Kevin Jousset was only two fights into his professional career when he received his first title shot.
Serving as a replacement for the injured Glenn Pettigrew, Jousset stepped up on just two weeks’ notice to challenge then reigning welterweight champion, Jack Della Maddalena.
An eyelid laceration would see a doctors stoppage cut his first title bid short after the end of the second round, though Jousset was widely commended for his performance given the circumstances.
Since then, Jousset has strung together a run of three wins on his way back to a second shot at the title – the most recent of which being a hard-fought decision against Saeid Fatahifar at Eternal 59.
A black belt in Judo, Jousset demonstrated his elite level grappling skills, landing several hip-toss takedowns on his opponent, much to the delight of the crowd. Throughout the opening two rounds, Jousset expertly utilised his impressive height and reach advantage with teep kicks to the body of Fatahifar, while keeping the range with his jab at almost every exchange.
The third round would see Jousset unleash a barrage of strikes from the feet in the opening seconds, almost immediately causing blood to flow from the nose of the tough Iranian. A high octane last few minutes of the fight would see the Frenchman successfully stuff several takedown attempts from his weakening opponent, putting a stamp on his performance with stifling ground control mixed in with tireless ground and pound.
Jousset unleashes a barrage of strikes from the feet in the opening seconds of round three at Eternal MMA 59.
With the dominant decision win in his back pocket, the Eternal MMA brass had seen enough to award Jousset another shot at the welterweight strap. This time, with a complete training camp to back him up inside the cage.
Speaking with Eternal MMA, Jousset reflected on his most recent performance as he prepares for a second attempt at championship glory.
“I was quite dominant most of the fight,” said Jousset.
“It was a good way for me to show everyone I am one of the best welterweights in the country. Saeid is one of the toughest guys in the country as well. Being able to beat him meant a lot for the Eternal promoters, so they wanted me to fight for the belt.
“Obviously, all the lockdowns happened, so it had to be pushed back a bit later than what we had planned. (But) finally, we are getting there. Less than a week and I will have the belt around my waste.”
Originally born in France, Jousset would eventually find his way to New Zealand’s City Kickboxing after spending some time both in the UK and Australia.
On top of being able to learn from some of the region’s elite fighters, Jousset’s training is spearheaded by world-renowned MMA coach, Eugene Bareman.
The importance of being surrounded by such a high-level melting pot of talent and knowledge is not lost twenty-nine-year-old as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career to date.
Jousset deep in thought between rounds at Eternal 59.
“Training with those guys is insane,” he said.
“Coming from my background, I already knew that I could handle the best grapplers in the world because I’ve done it – I know how it is. But being able to train with the best strikers in the world now is great. If I can handle those guys, I can literally handle anyone.”
“Just (seeing) the work ethic, seeing how everyone is humble and just working their ass off every single day, it’s very humbling.”
The day-to-day learnings inside the confines of one of the world’s most elite MMA gyms are what Jousset believes will guide him to victory against his fellow title challenger, Kaleb Rideout.
While Jousset is aware of the kind of problems Rideout can present inside the cage, it is his steadfast belief that “Krazy Horse” will not have nearly enough for him when the cage doors close – no matter how the matchup plays out.
“He’s quite an aggressive fighter – very dangerous with some of his techniques,” he said.
“It’s going to be quite an exciting fight with two (different) styles against each other. I need to be very focused and aware of all the spinning attacks and all the stuff that he does to make sure that I don’t get caught.”
“I just need to apply my game plan and use my skills as well as possible, so I don’t get hit too much. I need to (deal) as much damage to him as possible.”
Jousset has made no secret of what his plans are as a professional mixed martial artist. Training with some of the best athletes in the world – many of whom themselves have made the journey from the Australia/New Zealand regional scene to international waters, Jousset eventually wants to follow suit.
While harbouring his own ambitions to one day compete in the UFC, he believes there is no better platform to showcase his abilities in this part of the world than Eternal MMA.
“Eternal is the biggest organisation in this part of the world,” he said.
“Once I get this belt around my waste, I will officially be the best welterweight in the country. That will definitely help open the doors to the big leagues.
“The goal is to fight in the UFC, as everyone knows. There are quite a few guys who used to hold the belt before, who then got signed to the UFC later. So, that’s the goal – getting the belt first and then getting signed (to the UFC).
Holding such lofty goals is standard for any fighter who wants to call themselves the best, and Kevin Jousset is no different. While he hopes to carve his own international path someday, he has no intention of looking beyond his next opponent standing in the way of him winning his first championship belt.
Asked if he believes there is a specific area in which he holds an advantage over his upcoming opponent, Jousset was resolute in his answer.
A response that came with somewhat of an advertisement for bad intentions to those tuning in on fight day.
“I have the advantage everywhere,” he said matter-of-factly.
“I’m a better striker than him, I’m a better grappler than him, I’m stronger than him. I think I have an advantage everywhere. I just need to be focused and do my thing, that’s it.”
“Violence is what people are going to see. I will show everyone that I am levels above all the other welterweights in the country – I will be ready to fight for the UFC sooner rather than later.”
“The main thing is, whatever happens, the conclusion stays the same – I’ll be winning this fight one-hundred percent.”
– Eternal 67 main card will be streamed July 16th live and exclusive on UFC Fight Pass.
Not since rising Australian star, Jack Della Maddalena vacated his title in 2021 in pursuit of a UFC contract has Eternal MMA had a welterweight champion to reign over the division.
Four successful title defences after first capturing the belt in March of 2018 would see the Perth native receive a call up to the heralded proving grounds of Dana White’s Contender Series – a chance he would take with both hands to earn himself the converted roster spot amongst the sport’s elite at 77 kilograms.
With the Eternal MMA welterweight title left vacant for would-be challengers to claim, two candidates would eventually separate themselves from the pack to earn a matchup against each other for the belt at Eternal 67. One of those contenders to emerge would be the highly touted and wildly exciting prospect, Kaleb Rideout.
