5 prospects to watch out for at UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3

The second pay-per-view this month will be underway at the O2 Arena in London this Saturday. UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 is stacked with intriguing matchups and features many up-and-coming prospects, with two massive fights set to close the show.

With all eyes on the Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman trilogy bout and the explosive Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev co-headliner, fans should also catch the undercard, which is brimming with British and European talent.

On that note, here are five prospects to keep an eye on at UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3.

#5. Christian Leroy Duncan – UFC debutant

The premier MMA promotion in the United Kingdom, Cage Warriors, has produced a litany of stars in the UFC. Conor McGregor, the most popular fighter in the sport, is a former two-division champion in the British organization, which hasn't halted its conveyor belt of world-class talent.

Christian Leroy Duncan, a former champion in the promotion, could turn out to be the next big English star in the years to come.

While his professional record stands at 7-0, Leroy Duncan is among the most experienced prospects to enter the UFC middleweight division. 'CLD' has had over 20 amateur fights and at just 27, is a supremely well-rounded and composed mixed martial artist.

The Gloucester native is a finisher as well, with all but one of his pro fights so far going to a decision. A former basketball player, Leroy Duncan uses his natural athleticism to good effect and boasts a devastating striking arsenal.

He will make his UFC debut against Serbian middleweight Dusko Todorovic this weekend and will be itching to get off to a winning start inside the famed octagon.

#4. Jake Hadley

Jake Hadley is an exciting addition to the UFC's 125-pound division. Hadley holds a professional MMA record of 9-1, comprising two KO/TKO and five submission wins. The Birmingham native is a former Cage Warriors and EFC flyweight titleholder.

'White Kong' has developed a reputation for being a remarkably well-rounded fighter with a killer instinct and mentality, making him one of the most dangerous and accomplished fighters in the division.

Hadley's introduction to the UFC brass was far from ideal. Leading up to his outing in season 5 of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS), he failed to make the flyweight limit, missing by 2 pounds.

Nevertheless, he produced an incredible performance as he choked out Mitch Raposo in the second round of their bout. Moments after his win, he approached Dana White and the matchmakers to apologize for missing weight. While the matchmakers were against signing him, White went the other way after seeing his potential.

After a tough fight in his promotional debut wherein he came up short via decision, Hadley will be eager to open his account in the UFC when he takes on Malcolm Gordon this Saturday.

#3. Lerone Murphy

Lerone 'The Miracle' Murphy has one of the most apt nicknames you'll ever see.

Murphy was notably shot three times back in 2013, with one bullet hitting his face and the other two hitting his neck. Just last year, the Brit got into a car accident that sidelined him for an extended period of time, and his return will be underway this weekend.

Murphy has never tasted defeat in his professional career. His record stands at 11-0-1, with two of his four wins in the UFC being knockout victories over divisional staples Ricardo Ramos and Makwan Amirkhani.

The soft-spoken Englishman is among the brightest prospects in the featherweight division. All of Murphy's UFC outings so far have been in Abu Dhabi, and with his car accident last year, he hasn't competed in nearly 18 months. Still just 31, 'The Miracle' is entering his athletic prime and is looking to crack the featherweight top 15.

Murphy was initially slated to fight fellow Englishman Nathaniel Wood, who was forced to pull out after sustaining an injury during training camp. He will now take on fellow unbeaten prospect Gabriel Santos, who will be making his octagon debut.

#2. Casey O'Neill

The women's 125-pound division sprung to life earlier this month when Alexa Grasso shocked the world by submitting longtime flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko. There's a new wave of up-and-comers set to take over the division in the coming years, with Casey O'Neill proving to be a real threat to the throne.

'King Casey' holds a perfect 9-0 record comprising five finishes. She already has four wins under her belt inside the octagon, including a TKO victory over former champion Valentina Shevchenko's sister, Antonina.

O'Neill is very well-rounded, but her strengths lie in her ground game. While she isn't the biggest submission threat on the mat, her positional awareness and top control is world class, making her a tricky matchup for most fighters in the division. She currently occupies the No.12 spot in the flyweight rankings.

The Scotland-born phenom will have no shortage of support on Saturday night when she takes on former title challenger and perennial contender Jennifer Maia on the pay-per-view main card.

#1. Muhammad Mokaev

Arguably the most credentialled MMA fighter on the roster, Muhammad Mokaev has emerged as a force to be reckoned with.

‘The Punisher’ boasts a stellar 23-0 amateur record and has been mapping out his pro MMA career since he was a young teen. He fought his first amateur bout at just 14 years of age and has ripped through every fighter he’s faced ever since.

Just two years after making his pro MMA debut, Mokaev joined the UFC with an unblemished record. He has since racked up three wins inside the octagon, two of which were submission finishes, to break into the flyweight top 15.

Since signing with the UFC, Mokaev has struggled to find willing top-ranked opponents. At UFC 286, he will lock horns with promotional debutant Jafel Filho in the prelims and will be looking to pick up his fourth UFC win, preferably via another finish.

Mokaev has set himself a lofty goal of becoming the youngest champion in UFC history, a record currently held by Jon Jones, who won his light heavyweight strap at the age of 23. 'The Punisher' needs to claim gold by early next year to achieve this feat, so a statement-making win this weekend is paramount.