At FloGrappling, we’re always looking for the next wave of talented grapplers ready to make their mark on the mats. That’s why we’re launching a brand new series — “Prospect of the Month” — where we spotlight the rising athletes shaping the future of jiu-jitsu and submission grappling. Each month, we’ll focus on one young competitor you need to know before they hit the big stage.

This month’s feature kicks off with a name we think you’ll be hearing a lot more of soon — a young talent already turning heads in the competitive scene. 18-year-old Joshua Flores of Vanguard Academy is someone with all the tools to take that leap into the elite, especially with ADCC Trials coming up soon.

Flores has quietly built an impressive résumé over the last ADCC cycle, making the top eight at both of the South American Trials and reaching day two at both North American Trials - the youngest athlete to be able to claim that last cycle for either region. With a well-rounded game, expert leg locks, relentless pace, and growing experience against world-class opposition, Flores is emerging as one of the most promising names to watch in the years ahead.

Flores's technical game is due in large part to his extensive work with coach Jason Rau. While Rau is also a competitor himself, he's really become known as one of the best technicians and coaches of this generation with an incredible mind for analyzing grappling. With Flores putting in tons of time with such a talented instructor, it's no surprise we see him continuing to have more and more success.

Joshua was most recently in action at the ADCC New Jersey Open, winning the advanced -65kg division after beating an experienced veteran of the UFC BJJ reality show in the finals. Joshua is staying busy too, with a super fight this weekend at Finishers - which airs FREE on the FloGrappling YouTube channel this Saturday.