Last week, to me, there weren’t any pro debuts worth talking about. This week is much different, with five prospects leaping the amateur ranks to the pros that I believe you should be keeping tabs on.
Bantamweight – Allan Landouzy
Allan Landouzy is one of the more accomplished European amateurs to make the jump in recent years. The French bantamweight captured multiple regional amateur MMA titles and represented France at the IMMAF European Championships. Before transitioning to MMA, he built a serious grappling base, winning multiple national French titles in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling as a youth competitor.
Landouzy treated his amateur career like a long-term investment, compiling a staggering 24-4-1 record in less than three years before turning pro. His game is built around suffocating wrestling pressure and dominant top control, where he wears opponents down with heavy positional riding. While his striking will need to continue developing to maximize his ceiling in the professional ranks, his experience, mat awareness, and championship background give him a strong foundation moving forward.
Welterweight – Michael Obodozie
Michael Obodozie’s professional debut comes with real momentum. In his most recent outing, he competed for the first-ever amateur belt in OKTAGON MMA and scored a knockout victory over Chiril Negru, a former IMMAF Junior World Champion. That performance alone justified the quick turnaround into the pro ranks.
Obodozie is raw but undeniably explosive. A powerful, fast-twitch athlete, he generates serious force with his hands and throws true fight-ending leg kicks. His ground-and-pound is thudding and vicious when he smells a finish. That said, there are still questions surrounding his takedown defense and overall ground game. He’s not someone you want to trade with for extended periods, but his defensive grappling will be tested as he climbs. Getting a platform like OKTAGON this early in his career is a major opportunity, and he’s stepping into it with real upside.
Lightweight – Ryan Sipavicius
Ryan Sipavicius is another polished product of Tiger Schulmann’s, set to make his professional debut with Ring of Combat after gaining valuable amateur experience there. He enters the pro ranks with a 3-0 amateur MMA record and an impressive 7-0 run as a three-time amateur kickboxing champion.
Despite his striking pedigree, all three of his MMA wins have come by submission—each via rear-naked choke—showcasing a sharp instinct for back takes and finishing ability. At heart, he’s still a striker, blending body-to-head combinations with a steady kicking attack. Sipavicius shows strong vision, clean mechanics, and composure beyond his experience level. Having trained since the age of three, he looks technically well-rounded without any glaring weaknesses at this stage.
Featherweight – DJ Tirelli
David Tirelli becomes yet another Tiger Schulmann’s product, turning professional. The 3-0 amateur MMA fighter also holds a 6-0 amateur kickboxing record and brings collegiate wrestling experience into his pro debut. At 30 years old, he’ll need to accelerate quickly—but he has the tools to do just that.
Tirelli fights with aggression and intent, pressing forward behind looping overhands and consistent body work. Physically strong, he can bully opponents in close quarters and control scrambles with ease. Two of his victories have come by submission, including his most recent—a slick ninja choke that put his opponent to sleep. If he can blend his pace, strength, and grappling more seamlessly at the pro level, he could make noise quickly.