Prospect In-depth: Yryskeldi Duysheev

Bantamweight
23-years-old
Five-foot-six
Osh, Kyrgyzstan
11-0
3 Submissions, 8 KO/TKO's
Combined opponent's record: 48-11

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

I wanted to dive deeper into Duysheev's potential now that he's free from ONE Championship and available as a free agent. After reviewing his tape, I'm confident that we've only seen a fraction of what he's truly capable of. While he's a smaller bantamweight, his size and raw strength make him a formidable presence. His power and physique have helped him excel in wrestling, which is undeniably his greatest asset. Many shorter wrestlers struggle with shooting from too far out and having to adjust, but Duysheev doesn't face that issue. He thrives in this area, and it’s clear that wrestling is his most dangerous weapon.

Duysheev excels at closing the distance with his striking, and once he's in range, his wrestling kicks in seamlessly. His ability to drop his hips and chain wrestle is impressive, and he can elevate opponents with sheer strength to dominate them. His grappling skills are also noteworthy. While his size might limit him on the mat, his relentless work ethic compensates for it. When he can't secure a position right away, he scrambles hard to make it happen. You'll often see him in transition, taking the back and using his leg sweeps to control his opponent. Once he gets the takedown, he’s versatile, landing effective ground and pound, scrambling, and hunting for submissions. He’s shown the ability to snatch necks or limbs, and he has a tricky finishing game, including techniques like the North-South choke and twister.

His striking is a bit harder to assess since he doesn’t seem entirely at ease yet, but there’s plenty of room for growth. He’s dynamic with his kicks, fast with his hands, and explosive. Duysheev does an excellent job of setting up his takedowns with hard feints, which keeps opponents guessing.

Overall, Duysheev is a fighter everyone should keep an eye on. At just 23, he's already an exceptional talent. His wrestling, grappling, and relentless pace will be tough for anyone to deal with. Even though his striking isn't fully polished, he hasn't shown any significant weaknesses so far. Duysheev would be an outstanding addition to the UFC, and here's hoping that happens soon.