Watching the process of progress unfold in real time is what makes the prospect tier of mixed martial arts so exciting to watch, and there's no one in that realm hotter at the current time than Dylan Cala.

The North Carolina transplant has been shaking up the regional scene for the past two years, but it's been his work over the past six months that has landed "The Future" on a much larger radar across the MMA landscape. The Jeff Jimmo-trained fighter and MMA Lab affiliate has been wrecking shop across the southeast, notching victory after victory in the process.

Where many prospects attempt to protect their records at all costs, Cala is preparing for the inevitable call from the UFC by stepping in against tough competition with proven track records. The 23-year-old bantamweight's most recent showing was his most impressive win to date, as Cala defeated Chris Wright via unanimous decision to become the Valor 135-pound champion.

Watch that performance here (begins at 5:42:00) 


In addition to Wright having triple the amount of experience, he's also a product of the world renowned Roufusport gym in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nevertheless, those items were simply details when it was all said and done, as Cala used a mixture of slick striking and his signature grind to get the job done March 18 at Valor Fights 41.

"Chris Wright is a very tough fighter and it's clear his time at Roufusport has served him well," Cala told FloCombat. "I wasn't impressed with my performance, but sh*t happens in fights and you can't always predict how it's going to go. I blew out my knee in the first round and had to adapt and make the best of the situation. I still had a job to do and there wasn't anything that was going to stop me from getting that win.

"At first I was pretty critical of myself but after going back and watching the fight, I'm much more pleased with my striking than I was initially. My right hand was touching him every time I threw it. A lot of my fights have been fast and this fight gave me some time to work in there. Most of my fights I take the guy down and steal his will to fight away from him.

"This fight I was able to get in some solid time on my feet, and even though I had the issue with my knee and wasn't able to put the entire game out there, I was still happy with a lot of the work I was able to put in."

Although Cala's victory earned him the first substantial piece of hardware of his career, the talented super prospect isn't resting on any accomplishments. Championship gold is nice, but Cala has his eyes on much larger prizes in the future. That said, Cala also understands there is a process to making himself UFC ready, and he's willing to take the necessary time to ensure he's ready to hit the ground running when that coveted phone call comes through.

"I think it's a step in the right direction," Cala said. "My goal is to show a difference and progression in every fight. I'm not in this to move backwards. I want to face better competition and fight on bigger stages each and every time out. I'd heard great things about Valor and they put on a good show. It was well ran and it was a good venue. I'm excited to keep rolling with them. Apparently they have a few guys lined up who want to try to take my belt, but we'll see when the ink gets on the paper.

"I'm going to keep collecting wins and putting these guys out. It doesn't matter where it's at to me. I'm going to keep putting my competition away until it's my time to go to work in the UFC."

Where it can be difficult to garner a buzz on the regional scene, Cala is making waves like few before him. The Southeast has struggled to produce homegrown talent, as anything outside of South Florida has pretty much been non-existent on the grander scale over the past 20 years.


(​Photo Credit: Jonathan Mashburn/Golden Hour Photography) 

Cala is determined to change that measure and shatter the stigma that the only notable prospects are the ones that come from super gyms in established markets. He plans to do that by collecting victories and becoming the best bantamweight fighter not only in his region, but in the sport as a whole.

"I'm different from a lot of fighters because I've been saying from the very beginning I am going to be the best in the world," Cala said. "I've been telling people I'm going to be a world champion since I started and now people are starting to see these things I've been saying coming to fruition. Not a lot of guys come out and say those things, and I'm not just saying it to say it.

"People are starting to realize I mean what I say and they are seeing the hard work pay off. This isn't just talk for fun or the media; this is what I do. This is my life and I'm going to make it all happen. It's going to happen quickly as well, so anyone doubting me better get on the train now.

"This game is evolving quickly and most people just want to go with the pack and fit in," he added. "I couldn't be further from that. I've never traveled the path others travel. I go my own way and I'm looking to standout. I don't care what everyone else is doing. I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to accomplish my goals. It doesn't matter who is in front of me or what stage it's on. I'm going to keep knocking them down one by one and achieve the goals I've set out to accomplish."