Tryouts for The Ultimate Fighter 22 take place Monday, April 27 and of the many hopefuls making the trip to Las Vegas, 10 are Canadian. In the past we’ve seen fellow Canucks like Elias Theodorou, Chad Laprise Patrick Cote and Randa Markos elevate their careers by participating on the popular reality series and the fighters below will have the same opportunity.
So with that in mind, here is a closer look at the 11 Canadians looking to make the cut for TUF 22.
Ryan Dickson – (Burlington, Ont.)
Age: 25
Weight Class: 155 (competing at 170 pounds)
Record: 10-3 (2 TKO/KOs, 8 Submissions)
Fighting Out Of: Joslin MMA / Tapout Burlington
Twitter: @RydMMA
This is Dickson’s second attempt at trying out for TUF as he previously tried out for TUF Nations: Canada vs. Australia last year but unfortunately wasn’t selected. The Burlington native has a well-rounded skill set and is the former Hard Knocks lightweight champion. Groomed by former UFC welterweight Jeff Joslin, Dickson is unlike most 25-year-olds as he spends countless hours watching tape and reading motivational books. Of Dickson’s three losses, two have come to UFC welterweight Alex Garcia and WSOF standout Michael Hill. In addition, Dickson has never been finished in his 13-fight career.
Shawn Albrecht – (Fort St. John, B.C.)
Age: 29
Weight Class: 145 pounds (competing at 155 pounds)
Record: 11-6 (8 TKO/KOs, 2 Submissions, 1 Decision)
Fighting Out Of: Fivestar Training Centre
Twitter: @ShawnAlbrecht45
Albrecht has been competing in the sport for quite some time as he made his MMA debut in 2006. Known primarily as a jiu-jitsu fighter he’s also got eight career knockouts to his credit. He’s fought mainly for King of the Cage but has also competed for Battlefield Fight League in Vancouver and World Series of Fighting in Edmonton. One of Albrecht’s students, Jeremy Kennedy, will also be making the tryouts but the B.C. native admitted he has no issues fighting a fellow teammate. Albrecht now calls Fort St. John home, as he’s one of the head trainers at the Fivestar Training Centre.
Jeremy “JBC” Kennedy – (Surrey, B.C.)
Age: 22
Weight Class: 145 pounds (competing at 155 pounds)
Record: 7-0 (3 TKO/KOs, 2 Submissions, 2 Decisions)
Fighting Out Of: Revolution MMA
Twitter: @JeremyKennedyWC
Likely one of the youngest competitors in the tryouts, Kennedy is a highly touted prospect who has remained undefeated with a 7-0 record. He has competed primarily in Canada but last year spent the majority of 2014 competing in Thailand with Team Quest. Kennedy made his MMA debut in 2013 and has finished five of his seven career opponents. Now training at Revolution MMA in Langley, B.C. with current ONE FC bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes, Kennedy looks to prove to the rest of the world why he’s been one of the best kept secrets in Canada.
Sabah Fadai – (Chilliwack, B.C.)
Age: 29
Weight Class: 145 pounds (competing at 155 pounds)
Record: 10-4 (5 TKO/KOs, 3 Submissions, and 2 Decisions)
Fighting Out Of: Four Directions Marital Arts
Twitter: @SabahFadai
Fadai made his MMA debut in 2007 and has competed for promotions like MFC, Havoc and WOSF. Despite being undersized, Fadai tried out for TUF Nations two weight classes above in welterweight; however an injury kept him off Team Canada’s roster. This time around, he’ll be competing for a spot on the show with fellow training partner Jeremy Kennedy. Most pundits will remember Fadai for his first-round submission loss to Nick Newell at WSOF 7 in December 2013. Since losing that fight, “The Persian Warrior” has won two in a row and looks to bring that momentum into the tryouts.
Kyle Nelson – (Huntsville, Ont.)
