Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.
For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.
This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.
- A rising Oklahoman training in Colorado at Factory X is eager to show the UFC he’s ready through his first five-round fight.
- An Albania-born fighter made many sacrifices to travel across the world and pursue MMA training in New York, so he’s determined to make his UFC dreams happen.
- A former ACA standout has plenty of high level experience, but a an LFA title could put him over the top and make him a layup UFC signing.
- An experienced Canadian aims to continue consistent performances until the UFC calls.
- An experienced Mexican combatant hopes a title defense for Urijah Faber’s promotion is enough to attract UFC eyeballs.
Aryion Young
Record: 7-1
Age: 26
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 6’0″
Birthplace: Oklahoma City, Okla.
Next Fight: Dec. 3 vs. Nate Richardson (10-4) at Fury FC 84 in Houston (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Rather than have dreams of being an astronaut or a cowboy like many of his friends, Aryion Young always wanted to be a fighter – and he never grew out of that pursuit. As soon as he got his driver’s license, Young drove over to the local boxing gym. He eventually added jiu-jitsu and then had his first MMA fight shortly after his 18th birthday. After a brief collegiate wrestling stint at University of Central Oklahoma, Young dropped out. He wasn’t having a good time and fighting was on his mind, not strictly wrestling. Young hopped on a Greyhound bus and headed out to California, where he found former UFC fighter Joe Stevenson. The two hit it off immediately and Young remained there for four years, training under “Joe Daddy” and at Dan Henderson’s gym in Temecula. Eventually, Young wanted to move a little closer to home, so he settled on Denver and Factory X in 2020.
The skinny: Talk to Young for just a few minutes and you’ll realize he has a good head on his shoulders. Whether it’s confidence, intelligence, or just by luck, Young has followed a tremendously productive path to this point in time. His MMA game is rooted in multiple foundations – another true example of the sport’s “new breed.” His journey around the western United States has lead him to pick the brains of multiple wealths of knowledge, get numerous looks, tighten up loose ends, and see first hand what it means to be a UFC fighter. His in-cage performances have each been a step in the right direction, with his only loss due to a cut in his second pro bout. He beat UFC vet Carlton Minus last time out and will fight in his first five-round fight next time out against a truly game opponent. Big things are in store for Young, whether they come now or later.
In his own words: “I think the lighter weights right now are really hard to get signed right now. There’s so much talent. I think I’m close and I do belong. Nothing is going to come by it by me complaining, though. I’ve just got to keep beating people up until I’m undeniable and they sign me, I guess. … With Fury, at any point if I have a fight scheduled and I get called, obviously they’ll find another opponent for my (opponent).”
“… I really hope (a call comes). It’s a weird situation because there is everyone from the outside saying, ‘You should get the call. You’re ready. This and that.’ The thing is that I can’t do anything about it other than what I’m doing. I don’t hold any of the cards. The only thing I can do is just keep getting better, stay ready, be ready for short notice calls. That’s kind of the process nowadays is taking short notice fights or whatever it may be. That’s what I’ve been doing. I’m staying ready.”
Armando Gjetja
Record: 8-3
Age: 30
Weight class: Lightweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Albania
Next Fight: Dec. 15 vs. Robert Watley (13-3) at CFFC 128 in Atlantic City, N.J. (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Armando Gjetja was born in Albania, but grew up in Italy. At 8, he began judo, his inaugural martial art. At 18, he integrated kempo karate. Boxing and kickboxing followed. He worked with the pad-holder of esteemed Italian kickboxer Giorgio Petrosyan. At 21, Gjetja decided the United States had the most opportunity. After a period of time configuring paperwork, Gjetja moved to New York at 23. Gjetja started at 2-3 but has won six straight fights to flip the record downside-up. He trains under Ray Longo, a connection made through his fellow countryman and current UFC fighter Dennis Buzukja. Longo has become a big influence on the Ring of Combat lightweight champion.
The skinny: If the sacrifices Gjetja has made to pursue his MMA dream doesn’t speak volumes, his skills will. A fun fighter and the seeming next Longo MMA import headed to the UFC, Gjetja is wisely utilizing the CFFC platform to catch the appropriate eyeballs. His next fight will be his toughest. Robert Watley is a solid test for anyone and a former standout prospect of his own. Gjetja is taking a risk in this fight. He could probably find someone else easier with a closer to .500 record to fight – but instead he’s facing a crafty veteran head-on. Five of his eight professional wins have come by knockout, so the power is there.
In his own words: “All I’m trying to do is knock harder and harder and harder and harder at the door of the big stage. I’m not one to beg for attention. I’m going to make it. I’m going to produce it. It’s like, you are going to come and look at me. I’m not about all that big talk and begging. I’m going to put the work in and if the work is worthy, they’re going to call. If one belt wasn’t enough, I’ll look at the next one and the next one. Like I said earlier, it took a whole chapter of my life just to figure out how to come here and then how to settle down and be financially able to train. I’m living the dream right now. This is the dream. This is the biggest part of the dream and I’m grateful.”
