Quebec’s regional MMA scene is back in action today, November 6, as Samourai MMA returns with another stacked event featuring established names and some of the province’s most promising up-and-coming talents.
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From undefeated prospects looking to take the next step to young fighters trying to make a name for themselves, there’s plenty of talent worth keeping an eye on.
Here are a few names I think you should know heading into Samourai MMA 22!
Camillo Avellan (5-0) vs. Leo Bonin (5-2) – Featherweight Title
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At just 26 years old, Camillo Avellan is becoming one of the more recognizable young talents on the Quebec MMA scene. A fan favorite at Samourai MMA since his professional debut, the undefeated featherweight is slowly making a name for himself, both in Canada and Chile, where he has a strong following.
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Representing H2O MMA under Richard Ho, Avellan comes from a gym that I feel deserves a lot more recognition. He’s a tremendous worker who keeps improving from fight to fight, and he’s starting to enter what should be his prime years. His biggest strengths are his grappling and ability to create chaos on the ground. He’s got excellent scrambles, a dangerous submission game, and some nasty ground-and-pound. He also brings good pressure and is always looking for ways to improve his finishing game.
He’s not without his flaws. Avellan can be a slow starter, and his cardio is still something I’d like to see him improve. He’s also probably the least likely fighter on this list to deliver a wild brawl, but his ability to escape bad positions and work his way back into fights makes him an interesting watch.
At Samourai MMA 22, he’ll get his first career main event, taking on Leo Bonin (5-2) for the vacant featherweight title. It’s a big step up and a chance to show what he can do against tougher opposition. At 5-0 and with plenty of room to grow, Avellan is a name worth getting familiar with.
Liam Macfadyen (6-0) vs. Nicolas Mandiola (5-1) – Bantamweight Title
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Liam Macfadyen has a pretty unique background for an MMA prospect. The 28-year-old Ottawa native practically grew up in a martial arts family. His mother, Tina Takahashi, is a former world champion in sambo and an accomplished judo coach, while several other members of his family have competed at the highest levels of international combat sports. Liam himself is a Pan American sambo silver medalist and a two-time national junior Muay Thai champion.
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That experience shows in his fighting style. Macfadyen is a technical striker who does a good job putting combinations together, managing distance, and picking his shots. He’s not necessarily a one-punch knockout artist, but he’s efficient and comfortable putting together a full three-round performance. With six professional wins, including two by TKO, he’s shown that he can finish fights as well.
He made his Samourai MMA debut last July, picking up a unanimous decision over the experienced Tarcísio Romano (12-8-1). Now, he’ll get a shot at the vacant bantamweight championship against Chilean Nicolas Mandiola (5-1), who has finished all five of his wins. This should be a very interesting matchup between two talented fighters with different approaches to getting the job done. Macfadyen has a chance to establish himself as one of Canada’s top bantamweight prospects.
Isaac Herbert (3-0) vs Jesus Gutierrez (8-9)
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At 23, Ottawa’s Isaac Herbert is still very much a work in progress, but there’s already plenty to like about what he’s bringing to the bantamweight division. Nicknamed “The Hooligan,” Herbert went a perfect 6-0 as an amateur, capturing the FightQuest bantamweight title before making his professional debut in 2025. He’s continued that success under the Samourai MMA banner, picking up three consecutive wins, including two first-round submissions.
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What makes Herbert particularly interesting is his background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. A black belt under Firas Zahabi, he’s one of the youngest fighters to earn that distinction under the Tristar head coach. He’s also developed a capable wrestling game, giving him several ways to bring opponents into his world. His striking is still a work in progress, but at his age, there’s plenty of time to round out his game.
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Herbert will face the much more experienced Jesus Gutierrez (8-9) on Friday. It’s another opportunity for the young Canadian to get valuable cage time and continue building his professional résumé. With his grappling credentials and the coaching environment at Tristar, he’s definitely someone I’ll be keeping an eye on.
Honorable Mentions
Sami Elmasry (0-0)
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Making his professional debut, Elmasry is another name worth keeping an eye on. He’s a capable grappler, but don’t mistake him for a one-dimensional fighter. During his amateur career, he showed that he can also get the job done with his striking. He’ll face fellow up-and-comer Mac Stroud (1-0) in what should be an interesting first test as a professional.
Jany St-Cyr (2-0)
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In my opinion, St-Cyr is currently the best female prospect on the Quebec regional scene. She’s a very complete fighter with strong kickboxing and an underrated ground game. At just 2-0, she’s still early in her professional career, and Samourai seems to be taking a patient approach to her development. There’s no need to rush things with a fighter who already has such a well-rounded skill set.
Vince Nikiforov (1-0)
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Nikiforov was perhaps the biggest surprise of the last Samourai event. His amateur record might not jump off the page, but Nikiforov is the kind of fighter who makes people want to watch. Standing at 5’11” at bantamweight, he’s exceptionally long for the division and knows how to make that physical advantage count. He completely dismantled the highly touted Milan Parobek in his last outing, making quite the impression in the process. His professional record is still young, but he’s already given fans a reason to remember his name.
