5 UFC prospects to watch in 2019

#3 Manny Bermudez

Manny Bermudez is a rare submission expert

Submission specialists are unfortunately a dying breed in MMA these days, particularly at the top level of the UFC. That’s why Bantamweight prospect Manny Bermudez is such an interesting fighter to follow; if you take into account his 3-fight amateur career, ‘The Bermudez Triangle’ has 15 victories, and an incredible 12 of them have come via tapout.

That’s been the story in his UFC career thus far, too. Albert Morales was dispatched via guillotine choke in February, and then British veteran Davey Grant found himself the latest victim of Bermudez’s famed triangle choke in July. Both fights told a similar story – Bermudez comfortable from any position on the ground, hunting for a submission until he got it.

Question marks do surround Bermudez’s striking game; he was stunned twice in the Morales fight, but then was able to drop Grant with a big right hand which led to his submission, but whether he’s got enough standing to take out the upper echelon is unknown. The success of Brian Ortega – another submission expert – at 145lbs should give him hope, though, and he’ll definitely be one to keep an eye on in 2019.