Mixed martial arts is spreading like wildfire, and it’s evident in the UFC’s expansion throughout the world. Not long ago, MMA had a couple of main hot spots in the United States, Brazil and Japan, among other places.
MMA outreach has become rapid, spreading to places that are now MMA-crazy. The sport has blown up, with fighters looking to make their way in the MMA world.
For the next four days, we are going to examine four of the newest hot spots in MMA. These are places where prospects and stars are starting to pop up, and they have a chance to provide great talent to the sport. We have chosen Ireland, Poland, Mexico and Russia for this series, as they seem to be the biggest hot spots right now.
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we will start in Ireland. Not long ago, it was a country that was barely associated with the sport. Now, thanks to guys such as Conor McGregor, the sport has exploded, and its popularity will bring a new wave of fighters.
Here are four prospects this MMA hot spot could send to the UFC soon.
Karl Moore (5-0, Light Heavyweight, Fight Academy Ireland)
OK, Karl Moore is from Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. So what? We will count him here.
The UFC should make sure the light heavyweight division is constantly filled and backed up with light heavyweights. That’s why an undefeated prospect such as Moore should get a chance.
Moore is just five fights into his pro career and has already competed twice for Cage Warriors. He was also 3-0 as an amateur, and all of those wins came by knockout.
Moore has shown good striking as well as decent submissions. He is a work in progress, but given a little bit of time, this 6’2″ 205-pounder could be a solid addition.
Tommy McCafferty (6-0, Featherweight, PT’s Kickboxing)
Speaking of undefeated fighters from Northern Ireland, Tommy McCafferty is a 6-0 featherweight who looks to be a solid prospect. The only thing he needs now is a step up in competition.
McCafferty is a striker, as seen in most of his bouts. He has left the first round just twice, including his first and only appearance with Cage Warriors.
He trains Brazilian jiu-jitsu with Sebastiano Torres, which will go great with his kickboxing when he rounds things off.
Like some of the men on this list, McCafferty won’t be a title contender in the near future, but he’s a guy who could carry the Irish torch.
Catherine Costigan (5-0, Strawweight*, Pankration Kickboxing Academy)
Catherine Costigan is an atomweight, but there is no reason she can’t fight as a strawweight in the UFC. She’s undefeated and has looked good in the process, and she can follow others who came up from 105 to compete at 115, such as Jessica Penne.
Costigan has looked good in her five pro fights, three of which have come with Cage Warriors (a common theme with top European talents). She is a talented submission artist, which has led to her tapping out four foes.
She could be a great addition to a female strawweight division that is still developing. It needs bodies—skilled bodies, at that—and there is no doubt Costigan can provide that.
Although she’d be a bit undersized, she could use her quickness to her advantage.
Ryan Roddy (7-1, Lightweight, Knuckledraggers)
A three-time Cage Warriors veteran, Ryan Roddy has the tools to be a top-level fighter in the near future. The 25-year-old Irishman has been around for a while and has gone to a decision only once.
A ground fighter, Roddy constantly pressures forward until he can get the fight down. From there, he has secured three submissions and three ground-and-pound stoppages, showing he has a killer instinct.
He has been a pro fighter since the age of 17, and his first fight was eight years ago. He has experience and seasoning, which means he could be the most ready to go at this point.
Also consider that he’s stepped into the cage with The Ultimate Fighter veteran Ali Maclean and UFC employee Paul Redmond, and you can see he’s taken on some tough opposition. He’s a guy who could grace a UFC card.
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