Former Eternal Featherweight Champion – Ryan Gray

“Ravishing” Ryan Gray made his first walk to the Eternal cage at Eternal 2 on May 11, 2013 — the beginning of an illustrious career. He announced himself with a first-round guillotine choke over Kyle Griffiths, then followed it up at Eternal 3 with another first-round finish, this time a TKO against Quentin Taylor.

Two back-to-back wins lit the fire. Young, hungry, and relentless, Ryan quickly built a reputation as one of Australia’s most exciting featherweights — a fighter who never took his foot off the gas. From his home state of Western Australia to Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania, Ryan was always willing to travel, always ready to put on a fight fans would remember.

His championship opportunity came after a highlight-reel knockout — a vicious first-round knee over Garret Gross at Reign Fighting, Eternal’s proving ground series at the time. That win earned him not only a title shot, but also a chance at redemption against Myles Simpson, who had bested him once before.

The stage was set in Myles’ backyard — the Titanium Security Arena in Adelaide. With pressure, grit, and his trademark grappling, Ryan forced the action early and sealed the story with another guillotine choke, submitting Simpson in the first round to capture Eternal gold. Ryan became the Eternal featherweight champion at 25, at Eternal 32 on April 7, 2018.

Ryan’s reign was cut short by health complications that forced him to step away before he could defend his title. Four years later, he made a return at Eternal 64 in 2022, sharing the cage with none other than Diego Pereira in a moment etched into Australian fight history.

From day one, Ryan fought under the tutelage of well-renowned Ben Vickers at Scrappy MMA, home to champions like Mitch Martin, Jack Becker, Rod Costa, Anthony Drilich, UFC’s Casey O’Neill, and UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena, all of whom, like Ryan, held Eternal gold. Today, Ryan Gray continues to shape the next generation of fighters in Perth, Western Australia, passing on the knowledge of a true Eternal champion.

Career snapshot:
Eternal MMA Featherweight Champion
9-3 record (7 finishes)
8 Eternal appearances
1 Reign Fighting Appearance