With UFC Edmonton on the horizon, it’s a good opportunity to look at five Canadian prospects worth keeping an eye on. From an undefeated amateur standout making his professional debut to established regional fighters chasing championship gold, these names are at different stages of their careers, but all have something to prove on the Canadian scene. Here’s a closer look at their backgrounds, skill sets, and where they stand today.
Aiden Appel (0-0) | Lightweight training at Niagara Top Team (Mike Malott and Jasmine Jasudavicius)
Aiden Appel has made his name on the Ontario amateur circuit under the Niagara Top Team banner. He won the Prospect Fighting Championships welterweight title and built an undefeated record through a mix of knockouts and submissions. His recent victories include a second-round TKO of Hudson Adair and a rear-naked choke against Sergio Anaya Vega. Appel is also a coach at Niagara Top Team, where he works with the gym’s younger striking students.
He’ll make his professional debut at PFC 27 on October 24 against experienced veteran Allan Ruiz (11-8), a testament to how highly he’s regarded on the Canadian regional scene.
Appel is already a very solid striker, with a strong kickboxing foundation, effective body work, and good knees in the Thai clinch. Although he primarily competed at welterweight as an amateur, he’ll move down to 155 pounds as a professional. At 6’1″ with a 72-inch reach, he’ll have some excellent physical tools for the division. He can crack, and while his grappling remains a work in progress, it’s serviceable enough to complement his striking. He might be the best amateur fighter in Canada right now, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do as a professional.
Ramil Kamilov (10-0) | Welterweight, cornering Chad Anheliger
“Mr. Real Deal” has remained undefeated out of Champion’s Creed MMA in Calgary, proving capable of getting the job done in multiple areas. The Kazakhstan-born welterweight has a mix of finishes and hard-fought decisions on his résumé, including a solid win over Tom O’Connor. He’s also involved in Chad Anheliger’s corner, further connecting him to one of Canada’s established MMA teams. With a 10-0 record, Kamilov is reaching the point where a bigger opportunity, potentially on the Contender Series, would make sense.
Kamilov does much of his damage by punishing opponents who try to pressure him. He uses his jab and right hand to intercept advancing fighters, while his heavy outside low kicks help disrupt their movement. Once he senses an opponent is hurt, he opens up with combinations to the head and body. He’s also dangerous in the clinch, where he works knees, elbows, and trips. On the ground, Kamilov looks to establish tight top control, make opponents carry his weight, and gradually advance position while hunting for arm-triangle chokes or mount.
You can read more about Kamilov in this February article: Fighter in Depth: Ramil Kamilov.
Leo Bonin (5-2) | Featherweight, cross-training at Alavanca (Javad Mahjoud and Melissa Croden)
Leo Bonin has built his professional record through a combination of submissions and striking finishes. The Canadian made his pro debut in June 2024, submitting Mitchell Carlson in the first round at Unified MMA 58. After two setbacks in early 2025, he bounced back with a decision win over Justin Knoepfli and a second-round TKO of Nick Rovers-Leblanc. He added two more submission victories in 2026, tapping out Marouane Bellagouit in the first round at Unified MMA 68 before submitting Harda Karim in the third round at Samourai MMA 20. Riding a three-fight winning streak, Bonin will challenge for the Samourai MMA featherweight title on November 6.
Bonin has enjoyed a resurgence lately, quickly becoming one of Canadian MMA’s favourite heels. His altercation with Firas and Aiemann Zahabi this summer racked up millions of views on social media, putting him in front of a much wider audience. Inside the cage, he’s a capable grappler with quality jiu-jitsu, particularly when he gets on top. His game becomes much less effective when he’s forced to work off his back, however. Submissions are his bread and butter, and once Bonin gets hold of an opponent’s neck, the fight can be over in a hurry.
Isaac Blais (4-0) | Bantamweight training at Patenaude MMA (Julien Leblanc and Marc-André Barriault)
Gatineau’s Isaac Blais, nicknamed “Spider-Man,” represents Patenaude Martial Arts and has finished all four of his professional opponents. His record includes three submission victories and a TKO, showing that he can get the job done in more than one way. One of his standout performances came against Diego Santos at Samourai MMA 13 in March 2025. Blais hurt Santos on the feet before following up with a takedown and ground-and-pound to secure a first-round TKO. He’ll face Ali Wasuk for the BFL interim bantamweight title on December 3.
Blais is an entertaining fighter with a showman’s mindset and a dangerous submission game. He has also shown he can overcome adversity, notably rallying against Mauricio Cruz to secure a third-round submission. His performance against Santos offered further encouragement, demonstrating that his finishing ability isn’t limited to grappling. At 29 and with only four professional fights under his belt, his long-term ceiling remains difficult to assess. The repeated cancellations that have limited his activity haven’t helped, either. If he can stay active and continue developing, Blais has an opportunity to establish himself as a contender at 135 pounds.
Isaac Herbert (3-0) | Bantamweight training at Tristar MMA (Mandel Nallo)
Ottawa’s Isaac Herbert, known as “The Hooligan,” went undefeated as an amateur before making the jump to professional MMA. He compiled a 6-0 amateur record and captured the FightQuest bantamweight title. Since turning pro, he’s competed under the Samourai MMA banner, recording submission victories alongside a decision win. His next appearance is scheduled for the promotion’s November 6 event.
At just 22, Herbert is an intriguing bantamweight prospect with a strong grappling foundation. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Firas Zahabi, he already has capable wrestling to complement his work on the mat. His grappling is clearly his greatest strength, while his striking remains an area for development. Herbert is still early in his professional career, so there’s plenty left to learn about his overall ceiling. However, his age, grappling credentials, and training environment at Tristar give him a solid foundation to build on.