Coming off a highlight-reel finish over Ben Johnston at Eternal 64, the man known as “Krazy Horse” effectively punched his ticket to a first-ever title shot inside the first round with a spinning back fist knockout.
Kaleb Rideout mid-spin at Eternal MMA 64.
Speaking with Eternal MMA, Rideout reflected on his recent win as he looks ahead to Eternal 67.
“I didn’t expect it to end so quickly,” said Rideout.
“Obviously, I wanted to finish the fight as quick as possible. I was cruising in (the opening exchanges), I was still feeling it out. He charged me and I just reacted to get out of the way and threw a spinning back fist.
“Ten seconds later and the fight was over.”
Originally a rugby league player as a junior, Rideout found mixed martial arts while training wrestling in the offseason.
Realising that he was destined to make a better fighter than a footballer, Rideout took up training at XXX Fight Academy under Nathan Reddy and Michael Mousalli – a move that would see him find success as an amateur before amassing a 6-2-0 record as a professional.
Prior to being awarded the main event slot at Eternal 67, Rideout admits that he initially had his eyes on a different opponent before happily taking up the offer to fight for a championship.
Kaleb Rideout addresses the crowd after his win over Ben Johnston.
“I actually busted my knuckles on Ben Johnston’s f**king forehead, so I had a bit of time off,” said Rideout with a laugh.
“I was originally after the Joey Luciano fight. I wanted to fight him because he ducks and weaves all the good fighters. One thing led to another, my coach rang me and said, ‘Eternal has got you for the belt – f**k this Joey fight’
“It’s all just erupted (from there), which has been overwhelmingly good, I can’t believe it.”
Standing across the other side of the Eternal MMA cage will be former title challenger and City Kickboxing product, Kevin Jousset.
With the French judoka coming off a win in a three-round war in his most recent matchup, Rideout is fully prepared to wade into deep waters should the fight go the distance.
“I never underestimate my opponents, I go in there thinking I’m fighting a God,” said Rideout.
“I’m always going in there expecting the unexpected. I don’t analyse my opponents, that’s up to my coaches (but) from what I see, it’s a pretty good matchup. He’s well-rounded with the ground game and with the striking.
“Apparently, he likes to throw people in Judo so, that’s fun, I like to go flying. It’s a match made in heaven if you ask me.”
“I’m really excited for this fight for many reasons. (I want) to show how good my striking is, because I know he’s training at City Kickboxing. If I finish this guy, this will put me at the pinnacle of Australia/New Zealand MMA, in my opinion.”
Kaleb Rideout is the type of fighter that welcomes the scrappy side of MMA. A fierce competitor with a genuine love for combat sports, it is apparent that he is always ready to walk into the fire and put on a show for the fans.
While Rideout is happy to expect an all-out war against his opponent, in the grand scheme of things, it is the prospect of winning the welterweight championship that means the most to him. It has been a journey, however, that has not been without its tribulations for the twenty-five-year-old.
“It would mean everything to me (to win the belt). I have trained my little white arse off to get to this position right now,” said Rideout.
“About a year and a half ago, I was 2-2 as a pro, not knowing what I wanted to do. I had to take some time away from the sport to get my head right, get my training right and level up.
“When I came back, I came back a different beast. I’ve grown twelve inches of hair and just started knocking people out.
“But that’s what I want – I want this belt.”
Now on a four-fight win streak – a run that included three finishes, it is clear that time away from the sport has worked wonders for Rideout’s trajectory. With a renewed focus on his life as well as his career, coaches and training partners alike began to see the growth in his game.
While Rideout is prepared for all outcomes, he believes that the progress made behind closed doors will earn him his first Australian MMA title in spectacular fashion.
“I want my hand raised over a KO,” he said.
“If I can knock this guy out, that would just show the level that I’m at – levels above everyone in Australia/New Zealand MMA.”
“What fans are going to see on July 16th is one of us is going to get knocked out, or we are both going to be standing there bloody, because that’s the way we both fight.”
“I go for the knockout or blood, and he goes for the knockout or blood. So, one of us is going to get what we want.”
– Eternal 67 main card will be streamed June 16th live and exclusive on UFC Fight Pass.
Eternal 67 is shaping up to be one of the most impressive cards on paper in recent memory – a trend that has seen the promotion grow to new and exciting levels with each passing event.
Of course, with that comes the opportunity to showcase new and exciting talent both Australia and other counties around the world.
With the promotion making its return to the Gold Coast on July 16th, the co-main event of the evening will play host to the Eternal MMA debut of an Iranian-born juggernaut in the form of Mohammad Alavi.
Speaking with Eternal MMA, Alavi shared his thoughts ahead of his highly anticipated matchup against Justin Van Heerden.
“I’m really excited for this fight,” said Alavi.
“I was supposed to fight for the featherweight title last year, but because of (the coronavirus pandemic) it was cancelled. (But) I’m really excited, Eternal is the biggest show in Australia – it’s a good platform for me to show my skills to everyone.”
Undefeated at 7-0 with six of his seven wins all coming by way of a finish, the now New South Wales based powerhouse is earning himself somewhat of a reputation as the “boogeyman” amongst the Australian featherweight rankings.
While he has been able to showcase his high-level talent against each of the opponents he has faced so far, it is Alavi’s belief that he is being avoided by most active featherweights in the country at present.
Mohammad Alavi ready to fly high at Eternal 67.
“I believe I’m the best featherweight in Australia,” he said.
“It’s really hard to get a fight. I want to fight with the best, whoever they think is number one. But all the top ten or top five Australian featherweight’s – they don’t want to fight me.”
“Even for this fight, they promised me it’s going to be a title fight, but I think the champion doesn’t want to fight me. That makes me feel like I’m the best featherweight because everyone is ignoring me, they’re ducking me.”
