Eternal 86 Preview: Must-Watch Fights

**Picture: Eternal MMA 86 Promotional Poster - Source:** **Eternal MMA**

Lachlan Stitt vs. John Vake – 170lb Title Fight

**Pictured: Lachlan Stitt (left) & John Vake (right) - Source:** **Eternal MMA**

This is a matchup of two completely different stories but with a similar motivation: redemption. Both men are among the deadliest and most highly skilled fighters in the welterweight division in Australia. One has experienced a tumultuous journey, marked by ups and downs throughout his 12-year career. The other was propelled to the top only to suffer significant setbacks.

John Vake's Redemption Journey

John Vake has been a professional MMA fighter for more than a decade, facing some of the best in Australasian MMA. The City Kickboxing standout even fought his now-teammate, Israel Adesanya, as far back as 2013. Vake is an excellent mix of relentless wrestling and refined striking. The former Commonwealth Games competitor (Tonga - 2022) has fought for titles, endured defeats, and always bounced back. In a recent interview with Australian MMA, he shared his journey's highs and lows, reflecting on the tragic loss of his younger brother Fau Vake, a victim of a highly publicized one-punch attack in New Zealand. Vake possesses all the skills to be one of the best MMA fighters to emerge from New Zealand. However, as with any mixed martial arts career, it's fight night that dictates your legacy. Vake has mentioned that he sees no signs of slowing down and looks forward to showcasing the best version of himself yet. His teammates agree. My prediction?

Expect to see Vake initiate his world-class grappling early against the man they call "Deadshot" for a reason.

Lachlan Stitt's Rise to Fame

Lachlan Stitt has earned the nickname ‘Deadshot’, and rightfully so. He has amassed just over seven and a half minutes of cage time in four professional fights. Once dubbed the hardest guy to match in the welterweight division by Eternal MMA director Cam O’Neil, Stitt was difficult to match for a reason. He puts opponents out as cold as your wife's shoulder when you forget to ask her how her day was. Deadshot, who trains out of XXX Academy in Sydney, alongside former Eternal MMA Welterweight Champion Kaleb Rideout, routinely makes trips to Thailand and across to Smeaton Grange to train with UFC fighters Jacob Malkoun and former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.

In a recent interview with Australian MMA, Stitt said he was glad that his hype train simmered when he suffered a submission loss to underdog Peter Templar in early 2023. He stated that the loss helped him reset his mind and body ahead of the biggest matchup of his life so far. Coming off the back of a severe back injury and the mental hurdle of losing his mystique, Stitt says he has a whole new level of determination and understanding. My money is on Stitt coming out looking for stitches; he’s going to want to keep the fight standing and put this one away early. We'll get answers to how Lachlan's grappling has improved since the Peter Templar loss and whether we will see a more reserved Stitt in the cage. Judging by his last victory, he is calmer but even more calculated, as he secured a first-round victory against Dimitri Petridis to capture the Endouro Fight Series 170lb crown.

This Saturday night on the Gold Coast, both men will look to claim gold in one of, if not the most prominent, organisations in Oceania. A title once held by Jack Della, now the #5 ranked UFC fighter in the world. To hold this gold is to hold a ticket to not just a career in the big leagues, but to dominate in it.

Check it out on June 22nd on UFC Fight Pass, kicking off at 6 pm AEST.

**Pictured: Lachlan Stitt - Source: Endouro Fight Series**

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Dimps Dillies vs. Oli Schmid – 145lb 4-Man Grand Prix Round 1

**Pictured: Dimps Gillies (left) & Oli Schmid (right) - Source:** **Eternal MMA**

The winner of this bout moves one step closer to a $5,000 cash prize and a prestigious belt previously held by UFC fighter Jack Jenkins. The four-man Grand Prix has seen significant shakeups recently, with injuries and withdrawals creating opportunities for rising stars and returning fighters alike.

Dimps Gillies: The Entertainer

Dimps Gillies, a fan favorite known for his entertaining fights, was one half of the 2022 Fight of the Year (vs. Josh Kuhne). Recently, he took a detour into boxing under Queensbury rules. Dimps is the kind of fighter who would brawl in the parking lot on his way to the ring. Win, lose, or draw, he promises to be the best fight on the card.

**Pictured: Dimps Gillies (left) - Source: Eternal MMA**

Oli Schmid: Rising Star

Oli Schmid is a 1-1 fighter from the acclaimed City Kickboxing gym. His only loss was a third-round submission against the rising star Harry Webb, while his sole win came with a 75-second spinning backfist knockout in May. Oli enters the cage with considerable hype among those in the know. He is a talented, athletic, and fearsome striker with a well-versed amateur career. He has the ability to turn out the lights, but Dimps doesn’t go down easily.

