Know Your Fighter: Ben Paterson

Full Name:
Ben Paterson.

Age:
24.

Where were you born?
Sydney, Australia.

Where do you live?
Bondi Beach.

Which gym do you train out of?
Lions Den Academy.

Who are your coaches?
Luke Pezzutti.

What belts or rankings do you currently hold as a martial artist?
Blue Belt in Jiu Jitsu.

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up?
Rugby, swimming, and Ironman.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession?
Five years ago.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why?
Sparring — it’s where I get to work on everything I’ve been practicing.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter?
Speed, agility, and creativity.

How would you describe your fighting style?
Freestyle — well-rounded and adaptable.

What is your favourite sport and why?
MMA — because I live it.

Who is your favourite athlete?
Robert Whittaker.

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete?
Robert Whittaker.

What are your immediate and long-term goals?
Dominate the lightweight division and punch my way to the UFC.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect?
Blood, guts, and glory.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out?
With a finish — whether it’s on the feet or on the ground, it doesn’t bother me.

A final message to any friends, family, and supporters:
Don’t need luck — best of skill.

Where can fans and supporters find you on social media?
Instagram: @bennypaterson

Watch Ben Paterson fight at Eternal MMA 96 on Saturday, June 21.

Know Your Fighter: Jasmine Nikora

Full Name:
Jasmine Nikora.

Age:
32.

Where were you born?
New Zealand.

Where do you live?
Perth.

Which gym do you train out of?
Luistro Combat Academy.

Who are your coaches?
Romel Luistro.

What belts or rankings do you currently hold as a martial artist?
Blue Belt in Jiu Jitsu.

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up?
Just the usual school sports.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession?
I started training as a hobby in 2018, began competing in 2020, and started fighting MMA in 2022.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why?
Sparring — it’s where I get to put all my training together.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter?
My mind and my heart.

How would you describe your fighting style?
Aggressive striker.

What is your favourite sport and why?
MMA — silly question.

Who is your favourite athlete?
N/A.

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete?
N/A.

What are your immediate and long-term goals?
A few more amateur fights, and then you’ll see me on the professional scene.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect?
An exciting fight.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out?
We’ll see — but it’s going to be exciting.

A final message to any friends, family, and supporters:
You’ll see a new, evolved fighter — and I’ll do you all proud.

Where can fans and supporters find you on social media?
Instagram: @jasminenikora

Watch Jasmine Nikora fight at Eternal MMA 96 on Saturday, June 21.

Know Your Fighter: Connor Birch

Full Name:
Connor Birch.

Age:
27.

Where were you born?
Sydney, NSW.

Where do you live?
Sunshine Coast.

Which gym do you train out of?
Tribal MMA.

Who are your coaches?
Mitch Ferdi and Paul Birch.

What belts or rankings do you currently hold as a martial artist?
Purple Belt in BJJ.

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up?
Rugby League and Rugby Union.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession?
2011.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why?
Sparring — simple.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter?
I just like to fight.

How would you describe your fighting style?
Punches and kicks — what more do you need?

What is your favourite sport and why?
MMA — no fluff, just fighting.

Who is your favourite athlete?
Mike Tyson.

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete?
Alex Pereira, Jon Jones, and Jose Aldo.

What are your immediate and long-term goals?
Win. Win again. Then win the next one.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect?
Unlimited chi force.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out?
A tactical battle that ends in a finish.

A final message to any friends, family, and supporters:
Hello.

Where can fans and supporters find you on social media?
Instagram: @cbirch__

Watch Connor Birch fight at Eternal MMA 96 on Saturday, June 21.

Know Your Fighter: Luca Bowe

Full Name:
Luca Bowe.

Age:
21.

Where were you born?
Agnes Water.

Where do you live?
Brisbane.

Which gym do you train out of?
Crown Kickboxing.

Who are your coaches?
Luke Thomas and James Moller.

What belts or rankings do you currently hold as a martial artist?
White Belt in BJJ.

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up?
I focused on tennis throughout my childhood and teenage years.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession?
I began taking MMA seriously in December 2023.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why?
My favourite aspect of training is that there’s always more to learn — the evolution never stops.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter?
My power and range are two of my biggest assets.

How would you describe your fighting style?
Technical, violent, and always applying constant pressure.

What is your favourite sport and why?
MMA — because of the toughness it demands both physically and mentally.

Who is your favourite athlete?
Carmelo Anthony.

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete?
Petr Yan.

What are your immediate and long-term goals?
Immediate: constant and rapid progression in all areas of my game.
Long-term: to evolve into a complete, high-level fighter.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect?
A fast-paced fight that ends in a finish.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out?
I see myself landing big shots early and finishing the fight.

