Who’s next for UFC 232’s Nathaniel ‘The Prospect’ Wood?

UFC 232 was not only the return of the GOAT, Jon ‘Bones’ Jones but the second appearance of former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion, Nathaniel ‘The Prospect’ Wood to face former BAMMA Starlet Tom Duquesnoy.

This fight had me more excited than Jones v Gus. The reason is, I’ve seen Wood fight under the Cage Warriors banner and always enjoyed his exciting style. Check out his defence again Josh Reed at CW86. Defeat looked inevitable until ‘The Prospect’ bit down on his gum shield turned it around and win via TKO, he kept his head in the game to save the evening. Brad ‘One Punch’ Picket and Ashleigh Grimshaw were the guys in his corner to guide Wood to the victories and maintain progress.

Duquesnoy pulled out of UFC 232 to be replaced by Brazilian Andre Ewell and Wood continued his undefeated streak to seven fights via submission in the third round of the contest. The 25-year-old Londoner loves to entertain a la his mentor Brad Pickett, as Mr Joe Rogan interviewed Wood, he acknowledged the boos around the L.A venue during the fight, Wood admitted the style of the fight needed to go the way it did. He’s always learning at this game and he humbly asked to be on the London card for March, to be honest I think it’s a done deal.

Who would we or I love to see him face at the o2? Would we like to see a bout against Tom ‘Fire Kid’ Duquesnoy (16-2) rebooked? A good battle of fortitude, if you will, or Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera (12-5). Vera is the man who defeated Pickett in his final fight in the UFC, a bit of revenge on the card or in the air for ‘The Prospect’, imagine the build-up to the fight, we can see how the UFC marketing cats sell it.

With Wood’s improving skills and sponge like learning, he’ll rise the bantamweight ranks and answer the boos and add to his win streak.

The UK MMA scene is at a high point as UFC bringing in Arnold Allen, Darren Stewart, Darren Till, Darren Roberts, Tom Breese and with the torchbearers in former UFC Middleweight champion Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy, Brad Picket and Jo Jo Calderwood kick the door open for guys like Nathaniel Wood to get on the big show for the world to see what a lot of us have seen for some time, there’s a lot to come from this Londoner, and I’ll be there chanting a Chas and Dave tune as he raises his hand in victory one more time.

via @tattooed_ginge