On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who might make UFC with December wins

Document: 12-2
Age: 30
Top: 5’8″
Weight: Light-weight
Birthplace: Canada
Subsequent struggle: Dec. 4 def. Nemat Abradashitov (19-9) by way of TKO (ground-and-pound) – Spherical 5 at Tuff-N-Uff 140 in Las Vegas (UFC Fight Pass)

Background: Jamie Siraj wanted an outlet away from a “tough” residence life. That’s when he joined Revolution Martial Arts. Former UFC fighter Kajan Johnson served as one of many head coaches. Siraj had his first struggle at age 15 and was instantly hooked. After a 7-2 beginner profession, Siraj turned professional in 2014. Since a 3-2 begin, Siraj hasn’t misplaced. In 2019, Siraj was on the doorstep for a UFC name, aligned for Dana White’s Contender Sequence. Nevertheless, Siraj fell unwell and medical doctors didn’t know why. After an extended, grueling interval of his physique failing, Siraj was recognized with hyper IGE Syndrome, an immunodeficiency dysfunction. It rendered him largely unable to perform, septic, and close to loss of life. By therapy, Siraj is now again to a largely regular life. In June 2023, for the primary time in 4 years, Siraj fought and gained for Battlefield Struggle League. He was supplied a spot on “The Final Fighter 32,” however was one of many remaining cuts from the roster – a transfer that shocked him, contemplating he flew all the best way out to Las Vegas. In Might, he completed then-8-1 Tariel Abbasov by submission. In September, he defeated David Briones by unanimous resolution. Now, he faces his hardest take a look at so far.

In his personal phrases: “For 4 years, it appeared like I’d by no means be preventing once more. Now, I’m simply attempting to make up for misplaced time. I’m attempting to remain as lively as doable. I really feel just like the trajectory my profession was on earlier than I acquired sick was that I used to be working by means of folks. Nobody was (stopping me). The fights didn’t even look remotely aggressive. I simply need to proceed off that trajectory and wrack up these finishes and earn my spot again within the UFC. I do know that’s the place I belong. I imagine particularly with a end over Nemat, I feel that places me proper again there. How might it not?”

Valesca Machado def. Yulia Ostroverkhova – Invicta FC 56

Document: 14-4
Age: 29
Top: 5’4″
Weight: Strawweight
Birthplace: Brazil
Subsequent struggle: Dec. 13 vs. Yasmin Castanho (6-1) at Invicta FC 59 in Atlanta (CBS Sports Network)

Background: Valesca Machado was skeptical of martial arts the primary time she stepped foot inside a gymnasium. Fairly frankly, she didn’t need to be there in any respect. However by means of her coaching, Machado found so much about herself. By preventing, she realized channel her psychological, bodily, and emotional well-being and progress in the appropriate course. After an 8-2 begin to her skilled profession, Machado had a giant break: a shot on “Dana White’s Contender Sequence” in 2021. She misplaced a unanimous resolution to Piera Rodriguez. Since then, she’s gone 6-1 along with her lone loss to Danni McCormack. That included Invicta FC and Urijah Faber’s A1 Fight championships. She’s gained two-straight since her McCormack loss and a 3rd one consecutively might be the allure.

In her personal phrases: “Hopefully (on this struggle) they’ll get to see one thing much like what they noticed on my final struggle. … I imagine I developed so much (since my loss to McCormack). I wasn’t capable of present it in my final struggle however the distinction is obvious in my coaching periods. … (If I win) I imagine I’ve completed greater than sufficient to get a possibility. … I imagine that I’m able to face prime competitors within the UFC. It will definitely take a while and some fights to get somebody ranked, however I imagine I’m able to face most ranked ladies.”

This interview was carried out by means of a Portuguese language translator.

Document: 8-2
Age: 23
Top: 5’9″
Weight: Light-weight
Birthplace: Brazil
Subsequent struggle: Dec. 14 vs. Dorobshokh Nabatov (8-0) at ZFN 2 in Goyang, South Korea (UFC Fight Pass)

Background: Matheus Camilo solely began coaching eight years in the past. His first skilled struggle was solely 5 years in the past. He initially began coaching at Nova Uniao beneath Aldo coach Andre Pederneiras in Rio de Janeiro for 3 years however finally moved to full-time in Las Vegas and began to coach at Xtreme Couture in 2021. Since a 4-2 begin to his professional MMA profession, Camilo has gone 5-0 with 4 finishes.

Watch the tape. It’s legitimately gorgeous to be taught Camilo hasn’t competed longer, nevertheless it additionally explains why he’s needed to be taught on the fly – typically on the expense of his file. In current fights, when he’s fought his hardest competitors, he’s handed every take a look at with flying colours. Xtreme Couture members rave about his talent stage and now we’re seeing why. He’s a well-rounded menace who nonetheless has a ton of room to develop. That’s scary. With an upbeat persona and enhancing English, Camilo might be a fan-favorite, particularly contemplating his preventing model. Preventing entrance of Dana White (even when remotely) for “Lookin’ for a Struggle,” this might be Camilo’s massive probability to show himself to the brass.

In his personal phrases: “My opponent is an effective striker, however he likes to get it on the bottom. I’m ready for that. I’m ready to placed on a present. That is the struggle of my life. I’ll depart all the things contained in the cage on Dec. 14. … That is my second. I’ve fought so much to get this chance. I struggle. I left my household. I didn’t simply get on a microphone and speak.