A final message to any friends, family, and supporters:
Thank you to everyone who supports me on fight night and throughout my camp — it means everything.

Where can fans and supporters find you on social media?
@luca_bowe on all platforms.

Watch Luca Bowe fight at Eternal MMA 96 on Saturday, June 21.

Know Your Fighter: Diellon Lihari

Full Name:
Diellon Lihari.

Age:
25.

Where were you born?
Melbourne.

Where do you live?
Melbourne.

Which gym do you train out of?
Absolute MMA.

Who are your coaches?
Simon Carson, Oliver Smith, and Raja Shippen.

What belts or rankings do you currently hold as a martial artist?
Purple Belt in BJJ.

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up?
Aussie Rules Football.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession?
2018, when I was 18 years old.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why?
Sparring — it’s the most realistic and competitive part of training.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter?
My ability to finish fights.

How would you describe your fighting style?
High pressure.

What is your favourite sport and why?
AFL and EPL — I’ve always followed both growing up.

Who is your favourite athlete?
LeBron James.

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete?
Georges St-Pierre.

What are your immediate and long-term goals?

  • Immediate: Be 4–1 by the end of 2025.
  • Long-term: UFC by the end of 2026.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect?
A high-paced, exciting fight.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out?
Quinn has dangerous boxing, so I expect him to be cautious and wary of the takedown. I’ll take him down and finish the fight via ground and pound or submission.

A final message to any friends, family, and supporters:
Thanks for all the support — I’m ready to put on a show and get one back.

Where can fans and supporters find you on social media?
Instagram: @diellonlihari

Watch Diellon Lihari fight at Eternal MMA 96 on Saturday, June 21.

Know Your Fighter: Alfred Stoddart

Full Name:
Alfred Stoddart.

Age:
31.

Where were you born?
Zimbabwe.

Where do you live?
Sydney, Australia.

Which gym do you train out of?
SBG Australia.

Who are your coaches?
Head Coach: Ben Power
Striking: Kennedy
BJJ: Daniel De Jesus and Michael Wohlfiel (Black Belts)

What belts or rankings do you currently hold as a martial artist?
Purple Belt in BJJ.

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up?
Basketball, wrestling, boxing, and kickboxing.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession?
2018.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why?
Grinding every day with my teammates — iron sharpens iron.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter?
I never quit.

How would you describe your fighting style?
A bit of everything — well-rounded and dangerous anywhere.

What is your favourite sport and why?
Boxing — it’s the purest form of technique and fight IQ.

Who is your favourite athlete?
Tom Brady.

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete?
Anderson Silva.

What are your immediate and long-term goals?
To win the welterweight belt.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect?
Fire.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out?
Fire.

A final message to any friends, family, and supporters:
Stay tuned!

Where can fans and supporters find you on social media?
Instagram: @themakerjack

Watch Alfred Stoddart fight at Eternal MMA 96 on Saturday, June 21.

Featured Fight: Nate Law VS Sam Marles

When Eternal 95 hits Logan City on May 3, the spotlight will fall on two of Australia’s most exciting welterweight prospects — and the future of the division could change in an instant.
 
In the co-main event, Nate Law steps into the cage not just as a hometown fighter, but as Logan City’s newly adopted fighting son. Trained under the watchful eyes of Eternal legends — former middleweight champion Ben Johnston and reigning champion Darcy Vendy — Law carries the weight of expectation and the fire to match it. With a perfect 3–0 professional record, all finishes, he’s built a reputation for violent precision, pairing sharp kickboxing with brutal ground-and-pound.

But standing across from him is a man ready to make his own mark.
 
Sam Marles, representing Absolute MMA, grew up immersed in sport — playing golf, football, athletics, and tennis — before making the full-time switch to mixed martial arts in 2020. Since then, he’s carved out a strong professional record of 2–1, showcasing a style that blends crisp Muaythai striking with relentless grappling pressure.
 
This Saturday is a defining one for the Marles family, with father and son facing major battles in separate states. As Sam laces up his gloves for a career-shaping fight in Logan City, his father, Richard Marles — a Federal Member for Corio near Geelong — will also be on the frontlines of a crucial federal election. A strong voice for the Geelong region, Richard Marles is no stranger to the rough and tumble of hard-fought contests — a spirit that perhaps finds its reflection in the gritty, come-forward style Sam brings into the Eternal cage.

This is more than a clash of styles. It’s a fight to stake a claim as one of Eternal MMA’s true welterweight threats. Law’s long-range weapons and finishing instincts meet Marles’ calculated pressure and experience in a matchup built for fireworks. Both fighters understand what Eternal MMA represents — Australia’s premier proving ground where reputations are made, and futures are built.
 
