Know Your Fighter: Isaac Hutchings

Full Name:
Isaac Hutchings

Age:
19

Where were you born:
Inverell, NSW

Where do you live:
Sunshine Coast, QLD

Which gym do you train out of:
Oasis Fight Academy

Who are your coaches:
John Martin-Fraser, Ryan Doyle, and Jordy Scouse

What belts or rankings do you currently possess as a martial artist:
Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:
Chess, karate, and many sports in between

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
I only began to take MMA seriously a bit over a year ago when I moved to the Sunshine Coast. My passion was found in the dungeon gym of Vice Training Centre.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
My favourite aspect of training is that everyone in the room is always pushing each other to be their best selves—both inside and outside of the gym.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
My grit. Never count me out.

How would you describe your fighting style:
Like a good home-cooked meal—got all the staples in there but sprinkled with a bit of spice.

What is your favourite sport and why:
MMA is my favourite sport. Who doesn’t love seeing people brawl?

Who is your favourite athlete:
Corey Sandhagen

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
Corey Sandhagen and Petr Yan

What are your immediate and long-term goals:
My immediate goal is to make my MMA debut. Long-term is to have a long and meaningful career in the sport.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
They should expect nothing short of tenacity. Win, lose, or draw—my only goal on fight night is to cause as much damage to my opponent as humanly possible.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
Win, lose, or draw—from the first bell to the last, I’m not gonna stop until I inflict as much damage to my opponent as humanly possible.

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
Tune in early—this card will be a banger from start to finish.

Where will any fans or supporters be able to find you socials:
Instagram: @isaac_hutcho

Watch Isaac Hutchings fight at Eternal MMA 98 on Saturday, September 13

Know Your Fighter: Callam Baird

Full Name:
Callam Baird

Age:
22

Where were you born:
Brisbane

Where do you live:
Gold Coast

Which gym do you train out of:
Empire Martial Arts

Who are your coaches:
Ricky Budgen
Jake Anderson
Shaun Johnson
Nicholas Grant

What belts or rankings do you currently possess as a martial artist:
BJJ Blue Belt
Taekwondo Black Belt

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

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
Started taking it seriously in 2023 — had my first fight in 2024.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
Sparring every day — it’s my favourite session.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
My striking ability.

How would you describe your fighting style:
Very entertaining.

What is your favourite sport and why:
MMA — it’s the greatest sport in the world.

Who is your favourite athlete:
Volkanovski

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
Volkanovski

What are your immediate and long-term goals:
I’m not looking past this next opponent. Once I win this fight, then I’ll think about what’s next.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
A fan-friendly scrap.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
Pushing the pace from the jump — a real scrap whether it ends in a sub, KO or decision.

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
Come out and represent in the crowd — it’s gonna be an awesome night!

Instagram:
@cxllam03

Watch Callam Baird fight at Eternal MMA 98 on Saturday, September 13

Know Your Fighter: Cyprian Rogozinski

Full Name:
Cyprian Rogozinski

Age:
23

Where were you born:
Pabianice, Poland

Where do you live:
Brisbane

Which gym do you train out of:
Integrated MMA

Who are your coaches:
Adrian Pang, Grego Penaloza

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

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:
Hunting, football, video games

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
Start of this year

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
Sparring – get to put everything together

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
Grit and determination

How would you describe your fighting style:
Controlled chaos

What is your favourite sport and why:
MMA – it’s the complete form of fighting

Who is your favourite athlete:
Dustin Poirier

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
Craig Jones

What are your immediate and long-term goals:
Go pro and climb the ranks of the UFC

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
All action. No breaks.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
Violence, pressure, and a finish

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
I’m not here to play safe — I’ll pressure, I’ll scrap, and I’ll find the finish.