“I think I’m the most avoided fighter at featherweight.”
Although Alavi has felt frustrated by what he believes has been four years of struggling to find matchups, he concedes he feels the alleged avoidance is a compliment on his skillset. With lofty ambitions of his own to compete at the highest level, the man they call “Scarface” believes that there are some fighters who are turning down matchups in order to preserve their own record.
“It’s kind of a compliment but it’s really frustrating,” he said.
“I want to fight with the best, I want to fight for the belt, whoever is number one or number two, whoever is better than me. I want to fight with everyone!
“It’s hard because they don’t want to lose their belt. They don’t want to fight with me because nowadays everyone is looking for easy fights. They want to keep their records clean to get into the UFC.
“For me, I don’t care. In featherweight, I’ll fight anyone. Whoever in Australia or New Zealand, I don’t care.”
“Thankfully, Eternal found me an opponent, so I can finally fight.”
With Alavi feeling cold-shouldered by most of his potential matchups in Australia, the ever-ready Justin “Lockjaw” Van Heerden was more than happy to answer the bell – a revelation that surprised nobody familiar with the Freestyle MMA product.
“I know him, he’s been around for a long time, he’s an experienced guy,” said Alavi of his next opponent.
“He’s a good fighter, he’s experienced, and I respect him because he accepted to fight me. I really appreciate him.”
While the respect for his next opponent was evident, Alavi was not about to mince his words when it came to his intentions inside the Eternal MMA cage.
“I respect this guy, but he said I’m not on his level and he’s going to break me, so I’m going to punish him. I’m going to show him what his level is and I’m going (for the) kill. I’m going to finish him as soon as I can. I’m going to make sure all the people (watching) enjoy what’s going to happen.”
“After this fight, I’m going to be 8-0. I’ll have finished all my opponents. So, after this – because I’ll have proved I’m the best featherweight in Australia, I really believe (I’ll be) ready to fight in the biggest show in the world – the UFC.
“So, let’s see what’s going to happen. If they give me the chance, I’m going to show the world how good I am.”
“Just make sure 16th of July, be there, or watch on the stream because it’s going to be a beautiful finish.”
– Eternal 67 main card will be streamed July 16th live and exclusive on UFC Fight Pass.
June 16th will see Eternal MMA return to Queensland with a stacked fight card at the GC Sports & Leisure Centre.
Occupying one-half of the co-main event at Eternal 67, Justin Van Heerden will be looking to secure his third victory in a row against undefeated Eternal MMA debutant – Mohammad Alavi.
A fourteen-fight veteran of the game with seven of his professional bouts taking place inside the Eternal MMA cage, Van Heerden has become one of the mainstays of the featherweight division in Australian MMA.
Known for his exceptional grappling and suffocating Jiu-Jitsu, the man they now call “Lockjaw” has been living up to his name with two impressive submission victories to kick off his 2022 season on the right foot.
The most recent of those wins came at Eternal 65 – a triangle choke in the second round against highly talented striker and widely respected UK and Australian MMA stalwart, Alan Philpott, saw Van Heerden’s stock rise considerably amongst fans pundits alike.
Justin Van Heerden defeats Alan Philpott at Eternal MMA 65
Speaking with Eternal MMA, Van Heerden reflected on his success that he feels has been discredited by his most recent opponent.
“He (Philpott) is sitting there on this podcast saying that he was winning the fight, he was outclassing me, he was piecing me up the whole fight, he had me hurt and nearly put away and that’s how he end up getting put in the triangle.”
“I had to respond to that (and say) ‘look man, here’s the facts. You hit air for most of the fight. You hit me cleanly probably two or three times.
“I made the adjustments at the end of the second round when I shot a takedown and got a hold of him. That sequence of me finishing that flight – that’s something that I was able to do in a calculated way because of the preparation and the work that I did leading up to that fight.
“I was in camp for my last fight and Volk (Alexander Volkanovski) was in camp for (Brian) Ortega – obviously Ortega is a very good Jiu-Jitsu guy, so throughout the whole camp I was trying to throw up submissions from all sorts of crazy positions.
“Ultimately that finish on Philpott – that came as a result of that work and the improvements that I made as I was helping my teammate improve for a title fight.”
“I have this chip on my shoulder because people keep putting me as an underdog in these fights, and that’s fine, keep doing that because I’m going to keep proving people wrong,”
2021 saw Van Heerden find a new gym in Freestyle MMA, home to UFC Featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski, as well as world renowned MMA coach, Joe Lopez. The duo of Volkanovski and Lopez would form the spearhead of Van Heerden’s coaching, before a longer than expected stay in North America would prevent the team from being in Van Heerden’s corner for his first run of fights under the Freestyle MMA banner.
Freestyle MMA coaches Alexander Volkanovski & Joe Lopez
A disappointing first-round TKO loss to Rod Costa at Eternal 60 would be quickly turned around over his next two outings, a run that Van Heerden attributes to finally having his main coaches back in his corner.
“Every fight, every time you compete, you want to improve, build on things, identify the things you did good, identify the things you did bad,” said Van Heerden
“Post the fight with (Rod) Costa, when I came into the fight after that with Josh Riley and then my last fight with Philpott, it was the first time I could have my coaches in my corner.”
“Joe and Alex were away for my first few fights under Freestyle and that makes a difference. I’m pretty experienced, I’ve been around the game for a bit now, but to not have your coaches with you giving those adjustments (and) identifying the things in the heat of the moment during the fight, that’s a bit of an adjustment you have to make yourself.”
“I look at that fight (with Costa and think) if I was to run that fight back with my coaches by my side, I don’t see it going the same way.
“I think that’s evident if you look at my last two performances. You could see that having Joe and Alex there with me in my corner, you could see the mid-fight adjustments that I made. I was able to capitalise and get the win and also finish the fight in both instances.”
