Gold Coast based fighter Michael Tobin, moved his professional MMA record to 7-0 last night at the Coolangatta Hotel in the main event of Eternal MMA 3.
Luke Thorngaard put up a game performance against Tobin escaping numerous submission attempts before finally succumbing to an armbar submission, 3:19 into the third round. With the win, Tobin defended his Eternal featherweight title for the first time.
As the fight started, Tobin was able to quickly get the fight to the ground as he caught the leg of Thorngaard and putting him down. Tobin immediately pounced getting the hooks in and flattening his opponent out. Tobin then transitioned to mount as Thorngaard turned, however Thorngaard was able to turn the tide as he got the reversal. Tobin stayed active from the guard as he locked up a tight armbar, before changing to an omoplata. Thorngaard was able to escape back into guard only to be caught in another armbar attempt from Tobin. Thorngaard was able to hold off until the buzzer.
Tobin missed with a big right hand early in the second round but Thorngaard chose to clinch and was thrown to the ground by Tobin who is an accomplished Judoka. Thorngaard was able to reverse the position and again showed great submission defense and was able to utilise an escape to move to side-control. Tobin regained half-guard, before turning into his opponent for a single-leg and finishing it with a small fireman carry landing in Thorngaard’s guard. Tobin postured on to his feet and jumped back, attempting to crank a foot lock as the round ended.
Thorngaard started the last round landing the crisper strikes before Tobin secured another big takedown. Tobin attacked the body from north-south before Thorngaard was able to power out back to his feet and clinch with Tobin against the cage. Tobin secured another takedown and this time the youngster was able to lock in an armbar and this time securing the extension for the tap at 3:19.
Since making his debut in August, 2012 Tobin has now won seven fights on the trot with six of those fights being won via an armbar.
Also on the card, a flyweight clash between Tim Moore and Grego Penaloza entertained the fans in attendance as both fighters came into the fight from recent losses and desperate to get back on the winning track.
Both fighters started with a flurry of punches as Penaloza landing nice combinations before pushing the fight to the ground. Penaloza controlled the fight on top in half-guard before Moore escaped back to his feet. Moore came forward with shots and was able to change levels and finish it with a takedown of his own. There Moore attacked with a kimura as Penaloza worked from his back to a single-leg and finished the takedown. Both fighters continued scrambling and Moore worked his way back to the top position as the round ended.
Second round started with a nice back-and-forth scramble on the ground as Moore came close to taking the back. Penaloza worked back to his feet and kept the pressure on, securing a takedown. Penaloza went to work inside half-guard and as Moore scrambled, Penaloza moved to mount where he was able to land some short elbows as Moore covered up. Penaloza looked for the inverted triangle, but Moore used that to reverse and from the top he finished the round landing some elbows of his own.
Coming in to the third round, the fight was still up for grab for both fighters and it was Moore who was able to capitalise. Moore was able to get the fight to the ground midway through the round where he transitioned to mount. Penaloza knew he had to move and turned his back in an attempt to escape, but Moore quickly got the hooks in and looked to secure the rear-naked choke. Penaloza defended but was unable to escape the back control as the time quickly ran out.
As the buzzer went to finish the fight, both fighters stayed active on their feet jumping around the cage before the decision was announced. The unanimous decision though was awarded to Tim Moore who took his record to 5-4.
A fight between Kyle Griffiths and Harley Holmes went back-and-forth early as both fighters landing nice exchanges in the first round. Holmes though came out the more aggressive fighter in the second round, landing a nice right to the body. followed by some nice knees to the midsection. A big right dropped Griffiths briefly, as he attempted a takedown. Holmes sprawled and quickly was able to move to take the back and secure the rear-naked choke submission at 1:57 of the second round.
Ryan Gray from The MMA Clinic in Western Australia put on an impressive performance and finished it with style as he took on Quentin Taylor from Advanced MMA. Taylor made his intentions clear early as he shot in straight away for a takedown only for the attempt to be defended by Gray. Gray then came forward with nice combination of punches before Taylor caught a leg-kick to get the fight to the ground. From there though it was Gray who controlled the fight, attacking immediately off his back with a triangle and then a armbar. Gray escaped to his feet and connected with more shots on his feet. Shortly after a nicely timed flying knee from Gray dropped Taylor and he was able to pounce, finishing the fights with a couple of punches on the ground. The end came at 2:34 of the first round. The spectacular finish gained Gray Knockout of the Night honours.
Tweed College of Martial Arts fighter Jason Preece and his opponent Adam Dixon went punch for punch and position for position in a scramble with neither fighter taking complete control of the fight. Preece’s constant pressure paid off though as he took home the unanimous decision win.
Tyson Pedro had a vocal cheer squad on hand but didn’t disappoint his friends who had traveled to watch him fight as he punished his opponent Charlie Ngaheu with early leg-kicks before landing a crisp straight that dropped his opponent against the cage. Pedro quickly jumped on top finishing the fight with a further two shots before the fight was called off. The end came only 31-seconds into the fight for Pedro who took his record to 2-0.
After winning the knockout of the night at the last Eternal card, Brett Jacobsen showed his all around skill be winning the sponsors submission of the night as he defeated his opponent Brad Gawthorne with a third-round submission while Jamie Naeda defeated Kaine Morgan by unanimous decision in a fight that was awarded fight of the night.
The night started off with a quick knockout by Zachary Talbot who needed only 7-seconds to stop his opponent Matt Brown.
Results:
- Michael Tobin (C) def Luke Thorngaard via Submission (Armbar), Rd 3, 3:19 – Eternal MMA Featherweight Title
- Tim Moore def Grego Penaloza via Decision (Unanimous)
- Harley Holmes def Kyle Griffiths via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 2, 1:57
- Ryan Gray def Quentin Taylor via KO (Flying Knee & Punches), Rd 1, 2:34
- Jason Preece def Adam Dickson via Decision (Unanimous)
- Tyson Pedro def Charlie Ngaheu via KO (Punches), Rd 1, 0:31
- Brett Jacobsen def Brad Gawthorne via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Rd 3, 2:14
- Martin Tucker def Alberto Ortiz via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1, 1:22
- Jamie Naera def Kane Morgan via Decision (Unanimous)
- Corey Lynch def Michael Wallis via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 1:05
- Zachary Talbot def Matt Brown via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 0:07
Promotion Awards:
- Submission of the Night: Brett Jacobsen
- KO of the Night: Ryan Gray
- Fight of the Night: Jamie Naera vs Kane Morgan
