Every champion in MMA history started somewhere.
For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.
This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.
- A proud representative of Mongolia has two belts for UFC Fight Pass promotions and hopes his first CFFC title defense will propel him to the big show.
- One of the best regional flyweights in North America continues his evolution and crosses his fingers the UFC takes a liking.
- An action-forward Canadian thinks it’s just a matter of time until the UFC call comes – and this could be the one.
- Highly-touted on the Texas regional scene, an undefeated welterweight aims to show off his abilities in the international spotlight soon.
- A Kevin Holland protege, an exciting flyweight fighter promises to impress the UFC matchmakers in his first LFA main event.
Badmatsyren Dorzhiev
Record: 8-0
Age: 29
Weight class: Flyweight
Height: 5’7″
Birthplace: Budalan, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia
Next Fight: Friday vs. Israel Galvan (6-3) at CFFC 130 in Tampa, Fla. (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Born in Russia, in a small village near the borders of Mongolia and China, Badmatsyren Dorzhiev trained martial arts beginning at age 11. It began with freestyle wrestling but striking was thrown into the mix shortly thereafter. In his early 20s, Dorzhiev set his sights fully on MMA. Dorzhiev racked up win after win including a victory in Brave CF before he got his first U.S. regional title shot. Dorzhiev clinched Anthony Pettis FC gold with a first-round body shot before he added a CFFC title to his collection in July.
The skinny: It’s hard enough for fighters to claim one UFC Fight Pass-level regional title, never mind two, but that’s what Dorzhiev has done. His work ethic, likely rooted in his humble beginnings, is evident as his rate of improvement is much higher than the average prospect. A guy who went all-in on himself, showing what’s possible with hard work, Dorzhiev is a perfect example of a blue collar fighter. Should he defend his title for CFFC, he seems like a layup for Dana White’s Contender Series – or a direct ticket to the UFC.
In his own words: “My people (the Buryat-Mongolian people) were a part of Mongolia long ago. It so happens that our region ended up as a part of Russia. My ancestors are Mongolian and my people have Mongolian blood, so I feel a deeper connection to Mongolia than I do to Russia. As a result, I represent Mongolia when I fight.”
“… My fights and my results speak for themselves. They alone show that I stick out and that I excel above other fighters trying to get into the UFC. For people that haven’t seen me fight, I am very technical on the feet, am very fast, and have smooth and strong wrestling. I am a high-pace, high-pressure fighter and smother my opponents. I like to think of myself as a Max Holloway on the feet with strong Russian wrestling.”
“… I think that the UFC needs to sign me. After UFC Mexico (recently), it is clear that the flyweight division is in dire need of a new face, new style, and new competition. There are also flyweights that currently hold losing records, like 0-5 in the UFC. My level is higher than these guys. Level-wise I think I am currently in the top 15 of the UFC flyweight division. There is no doubt in my mind that I will soon be in the top 5 and contending for the belt.”
Paris Moran
Record: 9-2
Age: 28
Weight class: Flyweight
Height: 5’8″
Birthplace: U.S.
Next Fight: Friday vs. Shameek Harvey (7-1) at Fury FC 87 in Houston (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Paris Moran is 28, but his journey in combat sports is already two decades long. At 6, his father put him taekwondo. He hated it – as he did most sports. And like other sports, taekwondo was not an athletic activity he excelled in. In 2007, along came jiu-jitsu, and eventually things changed. For the first time, the long-haired gamer found the sport that pulled him out of his shell. His parents divorced, and Paris found jiu-jitsu classes as the perfect father-son bonding opportunity – an added bonus. Two years of jiu-jitsu later, Moran joined high school wrestling. Then came striking. His striking took off. He became a seven-time national champion in sanshou karate (wushu). Next scene, Moran was competing in Russia, China, Costa Rica, Taiwan – you name it. A national champion had become Mr. Worldwide.
The skinny: Moran built up a pretty impressive resume before he was matched up with Joshua Van in 2022. In a fight that seemed like a sure-thing big-league tryout of sorts, Moran was finished by the youngster Van. Months later, Van was signed to the UFC. But Moran had to go back to the drawing board. It was a crushing loss in the days that followed, but Moran got back on the horse. He quit his job and went full-time into MMA. It’s his sole focus now. The lifestyle change led to confidence and improvements. Moran also added weekly sessions at Yves Edwards, training alongside UFC flyweight contender Matt Schnell, Adrian Yanez, Raufeon Stots and others. And look at where Van is now: In the UFC with three wins under his belt. Many think Van will be a UFC contender, so the loss has aged well. Since it, Moran is 2-0. Always in need of flyweights, Moran should be on the UFC call-up list or a shoo-in for Dana White’s Contender Series with another win.