The benefit of having such a high calibre of training partner and coaching team in his corner is clearly not lost on Van Heerden. With Volkanovski in the prime of his career and Lopez continuing to be one of the masters of breaking down situations with his fight IQ, Van Heerden believes it is the perfect melting pot for him to succeed when combined with his own wealth of experience in combat sports.
It is through these combined minds that Van Heerden forecasts an even bigger leap in his performances in the near future.
“I think that’s why people would have seen the leaps I have made from fight to fight, especially so far this year in such quick succession,” said Van Heerden.
“That’s why this fight (against Alavi) I think people are going to see the leaps of improvement again.
“The Justin that’s going to walk into the cage on July 16th would run through the Justin that fought Alan Philpott inside one round.
“It’s not even the same standard or the same sort of level. I’m not the same person, I’m not the same fighter. That’s what you want at the end of the day, and I feel like that’s the real benefit.
“I’m in a place at Freestyle with my training partners, with the team that I have, with the coaching that I have – I’m able to continue to make those improvements because I’m just approaching it the same way.
With four wins from his last five fights that have resulted in three finishes, Van Heerden believes that he is nowhere near his fighting prime or anywhere close to where he potential truly is. Still just twenty-eight years of age, the South African native fully expects to have many more fights ahead of him in his career.
Of course, his immediate future holds a matchup with surging fellow featherweight, Mohammad Alavi. While he was complimentary of Alavi’s skill set, Van Heerden believes that it won’t be nearly enough to prevent him from getting his hand raised.
“I’m a complete mixed martial artist,” said Van Heerden.
“I’m fighting a dangerous guy, he’s undefeated. But I think that this fight is going to be another opportunity for me to showcase the levels of improvement I have made across the board.
“Obviously, the wrestling, the grappling and that side of things is always going to be in my back pocket. That’s always going to be sharp – that’s always going to be something I can rely on. When it comes to my fight IQ, my distance management, my abilities on the feet now and the timing that I have.
“The speed, the power – all that stuff is going to come through.”
While Van Heerden is confident in the evolution of his complete skill set, he admits that he feels no need to reach for style points in the pursuit of victory.
“For my ego, I don’t need to go out there and try to showcase something just for the sake of it or just to impress a few people and show that I can do something, I can capitalise on the opportunity’s as they present themselves.”
“At the end of the day, if I want to take a hold of this dude, put him on his back and smash his face in for fifteen minutes, I can do that.”
It’s no secret that Freestyle MMA has got its bases covered both internationally and locally when it comes to solid representation in combat sports. Of course, Alexander Volkanovski – the crown jewel of the Windang-based gym, recently defended his Featherweight title for the fourth time with a resounding decision win against Max Holloway at UFC 276.
While Volkanovski is holding it down for the team overseas, Van Heerden is looking forward to continuing to make his own waves in his now adopted home country of Australia. A natural featherweight himself, Van Heerden believes a victory at Eternal 67 against Mohammad Alavi should leave no questions as to who the main man is in his weight class.
“It puts me as the clear number one featherweight in the country,” said Van Heerden.
“The only other fight on the regional circuit that would make sense next would be (Eternal Featherweight champion) Jack Jenkins, but as far as I know, he’s off to the races.
“I think a win over Alavi puts me in a clear position of being the number one featherweight in the country and sets me up nicely. I’ll move to 10-5, I’ll be on a three-fight win streak and hopefully another finish.
“I think people forget – I’m 4-1 in my last five with three finishes. I’m 8-3 at featherweight, a couple of my losses were up in weight on short notice.”
“After this fight there can be no excuses. He’s a dangerous dude, he’s on a win streak, 7-0 and hasn’t experienced much adversity up until this point.
“If I go out there and perform, beat him, finish him – which is what I’m aiming to do, that puts me as the best featherweight in the country.”
Questioned as to how he sees himself getting his hand raised, Van Heerden visualises two clear paths to victory, with either outcome seemingly sitting just fine with the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown-belt.
“I’m either going to find an opening early and put him away with a submission or TKO, or it’s going to be fifteen minutes of brutal, brutal damage.”
“If you haven’t already, I suggest you sort out your UFC Fight Pass, unless you are going to be at the event itself. Eternal MMA is the biggest promotion in the country for a reason. They are putting these crazy cards together and it’s an absolute privilege for me to be in a co-main slot again.”
“Pay attention, stay tuned. I’m going to go out there and put another cracking performance on, get another finish and make my friends, family and all those supporting me a whole lot of money in the process.”
– Eternal 67 main card will be streamed July 16th live and exclusive on UFC Fight Pass.
June 5th, 2021, presented as something of a potential career trajectory moment for a then twenty two-year-old Cody Haddon.
Touted by many as a future star of Australian MMA, Haddon was thrust into the spotlight of an Eternal MMA main event having notched just two professional fights in his young career.
His opponent would be then reigning Eternal MMA Flyweight champion, Stephen Erceg – a man in need of an opponent after a scheduled title fight with hard-hitting contender Paul Loga fell through and ultimately rescheduled.
Struggling to find opponents in his own division, Haddon jumped at the chance to face a champion moving up a weight class in search of a fight to fill the void left by the rescheduled title bout.
Erceg VS Haddon would go down as the 2021 Fight of the Year.
Questions were asked if this match up was “too much, too soon” for the then 2-0 Haddon. Erceg boasted a wealth of experience as a mixed martial artist and was well on his way to next phase of career, while Haddon was barely at the beginning of his journey.
Haddon would ultimately go on to lose a decision to the flyweight champion in a three-round war that would eventually be named “fight of the year” for 2021 – a fight that was anybody’s to win right up until the final bell.
It would be first blemish on the young prospect’s MMA record, but a huge boost in stock given his performance against a far more established opponent. It’s a performance that has aged finely, given the fact that Erceg would earn himself a call up to Dana White’s Contender Series less than twelve months later.
