Liam Aunan
23-years-old
8-2-0
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA
Cedar Rapids Boxing
Fighting out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Liam Aunan is the next proud representative to emerge from the Midwest. Raising his profile in November, Aunan captured the True Revelation title, shocking much of the MMA world as 96% of fans picked his opponent, Caleb Tracy, to leave with the belt. The 23-year-old welterweight boasts an 8-2-0 record with six finishes to his name- four by submission and two by technical knockout.
Debuting with LFA back on June 19, Liam Aunan was thrown into another massive opportunity where the Iowa native was once again overlooked. Riding a career-long finish streak entering the fight, the undefeated Todd Pickett was expected to make quick work of another opponent. This time, however, it was Liam Aunan standing across the cage from Pickett, determined to turn more doubters into believers.
And that he did.
Slipping outside of a lead left hand and corralling his opponent into the clinch, Aunan smashed a brutal uppercut to the chin while holding Pickett’s head down in a lead-collar tie. Following it up with three more uppercuts as Pickett fell to the mat, the Iowa native closed the show with a series of crushing right hands before the referee stepped in.
Now riding back-to-back finishes over previously undefeated opposition, Liam Aunan has started to attract serious attention. If there was any doubt before, his ability to inflict damage in the clinch has answered those questions repeatedly. At 6’2”, Aunan uses his frame and posture to win positioning along the cage, grinding his chin into his opponents’ heads while controlling them with a powerful grip before unloading crushing knees to the body.
While his clinch work stands out, it’s on the mat where the Cedar Rapids native truly distinguishes himself. Aunan’s level changes are athletic and sudden, allowing him to quickly connect his hands and secure control. He remains dangerous in 50/50 exchanges and consistently finds ways to reverse momentum. Most notably, after suffering the first loss of his career, Aunan bounced back in his next fight by turning his opponents’ heel hook attempt into a heel hook finish of his own.
LFA’s newest top prospect has improved with every fight, though there’s still defensive work to be done for Aunan. At range, he’s been too hittable in the past. He has great cardio and a solid chin that can make up for some deficiencies, but the young prospect will need to continue developing. It’s clear he has raw power in his hands and fantastic length to build on moving forward- once fully polished, “The Iowan Lion” will possess an excellent all-around skill set.
Working under Cedar Rapids Boxing, there’s little doubt Aunan will continue progressing on the feet. The 23-year-old has focused his training on becoming the complete package at 170 pounds. For a fighter who has yet to turn pro, Liam Aunan is already showing the maturity and talent of a top mixed martial arts prospect in the United States.
Undefeated fighters beware- Iowa’s Liam Aunan is coming to take your zero.
