Record: 12-2
Age: 28
Height: 5’8″
Weight: Flyweight
Birthplace: Texas
Next fight: Oct. 6 def. Peter Caballero (14-7) via TKO (punches) – Round 1 at Fury FC 97 in Houston (UFC Fight Pass)

The skinny: Paris Moran is 28 but has two decades’ worth of combat sports experience. At 6, his father put him taekwondo. He hated it – as he did most sports, but along came jiu-jitsu in 2007 and eventually things changed. His parents divorced, and Paris found jiu-jitsu classes as the perfect father-son bonding opportunity – an added bonus. Moran joined high school wrestling. Then came striking. He became a seven-time national champion in sanshou karate (wushu). Next scene, Moran was competing in Russia, China, Costa Rica, Taiwan – you name it.

Moran has been on the cusp of the UFC for a minute. He was seemingly one win away when he took on the other best flyweight in Texas: Joshua Van. He lost, but learned from the defeat. Since then, he’s been dead-set on racking up wins against legit opponents and getting finishes. This month, he got the emphatic lopsided finish he was seeking when he moved up a weight class to put away gritty veteran Peter Caballero in 31 seconds.

In his own words: “I want to let Mick know that 125 or 135, it doesn’t matter. I just need an opportunity. I need a chance to prove myself, so I’ll fight at 135. I’m not a small 135er. I train with 135ers. I’m just a huge 125er and that weight cut sucks, but I make it happen. So if an opportunity at 135 presents itself, I’ll take it and then go back to 125. That’s going to be the home.”

“… The main thing with the UFC and me, from what I’ve been told, is the finish rate. Mick pulled up my record and said, ‘Hey, he’s only finished..’ I don’t know how much it was. Like, four or five of my 11 wins. He’s like, ‘I need him to have more.’ So the goal was to get two more finishes and stay ready. My manager Lou (DiBono) told me, ‘You know, Paris, it’s just the lay of the land. It’s so unpredictable. People fill in on one day’s notice. But as of right now, it looks like they want you to have two more finishes. So let’s plan on two more finishes after Freddy.’”

“Just knowing that my time is coming and whenever it does come, it will just be that much sweeter. I just keep reminding myself of that. It’s nothing personal. It’s just about my fight and my fighting style, so I’ve just got to keep doing what I can to not make them say no, if that makes sense.”

Record: 10-2
Age: 26
Height: 5’8″
Weight: Featherweight
Birthplace: Texas
Next fight: Oct. 6 def. Vilson Ndregjoni (10-4) via unanimous decision at Fury FC 97 in Houston (UFC Fight Pass)

The skinny: Justice Torres always loved the full contact sports growing up. So competing in the most physical of them all made a lot of sense. After six months of training, Torres accepted his first amateur fight at age 19 and fought at 20. He went 4-2 as an amateur and turned pro in 2021. Torres began training alongside future UFC fighters Adrian Yanez and Mana Martinez under the tutelage of coach Saul Soliz. After Soliz’s death in 2021, Torres eventually made his way over to 4oz Fight Club to train under Daniel Pineda and Bob Perez. In 2023, Torres lost back-to-back fights but stormed back with three big wins thereafter. This month, he defeated Northeast regional standout Vilson Ndregjoni, going five rounds to claim Fury FC gold. At 26, Torres has encountered bumps in the road, but the trajectory remains the same – and it’s pointed at the UFC.

In his own words: “When I go in there, it’s always kill or be killed. We have a little saying at the gym that you’re going to have to take me out to get me to stop. I’m going to keep coming. I won’t pull back. I’m just going to keep going forward. As fas as a physical thing, I think I really have good cardio. I like to push forward and set the pace. I always march forward. I feel like I have that march forward style.”

“… I pray (a UFC call comes). I pray so. Because after the last fight, I thought I’d at least get a Contender Series shot, considering Aryion Young was the top prospect and I was a huge underdog in that one. No one thought I was going to win that one. They thought he was just going to wrestle me and take me down. But I walked right through him. … I know there’s work to be done, if you put me in that UFC cage, I always show up. I will always show up and I will put on a fight and find a way to win.”