Fast forward to May of 2022, Haddon would steady the course and notch his third professional win at Eternal 66 against surging contender, Jarrett Wilbraham.
Haddon VS Wilbraham had the local crowd on their feet.
A fight that lived up to the hype in every way would see the twenty-three-year-old Haddon finish Wilbraham early in the third round with a series of elbows following a well-executed takedown.
For Haddon, it was a moment of vindication after dedicating himself to years of hard work as a martial artist. After taking some time to work on himself both personally and professionally following his loss to Erceg, Haddon found it tough to find an opponent who would be willing to share the Eternal MMA cage with him – a major hinderance for a competitor with high ambitions and a clear vision of the path he wishes to take.
Speaking with Eternal MMA, Haddon reflected on his emotions after the win and what it means for his future.
“For me (winning) is always reassurance,” said Haddon.
“Obviously the fight was tough, and it got a bit messy. You kind of lose that assurance of yourself (during) the fight. Not that you’re doubting yourself, it’s just that it’s an intense fight.”
“After winning and getting the finish (I felt) relieved to have won, even though I thought I was going to win. At the same time, I was obviously very energetic and excited about winning, and (even) angry in a way.”
“(It’s) a bit off a mix of emotions. When I win, especially if I get the finish, it makes me feel like I want to start calling all these people out. That’s not my persona, it’s just how I feel. It’s kind of like ‘I deserve this’. I deserve another fight; I deserve people to stop running from me and actually step up and fight.”
Haddon was highly emotional after this win at Eternal 66.
Step up and fight was exactly what Haddon’s opponent, Jarrett Wilbraham set out to do when seemingly nobody else would.
A surging prospect in his own right with vast skill set, unorthodox style and a unique height advantage for the bantamweight division, Wilbraham presented as a dangerous opponent more than capable of squaring Haddon’s win-loss record.
Undefeated at 5-0 coming into the matchup, Wilbraham was riding a wave of momentum that included an impressive TKO victory over the durable Jamie Hunt at Eternal 63.
Suffice to say, this was not a matchup tailored to get Haddon back on track. Wilbraham is as tough a competitor as Australia has to offer with his own lofty goals. This was going to take a complete performance from the Western Australia native.
Haddon and his team, fronted by Luistro Combat Academy head coach, Romel Luistro, studied what little footage was available on Wilbraham prior to the match. According to Haddon, the game-plan was more about emphasising his own skill set rather than devising a specific plan for what Wilbraham would bring to the table.
“I definitely watched the fight with Jamie Hunt,” said Haddon.
He looked very, very good in that fight. I knew that he liked to throw big head kicks, I knew that he liked to throw big knee’s, I knew that he liked to clinch – go for the body lock. I knew he was very strong and fit.”
“My coach Romel said, ‘No game plan. You got out there and mix it up with the guy. You’re better than this guy in every area’. So, there was actually no game plan.”
“I went in with an adaptable mindset and just tried to be as adaptable as possible in there with Jarrett.”
The 22-year old looked comfortable everywhere the fight took place.
An adaptable mindset would prove to be an important key to success as the fight opened at a furious pace, with Wilbraham pushing the issue and forcing an early takedown. Wilbraham would advance position and attempt to take Haddon’s back, looking for a submission. Haddon managed to find his way back to his feet, only for Wilbraham to slam Haddon back to the mat with a thunderous takedown.
It was in these opening exchanges that Haddon became fully aware that he was in for a tough fight.
“He took me down and my first thought was ‘how much does this guy weigh right now?’, he felt like a lightweight,” said Haddon.
“He was super strong – probably the strongest I’ve felt in a fight. He just grabbed me and picked me up straight away.”
“When I started to move and noticed that he wasn’t trying to let go of grips, get better grips and advance position, that’s when I realised, he was just trying to hold me with strength. I knew that was only going to last a (short) amount of time. I was composed the whole time.”
“It was a matter of being efficient with my energy. I knew he was going to come hard. In my mind the whole time during the fight (I was thinking) ‘just keep putting pressure on him, he’s going to start slowing down’.”
“I definitely felt like he was dangerous the whole time, but I just let him swing and miss, get tired, and then I was able to have my way with it.”
As Haddon alluded to, efficiency would also play another vital part in securing the victory. With both fighters having their own moments in the first round, Haddon had the best of them with a well timed jab that dropped Wilbraham as he was loading up with his own right hand.
A three-time Australian amateur boxing champion, Haddon exhibited exceptional footwork, timing and range. His obvious skill set on the feet continued to be demonstrated as the fight progressed with well executed combinations and precise head movement that gave way to precise counter striking.
Beginning to sense a drop in energy from Wilbraham midway through the contest, Haddon took full advantage with his own takedowns and ground control. Never out of the contest until the finish, Wilbraham would continue to contest the fight from his back, making submission attempts and never accepting his position as Haddon continued to work within Wilbraham’s guard to impose his own dominance over his taller opponent.
The momentum that Haddon took into the third and final round would pay off almost immediately. A double-leg takedown in the opening minute was quickly capitalised on by a series of heavy elbows to the face of Wilbraham, leaving the referee no choice but to wave the fight off.
Haddon’s eventual victory came early in the third round.
What initially seemed like a possible early stoppage was quickly proven to be the right call from an alternative camera angle to the original broadcast. The initial takedown from Haddon was driven with enough force to stun Wilbraham as his head hit the mat, with the follow up elbows sealing the knockout victory for the fan favourite in his home state.
With the win in hand, Haddon’s attention turned immediately towards the rest of the Bantamweight division. Calling out no one in particular, Haddon made it clear that he wants all would-be challengers to come and see him when it’s time to step back inside the Eternal MMA cage.
Clearly of the opinion that not only his performance, but also his words may have lit a fire under the rest of the division, Haddon expects that he should now see a slew of challengers step up in attempt to take away some of his shine.
“I think now I’ve created a little bit of a response,” said Haddon.
