David Mistulov
Welterweight
Age: 24
Fighting out of: San Jose, California, USA
Record: 6-0-0
Fighting out of one of the fastest growing gyms in MMA, the Academy Fight Club, coached by former UFC double champion, Daniel Cormier, David Mistulov has developed into a premier talent at 170 pounds. Since his debut fight in 2024, Mistulov has checked every box possible in the octagon, becoming the A1 Combat Welterweight Champion (Am.) in under two years.Â
Mistulov has garnered significant attention following his last two performances, finishing both opponents in under 90-seconds combined. One of those victories earned him the title in just 17-seconds, as he delivered a shocking display of power against Derek Cook, landing a short, flush hook to the chin that immediately ended the fight. Just one month later, Mistulov followed that performance with another knockout, stopping formerly undefeated Miles Robinson and securing his second finish in a span of just 36 days.
Opponents will have to pick their poison when fighting David Mistulov: meet in the middle and trade in the pocket, or be on the back foot with Mistulov coming forward. With an overwhelming pace and a well-rounded tool bag, Mistulov is a lethal pressure fighter, constantly showing feints and level changes before finding his killshot. Mistulov is no pushover on the ground either, finding quick entries on takedowns and pure muscle to pick the opposition up and slam them down into side control.
Despite this being only Mistulov’s seventh amateur bout, he has already separated himself as one of the most pro-ready fighters I’ve evaluated so far. His physical strength and overall maturity are rare traits at the amateur level, giving him a clear edge over most opponents. As he prepares for his fourth fight in just 146 days, a transition to the professional ranks by the summer feels increasingly realistic.
Mistulov will put his title on the line January 30 at A1 Combat 33 against Dani Ghazi, an undefeated striker out of Team Alpha Male who has scored back-to-back knockout wins. Ghazi enters the bout 3–0 since his amateur debut in March 2025, with all three appearances coming under the A1 Combat banner. Expect heavy exchanges in the pocket early, but don’t be surprised if Mistulov quickly asserts his physicality with grappling to disrupt Ghazi’s rhythm. One way or another, this fight feels destined to end early, and I’m predicting a first-round knockout victory for David Mistulov.