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MMA Immigration Success – Highly Talented Martial Artist Isaac Thomson Receives P-1 Visa

MMA Immigration Success – Highly Talented Martial Artist Isaac Thomson Receives P-1 Visa

We are proud to announce that we effectively petitioned for a P-1 visa for Mr. Isaac Thomson, who is an incredibly talented combat sports athlete from Australia.  

Managing member of the firm, Sherrod Seward, successfully presented the petition proving eligibility for the P-1 visa as a world class martial artist to USCIS. He provided as many documents as possible for each of the criteria satisfied by Mr. Thomson. 

What makes this a special win is that the beneficiary is an MMA fighter with only one professional fight so far. Mr. Seward skillfully used Mr. Thomson’s excellence in other combat sports to establish that the athlete deserves the P-1 visa.   

The Martial Arts Athlete with Only One Professional Fight

Isaac Thomson, the beneficiary, has been a world-class athlete competing in all sorts of combat sports but only competed professionally in mixed martial arts since 2020. He started his journey in martial arts at the tender age of eight when he began training in boxing and BJJ. His mother, who is a professional Muay Thai fighter and has won three Australian titles in Muay Thai, was a massive inspiration for Mr. Thomson. At a very young age, he would wake up early to train with his mother. His very first BJJ and karate competitions were at the age of eight and Muay Thai at fourteen. His MMA debut was at fifteen with a string of other martial art fights that led him to train with some of the most elite fighters in Australia and the USA. 

The I-129P Petitioner – SDS Sports Group 

SDS Sports Agency was founded by Sherrod Seward, an award-winning international businessman, sports attorney, and industry professional, in North Carolina in 2020. SDS Sports Agency is a talent management company that focuses on the needs of niche sports and entertainment professionals. SDS Sports Agency helps maximize the branding potential of its clients in the United States by providing access. SDS Sports Agency works with international talent agents and entertainment-related companies to market athletes and sports professionals that are renowned internationally. SDS Sports Agency clients routinely have their competitions and engagements viewed all over the world through well-established media networks. SDS Sports Agency prides itself on facilitating to clients the opportunity to be successful in the United States and looks forward to continuing to grow while serving the needs of the world’s best talent. 

Sherrod Seward, the founder of SDS Sports Agency, has a vast history in international sports business and marketing. Sherrod learned the sports management/marketing business through mixed martial arts. His international management career began through independent research with one of the best sports law attorneys in the nation and co-managing/consulting with the area’s best fighters such as Brian Rogers (Bellator Middleweight), Jessica Eye (#2 Flyweight in the world), Stipe Miocic (former UFC World Champion), and many others. Sherrod has also served as a liaison between mixed martial arts and corporate America as the corporate partnership director for North American Allied Fight Series and a business consultant for many promotions all across the nation. In his role as corporate partnerships director, he facilitated sponsorship activations in new markets, VIP experiences at events, negotiated broadcast agreements, and much more. 

List of internationally known talent Sherrod has associated with includes: 

  • Meena Kumari (Amateur Combat Sports World Champion)

  • Jackson Alves De Souza – Muay Thai Fighter

  • Rory Young – Professional Poker Player

  • Suzanne Brooks – Professional Barrel Racer

  • Daren Millard – World-Renowned Sports Broadcaster

  • Albert Mensah – Africa Boxing Champion

The P-1 Petition for Mixed Martial Artist – Isaac Thomson

We explained that the beneficiary is already recognized internationally in multiple combat sports as a world-class martial artist. Because of his advanced skill set, he would have to be matched against opponents of similar skill. This included his immediate mixed martial arts bouts because his background is so well established. Besides, we said that he would be competing in multiple tournaments and organizations and included documentation on this. 

We established Mr. Thomson’s talent and skill by revealing his participation and excellence in various combat sports. We were able to give competition details and itinerary for him. Apart from these, we provided compelling evidence on several criteria to support his petition.  

International Ranking in Mixed Martial Arts

We proved that the athlete is highly ranked internationally to demonstrate that he has a reputation beyond a single country. We presented the following rankings for Mr. Thomson:  

Tapology

Tapology is a mixed martial arts fighter ranking system. Tapology differs from other sources publishing MMA rankings, because instead of reflecting the opinions of a single observer, the site automatically takes into account all of its members’ rankings. This creates consensus MMA rankings that are more democratic and encompass a broader range of views. As the rankings of site users change and respond to news and fight results, Tapology’s consensus rankings will change in real-time as is seen fit – no more waiting days or weeks to see what fighters and bouts are rising and falling.

We shared the following rankings of Mr. Thomson on Tapology. His rankings are as follows:

  • #20th of 136 active Australia and New Zealand Amateur Featherweights

  • #11th of 44 active Australia and New Zealand Amateur Flyweights

We provided Mr. Thomson’s Tapology profile and FAQ on Tapology rankings as evidence.

ISKA

Founded in 1986, the International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) was restructured in 1988 as a Florida corporation, and since that time has developed sport karate, and kickboxing in particular, beyond any level previously achieved. Launched in Europe, its growth has spanned across the political map reaching into countries formerly located behind the Iron Curtain. The first sanctioning body in Eastern countries and South Africa, it is also established as the only body to sanction Muay Thai fights in Thailand. There is no doubt ISKA has become the most televised sanctioning body in the world. Active in about 60 countries, ISKA boasts 3 world council representatives, and more than 100 officials. Combine this with 4,000 plus professional fighters and it becomes obvious that the ratings are the largest for this sport. In Australia, ISKA operates as the International Sports Karate Association Australia Incorporate. The aim of ISKA in Australia is to be the peak body for sports martial arts competition. The ISKA points system encourages competitor participation.