“There is a few more people now that definitely want to fight me, they want to take something that I might have. Having a lot of fans and stuff like that, they definitely want to take that from me now. It’s lit a bit of a fire in their bellies, and they definitely want to put a stop to me because it makes them look better.”
“I definitely want to get another two, three, four more fights in by the end of this year and stay pretty active. Therefore, I can solidify my position. Then after that, I deserve to be going on to (bigger things).”
Haddon expects more challengers to put their name forward after Eternal 66.
The biggest question facing Cody Haddon right now is whether he truly is the future of Australian MMA. Considered by many fans and media to be the case, Haddon himself was steadfast in his opinion on whether it’s a label he is happy to shoulder.
“One hundred percent,” said Haddon.
“I feel like I’ve been the future of Australian MMA since before I had my first amateur MMA fight. I’m super happy to carry that. If I’m not carrying that, I’m a bit insulted. I’ve always seen myself as the future of Australian MMA. All my fans around me have always seen me as that, all my friends and family – coaches as well.
“I feel like I deserve that label. Like said, I’d be insulted if people aren’t labelling me that. Not being big headed or anything, (but) the thing is I’ve been wanting to do this since I was six years old – I’m twenty-three now. It’s the only thing I’ve thought about since I was six years old.”
“My schoolteachers would ask me ‘what do you want to do when you’re older?’ (And I’d say) I want to be UFC champion.”
“I remember I did a presentation in year three of the UFC, explaining to everyone in the class what I want to do, what the UFC is and why I want to do it.”
“I‘ve been a fan and I’ve been wanting to do it for a very long time. So, to be labelled that, I (feel like) I deserve it.”
– Cody’s match vs Jarrett Wilbraham at Eternal 66 can be replayed on UFC Fight Pass.
Eternal MMA sits down with Jarrett Wilbraham for a quick-fire Q&A ahead of his sixth professional fight at Eternal 66 against Cody Haddon.
Age: 28
Where were you born?
Nowra, New South Wales.
Where are you based now?
In the Gold Coast – Burleigh Heads.
What gym do you train out of?
Potential Unlimited Mixed Martial Arts.
Who are your coaches?
Vincent Perry is my head coach.
Jarrett trains under Australian MMA pioneer Vince Perry.
What sports and activities did you participate in growing up?
I played AFL first off when I was a kid. As I went into late primary school I started to play (Rugby) League – which I played right up until I was about fifteen or so, and then I ended up going back and playing one season of under 18’s.
When did you first decide to dedicate yourself to the sport of MMA?
When I started off it was more of just something I wanted to do because I enjoyed fighting. I entered in to a four-man eliminator, which I ended up winning. So, it was that exact moment that I won my first pro title that I realised I was good at this. I was at that point where I was very unfamiliar with this sport, but then it sent me down this track to chase it professionally as a career.
In training, do you have any favourite techniques or areas that you enjoy drilling?
Striking and wrestling.
What can fans expect to see from you when you step inside the cage?
I would say strategy and flashiness.
What do you see as your biggest strengths as a martial artist?
I think I’m pretty all-rounded. I’d probably say my work ethic – how many hours I put into the sport.
What do you consider to be your standout performance as a professional up until this point in your career?
My last fight on Eternal (Eternal 63 – win vs Jamie Hunt). That was definitely my standout performance because of how much I’d improved.
Wilbraham called his Eternal 63 bout his stand-out performance.
Could you compare your style at present to a UFC athlete?
I would just have to say Cory Sandhagen because we’re the same height in the same weight division and it’s very rare to have someone so tall (at bantamweight).
Do you have a favourite fighter at a professional level?
Not really a favourite at the moment, I would have to say.
What belts or rankings do you currently posses as a martial artist?
I’m a blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu. Not very proud that I’m a blue belt. I did a lot of No-Gi, I’ve only just started rolling in the Gi in the last two years, but its not something that I’m very focused on.
What are some of the accolades you have achieved as a combat sports athlete?
I won the Australian open wrestling tournament up here in Queensland last year. (Also) a couple of gold medals in grappling comps.
What are your goals for both the immediate and long-term future as a combat sports athlete?
I want to win this fight and then I want that bantamweight title shot because I think I’m the only bantamweight that has strung two wins together in the bantamweight division. I think I’m actually the last bantamweight that fought, so I want to go for that title.
How do you see yourself getting your hand raised at Eternal 66?
I would like to get the finish by knockout, but I also like to beat people at their own game, and I consider Cody to be an absolute workhorse with really high cardio. I think even a decision win over him would make me look better than an actual knockout finish.
Wilbraham enjoys beating people at their own game, and plans to do the same at Eternal 66.
A message of thanks to your supporters?
I have to give a massive thanks to Simon Black from Driftwood Shed – he donated $1300 to me during this camp. As I live in a van to train full time, that is so helpful. Also, Cameron Birkett Electrical – Cameron Birkett donated $1000, which I can’t even express how much that’s helped. I’ve got Mirror Merch, who have been supporting me on my recovery at P3. Tankard Dental have supported me as well as Hidden Fury. (Lastly) I couldn’t do any of this without my partner – Michaela Jensen, she’s the glue that holds the whole dream together.
A final message to the fans ahead of your upcoming fight at Eternal 66?
Anyone at all that is interested in MMA, wants to get into MMA or anyone that wants to chat in general and supports me, reach out and give me a message because I like to be in contact with my supporters and I like to build relationships with them. Whether it’s in person or online, I have a lot of good friends that I’ve never even met in person. So, please reach out, I’ll really appreciate that. The support is everything, it’s the reason I do this as well as the love for it.
– Jarrett can be found on YouTube and social media as a co-host for the “Punch Drunk MMA” podcast with Chris Ferguson and ElkMeat MMA, as well hosting his own YouTube podcast – “The Life’s Like Podcast”.