Record: 8-1
Age: 27
Height: 5’9″
Weight: Welterweight
Birthplace: Cuba
Next fight: Friday vs. Alexandre de Almeida (21-11) at Tuff-N-Uff 139 in Las Vegas (UFC Fight Pass)

The skinny: Born in Cuba, it’s no surprise Ernesto Rodriguez would find his way to MMA through wrestling. His family migrated to Las Vegas in search of opportunity and Rodriguez quickly found one in Xtreme Couture. It couldn’t be more perfect. Randy Couture was his favorite fighter growing up. Encouraged to chase his dreams by his father, Rodriguez took his first amateur fight in June 2019. After a 4-0 career, he turned professional in February 2021 and has been perfect outside of a loss to Rutgers wrestler Richie Lewis. “Starboy” Rodriguez has won six fights in a row and hopes to make it back-to-back finishes when he takes on former PFL standout Alexandre de Almeida. Should he get it, his geographic location mixed with his skillset should do the trick in earning him a short-notice UFC call.

In his own words: “Coming from where I come from, from Cuba, a place with a lot of struggle, I didn’t have anything. Sometimes, there was not food on the table. I think that makes me different mentally. I come from nothing, so everything is earned. I always stay humble. I didn’t have a lot back then and now I have what I can.”

“… I thought the Dana White’s Contender Series contract would come this summer but it didn’t come. Now, I’m just going to keep winning, keep knocking people out and I’m pretty sure it will call soon. … I’ve just got to get more finishes, but at the same time win. Finishing and winning is what my career is about. I’m going to look more that. … I train with UFC guys all the time and it’s not just me telling myself I’m ready. They always tell me that I’m ready. They’ve been telling me that for the past few fights, that I’m ready and I belong to the UFC. I tell myself that because they tell me that, too.”

Record: 7-2
Age: 23
Height: 5’9″
Weight: Featherweight
Birthplace: Brazil
Next fight: Friday vs. Jhonasky Sojo (13-5) at Tuff-N-Uff 139 in Las Vegas (UFC Fight Pass)

The skinny: Matheus Camilo only started training seven years ago. His first professional fight was only five years ago. He initially started training at Nova Uniao under Aldo coach Andre Pederneiras in Rio de Janeiro for three years but eventually moved to full-time in Las Vegas and started to train at Xtreme Couture in 2021. Since a 4-2 start to his pro MMA career, Camilo has gone 4-0 with four finishes.

Watch the tape. It’s legitimately stunning to learn Camilo hasn’t competed longer, but it also explains why he’s had to learn on the fly – sometimes at the expense of his record. In recent fights, when he’s fought his toughest competition, he’s passed each test with flying colors. Xtreme Couture members rave about his skill level and now we’re seeing why. He’s a well-rounded threat who still has a ton of room to grow. That’s scary. With an upbeat personality and improving English, Camilo could be a fan-favorite, especially considering his fighting style. Now back from injury and surgery, Camilo could be one win away from UFC roster status.

In his own words: “Despite (getting) a triangle armbar, I wasn’t happy with my last performance. I was tired. That weight cut was tough. But I found a way to win that fight, but I didn’t like my performance. This time, I will show who I am. But I always show my heart, which is good. … With my heart, I can go a long way. If the guy wants to win the fight, he’ll have to kill me. I love this. … I prepared a lot for this moment. I was so hungry without training, without fighting. I can’t wait to fight again. I’m very ready for that fight with wrestling and striking.”

“… When I lost my father four years ago, my mom came to me. I wanted to give up and not fight anymore. I wanted to work to help her. She came to me and said, ‘Matheus, f*ck that. Go back to Rio de Janeiro and go back to training. Follow your dreams. It was your father’s dreams and your dreams and my dreams. Go. Go back.’ My mother is my big motivator for sure.”

“… I feel I’m very close to the UFC. But I don’t want to create pressure. I just have to keep working hard, training, and fighting. One fight at a time. Sometimes, we want to rush. But I know God’s plan will be perfect.”

Record: 7-2
Age: 29
Height: 5’5″
Weight: Strawweight
Birthplace: Australia
Next fight: Oct. 22 vs. Valentina Escobar (6-0) at UAE Warriors 55 in Abu Dhabi (UFC Fight Pass)

The skinny: Jacinta Austin began her MMA preparations less than four years ago. She trained in MMA for about six months before her debut, though she carried a lengthy kickboxing and muay Thai resume. Her previous combat sports experience fulfilled her void for amateur bouts, though she did try to find some – to no avail. That said, the transition was still “incredibly difficult,” particularly the grappling. It forced her to change some of her striking dynamics. There was struggle to find willing opponents at the professional level, too. As a result, Austin jumped into difficult fights in the early stages of MMA career. She competed for the UAE Warriors title and lost a split decision to now-UFC fighter Josefine Knutsson. She then went 2-1 under the OKTAGON banner. Her loss was to a much more experienced opponent in 9-3 Katharina Dalisda. She bounced back in March with a win over DWCS alum Karolina Wojcik and then defeated Amena Hadaya for Eternal MMA gold.

