Top 10 MMA Prospects in Australia & New Zealand

#10 Matty Iann (3-0)

Bantamweight

24 Years Old – Ethos Performance

 

Matty Iann is a name Australian fans have been tracking closely for some time, being widely regarded as one of the standout prospects to emerge from the late Suman Mokhtarian’s Australian Top Team stable. Following the dissolution of the gym, he has continued his development at Ethos Performance, a move that appears to have allowed him to take further, measurable steps forward in both confidence and technical refinement. Iann carried his strong amateur form into the professional ranks seamlessly, compiling a combined 9-1 amateur and professional record with his sole defeat coming to Hillal Chams, who himself was a formidable presence on the amateur scene, particularly in 2019 when the two met.

 

Now the interim Eternal Bantamweight champion, Iann has already proven his ability in high-stakes matchups. His victory over the previously undefeated Connor Birch for the aforementioned interim Eternal Bantamweight Championship stands out as a defining moment, especially given Birch was coming off an impressive win over the highly regarded Kris Ustijanovski (who will feature later in this list). That result underlined Iann’s readiness for elite regional competition and his capacity to rise to the occasion against peers with genuine momentum.

 

Stylistically, Iann offers significant upside as a physically strong, heavy-handed grappler with a slick and opportunistic submission game. While grappling remains his primary strength, he is far from limited on the feet. In striking exchanges, Iann works intelligently behind a stiff, disciplined jab, bouncing in and out of range and showing patience rather than forcing exchanges. He carries respectable power in his hands and is particularly effective at drawing lapses in concentration, using his striking to lull opponents into a false sense of security to create moments where he can close the distance and initiate grappling sequences.

 

His preferred entries come via body locks where he employs a variety of sweeps and trips, but he is equally comfortable working double-leg takedowns against the cage, where he’ll grind on opponents, wearing them down over time. On the mat, Iann balances control with intent, threatening submissions opportunistically while ensuring positional dominance and consistent damage through ground-and-pound.

 

With proven wins over strong competition, Iann appears well positioned to continue his upward climb through the rankings and move steadily toward a legitimate UFC opportunity.