UFC signs undefeated featherweight prospects Mirsad Bektic and Chas Skelly

Per multiple reports, the UFC has signed undefeated and featherweight prospects Mirsad Bektic and Chas Skelly to fight each other at the UFC on Fox 11 show in Orlando next month.

Skelly is 11-0, with two notable submission wins over current UFC featherweight Daniel Pineda. The NAIA All-American trains out of Team Takedown alongside such notables as Johny Hendricks and Jared Rosholt under the tutelage of Marc Laimon and Steven Wright, so it's safe to say that he has access to excellent wrestling and coaching. Unfortunately, his career to this point has been badly hampered by injuries: he spent two full years on the sidelines, between 2010 and 2012, while recovering from a nasty foot injury. On the other hand, these gaps in his career might have been a blessing in disguise. He fought several times in Bellator, most recently in June of last year, and was on track to sign an exclusive deal (he was actually set to fight current WSOF featherweight champion Georgi Karakhanyan) when the injury struck.

As you might expect, Skelly's game is heavily predicated on his wrestling base. His long and lanky frame gives him great leverage in tight, and he uses it to full advantage on his takedowns and for clinch fighting. Moreover, he's one of the few wrestlers who has done an excellent job of integrating his takedowns with a strong, technical top game. Once he gets on top, he's hard to shake, with a heavy base and good control; while Skelly doesn't have the most powerful ground striking, he weaves it in well with his guard passes and surprisingly polished submission game. He's particularly adept at getting to his opponent's back. If there's a weakness in Skelly's game, however, it's his striking. He's not particularly fast or powerful on the feet, occasionally seeming downright awkward, and his combination striking is limited at best. It's safe to say that there's substantial room for improvement.

Bektic, a product of American Top Team, is one of the top prospects in the division. In fact, I'd argue that he's the top prospect (regardless of weight class) in all of MMA, and I was quite comfortable placing him in the top slot of my Searching for Future Champions prospect report. The 22-year old immigrant from war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina is one of the most physically overwhelming young fighters I've ever seen: he doesn't so much beat his opponents as pound them into a bloody pulp, and his unchecked aggressiveness, athleticism, and brute strength are married to clever strategy and fantastic phase-shifting instincts. Check out the full report, with video, in-depth technical analysis, and GIFs here.

For all the talk about "MMA natives" comprising the next generation of up-and-coming fighters, they're still an exceptionally rare commodity. Bektic is one of them. Every aspect of his game flows neatly into the next: his explosive, technical forward movement drives his opponents to the cage, and he likes to fire off hard 1-2s before ducking under for big double-leg takedowns. His top game is exceptionally violent, but also features excellent guard passes, a heavy base, and a developing submission game.

Given Skelly's wrestling base, this could be a tough matchup for Bektic, who likes to go to work from top position. On the other hand, he's an infinitely more dynamic athlete and much more well rounded, though his skill sets aren't particularly deep given his inexperience. This is a great pair of signings and a potentially dynamite fight, with the winner emerging as one of the best young prospects at 145.
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The new titan adds another talent


The organization’s CEO, Jeff Aronson, today confirmed exclusively to MMAOddsbreaker.com that Titan FC has inked a deal with top featherweight prospect Mirsad Bektic.

Bektic will make his promotional debut at Titan FC 28, although an opponent has yet to be named.

He is the No. 1 featherweight prospect in the world not fighting in the UFC, according to MMASun.

The 22-year-old Bektic, who is a native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is currently undefeated at 7-0 as a pro and trains out of the famed American Top Team camp in Coconut Creek, Florida. Out of his seven career victories, six have come by way of either T/KO or submission, and he’s captured those victories while competing in the old Titan FC, Victory Fighting Championship (VFA), and Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) since he began his pro MMA career in 2011.

In his last outing, which came at VFC 41 just last month, Bektic picked up the biggest victory of his career to date when he was able to stop WEC and PRIDE veteran Joe Pearson in the first round with strikes. It was a victory that many figured would capture the attention of UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby, but with the UFC featherweight division being so stacked at the moment, Titan FC swooped in and inked Bektic to a deal.

However, it should be noted that Bektic’s deal with Titan FC has a Zuffa out clause, meaning that if the UFC is interested in him he will be allowed to leave to fight in the Octagon, something that may happen sooner rather than later if he impresses in his Titan FC run. All Titan FC fighters have Zuffa out clauses built into their deals, by the way, so it’s not like Bektic is getting any sort of special treatment as far as his out clause goes.

The new Titan FC has been signing a number of high-quality fighters as they look to start things fresh with their new TV deal and under new leadership. The promotion holds their next event, Titan FC 27, Feb. 27 on CBS Sports Network. The main event is a lightweight bout between former UFC fighters Mike Ricci and Jorge Gurgel, and the co-main event is a middleweight bout between Matt Riddle and Michael Kuiper. As well, a number of other former UFC fighters, including Pedro Nobre, are expected to compete on the card, which is sure to draw some eyeballs from MMA fans and media alike.

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there goes the titan fc contract out clause, shit

I thought Skelly was signed with Bellator. A waste of potential tournament talent right there.

Titan FC just flat out sux

Haha agreed wekka

Titan blows sooooo hard