Where will any fans or supporters be able to find you socials:
Instagram: @cyprian.rogozinski_

Watch Cyprian Rogozinski fight at Eternal MMA 98 on Saturday, September 13

Know Your Fighter: Daniel Matheson

Full Name:
Daniel Matheson

Age:
26

Where were you born:
Gold Coast

Where do you live:
Gold Coast

Which gym do you train out of:
DTV Academy

Who are your coaches:
Dylan Andrews, Vincent Perry

What belts or rankings do you currently possess as a martial artist:
None

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:
Rugby union/league, cricket, baseball

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
About 4 years ago, when I started training under Dylan Andrews

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
I enjoy wrestling because it is the hardest session of the week, but I also enjoy Saturday morning sparring

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
My striking and movement

How would you describe your fighting style:
Elusive and unorthodox

What is your favourite sport and why:
Mixed Martial Arts – it teaches discipline, and once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy

Who is your favourite athlete:
John Daly

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
Nate Diaz

What are your immediate and long-term goals:
Just to grow as a fighter and a coach

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
A fun fight

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
I believe it’s going to be a fan favourite of the night

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
Thank you to my family, teammates and coaches for getting me where I am

Where will any fans or supporters be able to find you socials:
Instagram: @matho_matheson

Watch Daniel Matheson fight at Eternal MMA 98 on Saturday, September 13

Know Your Fighter: Justin Van Heerden

Full Name:
Justin Van Heerden

Age:
31

Where were you born:
Johannesburg, South Africa

Where do you live:
Wollongong, New South Wales

Which gym do you train out of:
Freestyle Fighting Gym

Who are your coaches:
Joe Lopez & Alex Volkanovski

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

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:
Wrestling, athletics, gymnastics, rugby, cricket, soccer, rugby league, and basketball

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
I started training in 2014, had my first fight six months later, and then went pro in 2017. I made my debut on Eternal 26 and won by submission in round 1.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
Spyda and Meatgrinder sessions with all the killers at Freestyle! These sessions push you to the limit — a fight ain’t as hard as the work we do!

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
My wrestling and my opportunistic ability to find a finish anywhere in the fight at any time in the fight.

How would you describe your fighting style:
Relentless, calculated, and physical.

What is your favourite sport and why:
MMA — because of the work that goes into it long before you see fighters under the bright lights. It’s high stakes and high risk — it’s the best sport in the world.

Who is your favourite athlete:
Michael Jordan — his willingness to succeed, competitiveness, and pettiness in his pursuit of excellence set him apart.

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
GSP — a great example of how to carry yourself as a martial artist, athlete, and man.

What are your immediate and long term goals:
Win my fight against Tasar with a big finish, fight on Eternal 100, and put on another highlight performance. That’s all I’m focused on at the moment.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
Entertainment. A kill-or-be-killed approach. High-level mixed martial arts.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
I’m going to finish my opponent and remind everyone why I was the Eternal Champion — and remind them I never lost my belt.

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
Thank you for all the support and love — it means a lot. But most importantly: Sophia and Justus, you are my whole world and I just want to make you two proud of me.

Where will any fans or supporters be able to find your socials:
Instagram: @LockjawMMA

Watch Justin Van Heerden fight at Eternal MMA 98 on Saturday, September 13

Know Your Fighter: Daniel Ross

Full Name:
Daniel Ross

Age:
20

Where were you born:
Airlie Beach

Where do you live:
Gold Coast

Which gym do you train out of:
CMBT

Who are your coaches:
Jesse Yada, Miles Muecke, and Brentin Mumford

What belts or rankings do you currently possess as a martial artist:
Blue belt in Jiu Jitsu

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:
I played soccer all my life since I can remember. I also did a year of AFL and NRL.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
About two years ago, after my first kickboxing fight, I realised this is what I want to do.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
Learning new skills and then putting them into practice. My favourite session is Saturday morning sparring.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
I would say my footwork and my kicking ability—I can kick from anywhere.

How would you describe your fighting style:
Tactical. I want to set up my opponents and find the right shot.

What is your favourite sport and why:
Aside from MMA, football would be my favourite just because I spent so many years of my life in it.

Who is your favourite athlete:
Dmitry Bivol

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
Dmitry Bivol

What are your immediate and long term goals:
My immediate goals are to gain as much competition experience as possible so that I am well prepared when I turn pro, which is my long-term goal.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
They should expect high-intensity and tactical fighting.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
I expect to lead the fight from start to finish and find the KO.