Through the ups and downs, Austin has made the sacrifices necessary to move forward, gain experience, and improve. Sure, she suffered some losses – but she was never blown out of the water, taking on tougher tests than many fighters with a comparable skills level. Tapology ranks Austin as the No. 1 pound-for-pound female in Australia/New Zealand. She’s back at strawweight for this fight for one of the world’s best regional promotions. If she grabs gold for them on a week that the UFC is town, Austin joining the promotion seems like a no brainer.

In her own words: “This is a perfect stage, a perfect weight class and a perfect opponent. My opponent is 6-0. She’s definitely no easy match but she’s definitely readable. I feel like this is the perfect opportunity. … Yeah, it’s a really good opportunity. Everyone from the UFC is going to be floating around.”

“… I think I always bring an exciting fight, no matter how it goes. It’s always a really good fight. But this time, I really want to bag that finish because that’s what the UFC and everybody wants is the finishes. So yeah, I just want to prove that I can close the show early, if that’s what they’re asking for.”

“… I’ve watched a little bit (of Escobar). She’s moves a little bit differently, a little bit unorthodox, which I think maybe in the opening of the fight, it might take a little bit to peek the way she moves because it’s a little bit odd. She’s got some interesting throws and stuff, some interesting judo. But I think I’m going to be able to work it out in the first round and then overwhelm her and hopefully finish in the later rounds.”

• Eric Shelton (18-8) – Oct. 12 vs. Jerrell Hodge (10-4) at Caged Aggression 38 in Davenport, Iowa (Internet PPV)
• Josiah Harrell (7-0) – Oct. 18 vs. Uelliton Silva (6-2) at LFA 194 in Niagara Falls, N.Y. (UFC Fight Pass)
• Alfonso Leyva (7-1) – Oct. 18 vs. Shamidkhan Magomedov (8-1) at LFA 194 in Niagara Falls, N.Y. (UFC Fight Pass)
• Shamidkhan Magomedov (8-1) – Oct. 18 vs. Alfonso Leyva (7-1) at LFA 194 in Niagara Falls, N.Y. (UFC Fight Pass)
• Anthony Dilemme (6-0) – Oct. 18 vs. Beau Samaniego (6-1) at CFFC 137 in Philadelphia (UFC Fight Pass)
• Carlos Leal (21-5) – Oct. 22 vs. Erkin Darmenov (13-7) at UAE Warriors 55 in Abu Dhabi (UFC Fight Pass)
• Valentina Escobar (6-0) – Oct. 22 vs. Jacinta Austin (7-2) at UAE Warriors 55 in Abu Dhabi (UFC Fight Pass)
• Khotam Boynazarov (9-0) – Oct. 22 vs. Tahir Abdullaev (17-2) at UAE Warriors 55 in Abu Dhabi (UFC Fight Pass)
• Tahir Abdullaev (17-2) – Oct. 22 vs. Khotam Boynazarov (9-0) at UAE Warriors 55 in Abu Dhabi (UFC Fight Pass)
• Nikola Joskovic (15-0) – Oct. 24 vs. Ramazan Mustafaev (8-1) at ARES FC 26 in Aubervilliers, France (UFC Fight Pass)
• Maria Monteiro (4-0) – Oct. 24 vs. Kendra McIntyre (3-1) at LFA 195 in Vail. Colo. (UFC Fight Pass)
• Kevin Fernandez (7-1) – Oct. 24 vs. Josiah Reyes (4-1) at LFA 195 in Vail. Colo. (UFC Fight Pass)
• Justin Wetzell (9-2) – Oct. 24 vs. Bekhzod Usmonov (11-4) at LFA 195 in Vail. Colo. (UFC Fight Pass)
• Javier Garcia (11-5) – Oct. 26 vs. Mauricio Eguiluz (11-9-1) at LXF 20 (Internet PPV)
• Carlos Petruzzella (12-0) – Oct. 27 vs. Gaston Palomino (4-0) at Samurai Fight House 18 in Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina (YouTube)