Phar Beyond Driven: Featherweight champion Jack Jenkins looks to the future after dominant title defence at Eternal 64.

“Watch me.” 

The resounding message was loud and clear from Jack Jenkins during the post fight formalities following his successful title defence at Eternal 64. 

A dominant five-round display from the champion was punctuated with a statement of intent, as he took the opportunity on the microphone to remind the naysayers that this is just the beginning. 

The consensus was that Rod Costa was going to be by far and away the biggest test for Jenkins up  until this point in his professional career and at least on paper, that was an accurate assessment. What transpired in the cage however, painted somewhat of a different picture.

Just the beginning, for Jack Jenkins.

Let’s not get it twisted, Rod Costa is as high level as it comes in terms of what Eternal MMA and by  extension, what Australian MMA in general has to offer. A world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with a much-improved striking base, coupled with an unwavering in-ring confidence and a  recent catalogue of impressive wins, Rod Costa was the clear number one contender to Jenkins’ belt. 

By the end of the night on March 19th we were reminded just how true the adage is – there are levels  to this game. The sheer fact of the matter is, Jack Jenkins has evolved levels above his competition in  Australia within his weight class. That’s not hyperbole – that is fact, proven with a superior display of  technique, power, speed, cardio and fight IQ against one of the toughest veterans in the country. 

From the opening bell until the closing curtains (save for a late takedown from the challenger in the  final minute of the fight), it was all one-way traffic from the champion. The opening round provided  early answers as to what direction the highly anticipated bout was going to take – elite level boxing from the champ seamlessly mixed in with patented calf kicks, constant stance switching, head movement and range management all had Costa on the back foot from the get-go.

Jenkins’ calf kicks had a noticeable effect early.

For the viewers at home and at cage side, it was apparent that Jenkins had raised the bar in his  striking game once again. Landing head and body shots at will, Jenkins put on a master class with his  hands with deadly accuracy while never overexerting himself. The jab was precise, the combinations  were ever present and the extensions on the body shots from both hands were a sight to behold,  finding a home for them to the liver and rib cage of Costa on multiple occasions. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Jack Jenkins fight without the use of devastating leg kicks to his  opponent. It should be noted that prior to the fight, Costa went on record stating that he would  never quit as a result of the heavy leg kicks he may endure from Jenkins. Credit to the Scrappy MMA  product, he held true to his word, but by the end of round one it was clear that his lead leg was  already severely compromised due to the onslaught of shots they had received from Jenkins. 

The leg kicks would be a reoccurring theme through the remainder of the fight, with only the heart  of Costa keeping him on his feet as both legs were severely damaged by Jenkins in each round. It  was the perfect plan from Jenkins, the damage sustained by Costa to both legs would cause him to  adopt a square posture in the later stages of the fight, seemingly without a lead leg in his stance for  much of the remainder. 

On the occasion that Costa was able to find himself a window of offence, it was largely dealt with by  the slick head movement and distance management of Jenkins at almost every juncture. Takedown attempts were turned away with relative ease by the champion, thwarting any chance of Costa  getting the fight to the ground where he is known to do his best work. 

But therein lies another challenge for anyone who faces such a well rounded mixed martial artist as  Jenkins. For as good as Costa is on the ground, it’s seemingly a matter of “pick your poison” when it  comes to where the biggest threat lies when facing a man of Jenkins’ skill set. He doesn’t have any  perceived weak spots in his game at this point in his career. 

Distance-management and takedown defence was on full display at Eternal 64.

It wouldn’t be until the dying minutes of the final round before Jenkins found himself facing any kind  of adversity from his opponent. The relentless will of Costa to battle through four and half rounds  out on his feet saw him able to mount one final act of desperation with a takedown against the cage.  It was a case of too little too late however, Jenkins merely had to cause a stalemate in the dying  seconds as he cruised to a unanimous decision victory. 

A country boy at heart, Jenkins was on the first flight back home to Victoria the morning after his  title defence. The big city lights of the Gold Coast may set the perfect scene for the champion to  show what he is made of in the cage, but it is back home in the quiet countryside where Jenkins  finds himself again. 