“… I’m in love with martial arts but in a particular way. The way I see it is nothing else but math, geometry, body anatomy. Once you start seeing it like that, everything clicks – even the learning process gets faster.”
“… I really believe that this fight is going to be my golden ticket. I truly believe it’s the biggest and most important promotion in the Northeast. They do a great job in production. They have good ties. There are already going to be eyes on me for this fight. I truly believe this is going to be the one.”
Azamat Bekoev
Record: 16-3
Age: 27
Weight class: Middleweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Russia
Next Fight: Dec. 15 vs. Lucas Fernando (9-2) at LFA 173 in Las Vegas (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: The odds have been stacked against Azamat Bekoev since Day 1, yet he’s pushed forward. Bekoev grew up in a small village in the mountains near Vladikavkaz, Russia. He only had four other children in his class, and 25 total in the school. He initially stumbled across MMA recordings through classmates and was intrigued. Undefeated in the streets, Bekoev stepped into an MMA class and – plot twist – was quickly choked out. This frustrated him and rearranged his gears to operate with one mission in mind: never letting that happen again. His parents and those around him didn’t really buy into his MMA dreams initially, but when Bekoev racked up win after win, the attitudes changed. Bekoev won multiple grand prix tournaments in Russia, before he signed with ACA for a four-fight stint. After that concluded, Bekoev left to pursue the UFC. It was around the same time he followed friend Omari Akhmedov to American Top Team. After three straight wins, Bekoev won a fourth for LFA gold in June.
The skinny: Bekoev is above average in terms of skills when it comes to fighters usually included on this list. He’s one of the best unsigned middleweight prospects on the planet and should be a layup for the UFC. Despite its lack of popularity in the United States, ACA puts on extremely legitimate, high-level martial arts contests in Russia. Bekoev split his appearances there, but showed a lot of ability. Since then, he’s improved tremendously training at one of the world’s biggest and best gyms in ATT. Should he defend his LFA title in December – in Las Vegas on the eve of a massive UFC pay-per-view event – Bekoev will be headed to the big show. There’s no doubt about it.
In his own words: “I never broke and that’s why I’m at where I’m at today, because of where I came from and the cloth I’m cut from, how difficult it was in the smallest of small towns.”
“… My impact in the UFC is going to be felt often and with full force. I want to be able to available always and have quick turnarounds if they need me and I just want to go in there and destroy everybody because I’m so motivated. I feel like I can really go in there and turn some lights out.”
“… Aside from being a completely universal fighter able to do it on the ground and on my feet, I think my strength and my conditioning and my will to overcome anything that’s in front of me sets me aside. I know a lot of people have that but I just don’t think that anybody has the will that I have. You can’t blame me for thinking that way. I have a lot of heart and soul and motivation. So Mick Maynard, please give me a chance. … Mick Maynard, you love fighters who can finish. Right now, I have 13 finishes out of 16 fights. I’m planning to have 14 finishes out of 17 fights. I know you guys want finishes and I want to be that guy who is going to deliver with the big finishes.”
This interview was conducted using a Russian interpreter.
Tom O'Connor
Record: 12-2
Age: 31
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 5’8″
Birthplace: Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada
Next Fight: Dec. 15 vs. Craig Shintani (11-4) at Unified MMA 54 in Enoch, Alberta, Canada (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Some fighters enter martial arts shortly after they can walk. Some are born into a martial arts family. Tom O'Connor is neither of those scenarios. He admits, he stumbled into the game – and through hard work, he’s picked it up pretty quickly. O’Connor is a former rugby and hockey player. The athletics have always been there. When the road of competitive rugby and hockey came to an end, O’Connor needed to fill a void. Enter kickboxing. Eventually, O’Connor connected with coach Brad Wall and he caught the MMA bug. He took on every class available. The training was fun. The education was fun. Hitting things was fun. He loved it. He went on a 9-1 and was a pillar of the briefly revived XFC promotion. Since the promotion’s demise, O’Connor has gone 3-0 for Unified MMA with three stoppages.
The skinny: O’Connor focused on the process. That’s where his pressure lies. He’s not really interested in focusing on tasks that haven’t crossed his plate yet. Sure, the major promotional call will come, but it’s not something he can control. All he can do is zone in on his training every day in the gym and put on solid performances when it comes time to fight. So far, that recipe is working. He’s a fun fighter who has finishes on the feet and on the ground. He doesn’t shy away from tough matchups despite the relatively limited amount of bodies on the Canadian regional scene. He signed up to fight a 7-0 fighter before an 11-4 stepped in as a replacement – both good tests. Despite his modesty and level-headedness, a fourth straight win under the banner of leading Canadian promotion Unified MMA could certainly get him that UFC call.
