'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#4. Dalton 'Hercules' Rosta - Bellator middleweight
Another Bellator prospect to keep an eye on is middleweight Dalton 'Hercules' Rosta. The 25-year old American Top Team representative has improved significantly with each fight. After an undefeated amateur career that saw him win all three of his bouts by KO/TKO, Rosta signed with Bellator MMA and made his professional debut at Bellator 219.
Rosta's debut was a lot like his amateur fights. He won by first round TKO after his opponent Cody Vidal sustained a knee injury. 'Hercules' followed up that performance with back-to-back TKO wins to improve to 3-0. In the bouts that followed, Rosta's wrestling and ground and pound were the difference-makers.
Rosta's striking has noticeably improved since he began training with American Top Team. Based on his progression, the best is yet to come for Rosta as he continues ascending the middleweight rankings. Rosta recently gained more exposure when he joined some of his American Top Team teammates and appeared on AEW: Dynamite!
#3. 'Master' Valerie Loureda - Bellator women's flyweight
Coming in at third is 'Master' Valerie Loureda. The fourth dan taekwondo black belt has had a meteoric rise to superstardom in Bellator. Loureda's background in taekwondo made her an exciting signing for the promotion and one that could provide highlight-reel finishes. Even going back to her amateur fights, Loureda was an aggressive fight who didn't hesitate in getting creative with her combinations.
Loureda lived up to the hype in her professional MMA debut against Colby Fletcher at Bellator 216. 'Master' Loureda dropped Fletcher with a powerful kick to the body and then finished the fight with ground strikes. Loureda went on to win back-to-back fights, which included a knockout over Tara Graff that ended up going viral.
After beginning her career 3-0, Loureda lost her most recent fight to Hannah Guy by unanimous decision. Although Loureda dominated the striking exchanges, she lost the grappling battle and it ended up being the turning point. It'll be interesting to see how Loureda responds to the defeat. One thing that is certain is that Loureda's precise striking will always make her a threat in the division.
