Usman Nurmagomedov, Johnny Eblen, and 2 more Bellator prospects that could be future UFC champions

Despite being the pinnacle of MMA, the UFC isn't the only place that top-level talents call home. With the sport growing at a rapid rate, the future best fighters in the world are likely currently competing for scraps on the regional scene.

Although the lack of promotion is arguably damaging the product, Bellator has some incredible stars who are equal to or, in some cases, even surpass well-respected champions in the UFC, so let's take a look at some of them.

4. Usman Nurmagomedov

After dominating Patricky 'Pitbull' and claiming lightweight gold, Usman Nurmagomedov became the first-ever Dagestani fighter to win a championship within the Bellator cage.

With an incredible unbeaten record of 16-0, the well-rounded 155er and young cousin of the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov would be a fresh new addition to an already stacked UFC roster.

The prospect is already beating seasoned veterans at just 24 years of age. While he is almost definitely never going to step inside the cage to face current UFC champion Islam Makhachev, a few more years of experience and we may see the prodigy showcasing his talent to the world inside the octagon.

3. Johnny Eblen

Hailing from the highly-respected American Top Team, Johnny Eblen is one of many standout talents emerging from the gym. He has been training with some of the best fighters in the world for over half a decade.

'Diamond Hands' has only been in Bellator for a little over three years and has already bulldozed his way through the middleweight division and captured gold in the organization.

Mixing a pressure-grappling style with heavy hands, Eblen is a supremely talented competitor who was able to notch an impressive win over MMA legend Gegard Mousasi last time out. At 31, the NCAA Division I Wrestler is approaching his prime years inside the cage and could be a real problem for the UFC’s 185lbs division.

2. Yaroslav Amosov

After taking a hiatus from the sport to go and fight for his home country of Ukraine, Yaroslav Amosov is back. He will defend his welterweight title against a man he previously beat in Logan Storley at Bellator 291 in February.

Not only has 'Dynamo' managed to remain unbeaten with a 29-0 record, but he also has 19 finishes to his name and over 10 years of experience in MMA, all before 30 years of age.

Like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, Yaroslav Amosov is a World Combat Sambo gold medalist and uses his overwhelming grappling to wear down his opponents, subsequently opening up submission attempts.

1. 'Patchy' Mix may shake up UFC's 135lbs division

The man finally starting to receive his flowers from the MMA community is 'Patchy' Mix, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist who holds wins over current and former UFC contenders.

Able to lock up and submit anyone from any position, the 17-1 rising star would likely make an instant impact in the current UFC bantamweight division. Last time out, the American put Magomed Magomedov—the first man to beat Petr Yan—to sleep with a beautiful guillotine choke.

Although there's no official date yet, Mix's displays inside the cage have pushed him to the final of the upcoming Bellator Grand Prix, where he will meet the tough Raufeon Stots for the 135lbs title and an accompanying $1 million.