Shuriken is back with it’s 23rd edition boasting some fun prospects and fights to break down. Below I’ve highlighted my favourite fighters on the card that I think at least warrant monitoring as they progress through their careers.
Checkout the action this Saturday, March 7th from 12am PST/3am ET live on UFC Fight Pass
In the main event is the much-hyped featherweight Tama Hiquily (2-0), who is riding a six-fight knockout streak dating back to 2023 and his second amateur bout. Training out of City Kickboxing, Hiquily has long been touted as a high-ceiling prospect with the ability to make quick improvements.
Only three years into his MMA career, Hiquily has shown he’s not only dangerous early but can carry his power into the later rounds and remain a constant threat throughout the fight. Taking on the debuting Zion Perry, who has a Muay Thai background himself, Hiquily should be set for a big, momentum-building win that lines him up for a major regional fight—either on Shuriken or over in Australia.
Brodie Mayocchi (3-0) serves as, to me, the best prospect on the card, given he’s my #2-ranked prospect in the region with less than 5 professional fights and my #4 prospect overall. Mayocchi is a name fans in the region have been familiar with for a long time. He has steadily built his reputation through an undefeated run across both his professional and amateur careers. That run has come against consistently strong opposition. Because of it, he stands out as arguably one of the top prospects Australia or New Zealand currently has to offer.
Stylistically, Mayocchi is an active, assertive grappler built around a dangerous submission game and technical wrestling, complemented by an increasingly sharp stand-up attack developed at City Kickboxing. His improvements have been constant and exponential, and he has consistently shown the ability to rise to the occasion regardless of the opponent.
At just 20 years old, he already stands out as an exciting, UFC-ready prospect who feels destined for a bigger, global stage. I expect the lightweight to make quick work of his opponent, move to 4-0, and position himself for a meaningful step up in competition—whether that comes through the UFC or at the regional level.
A really fun and intriguing fight takes place in the women’s division. Danielle “Drop Bear” Curtis (1-1) makes the trip across the pond to New Zealand, looking to mount a successful comeback after a frustrating 2025 campaign derailed by injuries. She takes on the hyped hometown prospect, Brooke Pritchard (3-0), who herself is coming off a “ghost KO” victory in which her opponent dislocated her shoulder while throwing a spinning back fist seconds into the fight.
“Drop Bear” is an aggressive grappler with deceptive pop in her hands. Her power has already put multiple opponents away. After nearly two years out of competition, she’ll be eager to get back on track. A win over a recognized name could put her in the frame for a global opportunity. Curtis will likely push to take Pritchard to the ground early. From there, she can unleash heavy ground-and-pound or hunt for submissions en route to a big, momentum-building victory.
Pritchard is a striker out of City Kickboxing who has been hyped in New Zealand for some time. She currently holds an impressive undefeated record across both her professional and amateur careers. Since making her amateur debut in 2023, Pritchard has quickly established herself as one of the top unsigned female fighters in the region. A win here could open the door to major global opportunities, potentially with the UFC as soon as this year.
With a lot on the line for both ladies, Curtis v Pritchard stands out to me as the most intriguing bout on the entire card.
Jack Cameron (7-1 AM) made the honourable mentions on my Top 10 Amateurs in Australia & New Zealand. Another prospect out of City Kickboxing, Cameron has won five of his fights by finish. Both a mixture of knockouts on the feet, ground-and-pound, and even a rear-naked choke. Cameron is multi-faceted as a martial artist with immense upside. He stands out to me as one of the top amateurs this side of the world has to offer
Ollie Schmid (3-2) is a highly touted amateur with strong regional experience and a defined, ever-improving skill set. His record slightly undersells his true quality. A former IMMAF competitor and amateur champion, Schmid has the experience to make a strong professional run.
His pro debut against Harry Webb was no easy task, and a later bout with Dimps Gillies showed just how tough top-level striking can be. These setbacks aren’t a knock on him. Since the Gillies fight, Schmid has rebounded with two wins, rebuilding momentum and preparing for a serious run in the professional ranks. A win here would give him three in a row, and with his amateur pedigree, he’ll be aiming for some very big fights in the near future.