The winner of this matchup will face the victor of Seb Szalay and Gabriel Schlupp, presenting another steep hill to climb. Expect a clinical yet brawling masterpiece.

**Pictured: Oli Schmid - Source: Hex Fight Series**

Gabriel Schlupp vs. Seb Szalay – 145lb 4-Man Grand Prix Round 1

**Pictured: Gabriel Schlupp (left) & Seb Szalay (right) - Source:** **Eternal MMA**

Seb Szalay: Karate Form

Seb Szalay is on a tear lately. He’s caught the wave that many do when they venture to the ‘Church’ in Windang, NSW, and take tutelage from Master Splinter (Joe Lopez) at Freestyle MMA. You might know Freestyle MMA as the home of arguably the greatest fighter—no, athlete—Australia has ever produced, Alex Volkanovski. Seb Szalay, fighting in the same weight class, from the same gym, and under the same coach, is a force to be reckoned with. He’s not Volkanovski, but those familiar with the sport understand just how good Seb Szalay is and can be. He’s one of the most in-form fighters around. A karate expert once trained by former UFC heavyweight and pioneer Soa Palelei, Seb has been guided by wise minds since the beginning. His only setback in the cage was against former Australian and New Zealand regional P4P Abdalla Biyada. Ironically, Abdalla lost that title to Justin Van Heerden, Seb’s now teammate. Seb Szalay has lightning knockout speed with amazing distance control. If you’re going to beat Seb, it’s likely to be through grappling. That’s not to say his grappling isn’t good, it just hasn’t been known as his bread and butter.

**Pictured: Seb Szalay (right) - Source: Eternal MMA**

Gabriel Schlupp: The Dark Horse

Gabriel Schlupp is a real dark horse. He’s a 6-0 undefeated Brazilian with anaconda-like submissions, having fought on the well-known Jungle Fight in Brazil. His career has spanned 10 years with just six victories. His only battle on Australian shores was after a five-year hiatus, where he took Brogan Stewart-Ng (also on the card) to a unanimous decision victory. Despite limited media hype, he’s highly touted and was previously linked to multiple Eternal title shots before the Grand Prix's birth.

While this matchup might seem like a striker vs. grappler bout on paper, I think both aspects will be as slick as the Eternal MC’s, Blake Richardson’s suits.

**Pictured: Gabriel Schlupp - Source: Eternal MMA**

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Dom Mar Fan vs. Tim Rogers – 155lb

**Pictured: Dom Mar Fan (left) & Tim Rogers (right) - Source:** **Eternal MMA**

This fight could have huge ramifications in the lightweight division. The Eternal MMA 155lb strap is still expected to involve the newly signed Harry Webb taking on #1 contender David Martinez on August 17th in Perth during UFC weekend. However, don’t be surprised if the #1 contender fight on that card ends up being Jack Becker vs. the winner of this fight.

**Pictured: Dom Mar Fan (top) - Source Eternal MMA**

Dom Mar Fan: The Challenger

Dom Mar Fan has previously challenged for the Eternal MMA lightweight title but fell short. The 2023 Eternal MMA Fighter of the Year has been on a tear lately, and when your only setback is against a probable future UFC contender, you’re doing alright.

**Pictured: Tim Rogers - Source: Diamondback Fighting Championship**

Tim Rogers: The Unknown Contender

Tim Rogers is a bit of an unknown. Despite a flawless amateur and professional career thus far, until he puts on a dominant display in an Eternal cage, he won’t get the credit he deserves. This matchup is set to be a real launching pad for the next wave of challengers for the lightweight crown. Whether it’s on the feet or on the floor, expect some blood to pour.

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Blair Bretag vs. Nick Kepu – 185lb

**Pictured: Nick Kepu (left) & Blair Bretag (right) - Source:** **Eternal MMA**

The Australian middleweight division is thin, and much like the Mar Fan-Rogers fight, this bout could very well see a new contender thrown into the mix. Blair Bretag and Nick Kepu both have some violent finishes on their resumes. With the current Eternal MMA middleweight champion and Nick Kepu's coach, Ben Johnston, awaiting his shot in the big show, an Eternal middleweight title shot might not be imminent. However, some very enticing matchups are on the horizon.

Blair Bretag:

Blair Bretag has shown his capability to finish fights with power and precision. His striking is a threat to anyone in the division, and his ability to end fights quickly makes him a dangerous opponent.

Nick Kepu:

Nick Kepu, on the other hand, combines technical skill with a well-rounded game plan. With the guidance of current Eternal MMA 185lb champion Ben Johnston, Kepu has developed a strategic approach to his fights, making him a formidable opponent in the cage.

The winner of this fight deserves a shot at John Martin Fraser

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