February 8, 2024 2: 30 pm ET
Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.
For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.
This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.
- A New Englander migrated to Florida and American Top Team to help make his dreams come true – and he thinks he’s close.
- Erin Blanchfield’s main training partner continues down a similar path with major UFC aspirations on her mind.
- A Vietnam-born flyweight is only 23, but making huge waves thus far on the regional scene and plans to continue them until Mick Maynard comes calling.
- Formerly of Oklahoma State University, a standout wrestler’s transition into MMA is seemingly destiny, bolstered by a recent move to Fortis MMA.
- Don’t call it a comeback, but a Welsh lightweight is obsessed with earning a second UFC opportunity – and is on his way to doing so.
Nate Ghareeb
Image via CES MMA
Record: 9-2
Age: 30
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 5’8″
Birthplace: Hot Springs, Ark.
Next Fight: Friday vs. Don Shainis (13-6) at Combat FC 6 in Wilmington, Mass. (UFC Fight Pass)*
Background: High school wrestling paved the path for Nate Ghareeb. So the obvious was next – a WWE wrestler. Ghareeb’s dream of professional wrestling was short-lived, however. He considered going to pro wrestling school, but his high school coach advised him against it and go with MMA instead. Ghareeb wasn’t really familiar, but the more he looked, the more he liked. After injuries in consecutive years during his collegiate wrestling stint at Springfield College (Mass.), he decided to pivot to a jiu-jitsu gym. The gym had a kickboxing class – and he fell in love with striking. After he transferred to West Virginia University, he dedicated himself to the art of muay Thai. Combat sports became his life. At the crossroads of pursuing a potential career as a police officer or becoming a full-time fighter in 2016, Ghareeb chose the latter. After a 6-3 amateur career, Ghareeb turned pro in July 2019. Over the span of 11 fights, his only losses were to top Bellator prospect Cody Law, and a close and controversial decision against Dan Dubuque. He bounced back nicely with three straight wins, including a rare Suloev stretch submission.
The skinny: It hasn’t been a straight shot to the top for Ghareeb, but his path has been effective in the long term. As he’s progressed through his career, Ghareeb has slowly but surely figured out a stable and successful recipe to improve as a fighter. He’s got a good personality, finishing abilities, great cardio, and a dog in him – an attribute you really can’t teach. For a while, he was a bit of a training nomad. He picks up knowledge from a number of different gyms and training partners in New England – although much of his training took place at his actual house. Eventually, Ghareeb pivoted. In order to make his dream come true, he couldn’t do it all by himself. So he packed up his bags and moved to South Florida where he trains every day with the likes of Arman Tsarukyan, Movsar Evloev, and others at American Top Team. On a three-fight finishing streak, Ghareeb should get a UFC glance should he make it four-for-four.
In his own words: “I absolutely love it down here. I train with the best in the world every single day – people I look up to. These are really high-level guys who are in the UFC already. They’re where I want to be. I ended up coming down here my last two camps down here and prepared with Mike Brown, Thiago Alves, and Steve Mocco. It’s made a world of difference when you’re training with the best in the world every single day and helping guys get ready for UFC-level fights like Arman Tsarukyan and Grant Dawson, who I sparred with a lot, helping them get ready for their fights.
“I train with guys like Edson Barboza, who I’ve looked up to forever. It gives you a certain level of confidence because if you can find little bits of success within your rounds with these guys, you know these are some of the best in the world. … Being put to the test every day in a room where there are no rest rounds makes a world of difference. … If they’re telling you, ‘This is good,’ it means so much more than some guy that doesn’t have those credentials.”
“… I 100 percent believe that I am 100 percent ready. I just think I need my opportunity. I think they just need to give me one chance. I don’t think I’m one of those guys who will waste that opportunity. I’ve been waiting for this for years. Last time I was (‘On The Doorstep’), I truly felt I was on that trajectory and path. I’ve had another year and three more fights to make those adjustments and improvements. Now, compared to where I was mentally, physically, and technically, I’m just an overall way better fighter. … If they call me tomorrow, I’m ready to go.”
Following the finalization of this story, Ghareeb withdrew from his fight vs. Don Shainis, who remains on Combat FC 6 vs. Damion Nelson on UFC Fight Pass.
Fatima Kline
Record: 5-0
Age: 23
Weight class: Strawweight
Height: 5’6″
Birthplace: Holbrook, N.Y.
Next Fight: Feb. 9 vs. Andressa Romero (6-3-1) at CFFC 129 in Philadelphia (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Living on Long Island, Fatima Kline’s mother put her in jiu-jitsu class at 10 years old for self-defense reasons. A bond with fighting was quickly formed and Kline transitioned to kickboxing, wrestling, and boxing at 14. By 16, Kline wanted to fight as a career, as she competed in the adult divisions of grappling competitions, often defeating full-grown women. The goals were laid out early. At 20, she debuted as a professional in May 2021. After four wins in Invicta FC, Kline has aligned herself for a major promotional title under the CFFC banner.
The skinny: For those who don’t know – Kline is the main training partner for UFC flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield. The two have worked together for approximately four years, training under Augie Matias at MK Muay Thai. It seems like the camp keeps a small circle – but it’s an effective one. Blanchfield’s climb up the UFC ladder toward a title has been rocket-fast and Kline shows the same signs early, particularly in the grappling departments, through just four pro fights. Kline’s grappling background and success in tournaments has shown her to be a threat as soon as the fight hits the mat. Her relentless striking and pacing was on full display in her most recent outing, a CFFC flyweight title-clinching victory over Sara Cova. Now, Kline attempts to become CFFC champ-champ. If she has two belts over her shoulders by the end of the month, the UFC would be silly not to give her a phone call.
In her own words: “It feels really good to know I’m having back-to-back fights. Just getting a chance to get another title and another championship win? I’m really excited about that. … I was super happy with my last performance and I feel like I was really able to display most of my game – my striking, my wrestling, my grappling. I plan on doing that again.”
“… I want to stay active and I jumped on this opportunity right away. I think fighting for another belt, winning another belt, getting another finish, and being 6-0 will make me almost undeniable after this fight. Hey, listen, if the UFC calls me for UFC 300 or the card the next week, as long as I’m not hurt, I’m going to jump in there and really make my dream come true. … I think 6-0 with two belts around my waist, I’d not only be a contender but I’d be world-class. I just need the opportunity to show that. This next fight will be giving me that opportunity.”
An Tuan Ho
Record: 5-0
Age: 23
Weight class: Flyweight
Height: 5’6″
Birthplace: Tan Phong, Tay Ninh, Vietnam
Next Fight: Feb. 9 vs. Miguel Sanson (4-1) at LFA 176 in Phoenix (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Born in Vietnam, An Tuan Ho moved to the United States at 10 years old. He never liked school and never fit in. Ho marched to the beat of his own drum, and eventually, that meant giving martial arts a spin at 14. He wanted to build confidence and learn self-defense. Ho dedicated all of his time to elevating his craft and won six regional fights in less than three years after a half-dozen-or-so kickboxing smoker fights. Initially, Ho was training at Fight Ready in Scottsdale, Ariz. The lessons he learned from coach Santino Defranco he still carries with him today. But it was coach Randy Steinke that Ho grew a bond with the most. When Steinke departed for the MMA Lab, Ho followed. He turned professional in 2022 and has gone 5-0 since.
The skinny: If you don’t believe in destiny, follow the career of