMA experience.  Iranian wrestler Amir Aliakbari is fighting for Rizin.  I expect the floodgates to continue to stay opened for competitors in wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, judo and kickboxing.  There are other fighters who have recently made transitions that I did not include on this list because I felt they were too deeply transitioned.  Davi Ramos, an elite BJJ practitioner has a 5-1 record already.  Ary Farias is 3-1 in MMA.  BJJ star Kron Gracie is 3-0 with some impressive showings.  Some kickboxers have dabbled in MMA, but I see the path to full time and successful MMA being more difficult for them.  Robin Van Roosmalen is 1-0 in MMA, but still is competing in kickboxing.  Anderson Braddock Silva is more likely to make a full switch to MMA, he already has a 2-0 professional mark.  Obviously, the biggest name would be Rico Verhoeven.  Rico is the top kickboxer in the world.  He has a 1-0 MMA mark, but I do not expect him to do any more than just dabble in MMA.

We take a look at 12 different elite level athletes in other disciplines who could make the transition to MMA some time in the near future.  I tried to find people who were more than pure speculation or wishful thinking, but have actually spoken about a potential move to MMA.  The addition of any of these would be a boost for the sport.

1. Kyle Snyder 

Snyder is an Olympic gold medalist.  Those don’t come around often.  He has made clear that he wants to fight MMA and may do so sooner rather than later.  The questions for Snyder are, how would a potential MMA career impact a run at the 2020 Olympics.  I am assuming that is still important to him.  However, he could forego that and jump right into MMA.  I am quite certain UFC and Bellator would love to get their hands on him.  Also, he is still a collegiate athlete that has to uphold his amateur status.  I could see a scenario where he leaves school to compete in MMA, but that is not a sure thing.  If Snyder would move full time to MMA it would make him the best prospect in the sport.  He is just 20-years old, has an incredible wrestling pedigree and could fight in the heavyweight or light heavyweight divisions.  It is not really speculation of Snyder jumping into MMA, he has said he will.  However, I will believe it when I see it.

MMA Sun Prospects in Action This Weekend (November 18-20)

• Sergey Pavlovich (MMA Sun #1 HW)  vs. Alexei Kudin @ Fight Nights Global 54 on Wednesday in Russia
• Rasul Mirzaev (MMA Sun #3 FW) vs. Levan Makishivili  @ Fight Nights Global 54 on Wednesday in Russia
• David Khachatryan (MMA Sun #21 LW) vs. Anatoly Safronov @ Fight Nights Global 54 on Wednesday in Russia
• Alexei Kunchenko (MMA Sun #4 WW) vs. Murad Abdulaev (MMA Sun #23 WW) @ M-1 Challenge 72 on Friday in Moscow, Russia
• Artem Frolov (MMA Sun #7 MW) vs.  Luigi Fiorvanti @ M-1 Challenge 72 on Friday in Moscow, Russia
•  Ivan Shtyrkov (MMA Sun #35 HW) vs. Antonio Silva @ German Titov Boxing Fight Night on Friday in Yekaterinburg, Russia
• Andre Harrison (MMA Sun #1 FW) vs. Julian Lane @ Ring of Combat 57 on Friday in Atlantic City, NJ
• Julio Arce (MMA Sun #26 BW) vs. Frank Buenafuente @ Ring of Combat 57 on Friday in Atlantic City, NJ
• Yana Kunitskaya (MMA Sun #15 Women’s BW) vs. Tonya Evinger @ InvictaFC 20 on Friday in Kansas City, MO
• Jessy Rose Clark (MMA Sun #6 Women’s BW) vs. Pam Sorensen @ InvictaFC 20 on Friday in Kansas City, MO
• Cheick Kone (#MMA Sun #27 MW) vs. Adam Mutaliev @ Lyon Fighting Championship 7 on Saturday in Lyon France
• Joseph Morales (MMA Sun#15 FlyW) vs. Josh Pavia @ Global Knockout 8 on Saturday in Jackson, CA