Now back in his hometown of Bacchus Marsh, Victoria – Jenkins was able to reflect on his  performance from the serenity of his own home. Speaking with Eternal MMA, Jenkins cut a figure of calm confidence as he summed up his big win while setting his sights on the immediate future. 

“My mindset hasn’t really changed from the immediacy after the fight through till now. It only took  me five minutes after the fight before I turned to one of my friends and said, ‘this is want I want to do, I need to get back to training by Wednesday-Thursday and start getting ready for whatever’s  next.’ 

“My attitude hasn’t really changed on (my outlook on the fight) since the fight itself to be honest.  I’m really happy with that performance, but this is just the start for me so there’s no time to take the  foot off the gas, so it’s just straight (back) into it.” 

The challenge that was put in front of Jenkins at Eternal 64 came as nothing as surprise to himself or  his team. Rod Costa has made a name for himself as being one of the hardest opponents to put away  in the sport, a prospect the champion was more that ready to deal with. 

“It played out pretty much exactly as my coaches prepared me for, to be honest,” said Jenkins. 

“We (our team) spoke and we knew Rod was tough and wasn’t going to go away easily, so we  trusted in the fact that my conditioning would hold out for the full five rounds – If I needed to take it  to the end of the fifth, I would still be there and still be able to stick to my game plan, which was to  use my hands to keep him on the outside, then punish him with my kicks when I got a chance to. 

“So, it went pretty much exactly as we prepared for, I just don’t think that you can ever prepare for  someone to take as much damage as Rod did and keep coming (forward). So, credit to him for that,  he was as tough as they come.” 

As impressive as the striking display was from Jenkins for the entire length of the fight, it was  nothing new in the eyes of the team from Absolute MMA. While the sharp-handed skills were on full  display for the full twenty-five minutes, Jenkins believes that while this may have been his best 

performance to date, the heavy arsenal he possesses has long been a part of his tool belt behind  closed doors. 

“Definitely it’s the sharpest I’ve felt,” he said. 

“I think Cam O’Neill from Eternal made a comment to my striking coach Andy, he said ‘wow, that’s  the best Jack’s ever looked, he’s improved so much’. I think Andy replied and said, ‘he’s been that  good for a long time, I think that was just his first chance to really show it.’ 

“But there were definitely minor improvements. It wasn’t (as if) from the last time everyone saw me  I’ve just turned my boxing around and done a one-eighty and gained all these skills, that’s not the  case at all. It’s just probably the first time I was able to find the range early with my hands instead of  my kicks and put the pressure on with them.” 

“That’s what I’m most happy with about the fight – that I got to fully show what my hands are  capable of. The fact that I was able to mix up the levels, changing from the head to the body to the  leg. The stances – going from southpaw to orthodox and just giving him all those different looks, it  just showed the variability of my skill set and that I can do it at a high pace for five rounds.” 

Jack says his Eternal 64 performance was “the sharpest I’ve ever felt.”

Perhaps the only thing as powerful as the performance itself was the message that Jenkins had for  his detractors in the post fight interview with in-ring announcer – Luke Toohey. There was no waiting  around for a line of questioning, Jenkins simply had a strong message for the doubters he believes  have followed him at every juncture in his career. 

“I felt that I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder,” said Jenkins. 

“I felt like some of the pundits and these MMA pages were talking about this fight like Rod was the  favourite and that this was Rod’s fight to lose. I just felt that it wasn’t the case at all.” 

“I was doing a lot of running as I always do to get ready for a fight and every time I thought about someone saying, ‘Rod’s the favourite’ or ‘Jack’s running from Rod’, all of that sort of stuff, I just  thought ‘wait and see in this fight, watch me, you’re going to see.’ 

And “see”, everyone did. An eye-opening performance for not only local fans, but dedicated fight  fans all around the world eager to see the new breed of international fighters coming through the  ranks. With Eternal MMA now being broadcast across the globe on UFC Fight Pass, it was the perfect  platform for Jenkins to showcase his abilities to a wider audience. 

