GFL Draft Grades: Which teams are set up for success in 2025?

On Friday night time, World Combat League held its inaugural draft with its six groups deciding on 20 fighters throughout 10 weight lessons. Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley had the glory of being chosen because the No. 1 total draft choose for Staff Dubai, and when it was all stated and achieved, 12 former UFC champions have been drafted together with a slew of different prime names in MMA. So, now that we all know the groups, let’s evaluation the draft and take a guess at which groups are finest arrange for fulfillment in when the promotion kicks off in April.

Staff Dubai

Dubai had the primary total draft choose which they used to pick Tyron Woodley, following that up with Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Derek Brunson. I’ll be sincere, none of these individuals have been excessive on my draft board. In any case, Woodley is 42, hasn’t fought in 4 years, and is on a six-fight dropping streak throughout all fight sports activities. That doesn’t precisely scream “First total draft choose to me.”

Thankfully, they weren’t actually punished for it as the opposite groups handed on among the finest fighters out there to be drafted. Tofiq Musayev and Damir Ismagulov have been arguably one of the best choices at any weight class and Staff Dubai obtained them each. That’s the light-weight division locked up, and Ali Isaev was in all probability one of the best heavyweight out there as properly. Omari Akhmedov, Timur Valiev, and each featherweight alternatives are additionally high-quality fighters, which implies Dubai could have to win considered one of their remaining 5 weight lessons to say a workforce victory.

Staff Dubai has some clear weaknesses (Arlene Blencowe is the one confirmed lady on the squad who isn’t fully washed), however its strengths are the strongest of any of the six groups.

Grade: A-

Staff Los Angeles

Oof.

Like many Los Angeles sports activities groups all through historical past, Staff L.A. seems to have made the basic blunder of selecting sizzle over steak. L.A.’s first 4 picks have been Sage Northcutt, Aspen Ladd, Tony Ferguson, and Urijah Faber. When drafting Aspen Ladd is one of the best factor you do, one thing has gone horribly awry.

Urijah Faber is 45 and hasn’t competed in virtually six years. God knows I love him however Andrei Arlovski hasn’t seemed good in over a decade! Sage Northcutt was by no means good to start with! And don’t even get me began on Tony Ferguson.

Lorenz Larkin, Tyler Diamond, and perhaps Ladd are the one fighters I’ve any confidence will have the ability to choose up wins for the L.A. Codgers. Add in the truth that Rashad Evans is seemingly not even actually on the team and I’m assured predicting that is going to go poorly.

Grade: F

Staff London

Hmmm. I’m beginning to sense a sample right here. Virtually all of Staff London’s fighters are European, identical to most of Staff Dubai’s fighters had some connection to the U.A.E. I’m beginning to assume this wasn’t an precise draft… No, absolutely not. In all probability a complete coincidence.

Anywho, I like a number of what Staff London has occurring right here. London went Gegard Mousasi, into Alexander Gustafsson, into Josefine Knutsson, into Brett Johns to start out the draft, and whereas these positively weren’t one of the best picks, they crammed out the remainder of their roster properly.

The inspiration of Staff London is its girls’s divisions because the Euros can anticipate to be extremely aggressive in all three of these weight lessons and as followers came upon within the 2022 MMA World Cup, a robust feminine corps can carry a workforce a good distance. On prime of that, the remainder of The King’s Staff might lack for flash and pleasure, however they don’t have too many complete duds, that means they need to be a tricky out in any weight class.

Contemplating the Brits don’t have drafts of their sports activities, they did an honest job right here.

Grade: B

Staff Miami

Staff Miami is an actual blended bag.

The Miami Speedboats (not one of the groups have names, so I’m declaring this one, get on board) took Junior dos Santos within the first spherical, Anthony Pettis within the second, Yoel Romero within the third, after which Natasha Kuziutina within the fourth. Kuziutina is definitely one of the best choose of the bunch as she’s legitimately good and needs to be the highest atomweight competing. Romero was additionally an honest choice given the deplorable state of the opposite middleweights, and whereas Pettis is unquestionably washed, he’s in all probability much less so than many different draftees.

The remainder of Staff Miami is as suspect as a sq. grouper. Philipe Lins is definitely an ideal choose however Marlon Moraes, JDS, Hector Lombard, Gleison Tibau, and Thiago Santos are all varied ranges of “I’m uncomfortable watching you struggle nonetheless” whereas the others have some abilities however have been by no means elite opponents. The dearth of an growing expertise might show to be a giant flaw for Staff Miami however they’ve obtained sufficient items to compete.

Grade: C+

Staff Sao Paulo

Now it is a workforce!

Sao Paulo got here out of the gate and drafted Fabricio Werdum, Douglas Lima, Carlos Petruzzella, and Camila Reynoso with its first 4 picks. Whereas the opening two are horrible, Petruzella and Reynoso are nice. They’re each younger, undefeated prospects who’re in all probability about to spend the remainder of the 12 months placing outdated canine out to pasture for his or her workforce.

On prime of these two weight lessons being in good arms, Staff Sao Paulo additionally has above common expertise at featherweight, gentle heavyweight, and heavyweight, plus fairly succesful fighters in each different weight class. Positive, there are just a few fighters right here who’re previous their sell-by dates, however setting these apart, Staff Brazil is surprisingly well-rounded. They might lack the highs of Staff Dubai, however Sao Paulo has extra depth. They’re a front-runner to win this factor.

Grade: A

Staff New York

Properly, I do know who I’m selecting to complete final.

Genuinely, who’re you presupposed to be enthusiastic about for those who’re a New York fan? Chris Weidman retired per week in the past and will’ve retired a lifetime in the past. Kevin Lee is Kevin Lee. Lance Palmer was respectable as soon as upon a time however now? I gained’t even deign to provide Dillon Danis an actual point out. Bi Nguyen is 6-9! What are we doing right here?!?!

Alan Belcher could be the standard-bearer for this workforce which ought to exhibit simply how dire issues are for Staff Longo and firm. If you happen to dwell in New York, it’s higher to be a Jets or Giants fan than watch this squad.

Grade: F