In his own words: “I think I bring a really well-round game to the table. With my mentality, there are all these little things we’re doing as athletes to get a little edge – to get that one percent edge over our competitors. Some of the things that separate me from the pack are the really good people around me who keep me grounded. They’ll say, ‘Hey, you put in all that work. All those inches add up to the mile.’ … With my confidence in myself and my team and my training, I feel like the mental edge I always do have that. I’m ready to go on fight night.”
“… I’m trying to leave no stones unturned. I’m learning to be the best I can be with the best grappling, overall game. … I’m continually filtering what’s working and filtering out what’s not working. That process is never-ending learning. You keep getting better everyday – one percent everyday. I think if you do that with anything in life, working toward your goal of 1 percent everyday, then it really is the little things outside of your control that you don’t have any effect over, they won’t matter as much.”
“… Really what I’m trying to do in my career is elevate my skill set and game to the very best it can be and fight the very best fighters in the world. Right now, that’s in the UFC and that’s where I want to be. Other organizations are on that path and that’s OK with me as well. I want to have good fights against the best in the world. I want them to be exciting, entertaining fights that showcase my high-level skill and my always-improving skill. If I had to write this all down on paper – that’s it.”
Alex Sanchez
Record: 14-3
Age: 29
Weight class: Lightweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Mexico
Next Fight: Dec. 23 vs. Anthony Figueroa (4-0) at Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat 16 in Visalia, Calif. (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Born in a small town in Mexico, Alex Sanchez had a humble beginning. It was engrained in him early on that hard work was necessary to obtain the basics to live. That made his pivot to fighting even more difficult, but with great dedication and sacrifice, Sanchez positioned himself for great reward. Sanchez was introduced to MMA by some friends, who had begun their journey already. He fell in love immediately. Eventually, he found his way to Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas and leveled up even more under coach John Wood. Sanchez has competed for various notable promotions including Combate Global, UWC, Lux Fight League, and the now-caput XFC. In September, he notched Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat gold when he finished Eddie Hoch by second-round stoppage.
The skinny: Sanchez has built quite the resume over the course of his 17-fight tenure. All of his stops along the way have crafted him into the best version of himself. His power is in his hands with eight knockouts to date. His chin and durability has proven pristine, as he’s yet to be finished with strikes in his career. If you fight Sanchez, know it’s not going to be easy. He’s battle-tested, to say the least. With Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat on the rise – and their partnership with UFC Fight Pass – Sanchez seems like the perfect candidate to elevate to the UFC should he successfully defend his title vs. an undefeated foe next time out.
In his own words: “I don’t think of this as a sacrifice; I sincerely look at it as things that I have to do to be able to reach my goals and fulfill my dreams. The only difficulty is being away from my family. My family means everything to me, and they’re very proud of what I’m doing. My family is my greatest motivation.”
“… Competing in the UFC is something that I’ve been working on for years, and I know I’m ready. When I get to the UFC, I’ll be there to stay–that’s what we always took about. It’s just a matter of time. Whether it’s this year or next, I will 100-percent be showcasing my skills in the UFC’s Octagon.
“… I think my next fight will be by knockout, and I hope that’s enough to get me my first opportunity with the UFC. Whether it’s after this fight or later, it’s just a matter of time. … I’m sure that’s the way it will be. I’ve been talking about it with my trainers and manager and I think we’re closer than ever. Right now I’m No. 2 in Mexico, so if the UFC looks at the ranking, I think we’ll get the offer. I’m at my best.”
This interview was conducted using a Spanish translator.
Fighters worth watching who didn’t crack the list, yet are on the verge of something big:
- John Caldone (6-1) – Friday def. Darius Estell (7-5) – via second-round knockout at Ring of Combat 82 in Atlantic City, N.J.
- Mikey England (7-1) – Friday def. Perry Stargel (9-4) via unanimous decision at FAC 22 in Independence, Mo. (Spectation Sports)
- Nate Richardson (10-4) – Sunday vs. Aryion Young (7-1) at Fury FC 84 in Houston (UFC Fight Pass)
- Raffael Cerqueira (8-0) – Thursday vs. Jhonathan Azevedo (4-1) at Victorious MMA in Fortaleza, Brazil
- Rodrigo Vera (15-1-1) – Dec. 14 vs. Geovane Vargas (11-4) at FFC 70 in Lima, Peru
- Robert Watley (13-3) – Dec. 15 vs. Armando Gjetja (8-3) at CFFC 128 in Atlantic City, N.J. (UFC Fight Pass)
- Shane Campbell (21-8) – Dec. 15 vs. Darrell Horcher (14-6) at Unified MMA 54 in Enoch, Alberta, Canada (UFC Fight Pass)
- Guido Santos (16-3) – Dec. 17 vs. Heilton Dos Santos (22-8-1) at SFT 45 in Sao Paulo
- Heilton Dos Santos (22-8-1) – Dec. 17 vs. Guido Santos (16-3) at SFT 45 in Sao Paulo
- Carlos Petruzzella (11-0) – Dec. 22 vs. Nicolas Martinez (8-4) at Samurai Fight House 14 in Buenos Aires (YouTube)