Of course, it is no secret as to where Jack Jenkins sees his long-term future. Long standing  aspirations to fight with the best in UFC are still at the forefront of his plans – an uncompromising  mindset that is unlikely to waver any time soon. With his recent dominant displays on home soil and  a belief that he is the clear best Australian featherweight on the local scene, Jenkins believes his  chance may come sooner rather than later. 

“I’ve never fought anyone younger than me,” Jenkins professed. 

“I’ve always fought dudes older than me. Every single one of my fights, they’ve all been older than  me. 

“If you look at anyone younger than me, there’s not a coach in Australia who’s going to let one of  those young up and comers at featherweight fight me before I leave. The writing is on the wall that 

I’m going to get a UFC shot, so why would you let a young kid who’s coming up fight me if you can  just wait for me to get my shot and go? 

“As far as I’m concerned, since the pandemic started, I’m the featherweight that showed up at every  chance and took on the challenges and won the fights and won them all dominantly. 

“I’m not just beating these guys – I’m breaking them, so I think it’s my turn to get my shot.” 

If there are still any doubters after his latest performance, one may simply turn to the current  reigning UFC featherweight champion for his opinion on Jack Jenkins. Fellow Australian – Alexander  “The Great” Volkanovski relies on Jenkins as an occasional sparring partner in preparation for his  own fights.  

With Jenkins slated to return to New South Wales to help Volkanovski prepare for his next title  defence at UFC 273, it was the champ himself who was one of the first to send Jenkins a word of  congratulations after his big win at Eternal 64. 

“Alex messaged me after my fight and said that he thought it was a flawless performance and a  masterclass, so I was really happy to get that feedback from him. Obviously getting praise like that  from the champion of the world means a lot. 

“In the coming days if I can get of this swelling out of my hands, I’ll probably head up to Wollongong  and help him finish off his camp.” 

With his shot at an international career seemingly on the horizon, Jenkins has a firm understanding  as to how his skill set matches up with the current crop of talent on the UFC roster. An avid fan of  the sport itself, Jenkins has always kept an eye on his future competition and who he believes he is  comparable to as a mixed martial artist. 

“I think I’m top fifteen ready right now,” said Jenkins emphatically. 

“You’ve got to go in there and earn your stripes, but I think I’m top fifteen ready right now. So, it’s  just a matter of getting in there and proving it.” 

“I probably sit somewhere between a Chad Mendes and a Jose Aldo,” said Jenkins when asked who  international fans could compare his style to. 

“I probably kick like an early version of Jose, but I probably move a bit more latterly and go to the  body a bit more like Chad Mendes. Those were the two main guys when I really started getting into  the UFC – I think I blend a style between those two.” 

There’s a lot to like for fight fans when it comes to Jenkins both in terms of his acumen as a combat  sports athlete and as a human being. A professional who carries himself with an astute confidence  without ever being cocky, a humble competitor who will always give his opponents credit where it’s  due. Jack Jenkins really does embody what it means to be potential representative of Australian  MMA on the biggest stage of them all. 

The current state of MMA in Australia is being touted as being in somewhat of a “golden age” by  media and fans alike. Jenkins plans on being a part of the new wave to join the ranks and put an  even bigger stamp on the map for this corner of the world. 

“I think I’m top-fifteen ready right now.”

As for his own legacy, Jenkins knows exactly what he wants to leave behind when it is all said and  done. 

“I want to be a world champ,” he said. 

“First and foremost, I want to win that UFC belt. I want to fight in Vegas, I want to fight at Madison Square Garden, and I want to sell out Marvel Stadium.” 

Any doubts that Jack Jenkins will achieve all his lofty goals? 

Watch him.

SPOTLIGHT: JENKINS VS COSTA

The premiere mixed martial arts organisation in Australia is finally back in action for the first time in  2022 after a monumental run of stellar fight cards in the previous year.  

Eternal MMA navigated the uncertain waters of 2021 within the COVID pandemic to put on eight events in three different states across the country, featuring seven title fights inside four different  weight classes, four of which saw new belt holders emerge. 

One of the combatants who managed to retain the gold around their waste during the 2021 period  was the man who will once again look to defend his title in the upcoming Eternal 64 main event – featherweight champion, Jack Jenkins. 

Jenkins retained his title back at Eternal 57.

