Know Your Fighter: Jayden Murphy

Full Name:
Jayden Murphy

Age:
26

Where were you born:
Wollongong

Where do you live:
Canberra

Which gym do you train out of:
Progression MMA

Who are your coaches:
Head Coach: Duke Didier
Assistant Coach: Robin Vlieger

What belts or rankings do you currently possess as a martial artist:

  • SFC Amateur Boxing Title
  • NSW Boxing Novice State Title
  • MASA NSW Welterweight State Title

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:
Grew up playing rugby league before starting MMA at 19.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
Late 2022 I started competing in BJJ comps, and around that time I started taking MMA seriously and had my first amateur MMA bout in March 2023.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
I love a hard grappling session — scrambling like crazy, working hard, and being in the flow.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
My consistency and professionalism. I take this seriously — I train year-round, constantly getting better. It’s crafted a belief in my skill set to take on any challenge inside and out of the cage.

How would you describe your fighting style:
I’m aggressive, have heavy hands, good cardio, and mix it up well.

What is your favourite sport and why:
MMA — because no matter how many fights you watch, they’re different every time and you can never anticipate what’s going to happen next. There’s no sport like it.

Who is your favourite athlete:
Kobe — Mamba Mentality. Kobe’s attitude to hard work has always inspired me.

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
Georges St-Pierre — I love how open he is with the fears of a fighter and how he tackles them. I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from GSP.

What are your immediate and long-term goals:
I just want to keep pushing myself to see out my potential in this sport. All I think about is what’s next — and that’s winning this next bout. So that’s my immediate goal and only goal right now.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
Action from the jump — with the possibility of a finish at any moment.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
I think my IQ mixed with my pressure will be too much for my opponent. I can go for 3 rounds hard, and I think if I don’t get the finish early, then my gas tank and the way I mix it up will crumble him by the last round.

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
Thank you all for sticking by me throughout this year of pull-outs. I’m channeling all your energy into this performance.

Instagram:
jaydennmurphy

Watch Jayden Murphy fight at Eternal MMA 98 on Saturday, September 13

Know Your Fighter: Perry Smith

Full Name:
Perry James Smith

Age:
22

Where were you born:
Sydney

Where do you live:
Bondi Junction

Which gym do you train out of:
Igor MMA

Who are your coaches:
Igor Breakenback

What belts or rankings do you currently possess as a martial artist:
Amateur Australian MMA title

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:
Started karate when I was younger, then kickboxing at age 14.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
I was kickboxing for a little bit and always wanted to fight, but something about MMA when I first started watching it clicked right away, and I wanted to pursue it professionally.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
I love our wrestling days and live rounds.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
My composure and determination.

How would you describe your fighting style:
Patient, smart and calculated—but when I need to, I can scrap.

What is your favourite sport and why:
Outside of MMA, I would say K-1 kickboxing.

Who is your favourite athlete:
Max Holloway

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
Max Holloway

What are your immediate and long term goals:
Immediate goal is to win this fight. My long term goal is to reach my full potential in this sport—but I don’t put too much focus on the future. I try to focus on the present.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
High-level MMA.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
My coach is telling me I’ll get the first-round knockout, so I’ll go with that.

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
Thank you for everything up until now. I look forward to putting on display all the support I get by putting on a masterclass.

Instagram:
@perry.jamesprivate

Watch James Perry fight at Eternal MMA 98 on Saturday, September 13

Know Your Fighter: Loni Filimoehala

Full Name:
Loni Doyle Filimoehala

Age:
29

Where were you born:
Auckland

Where do you live:
Brisbane

Which gym do you train out of:
Gamebred Academy / Ignite Martial Arts

Who are your coaches:
Ryan Dunstan
Jason Lonergan
Jake Lund

What belts or rankings do you currently possess as a martial artist:

  • Lockdown Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion
  • Super Lightweight Champion
  • Welterweight Champion
  • Middleweight Champion
  • Purple Belt in BJJ
  • Bronze Medal – GAMMA Worlds

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:
I played rugby league my whole life, and wrestled my cousins in the pool and trampoline at a high level.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
My first day at the gym I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I ain’t fucking around.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
My favourite part of training is eating after training.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
My athleticism separates me in my division. I’m strong as fuck and fast as fuck, I’m fit as fuck. I’m good at everything. So yeah—my greatest strength is everything.

How would you describe your fighting style:
Fast and hard 😈 Strong and hard.
Perfect. Flawless.

What is your favourite sport and why:
MMA—for obvious reasons.

Who is your favourite athlete:
Me.
Also: Conor McGregor, Greg Inglis, Brock Lesnar, Jeff Hardy, Cain Velasquez

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
Conor McGregor, Cain Velasquez, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Khamzat Chimaev… and me.

What are your immediate and long-term goals:
Short term: Win this fight
Long term: Go to the UFC and destroy

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
Pure aggression. No hesitation. Perfect calculations in real time.
They will see that I’m meant to be in the UFC right now.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
I’m going 100% full force. I’m sure he will as well.
1st round finish.

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
If you don’t come, you’re fake as fuck. Nah, just kidding ahaha—make sure you watch online.
Buy my shirts.

Instagram:
@lontonomo

Watch Loni Filimoehala fight at Eternal MMA 98 on Saturday, September 13

Know Your Fighter: Jonas Solari

Full Name:
Jonas Solari

Age:
34

Where were you born:
Cairns, Australia

Where do you live:
Gold Coast

Which gym do you train out of:
The Fight Centre

Who are your coaches:
Ben Johnston
Darcy Vendy

What belts or rankings do you currently possess as a martial artist:
BJJ blue belt

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:
Breakdancing

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
I always had the intention of competing in MMA and felt like I was taking it seriously—until I joined TFC and saw what a professional-level work ethic consisted of.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
My favourite aspect of training is leveling up with the boys. There’s nothing better than chasing the dream with your people.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
My greatest strength is my athleticism—I can explode like no one else at featherweight.

How would you describe your fighting style:
I’d say I’m an aggressive all-rounder. I prefer to strike but will wrestle if the opportunity presents itself.

What is your favourite sport and why:
It’s always been MMA. It’s the only sport that makes sense to me.

Who is your favourite athlete:
Yoel Romero

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
Yoel Romero

What are your immediate and long term goals:
My immediate goal is to beat Jayden decisively, and my long-term goal is to go as far as I can as a professional.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
They should expect to be entertained. Every time I walk into the cage, I’m looking to find the finish.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
I see myself landing my right hand, stunning Jayden, and following up for the TKO finish.

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
Win, lose, or draw—I’m gonna give my all. To everyone that’s helped me along the way, I’m always fighting to honour your investment in me.

Where will any fans or supporters be able to find you on socials:
Instagram: @jonas.solari

Watch Jonas Solari l fight at Eternal MMA 98 on Saturday, September 13