Ignite Martial Arts trained David Martinez added another notable name to his record with a first-round submission over Brentin Mumford last night to claim the Eternal MMA lightweight title.
The bout headlined Eternal 45 which took place at the Southport Sharks AFL Club on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
Brentin Mumford looked confident with his striking early, landing precise strikes including a nice front kick. Martinez kept walking through the strikes and shot in for a double leg-takedown. Mumford attempted to switch but Martinez was deep on the hips and the 25-year-old managed to get the fight to the ground. Martinez wrapped himself on the back and immediately looked to sneak the arm around the neck which he was able to do, to get the tap 3:47 into the bout.
Martinez now moves to 5-0 as a pro.
“It means everything for me and my team. Just the drive they have behind me. They have been behind me since the get-go,” Martinez commented in his post-fight speech.
Despite having the belt wrapped on his shoulders, Martinez isn’t letting his guard down, setting his sights on fighters ranked higher than him.
“It means I finally deserve to be in the top 10,” he answered, possibly referring to the Tapology.com formula based ranking which has him ranked at number 11.
Fighting for what was supposed to be his last time, Gold Coast local and former two-time champion Tim Moore came up short as he was choked out unconscious in the third round of his flyweight contest against Stephen Erceg.
Moore has his chances, in particular landing a flush hook mid-way through first-round only for his Western Australian opponent to recover and dominate the ground game. Moore looked comfortable with his striking early in the second only for Erceg to use his opponent’s takedown attempt to reverse and get the fight to the ground. Erceg again dominated the ground game, attacking with a head-arm before moving to the back where he looked to lock up a rear-naked choke. With nearly 20-fights under his belt, Moore stayed calm and was able to see out the round.
That experience wouldn’t help in the third round as Moore again looked to pounce from a scramble which allowed Erceg to gain the top position. This time the Wilkes Martial Arts trained fighter passed to mount and secured the head-arm choke to get the win, 3:15 into the last round.
In his post-fight interview, asked about fighting and defeating Tim Moore, Erceg (4-1) commented, “It feels amazing. I saw Tim Moore fight like four years ago when I was starting as an amateur and I was like ‘One day man, I’m going to fight that guy.’
It was such a great experience. He is so nice and was such a gentleman the whole way through which I enjoyed because that’s what I try to be.”
Moore, who prior to the fight talked about retirement, had as a result of the fight, a change in mind. An emotional Moore thanked his fans and family before he was asked if the rumours were true and this was his last fight.
“I can’t go out like that. That’s f****d,” before adding he will be ready to go at the next Eternal.
Update 27 May 2019 at 9:15 pm – Tim Moore has posted on social media that he will, in fact, be hanging up the gloves.
Melbourne based French fighter Kevin Jousset looked extremely impressive in his first round stoppage over Jimmy O’Brien. The former Judoka international was not matched in the clinched which he utilised to take the fight to the ground. Trapping his opponent’s arm he unloaded with elbows and with O’Brien unable to escape, the referee halted the contest only 2:32 into the contest.
In the opening pro-fight of the night, former Muay Thai champion Chelsea Hackett and Tiger Muay Thai trained Mel Zeman put on a barn-burner in a women’s bout. Zeman wasted no time in looking for a takedown and once she had her opponent on the ground she was able to lock up a tight armbar that Hackett did well to escape only for Hackett, who was making her debut, to get caught in a triangle choke. Hackett wriggled out and straight away went to work with strikes, in particular, powerful knees. Zeman looked deep in a takedown and with Hackett stopping it by grabbing the cage, the referee took a point away.
Hackett’s striking came to the forefront in the second round mixing up her combinations. Zeman struggled in her attempt to get the fight to the ground and largely had no answer standing. That continued in the third round with Hackett opening up on her strikes. Zeman kept standing in front of her opponent. After the first round struggles, Hackett finished strong and a strong argument could be made for 10-8 rounds in both the second and third round.
The point deduction cost her victory though as the judges scorecards came back 28-26, 28-28 and 28-28 for a majority draw.
Fight Card (Pro):
- David Martinez def. Brentin Mumford via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1, 3:27 – Eternal lightweight title
- Stephen Erceg def Tim Moore via Submission (Head-Arm Choke), Rd 3, 3:15
- Kevin Jousset def. Jimmy O’Brien via TKO (Elbows), Rd 1, 2:32
- Chelsea Hackett vs. Mel Zeman – Majority DRAW
Fight Card (Amateur):
- Luke MacKenzie def. Sam Dobb via Decision (Unanimous)
- Naveed Hassanzada def. Hoani Selwyn via Decision (Unanimous)
- Brandon Stowers def. Matt Sayers via Decision (Unanimous)
- Levi Gonzales def. Dom Mar Fan via KO (Punch), Rd 1, 0:10
- Tasar Malone def. Aiden Fegan via TKO (Punches), Rd 3, 1:42
- Alastair Volders def. Dylan Hitchcox via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 1:43