For Nate Law, this fight is a chance to prove he belongs among the future champions of Eternal MMA — a pressure he welcomes as Logan City’s fighting son.

For Sam Marles, it’s the opportunity to turn years of sacrifice into a statement, and show that his journey from the sporting fields to the Eternal cage was always destined for greatness.
 
Both men have bet on themselves to get here. On May 3, only one will take the next step forward. Book tickets to Eternal 95: Logan City today.

Know Your Fighter: Nicholas Liaris

Full Name:
Nicholas Liaris.

Age:
23.

Where were you born?
Australia.

Where do you live?
Punchbowl.

Which gym do you train out of?
Lions Den Academy.

Who are your coaches?
Luke Pezzutti.

What belts or rankings do you currently hold as a martial artist?
White Belt in BJJ.

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up?
Rugby League.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession?
About a year and a half ago.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why?
(Not specified.)

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter?
(Not specified.)

How would you describe your fighting style?
MMA fighter.

What is your favourite sport and why?
MMA — I love violence.

Who is your favourite athlete?
(Not specified.)

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete?
Me.

What are your immediate and long-term goals?
Break teeth.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect?
Broken jaws and broken teeth.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out?
Stoppage.

A final message to any friends, family, and supporters:
Appreciate the love and support.

Where can fans and supporters find you on social media?
Instagram: @nick_liaris
TikTok: @nicholasliaris

Watch Nicholas Liaris at Eternal MMA 95 on Saturday, May 3.

Know Your Fighter: Samuel Marles

Full Name:
Samuel Marles.

Age:
28.

Where were you born?
Born in Carlton, grew up in Geelong.

Where do you live?
Collingwood.

Which gym do you train out of?
Absolute Collingwood and Ringgym.

Who are your coaches?
Joseph Luciano, Simon Carson, and Andy Colgrave.

What belts or rankings do you currently hold as a martial artist?
Purple Belt.

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up?
I grew up playing golf, football, athletics, and tennis.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession?
Since 2020, I’ve been all in.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why?
Smashing boxing/Thai pads with Joey — it’s my favourite session of the week.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter?
Timing, accuracy, and strength.

How would you describe your fighting style?
My striking is a creative application of the basics — hand-heavy Muay Thai from an MMA stance.
My grappling is based on heavy top pressure, a strong passing game, with a focus on submissions or controlling positions to land strikes.

What is your favourite sport and why?
MMA — no other sport matches it in terms of “meaning.” It’s as pure as it gets.

Who is your favourite athlete?
Rafael Nadal.

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete?
Joseph Luciano.

What are your immediate and long-term goals?

  • Immediate: Win this fight against Nate.
  • Long-term: Put myself in a position to make money and live comfortably doing what I love, fight for a major promotion, be part of high-profile fights, and coach athletes to the UFC.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect?
Expect fireworks from start to finish — a full display of MMA.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out?
I see myself being the better all-around fighter — mixing in all the different disciplines and eventually finding a hole to expose.

A final message to any friends, family, and supporters:
Fear will either make you run from the moment or enhance you for it.

Where can fans and supporters find you on social media?
Instagram: @samuel_marlez

Watch Samuel Marles fight at Eternal MMA 95 on Saturday, May 3.

Know Your Fighter: Adnan Larry

Full Name:
Adnan Larry.

Age:
32.

Where were you born?
New Zealand.

Where do you live?
Melbourne, Australia.

Which gym do you train out of?
Absolute MMA.

Who are your coaches?
Simon Carson and Raja Shippen.

What belts or rankings do you currently hold as a martial artist?
Blue Belt in BJJ.

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up?
Rugby League and Rugby Union.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession?
Seven years ago.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why?
MMA sparring — I enjoy blending all the elements of MMA together.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter?
Big power and aggression.

How would you describe your fighting style?
Freestyle.

What is your favourite sport and why?
MMA — it’s the best sport in the world. There are so many ways to win, and it takes a unique combination of mental and physical attributes to succeed.

Who is your favourite athlete?
Muhammad Ali.

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete?
Muhammad Ali.

What are your immediate and long-term goals?
Immediate: Focus on and win my upcoming fight.
Long-term: Beat everybody up.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect?
Fireworks — big bombs being thrown, no handbrakes, and complete disregard for my own health and safety to get the win and put on a show for the fans.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out?
I’m going to dominate all aspects of the fight and get the finish.

A final message to any friends, family, and supporters:
Thank you all for the support.

Where can fans and supporters find you on social media?
Instagram: @youngblackandsexy

Watch Adnan Larry fight at Eternal MMA 95 on Saturday, May 3.