
June 2, 2025
The Long Game: Anthony Drilich’s Commitment to MMA

A Brother’s Perspective on a Fighter’s Journey
When I sat down with Brandon Drilich, I expected some brotherly pride, maybe a few off-the-record stories, but what came through strongest was a clear picture of what it looks like when someone commits to the long game in this sport. And that’s exactly what Anthony Drilich has done.

From Fan to Fighter
Before the 9–2 pro record, before Scrappy MMA, and prior to opening his own gym and the Contender Series shot, Anthony was just a kid who couldn’t get enough of the early UFC.
“We started after watching the first ‘90s UFC cards,” Brandon told me. “My dad did traditional martial arts, like weapons and everything, so we grew up playing around with that. But once we saw MMA, with the hits to the head and everything on the ground, I was hooked straight away. And so was Anthony.”
A New Start in Perth
The family had just moved to Perth from Brisbane for their dad’s work. The timing lined up with that early obsession. For Anthony, it wasn’t just something to try, it became an anchor. “We were in a gym about half an hour away from home, so not many of the kids there went to our school,” Brandon said.
“But it gave us something consistent. Anthony stuck with it more seriously than anyone.”

Fighting Young
By sixteen, Anthony was already fighting.
“This was when it was still legal in WA to fight under 18. I think he had three MMA fights during high school,”

From Rugby to Regimen
He never stopped. They both played rugby, and Brandon mentioned that their crew took it seriously, but when the choice came between the two, the pair slowly leaned harder into the martial arts side.
“Rugby’s fun for a lot of people, but martial arts is regimented. And I think that kind of discipline suited him.”
Early Signs of Knockout Potential
The turning point for Brandon, the moment he realised Anthony wasn’t just decent, but something special, came during those early fights in high school. “When he was fighting, you’d watch him go in and just clean someone up flawlessly. He’s always had that knockout ability,” Brandon said.
“It’s not even that he’s wild, he’s calm. But when it’s time, he just switches.”

Life Beyond the Cage
Work Before the Spotlight
It’s worth noting that Anthony didn’t go full-time on fighting from the start. Like a lot of Australian fighters, there were stretches working, Anthony’s included time in the mines. “For twelve months or so,” Brandon said. “Then he was coaching, working in construction, bartending too.”
It wasn’t always glamorous. But that kind of background tends to shape a fighter. You get a sense of what real pressure looks like before you ever walk to the cage.
Enter Scrappy MMA

Eventually, Anthony started making the drive to Scrappy MMA.
“He used to go there maybe once a month for sparring,” Brandon said. “So when he went pro, it made sense. They were one of the only teams with a proper pro program.”
That consistency helped him string together wins, titles and build confidence, no shortcuts. Then came the Contender Series shot in 2024. A decision loss to Sean Gauci. A tough one, but Brandon didn’t frame it as a collapse.

Learning from Losses
“It wasn’t the best performance. But some days you show up and you’re flat. And now that he’s older, he just gets back to work. Younger version of him might’ve taken it harder. But at this point, he’s running a business, he’s got a life. It’s not about sitting around for days thinking ‘holy shit, this is everything.’ You move on.”
That’s the part that stuck with me. The way Brandon talks about Anthony, it’s not filled with hope or projection. It’s just matter-of-fact. He trains. He fights. He resets. And he does it again.
Inside Drilich Combat Academy
A Gym Built on Fundamentals
That same mindset is baked into Drilich Combat Academy, the gym Anthony runs with Brandon out of Perth. It’s a welcoming space built around fundamentals and real development. The energy in the room isn’t about hype or hierarchy. It’s about putting in the hours, learning properly, and staying sharp.

“He’s not in there trying to be a guru,”
Brandon said.
“He just wants to give people real skills. And if you want to compete, cool. If not, you’re still going to learn how to fight properly.”
Not Flashy—Just Real
DCA isn’t aiming to be the flashiest gym in the country. It’s not trying to pack out classes or chase sponsorships. It’s a place for people who want structure, accountability, and the right kind of push. They’ve got amateurs coming through, a few fighters with real potential, and everyday people who just want to train properly in a tight, disciplined room.
Still Dangerous
The Eternal 93 Reminder


Now, at 31, Anthony Drilich is still competing. Still coaching. Still running DCA with the same mindset that’s carried him through everything so far. No shortcuts, no distractions, just the next session, the next fight, the next step forward.
He passed his latest test at Eternal 93, submitting Brian Hyslop in the second round. Another reminder that while the spotlight comes and goes, the work never really stops.
Drilich is still in it, and still very, very dangerous.