Canada's featherweight division has produced a steady stream of talent in recent years, with fighters like Hakeem Dawodu, Charles Jourdain and Kyle Nelson all working their way from the regional scene to the UFC.
One of Canada’s most promising featherweight prospects and one of MMA’s premier management company’s have joined forces.
Last month, Lucas Neufeld signed on with Iridium Sports Agency, also home to UFC fighters Brandon Moreno, Marlon Vera, Casey Kenney, Chan Sung Jung, James Krause, Walt Harris, and many more.
Following the signing, Neufeld, 27, said he believes he’s in the perfect position to take a big step forward in his career, and is hopeful for a productive 2021 campaign.
Iridium Sports Agency has become a go-to representation firm for fighters seeking UFC exposure, with a roster that includes established names alongside rising prospects.
“My body, my will, my mind is ready to be at the top, to be at my best, and to make a real run at this thing,” said Neufeld in an interview with MMA Empire.
“Lance (Spaude) truly believes I’m one good win away from Contender Series. I thought I wasn’t going to be looked at by the UFC until 10 wins, that’s kind of the benchmark I was striving for. But Lance says otherwise. I trust him and what his expertise are.”
Neufeld was in contact with several other management companies before signing on the dotted line with Iridium.
Beyond matchmaking, Iridium offers comprehensive career management, including nutrition planning, sports psychology and brand development. For a fighter at Neufeld’s stage, having a dedicated team handling these aspects can free the athlete to focus solely on training and performance, a factor that many veterans cite as critical to long‑term success.
Signing with a major agency does more than open doors to the UFC; it also means help with the business side of the sport, from fight contracts to sponsorships, areas that can overwhelm a young fighter handling them alone.
He said, through his interactions with Iridium representatives, he felt they were the clear-cut best fit for him and his career.
“They were most excited and ambitious to work with me, and that made me feel really good about the relationship,” said Neufeld.
“I pursued them, and they were more than happy to sign with me.”
The Dana White's Contender Series has served as a springboard for many prospects, and agents like those at Iridium play a direct role in getting fighters in front of UFC matchmakers.
Not only will fight opportunities be more readily available, but Neufeld is now entering an area of his career he’s yet to experience.
He said knowing all the behind-the-scenes work is being handled by Iridium is now going to allow him to focus solely on training, and not have to worry about the extra headaches of finding a fight.
Neufeld’s recent activity places him among the most active Canadian featherweights of the past two years. In 2018 he fought three times, a pace matched only by a handful of his peers, and his willingness to stay busy demonstrates the work ethic that promoters value when scouting new talent.
“I know now that I can just focus on my job, my part of it, my training, my performance,” said Neufeld.
“The rest, I know they’ll take care of that. When they see that I’m ready to go out and win a Contender Series fight, I’ll be there.”
That level of activity matters: staying busy keeps a prospect visible to the promotions and matchmakers who decide which regional names get the next big call.
After a busy 2018 in which he managed to fight three times, Neufeld has only competed twice since then, but not for a lack of trying.
Now on-board with Iridium, Neufeld said he knows 2021 is going to be a busier year for him, and said training camp officially started for him on Feb. 1.
Looking ahead, Neufeld is targeting a busier schedule on the Canadian circuit, with promotions like Z-Promotions' Fight Night series among the possible landing spots he has his eye on.
For Neufeld, the partnership arrives at the right moment: with his name already circulating among Canada's top featherweights, having experienced management behind him turns a promising career into a planned one.
“This is happening. There’s no hoping I get in a fight this year; we are getting in a fight this year. It’s happening,” said Neufeld.
“I hope it’s Z-Promotions Fight Night, but if it’s someone else, I just need to fight.”
