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 Texas flyweight known as “Lil Dragon” and “Lil Kevin (Holland)” continues to rack up wins en route to what he hopes is a UFC call.
- An Albanian-born wrestling champion hopes to pick up his second CFFC title defense and attract the eyeballs of a major promotion in the process.
- A seasoned welterweight has run through everyone in the Southwest regional scene, so he’s running it back with one of his toughest challenges in order to prove himself to the powers that be.
- The center of one of MMA’s greatest all-time comeback stories, a top Canadian prospect aims to continue to defy the odds toward his ultimate goal.
- One of upcoming UFC title challenger Brandon Royval’s main training partners, a Factory X staple knows he’s ready for the UFC – it’s just about proving it one more time.
Kevin Fernandez
Record: 7-1
Age: 24
Weight class: Flyweight
Height: 5’7″
Birthplace: Forth Worth, Texas
Next Fight: Oct. 6 def. Joseph Camacho (6-2) via second-round submission at LFA 169 in Dallas (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: From birth, Kevin Fernandez has been intrigued by the fight game. The grandson of a Mexican boxer, Fernandez remembers growing up in a household where fighting was often on the TV, whether it was boxing, Bruce Lee, Batman, or Jackie Chan. Always “fighting” with his siblings, Fernandez began going to a local gym to hit bags. It was nothing serious, but after Fernandez was moved to an alternative school due to troublemaking, he met coach Durwyn Lamb, who came to speak to the students. Fernandez got Lamb’s card and before long he joined the gym. Lamb is Fernandez’s coach still until this day. Fernandez took his first amateur fight at 17 years old in 2016. Five years later in 2021, Fernandez turned professional. He’s now 7-1 with five finishes overall and six appearances in LFA.
The skinny: Fernandez continues to improve fight in and fight out. He’s surrounded himself with some of the best fighters in his area including UFC fighters Kevin Holland and Terrance McKinney. He’s a finisher with a knack for a scrap, which particularly at flyweight is always a plus. Having fought for LFA, XKO, and XMMA, Fernandez has only competed for top regional promotions. He’s always competed against fighters within his experience level while avoiding opposition with upside down records. Friday’s victory at LFA 169 was perhaps his biggest to date, or at least his most notable. While another fight or two on the regional scene wouldn’t hurt, Fernandez is proving his skills are nearing – if not already – UFC caliber.
In his own words: “(Being around UFC fighters on my team), it’s definitely motivating and reassuring to know I could be where they’re at and I could make this happen. They have my back a lot and hook me up with whatever I need outside the cage and stuff.”
“… In the mental aspect of the game, I feel like I’m mentally tough. … I feel like that’s what separates me from a lot of people. I feel like I can take it. I’ve lost a lot in life and stuff, so I know how to take a loss. I know how to push forward to not let that happen again. … I know how submit to myself in the midst of battle and do whatever it takes to win.”
“… If the UFC called me tomorrow, I’m ready to go. I’m not turning it down. I think, yeah, that’s where I’m at right now. I think the next step would probably be a title shot for LFA. If not, they’d probably try to get me a short notice fight in the UFC or something. That’s what everybody keeps telling me. … I feel like I am on the radar, so I’m just trying to stay humble and stay focused and keep training.”
Vilson Ndregjoni
Record: 8-3
Age: 31
Weight class: Bantamweight
Height: 5’7″
Birthplace: Albania
Next Fight: Oct. 13 vs. Tariq Ismail (7-1) at CFFC 126 in Tampa, Fla. (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Born in Albania, Vilson Ndregjoni began wrestling at eight years old. He became a national champion as the youth, junior, and senior level. He competed on the international level and in Olympic qualifiers. Ndregjoni came to the United States for the first time in 2015 to compete for a world championship. Shortly after, Ndregjoni decided to pivot to MMA. As much as he loved wrestling, he loved MMA more, inspired by Conor McGregor and others. Ndregjoni was forced to take two years off due to an Achilles tendon injury but upon his return dove headfirst into MMA. Ndregjoni turned professional in 2019 after a 4-1 amateur stint. He won the CFFC title in April by knockout. He fought again in June and won by knockout, though the title was not on the line because he missed weight.
The skinny: Ndregjoni is a wrestler with slick hands and brutal knockout power. That’s a challenge for any opponent and a must-watch for any fan. The weight issue from his last fight Ndregjoni is confident was a one-time issue. But he knows he needs to prove himself again and pick up another big finish. Ndregjoni has challenged himself time and time again. His level of opposition is high. He’s not being spoon-fed. Training at AMA, K Dojo, LAW MMA, and Tiger Schulmann’s Ndregjoni is getting multiple, world-elite looks in. Knowledge is being bestowed on him by some of the sport’s best minds with some of the best lighter-weight training partners available. Given all this, and Albania’s absence of native representation, Ndregjoni seems like a layup of a signing should he make weight and finish Tariq Ismail.
