Prospect In-depth: Geovanis Palacios

Welterweight
28-years-old
Six-foot-two
Sao Paulo, Brazil/Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
7-0
6 KO/TKO's
Combined opponent's record: 20

Boxing: C-
Kickboxing: C
Knockout power: C
Explosiveness: A
Footwork: B
Clinch: A-
Wrestling: A-
Grappling: B
Ground and Pound: A
Submission threat: F
Striking defense: C+
Takedown defense: A+
Grappling defense: A
Cardio: B
Fight IQ: B-

Geovanis Palacios, a native of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, now resides in São Paulo, Brazil, where he trains at Fighting Nerds, one of Brazil's most prominent MMA gyms. As a fighter, Palacios boasts an impressive record, transitioning from an undefeated amateur career (2-0) to an unblemished professional record of 7-0.

Palacios is a standout Cuban wrestler and a promising prospect in MMA, with a strong foundation in Greco-Roman wrestling. He notably secured third place at the prestigious 2018 Granma y Cerro Pelado Tournament in Cuba, showcasing his elite skills on the mat. His wrestling in MMA is nothing short of exceptional, characterized by explosive, high-impact takedowns that often send opponents airborne. While his technique makes these takedowns appear effortless, they are a testament to his incredible strength, both in his upper body and powerful legs, which allow him to dominate opponents in grappling exchanges.

Once on the ground, Palacios is relentless. His ground-and-pound is heavy and punishing, and his positional control makes it extremely difficult for opponents to escape. While submissions aren't his primary focus, his ability to keep opponents pinned and inflict damage has proven to be highly effective.

In striking, Palacios remains raw but shows glimpses of potential. He moves with agility and explosiveness, though his technique can be wild and reckless, especially in close exchanges or when throwing extended combinations. This area of his game could pose a challenge if he encounters an opponent he cannot take down.

Despite his wrestling-heavy style, Palacios appears to have a solid gas tank. In his last fight, which went the full three rounds, he showed signs of fatigue but managed to maintain a competitive pace without becoming completely drained.

Although Palacios did not compete last year, he remains an intriguing fighter to watch. With his electrifying wrestling and relentless style, fans can expect excitement every time he steps into the cage. Here's hoping 2025 brings more opportunities for this promising talent to showcase his skills.