In his own words: “If you look at my resume, it’s always tough people that I fought. The good thing about this camp is that I have nothing else in life outside of camp to really distract me. The last fight, the title fight, I just felt the odds were against me, not in the sense of technical-wise, but I was just being challenged with outside life and things going on. I’ve been able to make those changes and adjustments to make sure I have a much more smoother camp.”
“… 2024 for me, is about getting to the UFC and getting paid. That’s what it’s really about. I’m trying to have my breakthrough year and have stellar performances and get the money I’m deserved. … (Getting to the UFC) means everything to me and for my family – for my girlfriend, for my mom, for my dad. It’s a better life for everybody around me. I just need to get the money and get paid. That’s what literally drives me. It’s not going to weigh too heavily on me. I’m not going to put too much pressure on me. I know if I perform to my ability and strive for excellence that the money is going to come.”
Tom O'Connor
Record: 13-2
Age: 31
Weight class: Lightweight
Height: 5’8″
Birthplace: Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada
Next Fight: March 22 vs. Chase Gibson (13-6) at Unified MMA 56 in Enoch, Alberta, Canada (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Some fighters enter martial arts shortly after they can walk. Some are born into a martial arts family. Tom O'Connor is neither of those scenarios. He admits, he stumbled into the game – and through hard work, he’s picked it up pretty quickly. O’Connor is a former rugby and hockey player. The athletics have always been there. When the road of competitive rugby and hockey came to an end, O’Connor needed to fill a void. Enter kickboxing. Eventually, O’Connor connected with coach Brad Wall and he caught the MMA bug. He took on every class available. The training was fun. The education was fun. Hitting things was fun. He loved it. He went on a 9-1 and was a pillar of the briefly revived XFC promotion. Since the promotion’s demise, O’Connor has gone 4-0 for Unified MMA with four stoppages.
The skinny: O’Connor focused on the process. That’s where his pressure lies. He’s not really interested in focusing on tasks that haven’t crossed his plate yet. Sure, the major promotional call will come, but it’s not something he can control. All he can do is zone in on his training every day in the gym and put on solid performances when it comes time to fight. So far, that recipe is working. He’s a fun fighter who has finishes on the feet and on the ground. He doesn’t shy away from tough matchups despite the relatively limited amount of bodies on the Canadian regional scene. Despite his modesty and level-headedness, a fifth straight win (and potentially finish) under the banner of leading Canadian promotion Unified MMA could certainly get him that UFC call.
In his own words: “More of a statement – that’s what we’re looking to do with all our fights moving forward. At the UFC level, there are no easy fights. There’s nowhere to hide. So I’m looking for fights that make that statement and say I’m ready to fight anyone. I think it’s a perfect place to start. … I think a good finish and showcasing another level to my game will be a really great statement. I don’t think they’ll be able to hold me back for much longer.”
“… My main goal is tougher and better opponents and just making sure that I’m leveling up what I’m trying to do in there and just my overall martial arts game and understanding of combat sports and martial arts. The No. 1 priority is just development of that. Of course, my career and everything is in line with that. I’m getting tough fights and tough opponents that are going to challenge me.”
“… In my career at the point it’s at right now, I want to really make sure I’m staying active and staying healthy and able to just fight regularly and keep stacking up victories and taking tougher opponents and just keep continue leveling up.”
Kody Steele
Record: 5-0
Age: 28
Weight class: Lightweight
Height: 5’9″
Birthplace: Port Angeles, Wash.
Next Fight: March 24 vs. Adam Smith (11-11) at Fury FC 88 in San Antonio, Texas (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: Google search Kody Steele and you’ll see his grappling credentials. That’s where it all began. Born in Washington, Steele spent over a decade in Austin, Texas as he made a name for himself and put showed his black belt prowess on the national and international stages. Grappling was fruitful, but it was never supposed to be an exclusive challenge. Since high school, Steele wanted to be an MMA fighter. After two fights an amateur, Steele was undefeated but not totally happy with his progression. Austin, Texas’s combat sports landscape was somewhat limited, so he took a break to travel around and pick up pointers from various coaches. Eventually, Steele moved to Las Vegas where he trains at Syndicate MMA and 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu with occasional sessions at the UFC Performance Institute. In early 2022, Steele turned pro and is 5-0 with all appearances under the Fury FC banner.
