2025 Australian MMA Team of the Year - Team Compton

This one is pretty hard to go past.

On paper it’s the spread that wins it. Team Compton hit everywhere at once, from UFC wins, to Road to UFC success, to big regional moments, to amateur production, and even media growth. When one team can genuinely impact every layer of the scene in the same year, that is Team of the Year.

The year in results

John Martin Fraser: 3-0
Kept the “Welsh invasion” rolling, stayed active, and continued building momentum internationally.

Tom Nolan: 2-0 in the UFC
One of the most exciting Australian prospects on the roster right now, and 2025 was another step forward.

Dom Mar Fan: 2-0 in Road to UFC
Did exactly what contenders are supposed to do in that format. Win clearly, keep advancing, and now he’s right on the doorstep of becoming a UFC fighter.

David Martinez: 2-0
Went up a weight class to claim the Eternal 170lb title & defend it.

Aidyn Gould: 3-1 amateur
Still a top-tier amateur, arguably top 3 pound for pound in the country. Even with the late-year slip, his year was strong and his ceiling is huge.

Blair Bretag: 1-1
The title shot didn’t go his way against Darcy Vendy, but he still had a big finish earlier in the year and kept moving forward.

Ethan Mitchell: 1-0-1
Quietly rising, still developing, still improving, and staying in the mix.

Why it goes beyond wins and losses

Team Compton feels organised and driven. It’s headed by Steve Compton, and it’s helped massively by the leadership around the room, especially with Elliot Compton acting as a team captain type while also transitioning into management work with Rubyse Sports Management. That blend matters. It keeps the culture strong and the pathways clear.

Even the guys who didn’t have the perfect year added to the “team of the year” case. Blair Bretag is the best example. He didn’t get the belt, but he took on big moments anyway and at the same time he’s absolutely skyrocketed his Australian MMA media presence with Unstoppable, Aussie Fight Culture. That sort of visibility helps the whole team, not just one athlete.

And then you’ve got the storyline wins. Dom Mar Fan’s Road to UFC run. Nolan’s UFC momentum. John Martin Fraser doing work overseas. Aidyn Gould putting in consistent reps. It all stacks.

Honourable mentions

Lions Den Academy: The Mangos and Rahiki year alone keeps them in the conversation, plus the depth they’ve built around them.

Freestyle MMA: Always producing. Toughness, volume, and a steady pipeline of high-level fighters.

But the winner is Team Compton. In 2025, they weren’t just successful, they were everywhere.

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