Australia has continued to take the UFC by storm, led by all-time greats, current UFC Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker.
There has also been a consistent crop of young talent entering the UFC, most prominently Jack Della Maddalena, who finds himself close to a UFC Welterweight Championship title shot. This weekend at UFC Vegas 84, we will see the UFC debut of possibly the next big Aussie star, Tom Nolan.
Fighting out of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, the 23-year-old Nolan boasts an undefeated record of 6-0-0. Competing in the 155-pound Lightweight division, Nolan stands at a remarkable 6’3″, making him one of the longest fighters in the entire division, alongside the likes of Jalin Turner.
Nolan amassed a record of 5-0-0 on the Australian regional scene, including four wins in Eternal MMA, to earn a shot on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023. He made the walk into the UFC APEX in Week 1 of Season 7, facing the streaking Austrian Bogdan Grad.
It took Nolan under 90 seconds to establish himself as a prospect to watch, knocking Grad out cold with a picture-perfect left hook. That finish quickly earned him a UFC contract and high praise from UFC CEO Dana White. The fight also showcased all the traits that make him a serious threat in the talent-rich Lightweight division, precisely his freakish size and power.
Nolan makes his anticipated UFC debut this weekend at UFC Vegas 84 against experienced Brazilian Nikolas Motta. Also a DWCS veteran, Motta has struggled since joining the UFC, only managing one win from four fights. His last fight was ruled a no-contest due to a premature stoppage from the referee.
However, Motta’s experience alone makes him a big test for the debuting Nolan, who only has six pro bouts compared to Motta’s 19. If Nolan can secure another impressive win in his debut, he will set himself up for what may be a rapid rise through the UFC’s lightweight division.
The majority of Australians who have fought in the UFC have found serious success, and it looks like Nolan will be no different. Like Jack Della Maddalena, he may even find himself in the UFC rankings a year from now.