Top 10 MMA Prospects With 5 or less Pro Fights in Australia & New Zealand

#10 Artemios Trepca (2-1)

Lightweight

23 Years Old – Mat Masters Academy

 

Arte Trepca profiles as a classic pressure-based wrestler whose game is built around imposing control rather than engaging in extended striking exchanges. His wrestling is the clear foundation of his style. He has exceptionally quick entries on the hips and can secure takedowns from a variety of positions. Once the fight hits the mat, he becomes extremely difficult to reverse. Trepca prioritises strong positional control, using heavy top pressure to wear opponents down, inflict steady ground-and-pound, and methodically work toward submission opportunities. While he is capable of finishing on the mat, he generally favours maintaining dominant positions over risking control in pursuit of low-percentage submissions.

 

His striking, while still a developmental area, has shown encouraging signs of progress. Trepca is competent enough on the feet to avoid being a liability. He picks his moments to open up rather than forcing exchanges. That improvement was highlighted by a knockout win over Jesse Ukich in his final amateur bout. More importantly, his striking functions as a tool to support his grappling. He uses combinations to disguise level changes and is effective at drawing opponents into exchanges before shooting underneath. Conversely, he is also comfortable allowing opponents to settle into striking rhythms before abruptly changing levels and forcing the fight to the ground.

 

From a resume standpoint, Trepca is one of the most credentialed young fighters in the region. He won the GAMMA World Championship at Welterweight in 2023 and holds multiple high-level amateur victories in championship bouts, including wins over Diellon Lihari, Jack Lipa, Jesse Ukich, and Daniele Scagiuisi. Beyond MMA, he is also an accomplished wrestler in Australia, having recently captured the 2025 Australian National Championship at 86kg; an achievement that further underscores the quality of his grappling base.

 

The only blemish on Trepca’s amateur and professional record came in a competitive loss to Brodie Mayocchi, another standout regional prospect who appeared earlier on this list. Mayocchi was able to stifle Trepca’s takedown entries, win key grappling exchanges, and outwork him over five rounds. While disappointing, the bout will likely prove a valuable learning experience for Trepca, highlighting areas for refinement against elite regional competition before losses carry greater long-term consequences.

 

At just 23, Trepca has legitimate long-term upside. If his striking continues to improve and he applies the lessons learned from his lone defeat, he has the tools and time to make rapid developmental strides. With his wrestling foundation and support network, a future opportunity on Dana White’s Contenders Series or Road to UFC stage is well within reach if he continues to round out his game.