5 fighters who could enter UFC, Bellator with February wins

Record: 15-5
Age: 32
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 6’1″
Birthplace: Texas
Next Fight: Feb. 17 vs. Bassil Hafez (7-3-1) at Fury FC 75 in Dallas (UFC Fight Pass)

Background: For as long as he can remember, Evan Cutts has ben “super nerd who loves the hero story.” In constant pursuit of hurdles to overcome, Cutts was driven by the want for empowerment. What’s more “real” and more “empowering” than martial arts? It began with karate, then Cutts met Johnny Bedford and entered jiu-jitsu. He joined an LA Boxing to add another discipline and began competition in 2010. In 2011, he turned professional. In 2013, he entered Bellator reality series “Fight Master,” as a member of Joe Warren’s team and made it to the quarterfinals. Since then, Cutts has had wins and losses, but has always moved forward, through LFA, XKO, WXC, and more. In recent years, he picked up CFFC and Fury FC titles, the latter he still holds.

The skinny: Thirteen years is a long time to spend on the regional scene, but Cutts is still only 32. More importantly, he’s improving fight by fight. A winner of five of his most recent six, Cutts has become must-watch viewing. Four of his five professional losses have come to eventual UFC signees. He hasn’t shied away from tough fights. Even if its been detrimental to his win-loss record, Cutts has used the defeats to build. In recent years, he’s dedicated his life to training others – adding to his perspective of life and martial arts. Seemingly at peace more now than ever, Cutts has become quite the finisher. If the UFC wants to add an fire-fight, well-rounded brawler to their welterweight roster, look no further than Cutts.

In his own words: “I’ve kind of evened out into a cold fury of wanting to be the best martial artist and athlete I can be. I want to be able to ask that not of just myself, but be an example to my students. That’s been a part of the success of (my gym) Fitness Fight Factory. We’ve always led from the front. We’ve never asked any of our students something we wouldn’t do ourselves. That’s how martial arts stays real and stays pure and stays a spirit that lives on through generations. Not to be way weird or esoteric about it, but it can get that way.”

“… I feel like when you look at my record, it shows I’ve been getting after it. I don’t have a lot of fights where I’m fighting anyone with an upside-down record or anything silly. I actually got a little bit frustrated with my last couple fights. The promotion does what they can to fill a spot and make sure there’s someone on the other side of the cage. But I’ve had to take some fights recently because I don’t know if others are trying to protect their record or just trying to hang around the regional circuit, but I’m trying to get in the UFC. I would love to fight guys who are other up-and-comers to get there.”

“… I definitely think I could make a big impact (in the UFC) right now. I always think I’m like one fight away, because that’s what you hear from promoters or managers. It doesn’t matter. I’m going to have 40 fights before I’m 40. I’m going to stack up as many wins as I can, as I’m getting to that goal. I definitely believe I can fight at the world level. I watch guys in the UFC and I get frustrated. There are guys in the UFC I have wins over. It can be irritating and you go to a fight watch party and you’re watching guys fight and whether you see a whole or an opening… sometimes I just watch the guys on the newer side of the UFC and how often do those guys get cut within three fights? I’m not going to be that guy.”