A surging Australian prospect on the regional scene, Jenkins has quickly made a name for himself as  a well-rounded fighter with a solid cardio base, high level defensive awareness and proven finishing  abilities, stopping four of his last five opponents while riding a five-fight win-streak. 

Much of Jenkins’ success up until this point in his career can be directly attributed to an unwavering  dedication to his craft. A country boy at heart out of Bacchus Marsh, Victoria – two-hour round trips  from home to his gym in the Melbourne suburbs – as well as often sleeping at the gym, point directly  to a man driven to succeed at the highest level. 

Currently sitting at 8-2-0 in his professional career, Jenkins will be looking to add some polish to his  record with a second title defence when he steps inside the cage at the GC Sports Precinct against  rising contender and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion – Rod Costa. 

Speaking with Eternal MMA, Jenkins gave his thoughts on the upcoming title fight and his career  trajectory until now and beyond. 

“I’m clearly the number one as I am right now, and Rod’s clearly the number two with the body of  work that he’s put in in the last couple of years. So, we’re going to get to it and then I think if I win  this one, I should be right to get to the UFC.” 

“I think it’s a good matchup for me. I’ve tried to build my style around not having a kryptonite – not  having one style that’s going to throw me off. My last three matches have been against grappling  specialists. To put that into account, I think that Rod is the best grappler (out of all of them). But in  saying that he’s been cracking people with his hands as well. 

“I’ve just got to be sharp and work my way in, but I’ve got five rounds to do it and that works in my  favour.” 

“If I win this one, I should be right to get to the UFC.”

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt in his own right, Jenkins believes that he will feel comfortable  controlling the fight no matter the direction it takes, but it’s his gas tank and stand-up game where  he feels he has the clear advantage. 

“I think the cardio is one thing that will work in my favour, but I know Rod is fit too, so I’m not  discounting that. I think the cardio and the fact that I will be one step ahead on the feet will be the  difference.” 

“My biggest strength is that I don’t get hit much. You can go back and look through my ten fights and  you could probably count on two hands how many times I’ve taken a significant strike.”

Anybody who follows the social medias of the two combatants will perhaps be familiar with some of  the virtual stones that have been cast ahead of the match, with some accusations of looking for  “easy fights”. As far as Jenkins is concerned, it has been all one-way traffic in that respect. 

“If Rod and I had any kind of history or if we knew each other, I might get involved in it a little bit,”  said Jenkins of the online barbs. 

“I’ve spoken to Rod one time, I walked past him and shook his hand and said, ‘good fight, mate’ and  he said, ‘yeah thanks mate’, and then I had a word to (current Eternal lightweight champion) Jack  Becker who was standing next to him. I don’t know if he thinks he can just make it up on the spot  and I’m just going to bite at it, but I’m not really interested in that. 

“Rod’s a good fighter, I’m a good fighter and we’re going to and have a f**king scrap, so we’ll figure  it out from there.” 

The confidence levels for the Absolute MMA product are at an all time high and for good reason. At  twenty-eight years of age, the man they call “Phar” Jack is barely entering the prime years of his  fighting career in a rich vein of form. 

A submission finish over the supremely talented Diego Pereira in 2020 to win his first title, was  followed by up by two dominating TKO victories in 2021, one of which was his first title defence and  an avenged loss against fellow featherweight – Jesse Medina. 

Jenkins’ first title defence came at Eternal 57.

The overwhelming factor in both recent fights was the sustained pressure and devastating leg kicks  that neither of his opponents could keep a poker face to. If Jenkins is to retain his title at Eternal 64,  he knows his heavy leg kicks are something he can always rely on to set the tone early, before he  sees himself getting his hand raised mid-way through the five-round fight. 

“I see it as a third round or fourth round finish,” he said. 

“I’ll have to keep my base pretty low early on and watch out for his left hook. He throws a nice left  hook off the break, and he’s got a good strong double (leg takedown) that he gets low on, so I’ll have  to keep my frame low early on. 

“I think I’ll touch his eye enough with my jab to set my distance early, and once that’s on it will just  be about taking my time. But that’s the beauty of a five-round fight. I look at the five-round fight as a  positive, not a negative, because you just get more time to work.” 

