Tasmanian youngster Shaun Etchell scored the biggest win of his short career when he won a unanimous decision over Tim Moore in the main event of Eternal MMA 6. With the win the 20 year-old also captured the inaugural Eternal MMA flyweight title.
The event took place at the Coolangatta Hotel in Coolangatta, Queensland on Saturday night.
From the opening bell, Etchell quickly took control dominating the exchanges and keeping a frantic pace early. Etchell overpowered Moore to put him down early and was able to drop some big punches from the top position. Moore worked back to his feet only to be dropped to his back by an uppercut. Against the cage, Etchell fired away with constant punches as the referee warned Moore to move or risk having the fight called off. Moore escaped and back on his feet started to come into the contest a bit more. A 10-8 round to Etchell could be justified.
Moore secured an early takedown in the second round and controlled the action from the top before Etchell worked back to his feet. A scramble left Moore on his back, where he attacked the standing leg of Etchell who looked to land a big punch from above. A scream to land the up-kick from Moore’s corner was immediately obliged as Moore landed it and forced Etchell to back away. On their feet, Moore was taking the centre of the cage and attacking with quick-fire combinations as Etchell dropped back a gear, albeit never looking in serious danger and landing solid punches.
It was much of the same early in the third-round. Etchell attempted a jumping punch utilising the cage, however Moore perfectly times a double leg and put Etchell on his back. The Tasmanian fighter wasted no time in getting back to his feet as Moore again looked to get the fight to the ground, attempted a trip, but Etchell countered to get the top position with just over a minute left in the fight. Moore desperately looked to escape from the bottom, however Etchell stayed strong and moved to mount. There he landed some quick-fire punches before attempting to secure an armbar submission before the final buzzer went.
The judges decision came back unanimous with all three awarding the fight to Shaun Etchell who gets to take the flyweight belt back to Tasmania. With the win, the Launceston Boxing & MMA product takes his record to 5-0 while Moore who has taken lost a big majority of his fights at bantamweight, drops to 6-5.
Jason Preece scored the quickest finish of his 16-fight career in the semi-main event, when he stopped Brett Jacobsen.
After an initial feeling our process, Jacobsen got caught by an overhand right that stumbled him. Preece immediately looked to capitalise, and knocked his opponent down with the next punch. Further punches followed on the ground, and the referee halted the contest. The win came only 1:41 into the contest and Preece was also awarded KO of the Night honours by the promotion for the stoppage.
Earlier on the card, Peter Smith was made to work for it, before securing a late stoppage by rocking his opponent Brett Buckley with punches at first and then a head-kick before finishing him with punches on the ground. The finish came 1:21 in the third round.
Josh Jays from the Tuff Mutha gym, put the pressure on early against Rings Lismore fighter Dan O’Rourke. O’Rourke escaped two tight rear-naked choke submission attempts in the first-round but was forced to tap early in the second round when Jays secured an armbar from the top to secure the win at 1:11 of round two.
Johnny Mendez Walker showed no signs of a fighter taking the fight on five days notice as the Tweed College of MMA product secured mount early, and securing the rear-naked choke shortly after. The submission came 1:59 into the fight.
In a battle of two females making their debut, New Zealand fighter Hannah Dawson overcome a barrage of punches early to turn the tide and finish Casey O’Neill with knees against the cage. The end only 1:24 into the contest.
The opening two bouts were both won via a triangle choke, as Daniel Ronan submitted Nathan Wilson in the second round, while Corey Cottle only did it within the first-round against Mark Slomovic.
The event also held an Eternal Grapplers Cup which featured prominent local BJJ Black Belts Daniel Almeida and Andrew Dearsley compete in a 10-minute no-gi submission only bout. During the contest, Dearsley came closer to submitting his opponent however Almeida controlled the top position. In the end though, neither fighter was able to secure the tap and the bout was declared a draw.
Eternal will return with their next event scheduled for September, with exact date expected to be announce soon.
Results (A-Class):
- Shaun Etchell def Tim Moore via Decision (Unanimous) – Eternal flyweight title
- Jason Preece def Brett Jacobsen via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 1:41
Results (B-Class):
- Peter Smith def Brett Buckley via TKO (Punches), Rd 3, 1:21
- Josh Jays def Dan O’Rourke via Submission (Armbar), Rd 2, 1:11
- Johnny Mendez Walker def Josh Karst via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1, 1:59
- Hannah Dawson def Casey O’Neill via KO (Knees), Rd 1, 1:24
- Daniel Ronan def Nathan Wilson via Submission (Triangle Choke), Rd 2, 1:55
- Corey Cottle def Mark Slomovic via Submission (Triangle Choke), Rd 1, 1:04
No-Gi Submission Wrestling:
- Andrew Dearsley vs Daniel Almeida – DRAW
Promotional Awards:
- KO of the Night – Jason Preece
- Submission of the Night – Josh Jays
- Fight of the Night – Peter Smith vs Brett Buckley
{module Comment on this Article}