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
I’m extremely grateful to everyone who comes to support me every time I fight.

Where will any fans or supporters be able to find you socials:
Instagram: @damelross

Watch Daniel Ross fight at Eternal MMA 98 on Saturday, September 13

Know Your Fighter: Zac O’Brien

Full Name:
Zac O’Brien

Age:
24

Where were you born:
Sydney

Where do you live:
Gold Coast

Which gym do you train out of:
CMBT / Bangtao

Who are your coaches:
Miles Muecke, Jesse Yada, Brentin Mumford

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

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:
Rugby League & Union for 10+ years

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
I’d say 2024, when I moved to Bangtao, was the real turning point between being a hobbyist and becoming a professional. I know I’ve had an amateur fight since then, but mentally I’ve been all-in as a pro since Bangtao. Training alongside the pros at CMBT since last November—guys like Tasar, Yusuke and the rest—has only solidified that professional mindset even more.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
Sparring. This session allows me to flow and express myself while being tested under similar fight intensity. The feeling of accomplishment is amazing.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
My creativity and commitment to the grind. It’s as simple as that.

How would you describe your fighting style:
Aggressive yet calculated. Day by day I’m becoming more of a well-rounded Mixed Martial Heartist.

What is your favourite sport and why:
Muay Thai + MMA. Since starting mixed martial arts, nothing else really interests me apart from surfing and yoga.

Who is your favourite athlete:
Volk

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
Right now, Marcio Ruffy.

What are your immediate and long term goals:
I’m different to most fighters. I’m just taking it one fight at a time—using each fight camp more as a ‘becoming’ than a preparation.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
An entertaining performance from the walkout to the post-KO celebration.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
A professional yet patient masterclass. I will find my range then find the finish. It’s become abundantly clear that when I land, it’s lights out—so there’s no need to rush.

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
I love everyone that’s shown me support from the start of this journey until now. It hasn’t been an easy trot, but having the real ones by my side—experiencing the highs and lows—has really made a positive impact. When I’m up on that cage post-fight, I’ll be feeling your energy, whether it’s from Sydney, Phuket, or in the crowd.

Where will any fans or supporters be able to find you socials:
Instagram: @zzacobrienn
TikTok: @zacobrien

Watch Zac O’Brien fight at Eternal MMA 98 on Saturday, September 13

Know Your Fighter: Tasar Malone

Full Name:
Tasar Malone

Age:
29

Where were you born:
Gold Coast, Australia

Where do you live:
Gold Coast, Australia

Which gym do you train out of:
CMBT Training Centre

Who are your coaches:
Miles Muecke
Brentin Mumford
Jesse Yada

What belts or rankings do you currently possess as a martial artist:
Purple Belt – BJJ

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:
I grew up as one of six kids on some property up in the Gold Coast hinterland, where I learned the value of hard work and perseverance. Growing up in a big family surrounded by nature and on acreage was the best place for us kids to grow up, run and play. We didn’t have much, but my parents taught us the value of making the most of what we did have. They instilled in us a strong work ethic and the understanding that nothing worth having comes easy.
That mindset has carried over into everything I do — and I wouldn’t change a thing.

After chasing a soccer dream but falling short, then chasing an AFL dream only to fall short again, I found MMA. I had my first fight in 2019 and decided I was going to give this my all. Though it wasn’t easy — from working odd jobs to pay for training and food, to living and sleeping on the very mats that I trained on, and later in my career, living out of my car — my determination never wavered.

Fighting is my way of showing that no matter where you come from, or the challenges you face along the way, you can rise above, make something of yourself, and help inspire others to do the same.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
I was always active and had an interest in becoming a professional athlete. So whatever I did, I put my heart and soul into.
When I decided AFL wasn’t the path for me, I got into MMA — and I knew from the first day that I would take it seriously and take it all the way.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
My favourite session of the week is sparring, because I get to put together all the skills I’ve been developing throughout the week.
The session allows me to be creative and fight the way I want to fight. Every sparring session is different — with different bodies, looks, and intensities. I enjoy practising being comfortable in the chaos.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
I’m confident in all areas, and I believe my pressure, pace, and preparation will be too much. My nickname’s The Machine for a reason. Once I start, I don’t stop.
I’m ready to push the pace, break my opponent, and get my hand raised inside the distance. I recently completed UFC comparison strength and conditioning testing and my results were world-class.
That’s what you’re going to see come fight night.

