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City Kickboxing fighter earns UFC call-up on Dana White's Contender Series
Stephen Foote • August 20th, 2025 3:38 pm
Cam Rowston | Photo: UFC
The fighter factory at Auckland's City Kickboxing has produced yet another UFC combatant off its conveyor belt.
On Wednesday (NZ time), Australian Cam Rowston scored an emphatic first-round TKO victory over Brandon Holmes on Dana White's Contender Series to earn a multi-fight deal with the world's premier MMA promotion.
The 'Battle Giraffe' came up short in his first crack on the talent identification show, bested by Torres Finney over three rounds almost exactly a year ago.
But after bouncing back strongly on the Australiasian regional circuit with three consecutive victories, the 30-year-old Sydney product was awarded another shot, which he took with both hands.
Announcing the winners of the contracts on offer for week two of the latest season of his show, UFC boss White said he was impressed with Rowston's fortitude to rebound and return a better fighter.
He also revealed he'd be granting Rowston's request of making his debut at the UFC Fight Night in Perth next month in front of his compatriots, despite being advised otherwise by his matchmaking team.
Michelle Montague on discovering she'd been signed by the UFC | Fight Club
"You asked me if you could fight in Perth," said White. "The matchmakers said you can't because we already have 16 fights.
"I don't give a shit. You're fighting in Perth."
Rowston moved to New Zealand back in 2019 to train fulltime under head coach Eugene Bareman in pursuit of his UFC dream.
He'll join teammates Carlos Ulberg, Navajo Stirling, and fellow debutant Michelle Montague on the Western Australia card, which takes place on September 28.
On Friday, another two City Kickboxing fighters have the opportunity to take their steps towards a fulltime gig with the UFC, with Aaron Tau and Lawrence Lui competing in their respective semi-finals on the China-based Road to UFC show.
Road to UFC semi-finalist Lawrence Lui on the impact of City Kickboxing on his life | Fight Club