Australia’s leading MMA promotion returns to the Gold Coast on March 7th for Eternal 65.
Atop of the card stands one of the most highly anticipated matchups in recent memory, with two of the most popular figures on the local Australian MMA scene set to thrill fans with their high-octane style and larger than life personalities.
On paper, Josh Kuhne vs Dimps Gillies is a stand-up enthusiasts dream. Familiar fans will be more than acquainted with both athletes’ penchant for setting a fast and furious pace with their boxing combined with a solid chin – on paper it reads of a paradox in the “unstoppable force meets an immovable object” realm.
Kuhne himself has quickly captured the imagination of local MMA fans across the country, especially on the Gold Coast where he now calls home.
A relentless knockout artist with devastating power and surgical precision, Kuhne has yet to find an opponent who can survive his onslaught beyond the first round. With three wins as an amateur and three wins as a professional, Kuhne has won all of six of his bouts by knockout long before the corner stool is ever needed.
Not a single fight has gone past the 1st Round for Kuhne.
Hot off the news that he will now be represented by management powerhouse – Paradigm Sports, Kuhne spoke with Eternal MMA ahead of the highly touted matchup.
“It’s probably the biggest jump that I’ve made in my career yet,” said Kuhne of his new management.
“Paradigm is top tier management; they take on the biggest stars – the biggest names. So, to have them on my team now working with someone like myself – who invests a lot into myself, to have a team also investing themselves into me, I think it’s just going to be big things on the horizon.”
Prior to an illness sidelining him for a short period, Kuhne was originally slated to compete at Eternal 64 against fellow lightweight – Blake Donnelly. With Donnelly himself now on the sidelines, Kuhne was more than happy to take on a different challenge once he was cleared to fight.
“As soon as I got healthy and was able to get back into the gym, I put my name straight back into the mix for the next available option,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t get Blake who was the original signed opponent due to an injury of his own, hence why Dimps’ name got thrown into the mix. They’ve (Dimps Gillies’ team) been asking for this fight for a while, so that was the fight to make.
“I think it’s an exciting one, I think it’s the one the fans wanted to see. So, we signed it, we got done.”
The upside of a fight against a fellow fan favourite in Dimps Gillies is far from lost on the man they call “Kamikaze”. With fans eager to see two hardest hitting athletes go head-to-head inside the Eternal cage, Kuhne is just as eager to meet an opponent who many believe will be by far his biggest test to date.
The Kuhne VS Dimps bout is considered must-watch MMA.
“I think for anyone who’s ever seen Dimps fight and anyone who’s ever seen my fights, it’s a no brainer,” said Kuhne.
“I think it’s just something that people want to see. They want to see what happens when two trains collide, they want to see what happens when two bulls lock horns, they want to see what happens when two savages get locked in a cage.
“We’ve got aggressive styles, we both move forward, we’re both hella-tough. He’s got a chin on him, I’ve got a chin on me, and we both throw hell for leather, how’s that not exciting?
“That’s what fans pay to see. The fans pay to see people like me, they pay to see people like Dimps. We’re the ones who bring that violence, we’re the ones who bring that crowd and bring that noise, so to put us up against each other…? Makes sense.”
Fans are in for a treat this Saturday night.
A scary prospect for future opponents is that for the most part, Kuhne has achieved so much in a small space of time without the guidance of a dedicated head coach up until now. Former Eternal MMA lightweight and Australian combat sports legend – Brentin Mumford has taken the reigns of Kuhne’s career now that he has retired as a competitor, an alignment that Kuhne feels he is beginning to reap the benefits from.
“It’s massive,” said Kuhne of his new coaching arrangement.
“I’ve probably been blessed in a sense that (until now) I’ve got through my career to where I am on my own account. Obviously there (has been) gym partners and coaches along the way that have helped me.
“But to just have that one voice of reason, just that one voice in my corner and just to have someone game planning and guiding me through my whole camp start to finish, that’s been a game changer.
“I’ve (gained) huge levels in my game from every aspect – setting traps, baiting people, working different angles, the whole lot.
“It’s all coming together. Having one voice, one coach – having Brentin who’s so experienced in the lightweight division – who’s done it all, seen it all, been everywhere and just passing on that wealth of knowledge to me, it’s humbling.”
Kuhne feels right at home with the team at CMBT.
Time will tell exactly what level Kuhne has reached now that he has a mind like Brentin Mumford in his corner full time, but the benefit of a full training camp with a former title challenger at the helm can surely not be overstated. Now with most of the hard work behind him, Kuhne had a message for ahead of the blockbuster clash for new and old fans alike.
“Expect fireworks. Expect to see two of the toughest dudes in Australia just go in there and beat the shit out of each other (until) one of us comes out with their hand raised.
“At the end of the day, this is a mixed martial arts match and it’s going to be the person with the most well-rounded skill set (who wins).”
“I’ve got Brentin Mumford in my corner, he’s my coach, I’m going to be listening to his voice of guidance. Wherever the fight plays, wherever the fight takes me – it takes me.”
“If it means something else causes the finish and it’s not a knockout? So be it. Maybe it is a sub, maybe it’s not, maybe it goes the distance.
“Let’s just see how it plays out, but I’m not going in there with any intentions to do anything but give it my all.”
Meeting him across the cage in the other half this highly combustible equation will be Eternal MMA mainstay and wildly popular crowd favourite – Dimps Gillies.
A well-travelled veteran of the game with a wealth of experience in combat sports, Gillies will be looking to put his own stamp on what will be his second main event as a professional.
Dimps’ last Main Event saw him score a Knockout in under a minute.
A multiple time “fight of the night” award winner, the NTG Fight and Fitness product never finds himself in a boring fight. Armed with ferocious power, quick hands and slick head movement, Gillies has long held a reputation of being one of the most exhilarating fighters to watch on the Australian MMA regional scene.