How would you describe your fighting style:
I bring intensity, chaos, and pressure that melts my opponents.

What is your favourite sport and why:
MMA. It is the peak of human athleticism, intelligence, and grit.
It feels primal. It’s always been a part of life, and I resonate with the life of warriors.

Who is your favourite athlete:
GSP — the ultimate reference of a martial artist. Great person, intelligent, high skill level, and had the determination and discipline to do what it took to become a great champion.

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
Same as above — GSP.

What are your immediate and long term goals:
Immediate goal is to win this next fight. Then it’s straight to the Eternal Featherweight belt where I claim my rightful position as the number one featherweight in this country.
Not like all of these other bums getting opportunities on the big stage by picking easy opponents — I have gone through the gauntlet to deserve my place at the top.
Then, we fight to be on the biggest stage to realise my dream of becoming a UFC athlete.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
No matter who is headlining the card, I am the people’s main event. I bring the crowd, excitement, and what it means to enjoy a fight show.
I’m always going to fight for a finish and everyone knows that I leave it all in there.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
His team already said it themselves… second round flying knee.

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
My family, friends, and supporters are everything to me — because I would truly struggle on this path without them.
I not only fight for myself, continuing to prove to myself what I am capable of, but also for them.
I want to inspire them as much as they inspire and motivate me. We are in this together.

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

Watch Tasar Malone fight at Eternal MMA 98 on Saturday, September 13

Know Your Fighter: Jayden Le Petit

Full Name:
Jayden Le Petit

Age:
26

Where were you born:
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Where do you live:
Coolangatta, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Which gym do you train out of:
Unite MMA

Who are your coaches:
Brad Gawthorne
Tessa Gawthorne

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

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

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
In 2023, I had my first amateur MMA fight.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
Favourite aspect of training is how it makes you feel afterwards. Doesn’t matter if you’ve had a bad day — every session on the mats makes you feel like the best version of yourself.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
My will to keep moving forward and never give up.

How would you describe your fighting style:
A pressure fighter, constantly moving forward and putting pressure on my opponent.

What is your favourite sport and why:
MMA — I love the variety in it. There’s so much to learn and everyone does something a little bit different. I love how everyone has their own style. Every day there’s something to improve on. It’s a very addicting sport.

Who is your favourite athlete:
Mike Tyson

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
Alexander Volkanovski

What are your immediate and long-term goals:
To get one more fight in by the end of the year and fight 2–3 times next year.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
Non-stop action.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
Constant pressure and overwhelming my opponent.

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
Thank you for supporting me — I hope you enjoy the show.

Instagram:
@jaydenlepetitty

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

Know Your Fighter: Makani Gray

Full Name:
Makani Gray

Age:
18

Where were you born:
New Plymouth, New Zealand

Where do you live:
Gold Coast

Which gym do you train out of:
DTV Academy

Who are your coaches:
Dylan Andrews

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

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:
Rugby league and BJJ

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
I started to take MMA seriously when I finished high school so I could focus on MMA full time.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
Favourite aspect of training is wrestling — it really forces you to push hard. Favourite session of the week is Saturday morning sparring; I get to mix everything together and practice what I’ve learnt.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
My BJJ experience and consistency.

How would you describe your fighting style:
A mix of everything.

What is your favourite sport and why:
MMA — because it’s a solo sport and it’s the greatest sport on earth.

Who is your favourite athlete:
Georges St-Pierre

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
Ilia Topuria

What are your immediate and long term goals:
My immediate goal is to win my MMA fight on September 13. My long-term goal is to be UFC champion one day.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
A dominant performance.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
1st or 2nd round finish in my favour.

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
Thank you to everyone who supports me — I’m just getting started.

Instagram:
makani.gray

Watch Makani Gray fight at Eternal MMA 98 on Saturday, September 13