As the UFC gets set to make its first trip to Croatia this Sunday, there are five prospects slated to make their UFC debuts as well. From an RFA champion to a Romanian kickboxer, this event should serve as a showcase for these up-and-coming fighters.
Here is the UFC Zagreb edition of “Prospect Watch.”
Bojan Velickovic (fights Alessio Di Chirico)
27 years old, 13-3 record
Originally from Novi Sad, Serbia, Velickovic now calls Colorado home as he trains at Elevation Fight Team which boasts UFC standouts T.J Dillashaw, Neil Magny and Matt Brown. Velickovic punched his ticket to the UFC after earning the RFA welterweight title in his last bout, defeating Benjamin Smith by third round submission at RFA 34 in January. The 27-year-old failed to make Season 19 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2013 when he lost via TKO against Tim Williams. Since that loss, the Serbian has gone 5-1, with three of those wins coming by way of stoppage. He now faces the task of handing fellow UFC newcomer Di Chirico his first career loss.
Alessio Di Chirico (fights Bojan Velickovic)
26 years old, 9-0 record
Also making his promotional debut is Di Chirico, an Italian fighter who has only fought three times outside of Italy. He made his MMA debut in 2011 and has gone the distance just once in his career. Four of his nine career victories have come by submission, while he also has two wins by knockout. The 26-year-old kept active last year competing three times and is set to fight for the first time in 2016.
Filip Pejic (fights Damian Stasiak)
23 years old, 10-1-1 record
This featherweight standout not only makes his UFC debut on Sunday, but also gets to do so in front of his hometown crowd in Zagreb. The Croatian made his pro debut in 2011 and boasts nine career wins by stoppage. He’s coming off a first round TKO victory over Zoltán Turi at Final Fight Championship 20 back in October, which pushed his unbeaten streak to eight straight fights. He now takes on 26-year-old Polish fighter Stasiak, who dropped a unanimous decision to Yaotzin Meza in his UFC debut back in April 2015.
Cristina Stanciu (fights Maryna Moroz)
22 years old, 5-0 record
Romanian flyweight Stanciu moves down to the 115-pound division for the first time in her career as she takes on 6-1 Moroz. The 22-year-old made her professional debut in 2014 and four of her five career victories have been by stoppage. All of her fights have taken place in Romania including her last bout, a submission victory over Renáta Cseh-Lantos at RXF 21 in December.
Curtis Blaydes (fights Francis Ngannou)
25 years old, 5-0 record
Heavyweight Blaydes aims to keep his undefeated record in tact when he takes on French fighter Ngannou. “Razor” made his professional debut in 2014 and has spent the majority of his career in the Illinois-based XFO promotion. He’s coming off an impressive third-round TKO victory in his last fight against Luis Cortez at RFA 35, which capped off his four-straight win by knockout. The 25-year old has spent time at the Strong Style gym in Ohio, where he’s had the opportunity to train with UFC heavyweight title challenger Stipe Miocic. With the heavyweight division as a whole currently lacking any young talent, Blaydes remains one of the most promising prospects on the UFC roster.
Here’s an updated look at the entire UFC Fight Night 86 card.
— Ben Rothwell (36-9) vs. Junior dos Santos (17-4)
— Gabriel Gonzaga (17-10) vs. Derrick Lewis (14-4, 1NC)
— Francis Ngannou (6-1) vs. Curtis Blaydes (5-0)
— Timothy Johnson (9-2) vs. Marcin Tybura (13-1)
— Igor Pokrajac (25-12, 1NC) vs. Jan Blachowicz (18-5)
— Maryna Moroz (6-1) vs. Cristina Stanciu (5-0)
— Nicolas Dalby (14-0-1) vs. Zak Cummings (18-4)
— Mairbek Taisumov (24-5) vs. Damir Hadzovic (10-2)
— Ian Entwistle (9-2) vs. Alejandro Perez (16-6)
— Filip Pejic (10-1-1) vs. Damian Stasiak (8-3)
— Robert Whiteford (12-3) vs. Lucas Martins (15-3)
— Jared Cannonier (7-1) vs. Cyril Asker (7-1)
— Bojan Velickovic (13-3) vs. Alessio Di Chirico (9-0)