“If the finish is there, I’m going to jump on it and take it, but my plan is to do the damage over the  rounds that I’ve got rather than trying to get it done quick.” 

Of course, the man meeting Jenkins across the other side of the cage has a different scenario in mind  for the outcome of this highly anticipated title matchup. 

Riding his own hot form with five wins in his last six fights, Scrappy MMA’s Rod Costa is ready to put  his evolved skill set to the test against the reigning champ. 

If not for an extremely close decision loss against Jenkins’ teammate – Kaan Ofli (a fight in which  many fans were split down the middle in terms of who they thought won), Costa would currently be  sitting on a six-fight winning streak of his own.

Costa VS Ofli was a closely contested split decision.

Not one to dwell on what could have been in terms of win streaks, Costa’s focus is completely set on  the challenge that lies ahead and whatever obstacles Jenkins may present as an opponent. 

“I’m going to go out there and feel him up standing, if he does something that I feel presents a  takedown to me, I’ll take it,” said Costa. 

“If I go in there and he starts catching me with punches, I’m not that proud that I’m going to (feel  like) I have to prove that I can stand with Jack Jenkins. I don’t give a f**k. 

“But I don’t see that he’s got anything different than the other guys (previous opponents) had, to be  honest. He’s a little bit more powerful, I think. If you’ve seen him fight the last few times, he’s got  that calf kick that he hurt people with.” 

“For everyone that knows whats happening in this fight, it’s a matter of ‘is he able to hurt me with  those calf kicks? Is his striking going to be enough to overpower me?’ 

“On the floor, I’m not really worried. If he ends up on top, if he plans to take me down, it doesn’t  really matter. On the floor, I’m just comfortable wherever it goes.” 

Dedicated fight fans will be familiar with the evolution of Costa’s arsenal during his time as a  professional mixed martial artist. A world class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with his own gym, Costa  has shown off a much-improved striking game in his recent fights, demonstrating a fearless attitude  to stand and bang with the other elite strikers the Eternal MMA featherweight division has to offer. 

A grappler at heart, Costa is now happy to stand-and-trade, too.

It is this mindset coupled with a now highly dynamic skill and recent run of wins that has earned  Costa his first title shot, though he can’t help but speculate as to why this matchup took so long to  come to fruition. 

“I’ve only ever had one interaction with Jack Jenkins face to face. It was after I fought Kaan (Ofli),  and he was super nice to me – super respectful.  

“I’ve got nothing against him, I just just want to fight him. I think I’ve said this stuff a few times, I  don’t want to be repetitive, but I wanted to fight him and either him or someone on his team kept  refusing.” 

A recent venture for Jenkins to another MMA promotion outside of Eternal MMA also saw Costa  questioning Jenkins’ motives when it comes to fighting local competition. 

“Why would you rather fight a guy that’s 4-4, hasn’t fought in two years, in a show that no one  knows, that doesn’t bring any views, that the UFC doesn’t know what it is – rather than fighting me  on an Eternal show for a belt? 

“That (Rogue MMA) belt means nothing. Who the f**k cares about (a) Rogue MMA belt? It’s the first  fight they had. The dude is the champion of a shit promotion, who gives a f**k? He should have  fought me. If he’s that confident that he’s that good that he should be in the UFC, he should have  fought me.  

“And he might beat me, but he didn’t want to take that fight and that’s a fact and that’s all I care  about.”

The Rod Costa that fans have come to know and love during is time with Eternal MMA is one that is  willing to take any fight, anywhere at any time, even on short notice. Costa is as real as it gets. While  conceding that Jenkins has the tools to beat him, he just doesn’t believe the champion outweighs  him when it comes to heart. 

“I think he’s got a lot of doubts in his head,” said Costa. 

“Either because of him, or because of his team not wanting to fight me. He might be a tough fighter,  he might f**k me up, he might hurt my leg heaps, but I think I’m just way tougher than he is.  

“I’ve got a lot more heart, and it doesn’t matter what happens in the fight I see myself raising my  hand for sure. Not even because I’m a better fighter or anything, I just think I have more heart than  him and I’m going to find a way to win.” 