In his own words: “I’m going to make it and become the first Albania-born fighter in UFC history. I’m almost there. … It would mean everything. I’ve worked for 21 or 22 years to pursue this goal. I’ve worked so hard until those days come. Most of the guys in the UFC where I train at. I know what level I am and it’s my sixth year of MMA. As a pro fighter, it’s my fourth year. And I lost one year due to COVID. They canceled my fights. I fought all my MMA fights in five years. I want to fight. I’m an active fighter. I want to fight four or five times a year. I’m ready.”
“… I can impact on the UFC bantamweight division and beat any kind of person from champion to the bottom one. I train with the champion and the No. 2. I’ve trained with Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling. We all train together. I know my level. I know what I can do in that division. It’s just a matter of time.”
Kris Vereen
Record: 9-0
Age: 33
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Enid, Okla.
Next Fight: Oct. 14 vs. Evan Cutts (15-7) at Peak Fighting 32 in Frisco, Texas (Online PPV)
Background: A college football player at East Central University in Ada, Okla., Kris Vereen tried out for the CFL and landed in the Arena Football League. After a few weeks, he was cut. In order to expand his alethic horizons, he walked into an MMA gym. His friend Kelvin Rayford challenged him to a judo class. Vereen admits he was cocky, but quickly ate humble pie while a teenage kid tossed him around. Competitions or fights weren’t on the agenda, but opportunities presented themselves and his life trajectory changed. Eventually, he met up with UFC alum Mark De La Rosa and the rest was history.
The skinny: Undefeated at 9-0, Vereen has had 11 professional fights including two no contests. He’s 33, which is on the older side for his experience level, but it’s important to remember he brought an unusual level of athleticism into MMA as a collegiate and professional football player. Thus far, he’s proven to be a finisher – with a 63 percent rate of ending fights inside the distance. If he goes out there and takes care of business at Peak Fighting again, he seems like a perfect candidate for a short-notice debut call. It’s gotten to the point Vereen is having to repeat the toughest regional tests, seemingly because there aren’t other options out there for him. That seems to say all you need to know.
In his own words: “It’s time to look forward. It’s time to really see if I can dial in again and get it done. That’s what we always pray for. We always pray for good performances but sometimes they don’t happen. I’m a very humble guy when it comes to all this. I’m just ready to get in there and show I’m a better fighter than I was last fight. That’s what I pride myself on. Every fight I want to show I’m better than last fight and the rest will take care of itself.”
“… I want to put a stamp on it and show I am a good wrestler. I can do jiu-jitsu and I can strike. That’s why I love Kamaru Usman. He can strike. He can wrestle and he’s got good jiu-jitsu. And he’s got knockout power. That’s what I like to mold my game after, somebody like him. … This is a very important fight, one that’s more important than the first one (vs. Cutts).”
“… I’ve been watching a couple UFC cards lately and some of these welterweights, man, I’m just like, ‘Man, I’d destroy these guys.’ I say that with the most upright respect and me being humble. But I’ve been clapping and cheering for everybody else that’s in the UFC. When is it my turn to clap and cheer for myself?”
Jamie Siraj
Record: 9-2
Age: 29
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 5’8″
Birthplace: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Next Fight: Oct. 19 vs. Ryan Rohovich (5-5) at BFL 78 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Jamie Siraj needed an outlet for his energy during a home life self-described as “rough.” That’s when came across Revolution Martial Arts and former UFC fighter Kajan Johnson, who served as one of the head coaches. Siraj had his first fight at age 15 and was immediately hooked. MMA gave him a direction, a path. It changed everything. It was the one place he could go to and be truly happy. After a 7-2 amateur career, Siraj turned pro in 2014. He encountered mixed results with a 3-2 start. After some tweaks in his approach and mentality, Siraj found consistency. He hasn’t lost since. In 2019, Siraj was on the doorstep of a UFC call, aligned for a shot on Dana White’s Contender Series. That’s when life decided to take a different turn. Siraj began to feel ill and doctors did not know why. After a long, grueling period of his body failing, Siraj was diagnosed with hyper IGE Syndrome, an immunodeficiency disorder. It rendered him largely unable to function, septic, and near death. Through treatment, Siraj is now back to a largely normal life. In June, for the first time in four years, Siraj fought and won for Battlefield Fight League. His sights are officially back on the UFC.
The skinny: Siraj has been through hell and back. Spend five minutes listening to what he went through and you’ll have a new appreciation for Siraj – and for life, in general. Siraj was a UFC-level talent in 2019 before his break. He was likely one fight away from being the next Canadian to sign with the promotion. However, due to the massive curveball, he’s had to rebuild. There was a long period of time where he was unable to train, so just trying to reconstruct his body is something that takes time itself. But June’s fight was a good step. If he wins again in October, he’ll be on a seven-fight winning streak. With the UFC likely headed to Toronto in January, the time will be perfect for Siraj to take a step up. What a comeback story that would be!
In his own words: “It’s trippy. It really is trippy to me. (My health issues) feel like forever ago but it wasn’t. I think that’s kind of a testament to the mental place I’m in. I’m almost just choosing to forget things like that happened. I’m continuing to move on in this positive direction that I’m in. I’m back to being a professional athlete and doing what I love. That makes me happy more than anything.”
