Team Iridium Preview for UFC Vegas 104

LAS VEGAS — Four Iridium Sports Agency clients will represent the firm on Saturday at UFC Vegas 104 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV.

Daniel Barez hunts for his second straight UFC victory against André Lima in the flyweight division. The Contender Series veteran has been victorious in five of his past six trips to the cage. Daniel's 17-6 body of work includes seven knockouts and six submissions.

Alexander “The Great Ape” Hernandez enters the UFC's Octagon for the 15th time against Kurt Holobaugh in lightweight action. Alexander is gunning for his second straight/eighth overall UFC victory. His 15-8 record is comprised of six knockouts, two submissions and a trio of Performance Bonuses.

Chidi “Bang Bang” Njokuani is dialed in to bring home his third straight/fifth overall UFC victory, and a fourth Performance Bonus, at the expense of Elizeu Zaleski in the welterweight division. The former Tachi Palace Fights champ and Contender Series alum is 24-10, 1 NC (14 knockouts, one submission).

“Yoo-Jitsu” Su Young You hunts for his second straight UFC win against AJ Cunningham in featherweight action. He earned a UFC contract in the Road to UFC final in his most recent bout. He is 14-3, 2 NC on the strength of three straight victories. His resume includes three knockouts, five submissions, and title reigns with Black Combat, DEEP, Naiza FC and Zeus FC.

ABOUT IRIDIUM SPORTS AGENCY 

Iridium Sports Agency is a full-service professional management firm for the world’s best combat sports athletes, including former UFC World Champions Alexa Grasso, Brandon Moreno and Sean Strickland, and many other athletes currently in the UFC’s Top 15 rankings. Founded in 2009 by attorney Jason House, Iridium represents more than 100 athletes in the UFC and Professional Fighters League, as well as many of the world’s best wrestlers, including Olympic Gold Medalist David Taylor. Iridium's world-wide team of industry-leading agents is devoted to assisting athletes in all aspects of their professional lives, and consistently setting new standards for sports management.

Team Iridium’s Nanea Estrella has big goals on the mat

LAS VEGAS — “That’s a good question,” Nanea Estrella says with a smile when asked what she enjoys most about wrestling.

Starting Friday in Coralville, IA, Estrella will compete for a National Championship at the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships. Estrella is confident she can prove this week that she’s the top female collegiate wrestler in the United States, but her love of the sport is about much more than collecting medals and adding to her impressive resume.

“I enjoy the hard work, the grit, and the payoff that you get from wrestling,” says Estrella, who will be representing Iridium Sports Agency and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes on the mat. 

“Beyond the specific outcome, when you get to the end of the season or your training cycle, you get the opportunity to go out there and shine. That’s the payoff. With all the hard work that I’ve put in on the mat, I can go out there and be my best self.

“No matter what happens, I’m going to be my best self. That’s my favorite part. I’ve grown so much, and I still have so far to go.”

Estrella has been competing for nearly two decades to be crowned a national collegiate champion. She hopes to win it all and represent her immense support system atop the podium. She isn’t looking past this week’s action in Iowa, but this is just one step on her journey in wrestling.

“I want to make the World Team at the senior level and the Olympic Team — those are my long-term goals,” she says. “I’ve got a long way to go, but I’m going to keep pursuing my dreams for as long as it takes.”

ABOUT IRIDIUM SPORTS AGENCY 

Iridium Sports Agency is a full-service professional management firm for the world’s best combat sports athletes, including former UFC World Champions Alexa Grasso, Brandon Moreno and Sean Strickland, and many other athletes currently in the UFC’s Top 15 rankings. Founded in 2009 by attorney Jason House, Iridium represents more than 100 athletes in the UFC and Professional Fighters League, as well as many of the world’s best wrestlers, including Olympic Gold Medalist David Taylor. Iridium's world-wide team of industry-leading agents is devoted to assisting athletes in all aspects of their professional lives, and consistently setting new standards for sports management.

Team Iridium’s Jace Luchau goes for NAIA gold, looks ahead to MMA career

LAS VEGAS — Jace Luchau will finish his impressive wrestling career with an exclamation point this week.

Starting on Thursday in Wichita, KS, he’ll step onto the mat for the final time as a collegiate athlete, representing Iridium Sports Agency and the University of Cumberlands Patriots at the 2025 NAIA Men's Wrestling Championship.

This week has been nearly two decades in the making. Luchau has worked his whole life to stand atop the podium on Saturday. The stakes are high, and the heat of the bright lights will be undeniable.

But Luchau knows that pressure is a privilege, and his heart will be filled with gratitude on the mat. 

“I try to let (the pressure) motivate me instead of letting it get to me,” he says. “It’s a blessing to have the love and support of my dad (Iridium Sports Agency Partner Jeremy Luchau), the rest of my family and friends, my teammates and coaches. They have high expectations and want the best for me. My true supporters — the people that I compete for — will be with me regardless of the result, and that motivates me a lot.”

As one door closes, another opens.

Luchau was victorious in his highly anticipated MMA debut at 559 Fights in August, stopping opponent Isaias Avila in just 88 seconds at the sold-out Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, CA.

The gradual transition from wrestling to MMA has been organic, Luchau says, but now it’s full speed ahead in the cage. Luchau hopes MMA stardom is in his future, but perhaps not why many might think.

“I see the platform that MMA fighters have, and that’s something that I want. I want to give back as much as I can. I want to make the world a better place,” he says.

“At the end of the day, aside from athletics, I just want to be a good person, and hopefully encourage others to do the same.”

ABOUT IRIDIUM SPORTS AGENCY 

Iridium Sports Agency is a full-service professional management firm for the world’s best combat sports athletes, including former UFC World Champions Alexa Grasso, Brandon Moreno and Sean Strickland, and many other athletes currently in the UFC’s Top 15 rankings. Founded in 2009 by attorney Jason House, Iridium represents more than 100 athletes in the UFC and Professional Fighters League, as well as many of the world’s best wrestlers, including Olympic Gold Medalist David Taylor. Iridium's world-wide team of industry-leading agents is devoted to assisting athletes in all aspects of their professional lives, and consistently setting new standards for sports management.