Age: 23
Weight Class: 145 pounds (competing at 155 pounds)
Record: 6-0 (1 TKO/KO, 2 Submissions, 3 Decisions)
Fighting Out Of: House of Champions MMA / Para Bellum
Twitter: @The__Monster
Nelson made his MMA debut in 2012 but has only competed twice in the last two years. His biggest challenge has been outside of the cage, where the lack of local MMA events in Ontario hindered his ability to get fights. He most recently saw action at SCC 2.0 last May where he won by first round submission over Ainsley Robinson. “The Monster” has been training full time and has only been able to work part time to support his wife and son. As a result, he’s setup a GoFundMe page here and hopes to ease some of the financial burden flying out and competing at the tryouts next week.
Chris Mattock – (Calgary)
Age: 23
Weight Class: 170 pounds
Record: 4-2 (4 Submissions)
Fighting Out Of: Gracie Barra Calgary
Twitter: @automattock170
Mattock is the current King of the Cage Canada welterweight champion and made his MMA debut in 2010. The 23-year-old is well versed on the mat with all four of his victories coming by way of submission. He’s coming off a loss last month to Adam Smith at Hard Knocks 42, which snapped a two-fight win streak.
Mandel Nallo – (Vancouver)
Age: 25
Weight Class: 155 pounds
Record: 3-0 (1 TKO/KO, 2 Submissions)
Fighting Out Of: Tristar Gym / NX Martial Arts
Twitter: @NoTweetMandel
Originally from Vancouver, Nallo has fought primarily in Quebec including twice for the Hybrid Pro Series. He started training at Tristar in 2009 and was brought in to mimic Thiago Alves for George St-Pierres training camp for UFC 100. With just three professional bouts on his resume, he enters the tryouts as one of the least experienced competitors, but talk to most Canadian MMA pundits and they’ll tell you he’s a must-see prospect.
Dejan Kajic – (Richmond, B.C.)
Age: 30
Weight Class: 170 pounds
Record: 6-3 (3 TKO/KOs, 2 Submissions, 1 Decision)
Fighting Out Of: Tristar Gym / Clinch MMA And Fitness
Twitter: @DejanKajic
Kajic made his MMA debut in 2010 and five of his six victories are via stoppage. The 30-year-old has won three of his last four bouts, including a highlight-reel head kick knockout over Justin Schmit at Hard Knocks 42 this past January.
Mike “Main Attraction” Malott – (Halifax)
Age: 23
Weight Class: 145 pounds (competing at 155 pounds)
Record: 4-1 (2 TKO/KO’s, 2 Submissions)
Fighting Out Of: Titans MMA
Twitter: @Michael_Malott
Making his MMA debut in 2011, Malott had his four-fight win streak snapped last October, losing via knockout to rising prospect Hakeem Dawodu at WSOF 14: U.S. vs. Canada last October. Through his five-fight career, Malott has never gone the distance and is always exciting to watch.
Dan “Daniel San” Lariviere – (Ottawa)
Age: 31
Weight Class: 145 pounds (competing at 155 pounds)
Record: 4-2 (3 Submissions, 1 Decision)
Fighting Out Of: Evolution Martial Arts
Twitter: @DanielSanMMA
Lariviere made his MMA debut in 2013 and has won three of his four fights by submission. He most recently defeated Garret Nybakken at WSOF 18: Moraes vs. Hill this past Feburary, winning by first round submission.
Lenny “Show Stealer” Wheeler – (Charlottletown, PEI.)
Age: 28
Weight Class: 145 (competing at 155 pounds)
Record: 10-3 (2 TKO/KOs, 8 Submissions)
Fighting Out Of: Wulfrun MMA
Twitter: @LennyWheeler45
Wheeler made his MMA debut in 2008 and has amassed an impressive 8-3 record, including five career knockout victories. He’s coming off a highlight-reel finish in his last month at Pancrase 265, where he knocked out Yuki Baba in just 18 seconds.
Follow James Lynch on Twitter @LynchOnSports