By Frank Bonada
In a landmark week for Irish MMA, two of the nation’s top amateur standouts, Kiya O’Sullivan and Kerry Ann Vernon, take the next step in their careers, signing professional contracts with two of the sport’s leading promotions.
Fresh off a dominant run at the 2025 IMMAF European Championships, Kiya O’Sullivan has signed with PFL Europe. O’Sullivan’s rise through the IMMAF ranks has been nothing short of exceptional. Her promotional debut took place at the inaugural IMMAF Youth World Championships in 2019, winning silver in the Women’s Youth A Flyweight division. From there, she steadily climbed the ranks, collecting two IMMAF gold medals at Junior and Senior levels.
With such a decorated amateur background, it comes as no surprise that PFL Europe would invest in the potential of the rising Irish prospect. O’Sullivan joins a growing list of elite IMMAF alumni now competing in the PFL, including Patrick Habirora (Belgium), Paulina Wiśniewska (Poland), and fellow Irishman Eoin Sheridan.
Meanwhile, Kerry Ann Vernon will begin her professional journey with Invicta FC, one of the premier organisations for women’s MMA. Vernon has competed in four IMMAF tournaments, facing some of the best amateur athletes in the world. Two silver medals at IMMAF events are a testament to the skillset Vernon has accrued over her time as an amateur competitor, with a closely contested loss to now-UFC fighter Shaunna Bannon (Ireland) at the 2021 Senior World Cup demonstrating just how close she’s come to the top.
Outside the IMMAF circuit, Vernon has notched notable wins over current professionals Eimear Darcy and Sinéadh Ní Nualláin, showcasing her readiness for the professional stage. At Invicta FC, she will join a growing roster of IMMAF alumni, including Magdalena Czaban (Poland), Giuliany Perêa Vieira
(Brazil), and Hope Holmes (USA), all of whom are making waves in the pro scene.
The IMMAF family extends its congratulations to Kiya and Kerry as they begin what promises to be exciting and successful professional careers.
For regular updates on IMMAF alumni and rising stars, follow @IMMAFed on social media.
