5 Canadian MMA Prospects You Should Know Before the Next UFC Return

Switching up your options when you place bets on MMA fighters can often lead to unexpected outcomes. While backing established names usually feels like the safer choice, taking a closer look at rising Canadian prospects can sometimes pay off even more when a new talent starts making a name on bigger stages.

Before diving into MMA betting in Canada ahead of the next UFC return, it’s important to understand which fighters are truly worth watching. Over the past few months, several Canadian MMA prospects have been gaining momentum in regional promotions, showcasing the skill sets and finishing ability that could soon translate to success at the highest level.

1. Ben Tynan

Ben Tynan has been in the spotlight for a few years now, gaining traction due to his flamboyant personality. Known as “Vanilla Thunder”, the fighter rocks bleached blonde hair that makes him stand out in any match he’s in.

In the past, he tried to compete in several martial arts, including kickboxing, gi jiu-jitsu, and submission grappling. Nowadays, he’s building his career as an MMA fighter.

Back in 2023, Tynan was praised for his ability to work very quickly, but also for his 100% finishing rate in MMA. What makes him so entertaining to watch is the way he manages to finish in different ways. He finishes some opponents by strikes and others by submission. Besides, he even used multiple submission types.

In November 2023, he won against Kang Ji Won at ONE Fight Night 16. He also defeated Duke Didier in the first ONE Fight Night 21 round. That’s how everyone got to know just how strong and charismatic the Canadian fighter can be.

At ONE Fight Night 34, Tynan defeated every opponent he faced. Now, Vanilla Thunder must face Kirill Grishenko in a match that will take place on August 1 inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Grishenko has gone against some of the best in ONE Championship, including Malykhin, Marcus Almeida, and Mauro Cerilli. He’s also the only one who defeated “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane. Therefore, the match between Tynan and Grishenko will be an intense one considering the latter is much more experienced.

2. Kyle Nelson

Kyle Nelson is an MMA fighter who participates in the UFC Featherweight division. The MMA prospect was born in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada, and he began competing in mixed martial arts back in 2011. The fighter was a competitor for the RXF promotion and Elite 1 MMA. He even won the Elite 1 MMA Featherweight Championship.

In 2018, Nelson made his debut in UFC. He replaced Jesse Ronson at UFC 231, going against Carlos Diego Ferreira. In the second round, he lost via TKO, but this didn’t discourage him. Next, he went against Matt Sayles and lost via submission. Once he went against Marco Polo Reyes, he secured a win via TKO during the first round, which made him victorious.

Nelson kept facing different opponents over the years. In 2023, he had a few notable fights against Choi Doo-ho, Blake Bilder, and Fernando Padilla. Although the one with Choi Doo-ho ended via a majority draw, the last two concluded in a victory for Nelson. Then, he won when fighting Bill Algeo in 2024.

This year, fans are keeping an eye on the player and hoping for an exciting return.

3. Tommy Morrisson

Tommy Morrisson is only 26 years old, yet he is following his dream of becoming a successful UFC fighter. He works hard to achieve his dreams inside the Samourai MMA cage while trying to complete his Concordia University engineering degree.

Morrisson has been growing significantly recently. He joined the professional ranks during a time when Montreal-based promotion was launched. The fighter was able to join for 2-3 fights every year, which is a new milestone for new Canadian talents.

In March 2025, he was supposed to fight against Gabe Sagman, but the latter had to withdraw due to an injury. Morrisson is determined to win his next fight and then complete his degree so he can focus on his MMA career next year.

Morrisson has to deal with three classes per semester and balance them with his MMA journey. It’s hard for him to do multiple training sessions every day, but he balances his schedule the best way he can.

4. Aaron Jeffery

Aaron Jeffery made his PFL debut in April 2025 and is one of the biggest rising fighters at Middleweight. Before his debut, the former regional middleweight champion managed to score finishes in 10 out of 15 wins. He has a Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, too.

In Bellator, the champion went 4-2, winning against Dalton Rosta, Austin Vanderford, and even Douglas Lima. He is not playing around, and he’ll be a feared opponent moving forward.

5. Louis Jourdain

Although less known than the others, Louis Jourdain is another emerging name on the Canadian MMA scene. He is ranked at #434 in the North American regions, but 2 in the North American sub-regions, respectively, Quebec, Canada.

Also known as “The Mad Prince”, he won several fights this year against players like Diego Silva, Danilo Adreani, Sebastian Ruiz, and Rony Laramie. He has great potential to become one of the most popular UFC fighters.

2025 has many Canadian MMA prospects to keep an eye on before the next UFC return. Kyle Nelson, Ben Tynan, Tommy Morrisson, Aaron Jeffery, and Louis Jourdain have all had numerous victories that show their dedication and skill.