“… I need to present Dana White who I’m. I do know he’s going to love me after I come throwing. What I’ve inside me and my expertise is particular. … I’ll placed on a conflict. I do know he seems that, when folks placed on a conflict. I really feel like all these years I’ve been working so onerous, since I used to be a child. Now, is my time. I really feel that. My desires are knocking on the door. That is what I’ve requested God for each day. Now, it’s my time. I’ll put all the things into it.”

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 27: Michael Aswell reacts after the conclusion of a featherweight struggle towards Bogdan Grad of Romania throughout Dana White’s Contender Sequence season eight, week three on August 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Document: 9-2
Age: 24
Top: 5’8″
Weight: Featherweight
Birthplace: Houston
Subsequent struggle: Dec. 15 vs. Dorian Ramos (8-2) at Fury FC 99 in Houston (UFC Fight Pass)

Background: A life-long athlete, Michael Aswell was launched to Saul Soliz’s gymnasium for jiu-jitsu courses in eighth grade. He began competing round Texas, then picked up wrestling in highschool. Weighing 205-210 kilos, Aswell burned off 60 kilos forward of his beginner debut at featherweight at age 17. He misplaced that struggle however then gained 5 extra earlier than he turned skilled. He gained his first seven professional fights earlier than a loss to present UFC fighter Yadier del Valle. Aswell gained two after that, together with a Fury FC title bout. These earned him a crack on Dana White’s Contender Sequence in 2024. Whereas he didn’t win the bout or a contract, his gutsy efficiency had the UFC CEO praising Aswell and saying he was on the brief record. One other win ought to push him by means of the door.

In his personal phrases: “In my head, I’ve simply been staying prepared in case a possibility fell out. That MSG card got here into fruition, the Onama struggle, it was all the things that I believed. I used to be prepared and will make weight. I might make 145 and I believed I used to be subsequent up, however I by no means acquired the decision. In my head, I used to be like, ‘If I didn’t get that decision, I don’t suppose I’m going to get one other one.’ … I simply want to remain lively and keep prepared. As quickly as that occurred, I referred to as (Fury FC promoter) Eric Garcia and was like, ‘Yo Eric, I want a struggle. What will we acquired accessible?’

“… I realized in my Contender struggle that I want to remain extra lively and alter it up just a little bit, throw extra variations, add some low kicks or add extra physique punches or simply kicks on the whole. I feel for me simply being extra artistic on the market (will assist). It was a giant alternative and a giant stage and I didn’t need to mess up. I believed perhaps I used to be simply holding again a bit as a result of I didn’t need to mess up. I saved it quite simple. That’s on me. I simply have gotten to be proactive and add extra energy pictures as a substitute of touches. There are a number of issues.

“… I’ve identified (I’m prepared) for some time. I’ve skilled with one of the best since I used to be an beginner. I had coach Saul Soliz as my coach after I began within the MMA recreation. That man would inform you straight up when you had it otherwise you don’t. He informed me I had it and he mentioned if I saved working I used to be going to get it. As soon as he handed, I went to Kansas Metropolis and I used to be coaching with Glory for a bit earlier than all of the stuff occurred. They’d 10 UFC guys within the room and I used to be competing with them. Onama, I used to be actually coaching with Onama each day. We have been coaching companions in that room for months and he favored the best way I labored.”

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: Reyes Cortez prepares to struggle Christian Rodriguez in a bantamweight struggle throughout Dana White’s Contender Sequence season 5, week seven at UFC APEX on October 12, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Document: 8-3
Age: 32
Top: 5’7″
Weight: Bantamweight
Birthplace: Phoenix
Subsequent struggle: Dec. 15 vs. Mana Martinez (10-5) at Fury FC 99 in Houston (UFC Fight Pass)

Background: Junior Cortez began his journey with youth wrestling, alongside his siblings, together with his sister Tracy Cortez. He immediately fell in love and gained state thrice in highschool. He wrestled collegiately at Rend Lake School in Illinois. When members of the family have been recognized with most cancers, Cortez returned residence to Arizona to help and stopped wrestling. To fill the aggressive void, Cortez leaned totally into martial arts. After a 4-1 profession as an beginner, Cortez turned professional. He went 5-1 earlier than incomes a shot on Dana White’s Contender Sequence in 2021 when he misplaced to Christian Rodriguez. Again-to-back wins earned him one other DWCS crack in 2023. That point, he misplaced to Payton Talbott. He bounced again lately with a win over Josh Walker and will earn a 3rd DWCS shot with win over former UFC fighter Mana Martinez this month. Cortez’s losses have aged properly and he continues to sharpen his instruments every day at Struggle Prepared MMA beneath coaches Eddie Cha and Santino Defranco. Moreover, Henry Cejudo is one in every of his foremost mentors, so he’s in good arms.

In his personal phrases: “God prepared. (Making the UFC) would imply all the things I’ve completed was for a function. Being an MMA fighter, financially we’re not thriving. As soon as we hit that UFC mark, I’ll have some room to breathe. I plan to be lively. As soon as I get this win, if it’s the UFC or one other present for Fury, I need to be lively. I sadly couldn’t take a struggle earlier within the 12 months as a result of I ended up re-injuring my hand. However after this struggle, if I don’t get injured (which I don’t plan on), I need to be lively.

“… I belief in my expertise and greater than something, I belief within the canine in me. I can go into deep waters. I prepare actually onerous. I dwell the MMA way of life. F*ck, I do know I can compete about 80 % of the roster. The opposite 20 %, I’d must get a struggle camp behind me as a result of the bantamweight division is a bunch of killers. I feel I’m adequate to compete towards, the best-best at bantamweight.”