Before we move on, for our French viewers, click here to give it a read.
The year 2026 appears to mark a real turning point for Samourai MMA, the flagship organization of Quebec MMA. As the promotion led by Daniel Lafond and his team approaches the 18th chapter of its journey, several major projects have already been set in motion. First, the organization has extended its agreement with the streaming platform UFC Fight Pass. A meaningful signature that aligns with a clear mission: crossing the Outaouais River and establishing a foothold in the Ontario market.
The first months of the year brought another excellent piece of news for Samourai, as a fourth athlete from the organization signed with the UFC. The reigning 185-pound champion, Julien Leblanc, has signed with the world’s largest MMA organization and will make his debut at UFC Winnipeg on April 18.
The year 2026 also represents a transition period for Quebec MMA as a whole. Several of the province’s top prospects are now spreading their wings outside the Samourai sphere. Some will be making frequent appearances with Unified MMA in Western Canada, while others, such as Tommy Morrison and Jonathan Ramsey, have chosen to export their talents to the US with the ultimate goal of earning a contract with one of the sport’s major international organizations. This new reality has forced Daniel Lafond and his team to show creativity and boldness in Friday’s matchmaking.
Samourai 18 will take place at the Colisée de Laval, marking the organization’s first visit to the North Shore city since 2024. Despite the team’s best intentions, the card has been seriously impacted by a series of injuries and cancellations. The championship fights between Taha Bendaoud and Louie Sanoudakis, as well as Mehdi Zeidvand ves T.J. Laramie, were both removed from the lineup, representing a significant blow to the original bill.
Samourai will therefore turn to veteran Alex Morgan to lead the charge in the Laval finale. As a result, the card will be strongly focused on emerging talent. It’s highlighted by the launch of a bantamweight tournament that will crown a new contender for the 135-pound title, along with an attractive $10,000 prize. Here is a look at the fights awaiting us this Friday night, broadcast in both French and English on UFC Fight Pass.
Alex Morgan (17-7) vs Diogo Sotero (16-7) – Featherweight
This will be the third time in his career that Alex Morgan makes the last walk of the evening to the Samourai MMA cage, as recent changes to the card reshaped the organization’s plans. That said, make no mistake: this fight promises to be just as spectacular.
Morgan is experiencing a real resurgence under the Samourai banner, currently riding a three-fight winning streak within the promotion, including two finishes. The veteran, who competed on the Contender Series in 2022, will be making his 25th professional appearance, bringing with him the experience and confidence that comes with it.
Standing across from him will be a significant challenge in the form of Diogo Sotero. The Brazilian trains at the renowned Chute Boxe gym in São Paulo and will be making his Canadian debut after most recently competing for Legacy Fighting Alliance, the most prominent feeder organization to the UFC. Sotero lost that bout by decision, which snapped an impressive seven-fight winning streak that included multiple title defenses with Predador FC against admittedly lower-level opposition.
Sotero still arrives with a compelling résumé, boasting an 87% finish rate, a clear sign of a dangerous fighter constantly hunting for the finish. He should provide respectable opposition to the Quebecers for as long as the fight lasts. All the ingredients are there for a true war inside the cage and, hopefully, a finish worthy of Samourai MMA.
Olivier Poisson (4-1) vs Mitch Strazzella (4-4) – Bantamweight Tournament
This card marks the return of crowd favorite Olivier Poisson, a familiar face at the organization’s events. Training with Richard Ho’s team at H2O MMA, Poisson enters Friday night with a clear objective: taking the first step in the newly launched bantamweight tournament.
Poisson began his career spectacularly, finishing his first three professional fights, all by submission. A championship opportunity at NEF in Maine, however, temporarily halted that momentum when he dropped a decision to Nick Eldridge.
Back in Quebec, Poisson rebounded with a decision win and is now determined to build another winning streak. Across from him stands another fan favorite, Mitch Strazzella. His 4-4 record does not tell the full story, as every one of his losses has come against strong opponents, including Karim Henniene, Alain Majorique, Amin Amelik, and Ali Wasuk. There is nothing to be ashamed of in that résumé. The fight will also mark Strazzella’s first appearance in nearly a year and a half, after previous outings with BFL.
On paper, Poisson appears to hold a slight edge due to his pace and effectiveness on the ground. However, Strazzella’s durability and resilience could quickly complicate matters. All the ingredients are there for an intense battle. This fight certainly has the potential to steal the show.
Ian Stoby (2-0) vs Marc-Ari Lewis (3-3) – Welterweight
I will be blunt: I already consider Stoby one of the most exciting Canadian prospects in the sport, even with only a 2-0 record. At just 23, he already displays physical and technical traits that suggest a very promising future.
Under the guidance of Richard Ho, Stoby has developed an aggressive style supported by an imposing frame for the division. He combines solid cardio, dangerous striking, and significant punching power. It is still early in his career to fully assess his potential, but the level of opposition he faces on Friday should give us a clearer idea of where he stands in his development.
Across from him will be Marc-Ari Lewis, a 36-year-old veteran whose reputation speaks for itself. His durability commands respect. In his last appearance for Samourai, he pushed the powerful Jo Ramsay to a decision. Lewis represents an ideal test for a young prospect looking to take a step up in competition. A two-time LFA veteran, he arrives in Laval determined to play spoiler and cool the growing hype around Stoby. A revealing matchup for both fighters.
