Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Claudio Ledesma (5-2) calls the region home, and he's taken full advantage of the resources available to become one of the top bantamweight prospects in the world. The 28-year-old has amassed a 5-2 record in three years, earning his fifth win at Bellator 54 in October against Team Bombsquad fighter Brian Kelleher (4-2).
One of the emerging prospects that the UFC may want to target is Sweden's Sirwan Kakai (6-1). The 22-year-old bantamweight is likely on the UFC's radar already after he participated in a casting call for The Ultimate Fighter season 14 earlier this year, making it past the first round of cuts before getting the axe himself.
Brazil's Leandro Higo (7-1) fits that profile perfectly. At the time when an American teenager would make a visit to the DMV to get his or her driver's license, Leandro was beginning his MMA career, relying on his strong Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills and aggressive stand-up game to topple the opposition.
For Brazilian fighters, it's not just a part of their identity, it's a gateway to the rest of the world and a promise of prosperity. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors with national credentials are typically the most highly sought after in North America. Well-regarded black belt Pedro Munhoz (6-0) is among the latest in a long line of such fine exports from Brazil.