Speaking with Eternal MMA, Gillies was as humble as ever as he looked ahead to the match. “A main event is always big,” said Gillies.
“I’m grateful for the platform and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to perform in a main event and share the ring with Josh Kuhne. I’ve admired from the sidelines, from cage-side – I was there for most of his fights.
“I didn’t really think I was going to fight him in my career because I was more just a fan of his work. But my team – they see an opportunity here to get my name (back) at the top again and get the right exposure. All the right eyes should be watching on May 7th.
“It was an opportunity I had to jump at, and it was one that I couldn’t miss.”
Anybody who is familiar with Dimps Gillies will know that it is the stand-up game that he truly lives for. Recent ventures into the world of professional boxing while still have all played a part in honing his craft as an elite striker, with classic boxing traits often on display as he competes as a mixed martial artist.
Asked of the prospect of fighting a fellow stand-up specialist, Gillies was resolute in his enthusiasm for another potential fight of the night contender.
“For sure, I know what to expect. When I say that, I can’t predict anything, but I know it’s going to be a vibe and half for everyone that’s watching and tuning in.”
“Usually, I’m the guy that comes forward and I don’t take a step back. In his perception that’s what he does and in my perception that’s what I do, so it’s going to be hard to say what happens. But I know there’s going to be violence and I know there’s going to be explosive action.
“I’m ready for it and I can’t wait. It does get me out of bed in the morning and it does get my arse to the gym. I’m excited and I’m ready for this matchup.”
Dimps is driven to perform for his gym.
A fiercely loyal character by nature, the opportunity to represent his team at NTG Fight and Fitness at any time is something that Gillies doesn’t take for granted. Given the opportunity on the main stage, Gillies is aware of the exposure it creates for his team, and he plans on showing out for his gym regardless of the outcome.
“I believe that loyalty is key, and I am going to keep playing my part and doing my best to perform for my gym. If I don’t win, it doesn’t matter. As long as I lose and it was a fight where I didn’t leave anything in there, I didn’t leave with regrets, I didn’t question myself after.”
“If I can perform even when I lose and put on a show, then I still give that exposure to my team. It’s something that I strive for. To me, it’s more important than winning, but others don’t think like me.”
Fans can rest assured that Dimps Gillies is always coming into the building to put on a show. His humble and sunny disposition is something of a stark contrast to the violence he brings whenever he steps foot inside the confines of the Eternal MMA cage. While Gillies needs no help in turning up for a scrap, it’s the fans in attendance the get him going the most.
“The fans give their energy and that rowdiness, especially in the MMA scene as opposed to the boxing,” he said.
Dimps is fueled by the roar of the crowd.
“I love it. When you hear those chants and you hear those cheers and you hear those roars, you’re doing something right. In my head, those people pay good money to come watch us. In my head, if they weren’t paying that money, we wouldn’t have this platform. In my head, they are another prime example of who we are there performing for.”
“I just want to say a big thanks to everyone and anyone who follows the local combat sports scene in Australia and even worldwide – but the local shows mostly because we’re not that big, we’re not that recognised.
“The more people that do tune in, the better it is for everyone involved in the business – the fighters, the promoters, the trainers, the gyms, the coaches and everyone. We all play our part and it’s a part we should play to make we get the best out of combat sports in Australia.”
– Kuhne vs Gillies main card will be streamed live and exclusive March 7th on UFC Fight Pass.
Eternal MMA sits down with exclusively signed athlete – Lahclan “Deadshot” Stitt for a quick-fire Q&A ahead of his professional debut at Eternal 65.
Age: 22
Where were you born?
Mackay, Queensland
Where are you based now?
South West Sydney
What gym do you train out of?
XXX Fight Academy
Lachlan describes his fighting style as a mix of Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida.
Who are your coaches?
My head coach is Mohamed Mousalli – AKA Coach Moey (as well as) Nathan Reddy and Zein Saliba
Where does the ‘Deadshot’ nickname come from?
Moey gave me that, my head coach. Just from the way i finish fights, my accuracy and finishing abilities.
What sports and activities did you participate in growing up?
I started Karate when I was six years old and pretty much did that up until twelve. Then i started playing footy for a couple of years, got into MMA at about fifteen and have been on the same journey since.
When did you first decide to dedicate yourself to the sport of MMA?
I finished my trade as an electrician at the start of 2021. From that point forward I’ve pretty much committed my whole career to fighting. I do security on the weekend, run my own electrical business on the side and just fight/ train full time.
What can fans expect to see from you when you step inside the cage?
Expect violence and also a quick finish.
What do you see as your biggest strengths as a martial artist?
Definitely my striking – my striking accuracy.
Could you compare your style at present to a UFC athlete?
My style would be a mix between Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida. I have a karate background and I’ve adapted that to MMA.
Who is your favourite fighter at a professional level?
I get this question a fair bit at work. Definitely in his prime – Georges St-Pierre, all day long.
Lachlan’s ready to make waves after signing exclusively with Eternal MMA.
What belts or rankings do you currently posses as a martial artist?
I’m a purple belt in Jiu Jitsu under Zein Saliba.
What are some of the accolades you have achieved as a combat sports athlete?
I have two state titles – New South Wales titles. One in kickboxing and also an MMA state title. I won the Beast Australian Welterweight title mid last year – That was my last fight before turning pro.
What are your goals for both the immediate and long term future as a combat sports athlete?
Definitely work my way up the Eternal MMA rankings, get some good fights, stay active, get some good finishes and then get my shot at the UFC.
How do you see yourself getting your hand raised at Eternal 65?
Definitely a KO or TKO. I’m KO’ing this guy. I can definitely see that.
A message to the fans and your supporters?
Jump on board now, because I’m just gonna keep going at this. I think I have a very bright future in the sport of MMA and representing Australia world wide. We are going straight to the top.
– Lachlan makes his professional MMA debut on May 7th at Eternal 65 against JayJay Te Huia.
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?
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.
