Ieuan Mackenzie steps into the Cage Warriors octagon in London on 27 June with a fire lit not just by ambition, but by timing—his five-fight deal with one of Europe’s premier MMA promotions could be the runway to the UFC. At 25, the Welsh bantamweight from Cardiff carries a 6-2 record and a first-round finish of highly-touted Keir Harvie into his bout against unbeaten Kadeem Perkins, a 30-year-old Londoner with four wins and no losses. Mackenzie isn’t intimidated. “I finished him in the first round and I think that's given me a lot of confidence against any of the Cage Warriors bantamweights,” he says, eyes fixed on a UFC debut within the year. Perkins may have a stoppage win over Rich Mitchell, but Mackenzie sees a stylistic mismatch in his favor—“I don’t think the guy he fought was anywhere near my level.”
MMA is more than a career for Mackenzie; it’s a shared journey. His fiancée, Jasmine Hacker-Jones, a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in judo from the 2022 Birmingham Games, has been both anchor and compass. She understands the grind—the early mornings, the late nights, the relentless focus—because she’s lived it. “She knows it's a six or seven-day-a-week thing,” Mackenzie says. “If I don't have a car, she'll drive me to training.” And when it comes to feedback, she’s unflinching: “She's definitely my biggest critic and my biggest supporter... the most honest, no filter.” That blend of love and truth keeps him grounded as he chases the dream.
The stakes are clear. A dominant win over Perkins, followed by another strong finish later in 2024, would put Mackenzie at 8-2 with eight finishes—credentials that could open the door to the UFC’s Contender Series. “If I win this fight and I have another big win at the end of the year, I'll be eight wins and two defeats, eight finishes, and then hopefully knocking on the door of the UFC,” he says. The math isn’t just personal—it’s promotional. Cage Warriors has launched the careers of stars like Conor McGregor and Paddy Pimblett, and Mackenzie knows visibility matters. A flashy performance in London could be his ticket.
For now, he’s grateful just to have a home. After years of chasing one-off fights, the five-bout contract means stability, rhythm, and a chance to grow. “I'm excited to finally have a home in mixed martial arts,” he says. “It means I'm guaranteed activity rather than waiting for offers to come to me.” Whether it’s training rides or truth bombs, Mackenzie’s support system is locked in. And as he prepares to step into the cage, one thought echoes: “I'm confident that this time next year I'll be in the UFC or preparing for a UFC debut.”