If you’re looking for the future of MMA, there’s no better place to start than here. IMMAF’s latest tournament produced dominant champions, surging prospects, and a few performances that demand serious attention moving forward.
O’neel Agbanama, 22, Team Germany, Men’s Senior Super Welterweight, 9-0-0
Previewed in our fighters to watch, O’neel Agbanama put on a premium performance over four victories for Team Germany. Finishing three fights in a row, Agbanama scored two knockouts and one submission, most notably an early TKO over Team France’s Adel Erredir in the Super Welterweight final. The BJJ purple belt artist showcased dominance on the ground in Belgrade, Serbia, moving to 9-0-0 in his amateur mixed martial arts career.
Team Germany’s gold medalist is developing his game at an uber-fast rate, corralling his second first-place finish in the past two months. Keep an eye on Agbanama’s next fight; I expect more finishes and more top-placement finishes in the Super Welterweight’s future.
Mason Yarrow, 25, Team England, Men’s Senior Super Lightweight, 14-1-0
Mason Yarrow has been one of the most entertaining fighters on the UK scene, and this past weekend was no different for the 25-year-old Super Lightweight. With 8 finishes to his name prior to the tournament, the 9-1-0 Yarrow extended that number to 11, scoring two submissions and a knockout in five victories, moving to 14-1-0 as an amateur. Though, Yarrow’s most impressive win came over Team Germany’s Alexander Dudko in a grueling decision victory.
With a gold medal secured and fifteen fights under his belt, Mason Yarrow should likely be probing the professional ranks very soon. If not, Yarrow likely will be in line to defend his championship at BADFOMO MMA in the near future. Regardless, Mason Yarrow is a must-watch fighter from here on out.
Juho Suvanto, 21, Team Finland, Men’s Senior Middleweight, 14-3-0
After losing a split decision back at the 2024 European IMMAF Championships, Juho Suvanto had a major bounce back, entering the tournament on a four-fight win streak. Following two submission-victories and a gold medal in the Nordic Championship in January, it didn’t take long for Suvanto to get settled in once again in February, opening the tournament with two TKO-victories in his first two fights. In succession, Team Finland’s 10-3-0 Middleweight moved to 14-3-0, rounding out an exceptional start to 2026 for Suvanto (six wins in less than 30 days).
Since the likes of Anton Kuivanen, Makwan Amirkhani, and Teemu Packalén, Finland has yet to have a fighter represent their country in the UFC. Following another gold medal victory, Suvanto could be the next to join top prospect Abdul Hussein as the next generation of elite Finnish MMA fighters.
Mariia Klein, 19, Team Ukraine, Women’s Junior Flyweight, 16-0-0
How could this be an article without mentioning Mariia Klein? Team Ukraine’s Junior Flyweight has become a sensation since starting her amateur career in 2024. Largely regarded as the favorite going into the tournament, Klein did not disappoint, ripping three-straight submissions (all by armbar) to stay undefeated and earn another gold medal at just 19 years old. Not to mention, Klein has one of the coolest looks in all of MMA, professional included.
In my humble opinion, I think it’s quite appropriate to call Mariia Klein one of, if not the greatest junior mixed martial artist in history. If she turned pro tomorrow, the transition would be seamless – a fighter of her aggression, with elbows and knees? Game over. 16-0-0 Mariia Klein is without a doubt a must-watch whenever she enters the octagon next.