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.
“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.
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.”
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.
“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.”
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.
“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.”
