Top 10 MMA Prospects in Australia & New Zealand

#5 Fergus Jenkins (4-0)

Middleweight

24 Years Old – Canterbury Fight Centre

 

A highly touted amateur who carried his momentum seamlessly into the professional ranks, Fergus Jenkins enters this next phase of his career with just a single loss across both his amateur and professional records. That consistency is underpinned by a genuine pedigree, having captured IMMAF gold on two occasions – experience that places him well ahead of the typical curve for a fighter of his age and at his weight class. With the Middleweight division currently thinner than in years past, Jenkins appears particularly well-timed to make the step up and establish himself quickly at the next level.

 

Stylistically, Jenkins is a polished and intelligent grappler built around strong position control and an active, genuinely dangerous submission game. He shows a clear understanding of when to advance, when to consolidate, and how to apply pressure without overcommitting; often forcing opponents into defensive cycles where mistakes are inevitable.

 

On the feet, he is a composed and technically sound kickboxer, preferring a measured approach rather than reckless exchanges. He patiently accumulates damage, uses his striking to draw reactions, and then blends this seamlessly into his wrestling to initiate grappling exchanges on his terms.

 

Jenkins employs a diverse takedown arsenal, favouring well-timed sweeps and trips in the clinch but also demonstrating the ability to change levels effectively and hit clean double and single-leg takedowns in open space. That versatility makes him difficult to prepare for and allows him to adapt his strategy mid-fight if his initial entries are shut down. Size-wise, Jenkins is also big for the division, having recently come down from Light Heavyweight, which is where he competed throughout his career.

 

Technically strong, tactically aware, and still in the early stages of his overall development as a fighter, Jenkins continues to improve in each outing. Given his high-level experience across both amateur and professional competition, particularly at still a young age, Jenkins shapes, at least in my view, as the brightest prospect to emerge from New Zealand since Israel Adesanya, and is undoubtedly one of the most compelling up-and-coming talents in the broader ANZ MMA scene.