“… I’ve trained with so many guys. I’m not going to say who … but I know where I stand. I know I can compete at the highest level. … I just genuinely feel like if I had my opportunity with the experience of feeling it all, the only the thing that’s missing for me is high-level experience. I haven’t fought the high-level name that shows people how good I really am. I want to fight in the UFC to show that or find out I’m not who I think I am. I’d face that reality too. But I’m confident in myself. I’m confident that if I had the opportunity to fight in the UFC, I’d show everybody that I not only belong there but I can make a real trajectory toward that title.”
Luis Gurule
Record: 6-0
Age: 29
Weight class: Bantamweight
Height: 5’5″
Birthplace: Colorado
Next Fight: Oct. 22 vs. Gerardo Graniel (11-4) at Fury Challenger Series 8 in Houston (Facebook)
Background: After his wrestling career at Adams State University (Colo.) concluded, Luis Gurule worked as a geologist, but the athletic void was uncomfortably open. Gurule looked into jiu-jitsu and stumbled across Factory X. Fast-forming friendships kept him going back. Before long, he was beating some of the fighters in the room in jiu-jitsu. Fighting had been on his mind since the early days of “The Ultimate Fighter” and Gurule realized it was time to give it a shot. In mid-2021, Gurule began full-on MMA training. In September 2021, he debuted as an amateur. After a 2-0 amateur career, Gurule turned professional in June 2022. In his first 14 months as a pro, Gurule went 6-0.
The skinny: It’s incredible what Gurule has done over such a short period of time. It’s been a little over two years since he began his MMA pursuit and here he is, starting to be considered one of the United States’ top bantamweight prospects. It makes you wonder just how high Gurule’s ceiling is. He entered with a collegiate wrestling background, which is great. But for him to throw on MMA gloves for the first time at age 26 or 27 and finish all eight of his bouts (six pro and two amateur) is essentially unheard of. In the new age of MMA, Gurule is going against guys who have trained since youth. Factory X has played a massive part in this as Gurule gets rounds in with the likes of upcoming UFC flyweight title challenger Brandon Royval. A major promotion should jump on him soon, as who knows what he’ll be doing with one or two more years of training and competition under his belt.
In his own words: “Factory X was able to mold me from just a pure wrestler to someone who is really comfortable with his striking. At this point, I’ve pretty much out-struck everyone I’ve fought. I haven’t even had to show what I’m best at, which is my wrestling. … Fighting with Royval and Chris Gutierrez, Jonathan Martinez, and Youssef Zalal, all of these guys are incredibly good people. Training with them everyday just gives me the utmost confidence going against all these regional guys. Once I go to the UFC, it’s going to give me all of the confidence in the world going against the UFC guys. Training with the best means I have so much peace going into a ring or cage to fight anybody else.”
“… I think me and Brandon Royval could run this division for a while. I have the utmost confidence in my abilities and I think I’m one of the best in the world right now outside the UFC. That’s just all the confidence in preparation. I don’t have as much time fighting in MMA as a lot of these guys, so what I focus on is my preparation and my mindset and my focus every single day. I have to make the most of it in a short period of time to catch up to these guys. I still think where my skills are at, I can make a dent and I’m still getting better.”
Fighters worth watching who didn’t crack the list, yet are on the verge of something big:
- Richie Miranda (7-1) – Oct. 6 def. Derion Chapman (6-11-1) at LFA 169 in Dallas
- Alden Coria (7-2) – Oct. 6 def. Joseph Camacho (6-2) via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2 at LFA 169 in Dallas
- Tariq Ismail (7-1) – Friday vs. Vilson Ndregjoni (8-3) at CFFC 126 in Tampa, Fla.
- Mason Jones (12-2) – Saturday vs. Yann Liasse (9-2) at Cage Warriors 161 in Dublin
- Jan Quaeyhaegens (11-4) – Saturday vs. Paul Hughes (9-1) at Cage Warriors 161 in Dublin
- Paul Hughes (9-1) – Saturday vs. Jan Quaeyhaegens (11-4) at Cage Warriors 161 in Dublin
- Ali Alqaisi (15-6) – Oct. 20 vs. Walter Cogliandro (13-4-1) at UAE Warriors 45 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Timur Valiev (18-3) – Oct. 20 vs. Raulian Paiva (21-5) at UAE Warriors 45 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Amru Magomedov (6-0) – Oct. 20 vs. Jakhongir Jumaev (10-3) at UAE Warriors 45 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Myktybek Orolbai (10-1-1) – Oct. 27 vs. Hayward Charles (18-14) at LFA 170 in Vail, Colo.
- Danni McCormack (7-2) – Oct. 27 vs. Karolina Wojcik (11-3) at Invicta FC 54 in Boston
- Haris Talundzic (6-1) – Oct. 27 vs. Daniel Frunza (7-2) at LFA 170 in Vail, Colo.
- Quillan Salkilld (4-1) – Oct. 28 vs. Brett Pastore (3-1) at Eternal MMA 80 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia
