Eternal MMA 82 Overview: LISTEN HERE
Eternal MMA 82 made a resounding start to 2024 with an event worthy of their claim to be ‘Australia's Most Premier MMA Event’.
The 2000 people deep sold-out HBF Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, witnessed a beast of a card on February 10th, 2024. There were title fight wars, highlight reel knockouts, world-class submissions, and hey, even a few dick kicks if that’s your thing.
Despite the unfortunate withdrawal of two title fights (Aldin Bates vs. Kaleb Rideout for the 170lb title and Anthony Drilich for the 125lb title) just weeks before the show, Eternal MMA 82 remained an impressive card going in, and unlike a Domino's pizza, it was better when it finally got here.
The event featured a stacked lineup, with two title fights, a grudge match between Rod Costa and Alan Philpott, along with a rarely seen regional rematch between a UFC-ready Quillan Salkilld & Dom Mar Fan. But we’ll get to that.
The 13-fight card saw the first 6, also known as the ‘undercard’ take place on the Eternal MMA website. The admission was free or your soul, depending on where you place the importance of your email address. But to see 6 high-quality amateur contests for a simple sign-up, I’d say you’re off to a flyer.
A quick recap of the Ammies provided a mixed bag of entertainment with some firecrackers along with just regular crackers. The amateur division is a lightly padded up, record, doesn’t matter affair where fighters can test themselves and take some chances. Gaining some valuable experience before deciding if they want to do this full time.
Finding A Home:
The standouts for me during this prelude was a young man by the name of Lorenz Araneda, who took on another young man, Harvey Youngman, of Wolves Den Academy. Despite that being the most overused joke of the contest, Araneda put on a display that has been years in the making. After switching teams from Strike MMA to the new champion factory that is Luistro Combat Academy, Lorenz looked incredible. After going 1-5 leading into the event, pulling off a split decision victory over a budding young prospect and finding a new home has proven to be consequential of the venture.
Not Looking For Casual:
My second talking point was the regular cracker of a bout between Jackson Mclellan & Spencer Mosley. Not when I say a regular cracker, I mean like a Ritz, a Jatz, a Savoy, a Salada. Now I personally enjoy a plain one, noticing the intricate details of just how much salt or analyzing the texture, the taste, and hidden flavor of a bland biscuit. But if you want a party, you want that dunked in dip… What I’m getting at is, many would have found that fight pretty boring. Jackson McClellan came in just 0-3 against a strong striker in the 2-2 Spencer Mosley. From the opening bell, Jackson shot across the cage and took Spencer down. And that was the fight. For 9 minutes (3x3) Jackson imposed his wrestling like only a Marcus McKeever trained fighter out of Mandurah Combat Sports Academy knows how to do effectively. It was as fan-friendly as dust. What it did show, however, was the fact that Jackson has the ability to bounce back from a few losses with winning on the mind. Because although this is prize fighting, you gotta be in it to win it, and if you don’t win it, you go no chance making anything in it. Also, a side note, for those playing along at home, MC Blake Richardson, ring announced Jackson back at Eternal MMA 80 in October of 2023. Fought him in November of 2023 then ring announced him here again at Eternal 82 just under three months later. Unique times,
Low Blows & Many Blows:
My final talking point from the undercard, that’s right. We haven’t even reached the 7-fight main card yet, is the feature bout, the prelim main event, Kye Bicknell vs Adam Lawrence. Now I feel like there’s 3 guarantees in life, death, taxes, and Kye Bicknell inadvertently kicking his opponents in the testicles. The fight, although marred with a few accidental low blows and eye pokes was an entertaining affair. Talking of guarantees, I do not think you can find two more exciting fighters on the amateur scene than Adam Lawrence & Kye Bicknell. Adam would eventually go on to win the decision victory, although we would see that cut short due to a hard time out to throw to the main card on UFC fight pass. Adam knocked Kye down at one stage which looked to be a fight-ender before Kye would, in fact, be able to enact revenge just seconds before the bout ended. All in all, this is what amateur fights are all about. Get in, get some experience, put on a show and get home safe. Firecracker of a fight.
Main Card: UFC Fight Pass:
Khan Deatta vs Jong Kwan Lee (K.Deatta, Rnd 1 - TKO):
Anytime the promotion flies in an opponent for you, the pressure is on. Even without that, Khan Deatta is always in a really tough spot. He’s an accomplished Muay Thai fighter that is only ever going to get the widely accomplished or widely insane for an opponent. Jong Hwan Lee traveled just under 8000km for this bout and it was worth it. For Khan. Khan finished the bout in round 1 with some of the most vicious elbows you will ever see. It’s not often you see a knockout with the funny bone, but Khan is that technical in the art of 8 limbs. It was a vicious fight and just what Khan needed. Khan trains out of the very special, Scrappy MMA. Like the previously mentioned, Khan is only ever dealt the best. In Khan’s first-ever fight, he was dealt the eventual Eternal MMA 185lb champion, John Martin Fraser. Who was 3-2 at the time might I add. He has dealt with his fair share of grapplers and even coming up short on the ‘2023 Eternal MMA Fight of the Year’. But Khan seems to be finding his stride. It'll be interesting to see how Khan goes now against a grappler. With a successful performance against one, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him in a title fight sooner rather than later if he keeps these fan-friendly showings, soon enough.
Julian Giustiniano vs Marwan Rahiki (M.Rahiki, Rnd 1 - TKO)
The second fight on the card definitely had some dip on this cracker. 2 weeks notice is all Marwan Rahiki needed to accept a stylistic nightmare in Julian Giustiniano. Marwan, a decorated striker on debut, matched up either well or poorly depending on how you look at it, against Julian, the collegiate wrestler. Marwan stepped in for teammate Kris Ustijanovski (1-0), who withdrew due to personal reasons. If you were punting on the bout you’d bet your house Julian was going to shoot the double and try to drag Marwan to the mat. This panned out as about as well as wrestling a toddler down for a nap. Marwan, training out of the acclaimed Lions Den Academy in Sydney, showed just why they are that. Marwan stuffed multiple takedowns and even performed a highlight reel, hip throw that would make Kevin Jousset jealous. Marwan ultimately ended the match with a beautiful body rip that shut down Julian’s liver quicker than a couple of tequilas during Mardi Gras. Rahiki was relatively unknown heading into the contest but sure enough, the 21yr old has made himself known as one of the emerging cubs from the Lions Den academy.
Toby Meech vs Daniel Mitchell (T.Meech W, Rnd 3 - TKO)
In a unique Daniel Mitchell came into this fight with another fight booked. Previously announced was Daniel Mitchell, along with this fight, booked for a month later, against James Sargison, for Eternal MMA 83. Now that contest eventually fell through but nonetheless, some might have taken offence. Eternal MMA MC Blake Richardson asked the eventual winner, Toby Meech about the situation. He claimed to not care, but the wider consensus deemed it to be a little ‘disrespectful’ if you will. Now Mitchell claimed, it was more about getting the fights in and as a very active amateur, it’s hard to dispute him. Heading back to the bout and it was all Meech, with Toby eventually picking up the TKO with a well-timed knee. Previously during the fights, he threw a not so-timed knee, costing him a point. That made a finish vital. The finish coming in the third left no doubt that Toby Meech is ready for the upper echelon of the bantamweight division. I’d like to see Toby Meech, now 6-2, against a top 10 talent. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw him in a #1 contender match-up in the near future.
Amena Hadaya vs Courtney Martin (A.Hadaya W, UD)
Straight up, Amena Hadaya deserves an Australian title. Now the women’s vision is about as thin as a weight cut. However, Amena Hadya, who trains out of the world-renowned Freestyle MMA, in Windang, NSW. You know, the place where UFC featherweight champion, Alex Volkanovski trains. Amena has had her shot at local titles but with her victors moving on, she deserves some hardware. I don’t suppose we see an Eternal MMA women’s champion in quite some time, but with no one left on the local scenes, she deserves a crown. The fight was one-sided with Amena landing stiff strikes that battered the unjustly 0-3 Courtney Martin. Amena was the fitter fighter; she was the faster fighter, and she was the fiercer fighter. Amena has a bright future and despite some stumbles on the international scene, she deserves another chance at passport glory. On a complete side note, Courtney Martin is now the toughest and most skilled 0-3 fighter in the fight game in Aus. It will be tough for her to get a fight in the future.
