Author: Around the Felt Sports
True dominance in MMA typically occurs later in a fighter’s career, where they have a holistic grasp of their abilities and how to use them. Maturity coupled with momentum equates to this dominance. On the regional scene, everyone goes through growing pains. It is impossible not to, even if they do not result in losses. Many of the rising stars we have examined have losses on their records, which is not to disparage them; it is a natural part of the process. This week’s fighter, however, has reached a level of mastery rarely seen at his stage. Not only does…
As is a common occurrence in the MMA landscape, there are an increasing number of prospects to pay attention to, with so many coming and going. The gentleman who is the subject of this week’s article has been due praise for a long time. At only age 22, King has dismantled every opponent placed in front of him, remaining undefeated with five victories. Making his pro debut a mere year or so ago, to show this much promise so early is worth taking a long look at. King’s last four fights have come under the Fury FC banner, and he…
With the draft approaching in a few days, here is my final 2026 mock draft. This is the third year I have had the opportunity to put out my own mock ahead of the draft and I am hoping to do better than the six correct picks I had in both the 2024 and 2025 drafts. Since Mock 1.0, my New York Giants agreed to a massive trade with the Cincinnati Bengals, sending Dexter Lawrence II to the Bengals for the 10th overall pick, which could have major implications for the top 10. More on this later. Before we get…
As much as fans love to see barn burners, both ends of the bell curve, as far as weight divisions in MMA are concerned, remain similar. Both the lightest and heaviest weight classes are frequently overlooked when discussing top talent. I am not saying I necessarily agree, but I understand where the sentiment comes from. Heavyweights are, after all, best known for “standing and banging”, so much so that we can fail to recognize real potential when we see it. The heaviest weight division in the UFC is also one of the most stagnant. So, I ask, is new blood…
MMA is a ruthless business, yet I am still surprised at how certain names are not yet in the UFC or, at the very least, the Contender Series. Christian Natividad is one such name. “The Hawaiian Punch” (amazing nickname, by the way) has a perfect professional record of nine wins with no losses, going undefeated in amateur as well. Still under thirty years of age, he has time to continue to build his resume and hone his already razor sharp skills. Born in Hawaii and now fighting out of Arizona, Natividad has fought his entire professional career under the LFA,…
The time has come for my first solo mock draft of the 2026 draft season. The past two seasons I have released my mock the week of the draft, but this year, I couldn’t help myself and wanted to get one out earlier. If you are an NFL draft nerd like myself, make sure you are subscribed to our YouTube channel as we have already released eight other iterations of a mock draft. Without further ado, let’s get into this. Mark this one down with sharpie. Mendoza is the pick for a Raiders team that desperately needs a franchise quarterback…
A fighter’s nickname does not always convey their fighting style or personality. Oftentimes, it just sounds cool but doesn’t really suit them. For rising prospect Phumi Nkuta, “Turbo” entirely fits the bill. I am thrilled to finally be covering a flyweight in this week’s article. While the lightest men’s professional MMA weight class can often be overlooked, I find it to be one of the most entertaining and talented divisions. The fists fly faster, the movements look sharper, and the fast-forward button appears to be perpetually held down. While heavyweights are prone to swinging for the bleachers, flyweights rely more…
Watching young athletes in any sport is like leveling up in a video game. Even when they are winning, they do not start overpowered. It is a treat to watch the maturity and technical refinement unfold. The sport of mixed martial arts is not boxing. A perfect record is not required. If anything, it is sometimes more impressive to see a newer fighter rebound from setbacks and become better as a result. Atlanta’s Christian Turner certainly fits the criteria for what I am talking about. Making his professional debut in 2022, “The Titan” has amassed a resume of ten wins…
Like any other profession, not all fighters are created equal. There are many athletes who will be delegated to the B leagues for their entire careers. Then there are others who hit the ground running right out of the gate. All it takes is a credentialed background and a couple of impressive fights to catapult someone into the spotlight. Boasting a perfect 5-0 professional record, Austin Clayton is one such individual. With the right ingredients, a prospect does not require twenty-something amateur fights; they just have to check the right boxes. “The Ace” possesses a solid foundation in freestyle wrestling,…
When considering the candidates for this week’s article, I was reminded of some of the criteria I personally like to use. An ideal candidate is young, with plenty of upside and innate talent. Unfortunately, not every fighter can make it to the UFC, and we have seen many promising fighters delegated to the feeder organizations for much of their career. In terms of this week’s prospect, I do not anticipate that being the case. Adam “Primetime” Posener is an unstoppable force thus far in his career, racking up a 6-0 professional record at only 21 years of age. Posener is…