George Mangos: Australia’s Next MMA Superstar? Dana White’s Contender Series Could Be His Launchpad

By Mitchell Tinley – australianmma.com.au

It was June 10th, 2023, Eternal MMA. He was matched up with Aaren McConnel, a highly touted prospect who’d spent time training at Jackson Wink MMA alongside names like Mike Perry. Everyone expected a competitive fight. Instead, George swarmed him. A first-round submission, clinical and cold. It wasn’t a case of Aaren having a bad night, George simply wouldn’t let him have a good one. I walked away that night thinking: Who is this kid? He’s going to be something special.

Just over two years later, that same kid is now 7-0, undefeated as a pro and amateur, never gone the distance, and about to step into the spotlight on Dana White’s Contender Series against flashy Canadian Radley Da Silva, August 12th in the US, August 13th for us here in Australia. The hype isn’t just real… it’s starting to boil over.

The Making of a Prospect

George’s journey started the way many great Australian fighters’ stories do, a teenager walking into a gym looking for something, and finding everything. His amateur career? Perfect. His pro career? Even better.

The toughest test of his career came against then pound-for-pound number one Justin Van Heerden. Justin managed to smother George early, holding him down for two rounds. But in the third, Mangos uncorked a flying triangle choke, the kind of finish you rewatch ten times just to work out how he pulled it off. I even called it a “crash triangle” at the time because it felt more reactive than planned… George still laughs about that.

A Controversial Career Move That Paid Off

In 2024, the MMA world here raised an eyebrow when George pulled out of the Eternal MMA Featherweight Grand Prix, despite being signed and announced for the tournament. The vacant title, left behind by Van Heerden, was there for the taking. Instead, George signed with Hex Fight Series for a shot at their featherweight belt.

It was a move that upset some fans but made sense to George. That Hex belt had history, held by Sydney’s Josh Culibao (fresh off his UFC run) and Melbourne’s Kaan Ofli (a TUF finalist). Winning it would mean something. And win it he did.

From there, it was like George got bored of submissions. After choking out Jarrett Wilbraham, he went on a mini knockout tour, stopping Shoichi Tomita (10-1 at the time) and ADCC Oceania champion Ethan Thomas in just over two minutes combined.

Joining Australia’s Premier MMA Management Team

Then came the big announcement: George Mangos signed with Chosen Advisory, headed by Dan Maudsley and Tim Simpson, the same management powerhouse that guides the career of UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena and a stable of elite Aussies making waves globally. Chosen Advisory isn’t just an agency; it’s a launchpad to the UFC. If you’re repped by them, you’re on the radar.

The Radley Da Silva Fight: A True Test

His opponent, Radley Da Silva, is as dangerous as they come, unorthodox, aggressive, and unpredictable. This isn’t a tune-up fight; it’s the type of matchup that will test whether George is ready for the UFC or still has levels to climb.

For me? I’ve had a first-class ticket on the George Mangos hype train since that night in 2023, and I’ve been selling tickets to anyone who will listen. He’s never given me a reason to think he’s not the real deal. But MMA is a brutal, unpredictable sport. On the Contender Series stage, with Dana White watching cageside, we’ll find out if George Mangos is Australia’s next UFC star, or just another product of the hype machine.

George Mangos by the Numbers

• Pro Record: 7-0 (all finishes)
• Amateur Record: Undefeated
• Notable Wins: Justin Van Heerden, Shoichi Tomita, Ethan Thomas
• Promotions: Eternal MMA, Hex Fight Series
• Management: Chosen Advisory

Dana White’s Contender Series – George Mangos vs Radley Da Silva
US Date: Monday, August 12th, 2025
Australian Date: Tuesday, August 13th, 2025
Streaming live on UFC Fight Pass

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