Bloody Elbow, for MMA and UFC news

A day after being crowned the top 170-pound prospect in Bloody Elbow's World MMA rankings, Andrey Koreshkov was signed by Bellator.

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.

Closing out the 2011 World MMA Scouting Report, M-1 veteran Guram Gugenishvili tops our list as the #1 prospect on the heavyweight countdown. The Georgian wrestler/grappler remains undefeated at 11-0, attaining the M-1 Heavyweight crown in October with a submission win over Kenny Garner and defending it against Maxim Grishin in March.

At #2 on the 2011 World MMA Scouting Report, Shamil Abdurahimov (12-1) lands on our countdown as one of the most promising prospects out of Russia who has the skills to succeed in the UFC. The 28-year-old Dagestan-native is enjoying a six-fight win streak that includes wins over Jeff Monson, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, and Marcos Oliveira.

Tony Johnson's story is similar to that of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. A child was involved, dreams were put on the back burner, and duties fulfilled to be a father. Before his days of changing diapers and earning income for his family, Johnson was one of the best wrestlers in the United States, ranking #2 in the country during his senior year of high school.

Austria. The land of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sigmund Freud, and our #4-ranked heavyweight on the 2011 World MMA Scouting Report Gerald Turek (10-1). While his name probably shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as such noteworthy figures in Austria's history, Turek is a significant figure in the world of mixed martial arts.

Former Golden Gloves champion and NCAA Division I wrestler Stipe Miocic (4-0) breaks our top 5 on the 2011 World MMA Scouting Report as one of the most heavy-handed punchers on our countdown. The 28-year-old dual sport collegiate athlete has turned heads in the Ohio regional scene...