Maxim Côté (1-1) vs Ahouzi Kouamé (1-4) – Welterweight
This is an intriguing matchup on the Samourai 18 main card. Maxim Côté is often cited as one of the best grapplers in Canada, although we have seen him only sparingly in professional MMA so far. He suffered a knockout loss in his debut before bouncing back with a referee stoppage victory at Samourai MMA 16 last September.
At only 28 years old, Côté still has plenty of time to build a strong winning streak and fully translate his combat sports pedigree into MMA success. His résumé is particularly impressive: a judo black belt, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, and multiple Canadian titles in wrestling, judo, and jiu-jitsu. The key question remains how effectively he can impose that elite background once the cage door closes.
His opponent, French fighter Ahouzi Kouamé, appears to be a manageable challenge. At 35, the veteran has traveled extensively throughout his career, competing around the world for organizations such as BRAVE Combat Federation and Fight Club Rush. Kouamé is also familiar to Quebec fans, having previously lost to Ian Stoby in his last Samourai appearance.
This bout could serve as a pivotal moment for Côté: an ideal opportunity to confirm his potential and prove that his elite combat sports background can translate into sustained success in professional MMA.
Ramston Rodrigues (2-1) vs David Bergida (4-2-1) – Lightweight
This matchup features two out-of-province fighters on the card. Rodrigues is relatively well known among hardcore Canadian MMA fans, having competed for BTC in Western Canada in recent years. He also possesses strong amateur credentials as a veteran of the IMMAF circuit and trains out of the Tristar gym.
On the other side, Bergida remains somewhat unknown to me from a tape-study perspective. However, his résumé suggests he has consistently faced credible opposition throughout his career, indicating he arrives in Samourai with legitimate competitive experience.
This, therefore, shapes up as a clash between two profiles that Quebec fans may still be discovering, a fight that could serve as a showcase and potentially reveal a new talent within the organization.
Mike Jones (0-0) vs Khamall Dunkley (0-2) – Bantamweight Tournament
Mike Jones will make his professional debut Friday night and arrives with a degree of anticipation surrounding him. A training partner at Tristar, Jones is a name that has circulated within Montreal gyms for some time, and reports regarding his potential have been positive. Although this will be his first professional appearance, his immediate inclusion in the bantamweight tournament shows the confidence the promotion has in him.
Across from him, Khamall Dunkley will look to bounce back after two consecutive professional losses. His 0-2 record does not necessarily reflect his true level, and this fight offers an ideal opportunity to revive his career by upsetting a promising newcomer. The winner could quickly enter the conversation within the tournament bracket.
Victor Bordage (1-1) vs Lucas Taylor (1-1) – Bantamweight Tournament
Another key matchup in the bantamweight tournament pits two contrasting profiles against each other. Lucas Taylor remains a fighter to watch despite his most recent loss, a defeat against the highly promising Isaac Herbert. Explosive and athletic, Taylor possesses the tools to be dangerous from the opening seconds, especially in striking exchanges.
Victor Bordage, meanwhile, has built a reputation as a durable warrior capable of absorbing pressure and dragging opponents into deep waters. His resilience could become a decisive factor if the fight extends. This is a matchup that could swing either way quickly and carries significant implications for the tournament’s progression.
Jany St-Cyr (0-0) vs Angel Blackwell (0-2) – Women’s Strawweight
Samourai MMA 18 will mark the long-awaited return of women’s MMA within the promotion, the first since Samourai MMA 10. Jany St-Cyr will make her professional debut with a strong background in kickboxing. She trains at the rising Impak MMA Academy and carries a reputation as a disciplined and technical fighter.
Her opponent, Angel Blackwell, has not competed since 2023 but still brings professional experience into the cage. That layoff could play a role, especially against a hungry debuting fighter. This is an important bout not only for the athletes involved but also for the revival of women’s MMA within Samourai.
Cédrick Bégin (0-0) vs Justin Kennedy (0-1) – Lightweight
Cédrick Bégin’s professional debut has been long anticipated and will finally take place at Samourai MMA 18. His 2025 was marked by a frustrating series of injuries and cancellations, but expectations around him remain high. Bégin owns an impressive amateur record with 32 victories in 38 fights across three combat sports disciplines.
Training out of Nova Gym, he arrives with a strong foundation and a style that should quickly appeal to fans. Justin Kennedy, despite holding a 0-1 record, represents a serious first test for Bégin, who will be looking above all to make a statement and start his professional career on the right foot.
Rabia Ghilani (0-0) vs Christian Carlo (1-0) – Flyweight
Rabia Ghilani may not yet be a familiar name to the wider public, but he is far from unknown in knowledgeable circles. A Muay Thai and striking coach at Tristar for several years, Ghilani brings an impressive striking résumé into his professional MMA debut. Originally from Tunisia, he was crowned a three-time national muay thai champion there, demonstrating a high level of technical maturity.
He will debut against American fighter Christian Carlo, who also has a strong combat sports background, particularly in kickboxing, along with multiple amateur MMA bouts. Carlo won his professional debut and will look to confirm that success against a dangerous opponent. This opening fight could deliver far more action than the records alone might suggest.
In conclusion, I will be cageside for this event, which promises to be a colorful and entertaining night of fights. We are always happy to see our local fighters reach the sport’s biggest organizations, but it is important to remember that their journeys often begin in local promotions like Samourai MMA. Supporting these events is essential for the growth of the sport. Thank you for reading, and hopefully, I will see some of you at the arena on Friday night.