Top 10 MMA Prospects in Australia & New Zealand

#9 Darcy Vendy (8-3)

Middleweight

31 Years Old – The Fight Centre

 

Darcy Vendy remains one of the more intriguing middleweight prospects not only in the region but globally, given the relative thinness of the division. A powerful, aggressive finisher, Vendy was arguably unlucky to miss out on a Dana White’s Contenders Series opportunity this past season. Since returning from a hiatus in 2023, Vendy has finished all five of his bouts against credible opposition, reinforcing his reputation as a fighter capable of making a genuine impact at middleweight. He even holds a notable early-career submission win over former UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena, underlining the calibre of talent he has faced throughout his career.

 

Vendy’s professional journey has been unconventional. Debuting in 2014 with a knockout loss, he experienced several extended breaks from competition, fighting in short bursts rather than sustained runs. During that early period, he secured impressive submission victories before suffering setbacks, including a knockout loss to Isi Fitikefu. Further hiatuses followed, with mixed results, until Vendy finally found real momentum from 2023 onward. Since then, he has put together his most consistent stretch yet – defeating a series of well-known Australian names, capturing the Eternal middleweight title, and successfully defending it twice. Notably, all those victories came by finish across rounds 1, 2, and 3; highlighting the danger he poses throughout the fight.

 

Technically, Vendy is a well-rounded fighter who can inflict damage wherever the fight takes place. On the feet, he strikes with composure and structure, working behind a high, tight guard and unleashing power in short bursts rather than sustained volume. He mixes punches with kicks and knees effectively, often using his striking as a means to close distance and force clinch or grappling exchanges. While not a pure pressure striker, his timing and physicality make him dangerous in transitional moments.

 

On the ground, Vendy is aggressive and opportunistic. He actively hunts submissions from both top and bottom positions, scrambles well, and is comfortable creating chaos to force openings. At times, this submission-first mentality can see him sacrifice position unnecessarily, but it also reflects his confidence in winning scrambles and finding finishes in unconventional situations.

 

Overall, Vendy profiles as a fighter who could make for an entertaining and competitive UFC run, particularly in a shallow middleweight division. While his age limits his ultimate ceiling compared to younger prospects, his relatively low cage mileage and proven finishing ability justify his place firmly among the region’s standout talents.