“I think he’s used to people who quit, and I’m not going to quit. He might knock me out, he might  f**k my leg up to pieces, but not going to quit, I guarantee you this. 

“I don’t think he has what it takes to go to the deep waters with me, but we’ll see. Maybe I’m wrong.  That’s the beauty of MMA.” 

Stylistically speaking, this is one of the most intriguing title fights in recent Australian MMA history. Both athletes can boast a deep toolbox of skills to rely on.  

On paper it may appear that it’s a classic case of striker vs grappler, and to a degree that is accurate.  But with submission victories on the champs record and the recent evolution of the challengers’ striking abilities, this is certainly a matchup that could have it all from both sides. 

On March 19th, we will get the answer as to who the number one featherweight in the country truly  is.

Eternal MMA announces Neds as official wagering partner

Eternal MMA, Australia’s premier Mixed Martial Arts organisation, today announced a partnership with Neds. The new deal makes Neds the official wagering partner of Eternal MMA. Ned’s is among the fastest growing wagering brands in Australia and offers a range of innovative products to their clients. It also forms part of the Entain Group, one of the largest sports-betting and gaming companies in the world.

Eternal is the only Australian based MMA promotion that offers official wagering and this partnership has been developed to give Eternal fans markets on all Eternal fights that are streamed on UFC Fight Pass – giving fans a convenient and engaging experience that can’t be found elsewhere in Australia. These markets will be available from Eternal 64 on March 19.

Eternal MMA returns to the Gold Coast on March 19.

Eternal’s founder, Cam O’Neill, commented on the recent partnership, saying; ‘Eternal’s focus is always on providing our fighters with exposure to new audiences and premium sponsors. Our relationship with Neds takes this one step further by providing a fan focused experience that will fast track Eternal’s growth as we provide the most professional platform for fighters to build their reputation on the national circuit”.

This type of partnership can’t be found elsewhere in Australian MMA.

This disruptive partnership is a big step forward for national MMA in Australia and promises to bring new opportunities to the sport of MMA and Eternal fighters. For more information on Eternal MMA, visit: eternalmma.com

Eternal MMA announces ENGAGE as 2022 exclusive outfitting partner

Eternal MMA, Australia’s premier Mixed Martial Arts organisation, today announced that street inspired fight wear brand ENGAGE, will become the new exclusive outfitting and apparel partner for the 2022 and 2023 season. The new two year deal comes after ENGAGE became a main sponsor of Eternal MMA back in 2020.

The team at ENGAGE have just debuted the new fight kits for the upcoming season, available in red and blue colour-ways to coincide with the corner of each respective fighter. Eternal MMA Fighters will be able to choose between a number of different styles based on their personal preference, including ENGAGE’s world renowned Grapple & Hybrid Cut shorts.

“We’ve been standing by Eternal since 2018 and to watch them grow over the years has been very rewarding. We’re very happy to be apart of Eternal for the next 2 years and beyond. No one does it better than Eternal and ENGAGE. We’re looking forward to watching combat sports continue to flourish in Australia and New Zealand.” said ENGAGE founder, Ash Belcastro.

“It’s a partnership that really excites us, two Australian born companies with big ambitions that are making a name for themselves on a global scale. The support that ENGAGE has provided a lot of up and coming fighters in this region has been paramount to their success and this is another huge step forward” said Ben Vickers, Eternal MMA co-founder. 

UFC Middleweight Champion and ENGAGE’s major shareholder, Israel Adesanya also weighed in about the partnership, stating: “Grass roots MMA can be a ruthless game – I’ve seen fighters do it the hard way too many times. Eternal is a breath of fresh air. They’re pushing the fight game up levels at a time… ENGAGE have been with me since the beginning and this deal will help them support the next generation of UFC champs. Two of the realest in the game.”

The ENGAGE Fight Week and Fight Night kits will feature ENGAGE’s highest quality garments. Like all of ENGAGE products, the fight kits have been tested and developed by world-class trainers, fighters and UFC champions. Years of dedication to making the best fight wear on the planet. The range is packed with Core-Tech features that have earned them a reputation as one of the best fight wear brands in the world.


For more information on ENGAGE, visit: engageind.com.