Top 10 Amateur MMA Prospects in Australia & New Zealand

#4 Dominic Aston (8-1)

Featherweight

24 Years Old – DTV Academy

 

Dominic Aston has established himself as one of the most dangerous and reliable submission artists in the Australian amateur scene. Pairing slick jiu-jitsu with strong, purposeful wrestling, he’s a threat. His resume reflects a consistently high level of competition, with notable wins over Patrick Hill, Bas Demirel, Alex Poniris, Dazz Kolovos, and the surging Aidyn Gould. That victory in particular served as a statement performance, firmly cementing Aston as a top-tier amateur prospect and a legitimate contender for the title of best amateur fighter in the country. His only loss came against Brodie Mayocchi up a weight class at lightweight – a result that holds little stigma given Mayocchi’s proven quality and progression.

 

Stylistically, Aston’s strengths are clear and well-honed. Despite opponents being fully aware of his intentions, he consistently succeeds in imposing his grappling-heavy approach, which speaks volumes about his technical proficiency. He chain wrestles effectively, transitioning smoothly between double and single-leg takedowns, while also using body locks, trips, and positional pressure to force opponents to the mat. Once there, Aston becomes a major problem. He is comfortable operating in multiple phases – threatening with fast, opportunistic submissions, settling into suffocating top control, or mixing in effective ground-and-pound to open further finishing opportunities. His ability to choose the correct tool in the moment makes him difficult to read and even harder to survive against on the mat.

 

There are, however, areas still requiring development. Aston’s stand-up game remains a work in progress, most notably highlighted in the Mayocchi bout. He faced an equally strong (if not stronger) overall grappler with more advanced striking, and in moments of the Gould fight, where he absorbed significant damage before finding a come-from-behind submission off his back. While his grappling dominance has thus far compensated for these gaps, continued improvement on the feet will be essential as he transitions into the professional ranks and begins facing more complete opponents.

 

That said, Aston is a battle-tested amateur with proven results against elite regional competition. As he continues to round out his skill set, he appears more than ready to take the next step into the professional ranks and begin working his way toward higher-level opportunities, including a potential future run toward the UFC.