2025 Australian MMA Awards

2024 Australian MMA Awards: https://www.australianmma.com.au/post/2024-australian-mma-awards‍

2023 Australian MMA Awards - https://www.australianmma.com.au/post/2023-australian-mma-awards

Intro (read this before you yell at me)

Yes, people will get missed. I already know your favourite fighter didn’t win, and I’m an idiot who doesn’t know what he’s talking about. These are my awards, and you’ll forget them by June.

I didn’t pull these out of thin air either. I spoke to a few notable people, got opinions from media, and we also do nominations and voting via australianmma.com.au. But at the end of the day, this is still my call. So breathe. Wrap your hands and punch me when you see me.

Also, a record isn’t everything. Sometimes it matters and you’ll see that reflected when the numbers are undeniable. But this isn’t only wins and losses. It’s impact.

• Did the fight reverberate through the scene?
• Did it shift a division, a promotion, or someone’s career?
• Did it build a narrative or become a moment people actually remember?

That’s what I’m rewarding. The gravity of it.

These awards are predominantly Australian with the usual New Zealand crossover. There’s also that tricky middle ground: Invicta, UAE Warriors, Canggu, Road to UFC. Not the UFC or PFL yet, but not purely local either. That grey area makes it messy.

2025 was especially hard to judge because of the international movement, plus DWCS ripple effects and Road to UFC success reshaping the local talent pool. It changed what “dominance” even looks like before people make the jump.

So yes, you will be able to find more holes in these awards than swiss cheese, so like, just relax aye... Alright, let's get into it.

P.S. All winners will receive a personalised trophy and a crisp high five.

Awards

2025 Australian MMA Amateur of the Year

WINNER: Ayden Todoroff
2025 Record: 5-0 (8-2 overall)

Why he won (quick):
Elite activity, constant improvement, and a 2025 run that proved he’s levelling up every time out.
Full story: [Link to full story]

Key 2025 moments:

• 18-second R1 finish over Kim Luk (Domination MMA 11)
• R2 stoppage of Wyatt Fraser (Eternal MMA 93)
• Won Ascension lightweight title (R2 finish over Torun Mercuri)
• Unanimous decision over Alex Torres (Eternal MMA 97)
• R3 submission win to cap the year (Eternal MMA 99)

2025 Australian MMA Comeback Fighter of the Year

WINNER: Ben “The Wanderer” Watson
2025 Record: 1-0 (9-2 overall)

Why he won (quick):
A six-year layoff usually kills momentum. Ben came back and looked like he never left.
Full story: [Link to full story]

Key 2025 moment:

• Submission win over Yuki Angadembe (Eternal MMA 96, 3:38, Round 1)

What it leads to:
A 2026 title shot vs Matty Iann.

2025 Australian MMA Submission of the Year

WINNER: Hoshi Friedrich
Submission: Kneebar over JJ Ambrose (HEX Fight Series 37)

Why he won (quick):
High stakes, huge underdog moment, and a finish so brutal it ended the fight in reality.
Full story: [Link to full story]

The moment:
JJ started strong with wrestling. Hoshi slipped out the back, hunted legs, and finished with a vicious lateral kneebar. JJ tried to start round two, caught a kick, and withdrew.

Other submissions worth a shout:
Peter Templer’s triangle over Diellon Lihari (Eternal MMA 94), plus a year full of rear naked chokes across promotions.

2025 Australian MMA Knockout of the Year

WINNER: Surapun Kancharee
Result: KO over Khan Deatta (Eternal MMA 95, Round 1, 0:08)

Why he won (quick):
Fastest, most shocking “what just happened?” moment of the year with huge divisional impact.
Full story: [Link to full story]

Context:
It felt like a fight Khan Deatta would win as he climbed toward a title shot. Eight seconds later, the whole year had its biggest shock.

Other notable knockouts (no order):

• Sam Marles KO Nate Law (Eternal 95)
• Darcy Vendy KO Blair Bretag (Eternal 96)
• Yaqoot Hakimi TKO Ran Deng (Eternal 101)
• Jake Piper KO Pat Hill (HEX 35)
• Jamie Edenden KO Jackie Cataline (Invicta 61)
• Kim Tran KO Almagul Zhorobekova (ONE Friday Fights 134)

2025 Australian MMA Fight of the Year

WINNER: Sam Marles vs Nate Law (Eternal 95)
Result: Marles via KO (Round 3)

Why it won (quick):
Three rounds of momentum swings, danger, pace, drama, and a clean ending. Watch Here
Full story: [Link to full story]

The case:
Marles nearly gets finished early, battles back, and puts a future contender out cold in Round 3. The story, the setting, and the violence all landed.

RUNNER UP: Loni Filimoehala vs Quinn Kelly (Eternal 98)
Action-packed, bloodier, and a legendary turnaround into the rear naked choke.

HONOURABLE MENTION: Michael Barber vs Dimps Gillies (Beatdown 11)
Pure scrap. In another year, this wins.

2025 Australian MMA Performance of the Year

WINNER: Amena Hadaya
Result: TKO Round 3 (UAE Warriors 64)

Why it won (quick):
She fought the majority of the bout on a destroyed knee and still got the finish. - Watch Here
Full story: [Link to full story]

The moment:
ACL rupture plus additional knee damage in Round 1, then she pushes through and earns a Round 3 stoppage. Impossible stuff.

