Following an excellent card at the start of April, with countless finishes and Batman handing out championship belts, Samurai Fight House is back for its 29th event. Headlined by Jimmie Pace Jr., the promotion will travel to Uruguay with four belts on the line and several prospects clawing to get to the top. Here’s who to watch:
Jimmie Pace Jr., 30, Middleweight, 7-2-0
It’s no secret the UFC is inept at finding prospects at 185 pounds; even the announced Contender Series middleweights feel underwhelming so far. For Jimmie Pace Jr., this should be good news, as he finds himself in an awfully opportune situation at Samurai Fight House 29.
Originally scheduled twice for last season’s edition of DWCS, Pace Jr. needs another victory to get back in the good graces of the UFC brass. He’ll match up with 11-7-0 Ricardo Romero for the vacant middleweight championship, a title he once held and defended three times from December 2024 to June 2025.
Like most prospects fighting under the SFH banner, Pace Jr. has a stellar all-around game with plenty of early finishes under his belt. He’s at his best when bringing opponents down with muscling level changes and quickly transitioning to a more dominant position. While he does have brutal, slicing ground-and-pound, Pace Jr.’s submission game feels most prolific. With finishes by d’arce, arm triangle, and RNC, the American has flexed his advanced skill set through nine fights. Though – he’ll likely have to bring out the striking in this one. His opposition has never been submitted and is much more vulnerable on the feet, with five knockout losses.
Pace Jr. has been working with the likes of Kevin Vallejos and Andre Lima as of late, so perhaps we’ll see a significant improvement in the boxing. An exciting finish could come at the hands of the Florida native. Ricardo Romero is being served on a platter for Jimmie Pace Jr. to return to Dana White’s Contender Series, and there’s a good chance he’ll come through in a big way.
Johan Murillo, 22, Bantamweight, 6-0-0
Unfortunately, Johan Murillo’s opponent, Paulo Portillo, withdrew from the bout due to injury, and as of right now, Samurai Fight House is still searching for an opponent to challenge the undefeated bantamweight, despite his appearance seeming unlikely given the lack of notice. Still, if on the off chance Murillo does make the walk at SFH 29, it would be a crime to leave him out of this write-up. So, regardless, we’ll briefly proceed with the 22-year-old prospect from Venezuela.
While still raw through six fights, Murillo has flashed elite traits and athleticism, crushing opponents left and right on his way to a perfect 6-0-0 professional record. He brings an explosiveness to his game that’s hard to miss, attacking with short bursts and aggressive strikes that often overwhelm the opposition. One of his most impressive tools on the feet is his right switch kick; there’s almost no tell behind the setup, and he doesn’t need much room to target the head. On the ground, Murillo has refined his rear-naked choke, often searching for the back once the grappling is initiated. His dexterity allows him to win 50/50 positions during scrambles against other competitive grapplers, and he also possesses an assortment of tricky takedowns.
It’s a shame Paulo Portillo was forced out of this matchup; it would’ve been the perfect litmus test for Johan Murillo in his young career. If Samurai Fight House is unable to find an opponent for Murillo, his 2026 debut will have to be delayed until later in the year. Keep your eye out for any potential updates to the card – maybe they’ll want a warm body for Murillo to go to war with anyway.
Arthur Ventura, 19, Bantamweight, 4-0-0, Brazil
At just 19 years old, Arthur Ventura has quietly emerged as a rising prospect with ambitions of becoming a global superstar. Through four professional fights, Ventura has made waves by dispatching his opponents early. The Brasilia native will travel to Uruguay for his first fight outside of his home country, making the jump from Jungle Fight Championship to Samurai Fight House.
Ventura is coming off a massive year after leaving the amateur circuit as an undefeated champion in November 2024. The bantamweight finished every opponent in his path from March to October, and now makes his return to the cage at Samurai Fight House. It’s been an impressive ascension for Ventura – not only is he ending fights, he’s also showcasing gorgeous technique both on the feet and on the mat.
In his first three professional bouts, Arthur Ventura scored a brabo choke, a von Flue choke, and an anaconda choke. While on the amateur scene, he finished opponents by armbar, rear-naked choke, and toe hold. Safe to say, Ventura’s bag is deep on the ground, and he virtually has every submission at his disposal. His transition game and ability to reverse a tough situation into a winning one are continuously on display. He uses his long limbs and quickness to gain an advantage when connected to his opposition, providing the Brazilian with uncommon opportunities. When striking, Ventura is still working on his comfort in the pocket, though he keeps his range with a beautiful front kick up the middle. He’s progressed well with more cage experience, most notably finding a 47-second flying knee in his last outing, finishing Alejandro Ribeiro in the first round.
Ventura will be on the hunt again at Samurai Fight House 29, eager to make a good impression on a new fan base. He’ll take on Laureano Soria in a catchweight bout, a 4-3-2 Argentinian who has been susceptible to the ground game before. Expect Ventura to add another quick submission to his resume, as Soria likely won’t be able to keep up with the 19-year-old phenom.
