Next in line: 5 of the best North American MMA prospects

During this pause in combat sports, it's a great opportunity to showcase some of the top talent coming up on the regional scene.

We've narrowed this list down to fighters who don't currently compete for the UFC or Bellator, are under 30 years of age, and have faced solid competition throughout their respective careers. In addition, this list includes fighters from different weight classes.

Here's a look at five of the best North American prospects in MMA right now.

Kyle Daukaus, 27, 9-0 record, middleweight

Fight fans got to see Daukaus compete last year on Contender Series, where he picked up a unanimous decision victory over Michael Lombardo in June 2019.

Despite the win, Dana White didn't feel the Philadelphia native did enough to earn a UFC contract. Since that victory, the current CFFC champion has picked up back-to-back stoppage wins over Stephen Regman and Nolan Norwood. With the UFC in need of 185-pound prospects, don't be surprised if the Martinez BJJ product finds himself with the Las Vegas-based promotion later this year.

Max Rohskopf, 23, 5-0 record, lightweight

Rohskopf turned heads back in February with his 58-second anaconda choke victory over Paulo Silva at Titan FC 59.

With that win, the Xtreme Couture product kept his unblemished record intact with all of his victories coming by submission. The 23-year-old also has a big frame for lightweight, standing 6-feet tall with a 70-inch reach.

If the UFC doesn't sign the Ohio native this year, Rohskopf could get a shot on Contender Series this summer.

T.J. Laramie, 22, 11-3 record, featherweight

It's hard to imagine the youngest fighter on this list is also the most experienced. The Windsor, Ontario product has won six of his last seven bouts, including a dominant victory over UFC featherweight Charles Jourdain at TKO 41.

Laramie splits time between Michigan Top Team and training in Las Vegas with UFC bantamweight Cody Stamann. Expect the former TKO 145-pound champion to earn a UFC contract at some point this year.

Brandon Royval, 27, 10-4 record, flyweight

The Factory-X product likely would have been signed to the UFC already if not for the standstill the promotion's 125-pound division was in for most of last year. The 27-year-old needed just 23 seconds to capture the vacant LFA flyweight title, submitting Nate Wiliams at LFA 79 in November.

"Raw Dawg" has won five of his last six fights, with his lone blemish coming on short notice against UFC bantamweight Casey Kenney at LFA 53. The Colorado native is currently scheduled to face Jerome Rivera in a rematch on Contender Series this June. Should he pick up another victory, expect Royval to finally earn a UFC contract.

Jamey-Lyn Horth Wessels, 29, 4-0 record, women's flyweight

Canadian product Horth Wessels is coming off an impressive TKO victory over top prospect Jade Masson-Wong at BFL 65, capturing the promotion's flyweight championship.

The Squamish, B.C. native stands 5-foot-7 with a 67-inch reach, making her one of the bigger 125-pound fighters in her division. The 29-year-old is regular training partners with UFC bantamweight Cole Smith and UFC lightweight Tristan Connelly.

The UFC's flyweight division is in desperate need of new talent, and Horth Wessels would be an excellent fit for that division.