In 2014, Mr. Thomson was rated at the top of the rung in the Juniors 13 to 17 category for the state of New South Wales, with 190 points. We shared the 2014 ratings list and information about ISKA. 

Additionally, we provided Mr. Thomson’s profiles on MMA Core and Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro as proof of his renown. 

Media Coverage 

The firm established that Mr. Thomson was featured in numerous publications of international repute, testifying to his exceptional talent. We provided the title, date, and author of the title. We also submitted an abstract of the articles to give a preview of their content.

The articles included in the petition were: 

  1. “Isaac’s martial arts skills power him to the top of his class” – in The Daily Telegraph, April 12, 2016 

  2. “Isaac Thomson victorious in Pro debut on iKon FF 4” – in Fight News Australia, December 14, 2020

  3. “Interview: Isaac Thomson (Full Force Featherweight)” – by John Hyon Ko on Kumite TV 


Internationally-recognized Awards

Mr. Thomson has excelled in numerous combat sports like mixed martial arts, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, karate, and Muay Thai, winning multiple international and national championships. We showcased the following wins in the petition: 

iKon Fighting Federation 4, 2020

In 2020, Mr. Thomson racked up a huge win at his pro debut at the iKon Fighting Federation 4. The event took place in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico, and aired live on UFC Fight Pass. The iKon Fighting Federation is one of MMA’s newest promotional companies. Set up by celebrated former American boxer Roy Jones, Jr., all events of iKon are streamed live on UFC Fight Pass, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports.

Grappling Industries BJJ Championship, 2019

In 2019, Mr. Thomson won two Golds at the Grappling Industries Sydney BJJ GI and NOGI Round Robin Tournament. He competed and won both GI Adult/Male/Blue/Adult/-155 lbs and in the No-GI Adult/Male/Intermediate/Adult/-155 lbs categories. Grappling Industries is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission-wrestling tournament. It aims to be the middleman between grapplers and gyms everywhere. 

NEWBREED Jiu-Jitsu Federation Championship 2019

In 2019, Mr. Thomson won yet another Gold in the NEWBREED Jiu-Jitsu Federation Championship 2019 in Mens No-GI/Advanced/Adult/Male/Lightweight (146-155 lbs) category. NEWBREED is an American-based organization and has been in the combat sports industry since 2006. With over 40 nationwide events per year NJJF is one of the largest jiu-jitsu organizations in the industry. 

Sydney Sub Only Pro Championship 2018

Mr. Thomson won two Golds at the Sydney Sub Only Pro Championship 2018 in the Kids and Teens GI/Male/15–17 years/18+ months/70 kg and Kids and Teens No-GI/Male/15–17 Years/18+ Months/70kg categories. Aus Sub Only is a martial arts tournament that features an exciting and unique “submission-only” win criteria. It has caught the attention of some of the biggest players in the game, shaking up the landscape of Australian jiu-jitsu. 

Kids International IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2017 

In 2017, Mr. Thomson won the Kids International IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the Teen 3 / Male / Orange / Heavy category. This was a phenomenal win for him on the world stage. The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) is a for-profit company that hosts several of the biggest Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) tournaments in the world, including the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, World No-Gi Championship, Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Kids International IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship, and European Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship. 

BJJ National Championship, 2017

Mr. Thomson stood first in the 2017 National Championship conducted by the Australian Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the Male All-Belts (15-year-olds) 66kg(69kg) Gi category. The Australian Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was founded to officially represent the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Australia. Its main goals are to popularize, organize and regulate the sport in Australia to international standards. 

K1 National Championship, Wako Australia, 2017 

In 2017, Mr. Thomson won in the K1 Junior category of the 2017 National Championship at the World Association of Kickboxing (WAKO), Australia. WAKO is a recognized association for karate, kickboxing and other martial arts in Australia. It is open to all disciplines of martial arts. WAKO is a proud member of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), earlier called the Sportaccord Combat Games.  

Oceania Continental Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 2018

In 2018, Mr. Thomson won the Oceania Continental Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship Abu Dhabi, in the Juvenile GI Male / Blue / 73kg category. This championship is part of the UAEJJF World Ranking and Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Qualifying Series. The Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP) is a ground-breaking professional jiu-jitsu sport organization, revolutionizing the world of jiu-jitsu competitions. With over 80 events in all six continents in each season, the AJP aims to elevate the sport to levels of excellence and professionalism never achieved before. 

World Goju-Ryu Karate Federation, 2015

In 2015, Mr. Thomson won 3rd place in the Kumite Individual Male Cadets-57kg category. He also tied for the 5th place at the 3rd World Goju-Ryu Karate Federation in the Kata Individual Male Cadets category. Mr. Thomson won these championships at the age of 14, while he was the youngest member of the Australian Team. The World Goju-Ryu Karate Federation (WGKF) is the leading organization for the Goju-Ryu Karate style. Gōjū-ryū, Japanese for “hard-soft style,” is one of the main traditional Okinawan styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques. 

We presented documents about each of these championships. We also spoke about the high level of proficiency required to win them. 

We provided ample evidence that Mr. Thomson meets at least three of the P-1 criteria. We, therefore, successfully demonstrated that he is unambiguously qualified for the P-1 visa. 

For more information on how we help support professional athletes and coaches with O-1 and P-1 visas, please contact our offices at 310-209-8545.