5 homegrown Bellator fighters that could thrive in the UFC

#2. Vadim Nemkov – Bellator light heavyweight champion

Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov has made a strong case for why he should be considered the best 205-pounder currently in MMA.

Since Jon Jones moved up to heavyweight, many fans have debated who should be considered the best light heavyweight. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz defended the title once and current champion Glover Teixeira has yet to defend.

Nemkov, on the other hand, has had two title defenses, while also advancing to the light heavyweight Grand Prix finals. He is currently riding a 9-fight win streak with wins over former champions could make him a formidable opponent in the UFC.

Nemkov has proven that he’s more than capable of competing in the UFC. The Fedor Team protege has a decorated Sambo background and devastating knockout power, which makes him a difficult fighter to stop.

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#1. A.J. McKee – Bellator featherweight champion

Bellator featherweight champion A.J. ‘Mercenary’ McKee has certainly garnered plenty of attention this past year. He won the featherweight Grand Prix by defeating Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire and hasn’t shied away from sharing his opinions. Following the Grand Prix win, McKee let it be known that he believed he was the best 145-pounder in the world.

‘Mercenary’ stated that he’s better than his UFC counterparts and would do the same thing to them as he did ‘Pitbull'. What's fascinating about McKee is that he’s 26 years old and is still entering the prime of his career.

“When his contract’s up, he’ll have to call. We’ll see what we can do,” Dana White to TSN

He has even caught the attention of UFC President Dana White, who spoke highly of him during interviews. With White seemingly interested, perhaps McKee will be the next big name to thrive in the UFC.