Wes Capper vs Seong Chan Hong (W.Capper W, UD)
Wes Capper had one of the worst weight cuts of his 50-fight career. Weighing in roughly a kilo over the weight limit, he claimed spot fight that a strategic halt saved the fight. He thanked his opponent for still taking the fight and recounted a time where his ego got the better of him, and he tried to make the weight, causing catastrophic results. The highly regarded professional did not look great. But He has the skills, the resume, and the rarity in this situation for the wider community to look past. He still is one of the most deserving lightweights to potentially receive a title fight, despite never making the weight. He said post-fight and has retorted out of the cage, that he’d like to make the weight first. He has a few tough choices to make. Similar to many dual sports athletes. Does he want to be a ‘super fighter’ or does he want gold. Because they are both, very different journeys.
Rod Costa vs Alan Philpott (R.Costa W, Rnd 3 - SUB)
The grudge match of all grudge match, one was called a punching bag, one was called a quitter. You don’t get too many real bad blood matchups these days but this was that. Rod Costa, the champion, has long been critiqued for not ‘making the weight’ by his detractors. Philpott has been hailed ‘undeserving’ by his. This bout accumulated more heat than a broken-down car, with both men really aiming to hurt each other. Philpott, with 35 MMA fights in the game, came out hot and threw some heavy strikes, Costa, known for his world-class jiu-jitsu, hung on the feet. The bantamweight champ (Costa), who once claimed to be, “too strong” for bantamweight, showed just that, as he initiated the grappling. Costa controlled the bout on the ground and enforced his will. He implemented his submission game and ultimately ended it the way he called it, with a submission. Costa, coming off 2 losses, be it at featherweight, returned home to his kingdom and proved just why he reigns. With another potential shot at double champ status, a super fight lay in the horizon, but many cards need to fall in favor. For Philpott, his attempt and performance were admirable, but at 32, with nearing 40 contests, the future is uncertain. We don’t know what is in store for ‘Super Ali’, but whatever it is, it will confide a wealth of comb at knowledge. As for Costa, he might be 35, but you’re only as young as the fighter you beat. And King Costa is turning back the clock.
Quillan Salkilld vs Dom Mar Fan (Q.Salkilld W, Rnd 2 - SUB)
The rare regional rematch. Quillan Salkilld vs Dom Mar Fan 2, proved to be a distinctive meet, between champion and challenger. With a bout that met 18 months prior. Salkilld walked out the victor. A year and a half later, he walked out one quicker. The process, however, was different. From the opening bell at Eternal MMA 82, Dom Mar Fan shot across the cage, took the near UFC fighter down and dominated him for the better part of a round. The champ stayed calm, almost at times conceded, before exploding for a submission, reversing the position and flipping the tables quicker than an angry waiter. Quillan Salkilld, who was as close to the UFC as one can get before his opponent was pulled, knew one thing heading into this bout. He needed a finish. Salkilld, who seemed, under pressure, was, in fact, cool under it. The moment Salkilld got on top, it felt over. Dom Mar Fan, mark my words, will be a king in Australia. Quillan Salkilld just showed why he might end up king of the world. You might take it as hyperbole; I take it as analytic. The two men that fought February 10th, 2024, at HBF stadium in Perth, Western Australia, just might be the very best we’ve got in the years to come. One of the world, one of the country. I’d like to bet that we will never see Salkilld fight again down under unless it’s when the UFC comes to town. Mar Fan, although he may see some hurdles at times, I see as a front runner to go back to back at Eternal MMA’s fighter of the year. He seems that special; call me crazy, call me a victim of the moment, or don’t call me at all. But both kids are special, and I’m willing to bet on it.
Eternal MMA 82 Summary:
Overall, Eternal MMA 82 set the scene for MMA for 2024. It set the bar for many promotions yet to succeed it. I look forward to the contest; I look forward to the fights, but most importantly, I look forward to talking so much shit in the process.