2025 Australian MMA Promotion of the Year

WINNER: Eternal MMA

Why they won (quick):
Ten events, consistent relevance, and a year of moments that shaped the sport locally. - Click Here
Full story: [Link to full story]

Shout outs:
Domination, Showdown, Dynasty of Combat, New Zealand shows, Fusion, and JMMAC. The ecosystem is deeper than the “big three” label suggests, but 2025 belonged to Eternal.

2025 Australian MMA Event of the Year

WINNER: Eternal MMA 98

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Honourable mentions: Beatdown Promotions 11, Eternal MMA 93

Why Eternal 98 won (quick):
A legacy main event plus two card-defining fights underneath and no dead air across the card. - Card Here
Full story: [Link to full story]

The anchors:

• David Martinez finishes Matt Vaile late (Round 5)
• Loni Filimoehala vs Quinn Kelly was borderline Fight of the Year
• Danny Hartwell comeback over Adnan Larry (and he is now HEX heavyweight champion)

Quick card snapshot:
Van Heerden beats Tasar Malone by decision, Matt Kindness gets a finish, Zac O’Brien gets the stoppage, and Jon Aiello looks like a future star.

2025 Australian MMA Promoter of the Year

WINNER: Cam O’Neill

Why he won (quick):
Third year in a row because he kept Eternal moving forward despite constant roster drain to UFC pathways. - Click Here
Full story: [Link to full story]

Special shout out: Ben Vickers
Co-promoter energy behind the scenes.

2025 Australian MMA Official of the Year

WINNER: Malcolm Roberts

Why he won (quick):
Elite cutman, widely trusted, and actively mentoring the next generation. - Click Here
Full story: [Link to full story]

Why it matters:
He’s kept fighters in fights, raised standards, and is respected across the board.

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2025 Suman Mokhtarian Australian MMA Coach of the Year

WINNER: Luke Pezzuti

Why he won (quick):
He managed the rise of two of the most hyped Australian fighters in years, in the same gym, in the same weight class, without the room imploding.

Full story: [Link to full story]

The case:
Luke Pezzutti didn’t just coach wins in 2025, he coached pressure, expectation, and adversity. While Lions Den delivered across amateurs and pros, the headline was how he handled George Mangos and Marwan Rahiki simultaneously. Rahiki surged to regional dominance and a Contender Series contract, while Mangos rebounded from DWCS disappointment to produce one of the most important wins of his career. Managing that dynamic is leadership, not just coaching.

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2025 Australian MMA Team of the Year

WINNER: Team Compton

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Honourable mentions: Lions Den, Freestyle MMA

Why they won (quick):
They impacted every layer in 2025: UFC, Road to UFC, regional, amateur, and media. - Website
Full story: [Link to full story]

2025 snapshot:

• John Martin Fraser: 3-0
• Tom Nolan: 2-0 (UFC)
• Dom Mar Fan: 2-0 (Road to UFC)
• Aidyn Gould: 3-1 (amateur)
• Blair Bretag: 1-1
• Ethan Mitchell: 1-0-1

2025 Australian MMA Breakthrough Fighter of the Year

WINNER: Matty Iann
2025 Record: 2-0 (3-0 Overall)

Why he won (quick):
He didn’t just arrive, he forced the bantamweight conversation to change.
Full story: [Link to full story]

Key point:
The Conor Birch win was the stamp. Matty moved from “prospect” to “top of the division” fast.

RUNNER UP: Kim Tran
2025 Record: 3-0
Knockouts, momentum, and feels one step from a major opportunity.

2025 Australian MMA Female Next Level Fighter of the Year

WINNER: Sara Collins

What “Next Level” means:
UFC and PFL level. Fighters representing Australia and New Zealand on the biggest stages.

Why she won (quick):
Stepping in with Cris Cyborg and having real moments is worth more than an easy local win streak.
Full story: [Link to full story]

2025 Australian MMA Male Next Level Fighter of the Year

1st: Alexander Volkanovski

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2nd: Quillan Salkilld
3rd: Jack Della Maddalena

Why Volk won (quick):
Turning back the clock and reclaiming the title in dominant fashion is “Next Level” definition.
Full story: [Link to full story]

2025 Australian MMA Female Fighter of the Year

WINNER: Lisa Kyriacou

Why she won (quick):
Not about volume. About reminding everyone she is still number one in the only local pro women’s fight that truly carried weight in 2025
Full story: [Link to full story]

2025 Australian MMA Male Fighter of the Year

WINNER: Marwan “Freaky” Rahiki

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RUNNER UP: Cam Rowston
Honourable mentions: Darcy Vendy, David Martinez, Kasib Murdoch, John Martin Fraser

Why Rahiki won (quick):
The most complete dominance year on the regional scene, capped with a career-defining Contender Series moment.
Full story: [Link to full story]

Why Rowston was runner up (quick):
He levelled up, earned his contract, then proved it immediately in the UFC.

Honourable mentions (quick):

• Darcy Vendy: best unsigned talent in the country in my eyes
• David Martinez: two-division champion and signed with the PFL
• Kasib Murdoch: one Matty Iann win away from forcing the conversation
• John Martin Fraser: bounced back with big wins overseas

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