2011 World MMA Lightweight Scouting Report

Scouting Report Review - Lightweights

After falling to Alessandro Ferreira in his first post-scouting report fight, Thiago Michel came back strong, notching two 2011 first round stoppages in front of his partisan home crowd in Minas Gerais, Brazil. After his last bout, he announced to the crowd that he would be making his North American debut next as part of Bellator's sixth season.

Lightweight Scouting Report: #1 - Thiago Michel

Lightweight Scouting Report: #2 - Ricardo Tirloni

At #2 on our 2011 World MMA Lightweight Scouting report, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Ricardo Tirloni (9-1) chimes in with an exciting style that you won't want to miss.

Lightweight Scouting Report: #3 - Magno Almeida

We talk constantly about European fighters needed to migrate to the U.S. to face challenging wrestlers in training, and the same can be said for Brazilians. Our #3 pick, Magno Almeida (8-1), happens to be one of the few...

Lightweight Scouting Report: #4 - Ui Cheol Nam

With South Korea's rise in the mixed martial arts scene, it's only fitting that a Korean prospect makes our list. At #4, Spirit MC and M-1 veteran Ui Cheol Nam makes a stand as a promising up-and-coming fighter in the Asian scene

Lightweight Scouting Report: #5 - Henrique Mello

When we think of the lighter weight classes, Brazil inevitably enters the conversation. With an extensive history that encompasses the martial arts of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai, it's no surprise that the combination of the two has produced some of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport.

Lightweight Scouting Report: #6 - Reza Madadi

What happens when you mix Persian blood, a decade worth of wrestling experience, and the cold of the Swedish tundra? Reza "Mad Dog" Madadi, one of Scandinavia's best lightweight prospects, is the result. The Iranian-born fighter, who trains out of Stockholm, Sweden...

LW Scouting Report: #7 - Alexander Sarnavskiy

St. Petersburg-bred striker Alexander Sarnavskiy (11-0) has shown that it's time to make that major step, and he chimes in at #7 on the 2011 World MMA Lightweight prospect rankings

Lightweight Scouting Report: #8 - Ole Laursen

It's rare in the sport of mixed martial arts to see older fighters perform at a high level past their early 30's, but it's far more rare to see an older athlete show the type of gameness that former K-1 MAX competitor Ole Laursen (5-2) has shown at this stage in his career.

LW Scouting Report: #9 - Guillaume DeLorenzi

If your enjoyment of a mixed martial arts event includes some of the most brutal ground and pound you've ever laid your giddy little eyes on, then our #9 ranked lightweight, French Canadian bruiser Guillaume "II Toro" DeLorenzi (9-1), should fill your heart with excitement.

Lightweight MMA Scouting Report: #10 - Al Iaquinta

Kicking off the 2010 World Lightweight MMA prospect rankings is Team Serra-Longo product and New York-born fighter Al Iaquinta (3-0-1). The 23-year-old Wantagh, New York-born wrestler turned mixed martial artist has enjoyed early success in the sport as he's went undefeated in four appearances under the New Jersey-based promotion Ring of Combat