By Alex Dillon
@ADillon__ Credit: Dolly Clew-Cage Warriors/UFC/FCCWith Irish lightweight Joseph Duffy signing for the UFC, it seems like a good time to predict five more domestic fighters who are likely to end up in the UFC come the end of the year. There is an array of talent on the UK MMA scene but these five in particular stand out at this present time.
Stevie Ray (16-5)
The current Cage Warriors lightweight champion Stevie Ray surely has to be on the UFC's radar after his last performance which saw him finish rival Curt Warburton in the final chapter of their rivalry to retain his world title. The 24 year old Ray holds 12 finishes out of 16 wins and with Duffy being signed when Ray is the champion, you have to wonder how long it will be until we see the Scotsman. With his Dinky Ninja team mate's Jojo Calderwood and Robert Whiteford flying the flag already, plus a rumoured UFC Scotland date in the pipeline, it would make sense to add another highly rated Scot to the growing contingent in the UFC.
Pietro Menga (12-0)
Pietro 'Pitbull' Menga is an undefeated flyweight prospect hailing from Salford, Manchester and is probably just as close to signing as Ray is. At present, he is the reigning FCC flyweight champion but last fought on BAMMA defeating Steve McCombe via rear naked choke. What stand's out most about him is his all round game looks unbelievably solid, it seems as if he can win a fight wherever it may go. Despite him not featuring much on BAMMA and never on Cage Warriors, many class Menga as the UK/Eire's best flyweight even ahead of the likes of Pickett, Seery, Holohan etc and with an impeccable record full of finishes (8 subs/2 TKO's) it's hard to ignore the cry's for 'Menga to UFC' and this is the year it happens.
Brendan Loughnane (9-1)
Loughnane has previously fought in the UFC as he took part in TUF: The Smashes as a late replacement . He then officially fought at the finale against fellow Northerner Mike Wilkinson dropping a decision in which many believed Loughnane won. Needless to say, the Manchester fighter got back into the mix at FCC where he captured the promotions lightweight title defeating fighters such as Tim Close, Jason Cooledge and Ali McClean. In his most recent outing, he dropped to featherweight for his BAMMA debut where he clinically put away Frenchman Florian Rousseau in the first round via TKO. When a fighter narrowly misses out on signing for the UFC through TUF, it's always a case of going and getting some wins then coming back. Loughnane has done that and in impressive fashion, the call cannot be far away now.
Paul Redmond (10-4)
Known for his submissions, Paul Redmond or 'Redser' to his fans, is an Irish lightweight currently fighting on Europe's biggest stage Cage Warriors. Out of his ten wins, nine are finishes which speaks for itself. His exemplary finishing record has put him firmly on the map in Cage Warriors' stacked lightweight division and he should be challenging Ray for the belt next time out. His record may not stand out as UFC ready but its important to note that most of his losses came in the early stages of his career over two years ago and since joining Cage Warriors he has been formidable. 2015 could be the year where Redmond really breaks into the big time and joins his fellow Irish compatriots, continuing the ever growing presence of them in the UFC.
Danny Roberts (11-1)
Hailing from Liverpool and plying his trade on Cage Warriors, Roberts has become a huge welterweight prospect who's stock has grown considerably over the last two years due to some big wins over the likes of Jack Mason, Henry Fadipe and most recently Jimmy Wallhead. Nine of his 11 wins have come via a finish which makes him even more exciting and likely to be on the UFC's radar. A much called for title fight with CWFC welterweight champion Nicholas Dalby had to be put off due to a hand injury sustained by Roberts but it's a guarantee he is going to be challenging for that title in the coming months and then possibly making the move to the UFC. With the current UK UFC stars on a bit of a downward slope, fighters like Roberts and the previously mentioned Menga and Loughnane are looking like they may well be the new generation of UFC stars.
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