The skinny: Steele’s grappling resume is quite impressive and if you watch him on the ground in an MMA fight, he looks like a wizard. Steele is one of the highest-touted prospects in the Texas regional scene, if not the highest-touted. He’ll be a focal point for Fury FC for however long he lasts in the promotion. While he’ll be the first one to tell you there’s much more room for him to grow and improve, Steele is a case of a guy who could probably defeat several members of the UFC roster on an off-night. It’s just a matter of how much improvement he feels comfortable to jump-start his UFC tenure and propel him as far as possible.
In his own words: “I think if you put me in right now, I don’t think anyone is a casual, easy fight. But if you put me on the roster, I’ll definitely win some fights. I’ve trained with some guys who are in the UFC and I’ve beaten them up pretty good. I know it’s just training but it’s technique and stuff. Fighting can be 50-50, though. You can get knocked out. But just comparing myself to some of the other guys I’ve trained with just skill-wise and how much they know and how much they’re doing and stuff, I don’t feel like I’m far at all. I feel like I’m right there. It’s weird. I watch it on TV and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I could beat that guy. But you never know because on TV every looks scarier. Everyone looks good or not as good. It’s hard to tell but I have a lot of confidence in myself, so I think I’d go out there and win fights.
“… If the UFC wanted to call me (tomorrow) and give a short notice fight and the short notice fight was good, I’d probably jump on it. If they keep wanting to give me fights on the regional scenes, I’ll keep beating these guys, get the experience and get ready for that moment when the UFC does call. Or maybe they want to throw me into Contender Series and I can go that way. For me, I’m open to whatever. The longer it takes me to get there, the better I’m going to be. I’ll have that much more confidence. But if not, no worries.”
Kevin Fernandez
Record: 7-1
Age: 24
Weight class: Flyweight
Height: 5’7″
Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas
Next Fight: March 29 vs. Igor Siqueira (9-2) at LFA 180 in Louisville, Ky. (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: From birth, Kevin Fernandez has been intrigued by the fight game. The grandson of a Mexican boxer, Fernandez remembers growing up in a household where fighting was often on the TV, whether it was boxing, Bruce Lee, Batman, or Jackie Chan. Always “fighting” with his siblings, Fernandez began going to a local gym to hit bags. It was nothing serious, but after Fernandez was moved to an alternative school due to troublemaking, he met coach Durwyn Lamb, who came to speak to the students. Fernandez got Lamb’s card and before long he joined the gym. Lamb is Fernandez’s coach still until this day. Fernandez took his first amateur fight at 17 years old in 2016. Five years later in 2021, Fernandez turned professional. He’s now 7-1 with five finishes overall and six appearances in LFA.
The skinny: Fernandez continues to improve fight in and fight out. He’s surrounded himself with some of the best fighters in his area including UFC fighters Kevin Holland and Terrance McKinney. He’s a finisher with a knack for a scrap, which particularly at flyweight is always a plus. Having fought for LFA, XKO, and XMMA, Fernandez has only competed for top regional promotions. He’s always competed against fighters within his experience level while avoiding opposition with upside-down records. His most recent victory at LFA 169 was perhaps his biggest to date, or at least his most notable. While another fight or two on the regional scene wouldn’t hurt, Fernandez is proving his skills are nearing – if not already – UFC caliber.
In his own words: “This is the biggest fight of my career. I’m excited to fight a Brazilian fighter and it’s just one step closer to the big stage. I know what this stage means. … I feel like a completely different fighter (recently). I’m way more explosive, way more confident. When I go in there, I’m in way better shape than I’ve ever been. My boxing in this next fight, you’re going to see is a completely different fighter. I feel like I’m getting better and better every training camp.”
“… This is it, for sure. I’m going to make a statement with this fight. Before this year ends, for sure, I want to be in the UFC with a win. Whatever happens after this fight, if they want to make me fight for the (LFA) belt or if they want to give me Contender Series or put me in on short notice,”
