Sherdog Prospect Watch: Five UFC-Ready Fighters

Leandro Higo (13-2)

Few fighters have undeservedly languished longer on the regional scene than Team Nogueira and Pitbull Brothers product Higo. No longer a hyped prospect but a polished and complete competitor, Higo has proven himself time and again against top-notch opposition in Brazil, and any United States-based promotion would benefit from adding him to its roster at either flyweight or bantamweight.

Higo, a plus athlete with great explosiveness, can do everything well. Although he could stand to throw more volume on the feet, he packs big power in his punches and chopping low kicks and generally displays good ability to cover distance and solid fundamentals. Higo is especially dangerous on the counter, as he pulls his head offline, plants his feet and throws bombs at oncoming opponents. His ring craft is excellent, and he loves to push his opponent toward the fence and follow with a flying knee. The big problem here is output: Against durable, skilled fighters, Higo might not be able to win decisions that play out mostly on the feet.

Perhaps surprisingly for a fighter coming out of the Brazilian regional scene, Higo is an excellent wrestler. He does a superb job of covering his takedowns with strikes and times his shots as his opponent moves forward; and his aforementioned preference for backing up his opponent to the cage makes his offensive wrestling all the more effective. Higo is especially fond of slams and other crowd-pleasing, high-amplitude takedowns. In the clinch, the Brazilian demonstrates good control and technical skill, and he throws exceptionally sharp knees from the Thai clinch.

As good at wrestling as he may be, Higo’s best skill set is his grappling. He passes guard with ease, maintains a heavy base from the top and beautifully integrates his positional game with his ground striking. When his opponent gives him an opportunity, Higo reacts instantly with passes to the back and lightning-quick submission attempts, particularly the armbar and rear-naked choke. He transitions nicely and rarely ends up on the losing end of a scramble.

In sum, Higo is polished, technical and physically talented, and he has everything he needs to be competitive with the very best at either 135 or, preferably, 125 pounds. But for mistakes in his visa paperwork that cost him a shot at the United States-based Resurrection Fighting Alliance flyweight title earlier this year, Higo might already be in the UFC. Although he is only 25, Higo has been in the game for a long time, and he is in his prime right now. If he can make minor improvements to his cardio and output, to go along with his complete skills and excellent coaches, Higo could easily be a top-10 fighter. According to his manager, Higo will once again attempt to make his way to the UFC by trying out for the fourth season of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.”

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