A LIFE OF WRESTLING - Kendon Kayser Facing Off In Grappling Showdown At Fury 106

NEW ORLEANS - It takes a special something to be a competitor in a combat sport. Perhaps more than any other kind of athlete, a fighter gives fragments of their life to even be able to step into the ring or onto the mat, and there they give up even more. But rare is the fighter who truly commits their entire life to their sport, who hopes not only to climb to their own highest level, but pass on their spirit to the following generation. Kendon Kayser is one such fighter.

Louisiana’s own Kayser will compete in the upcoming 106th edition of Fury Fighting Championship in New Orleans, finding himself against opponent Damion Oranday of Texas. Some people are fueled by simple motivation or discipline, some are fueled by coffee. Kayser is fueled by his love for combat competition.

“I live this combat sports life every day, all day,” said Kayser, in an interview with Gardy Garcia on Clear Life Media’s Clear Life Combat podcast. “I’ve wrestled my whole life. I wrestled in college, did that whole venture, now I live back in Louisiana and I’m the head coach of my own youth wrestling club.”

Kayser is a fighter’s fighter, if ever there was one. His own personal history is fully intertwined with his experience as a competitor. By his own admission, a life of competition is all he ever wanted.

”I’ve known I wanted to do this since I was ten years old,” said Kayser. “I fell in love with wrestling at nine, then UFC at ten. I always knew I wanted to wrestle in college, be successful at that, then come back and try to be a champion fighter.”

To this end, Kayser has accumulated an impressive history in both his amateur and professional efforts. He was undefeated in his five amateur bouts, and as a professional, he holds a record of 2-0, with both of his wins decided in the first round, and is the #5 Featherweight in Louisiana. His next professional bout with Fury will not be his last with the organization, and fans can expect more action within the next year. Even still, Kayser sees these fights only as a stepping stone.

”[I] signed a three-fight deal with Fury, with 12 months to get those done,” said Kayser. “After that, the plan is to get into the UFC and start taking the sport by storm.”

As for this upcoming bout, Kayser will find himself opposite the previously mentioned Damion Oranday, the #56 ranked Featherweight of Texas. Oranday is a similar fighter to Kayser, sporting a professional record of 2-1, and amateur record of 4-1. Both fighters favor a grappling style, on account of Kayser’s long history as a competitive wrestler, and Oranday’s black-belt level in jiu-jitsu. But, Kayser hopes to showcase more than just his grappling prowess.

“My boxing coach…. Every time we go and work out the past couple months, he asks me ‘Are you gonna f—in’ show people you can strike, or are you just gonna keep takin’ ‘em down and wrestling ‘em?’ ” said Kayser. “If it goes down there for this fight, I’m not too worried about it, but for sure I’d like to showcase some of my striking skills.”

Regardless of whether it goes down to grappling, or stays a punch-out, the fight against Oranday will no doubt show fans a truly competitive bout. Oranday’s black belt status might leave others concerned, but Kayser is unmoved and assured in his own skill.

“He’s the best guy I’ve fought so far, but I think I’m the best guy he’s fought,” said Kayser. “He may be a black belt, but I’ve been grappling for about 20 years now. I plan to fight my fight.”

Looking ahead, Kayser hopes to pass his passionate spirit for competition onto his students, and build more excitement for grappling sports in the UFC. In Louisiana, he runs Valhalla Wrestling Club, a youth organization where he works to hone the skills of the next generation of competitors. He looks toward the UFC’s recent interest in grappling sports as a sign of good things to come.

”Once they get this jiu-jitsu thing figured out the next thing they bleed into is wrestling,” said Kayser. “I think the more eyes we get on wrestling, the more money we can get, and the better it’s going to be. Wrestling is one of those things where there’s only glory in it. There ain’t no money, there’s no fame, you do that sh— because you love it… When I moved back to Louisiana, it was one of the worst states for wrestling, and I’m trying to change that.”

To see Kayser make his next moves toward his broader horizons, tune into the broadcast, or get your tickets now.

Fury Fighting Championship 106 will take place on Friday, July 18th, 2025, and can be viewed on UFC Fight Pass, or in-person at the Alario Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Get your tickets at https://www.furyfc.tv/tickets/