Hex Fight Series 6 took place at a sold out Melbourne Pavilion Friday night. The event, which was beamed live across the globe on Go Fight Live (video on demand available now), was possibly the biggest show for the promotion to date, with a highly anticipated middleweight grudge match between Brian Ebersole and Steven Kennedy for the middleweight title filling the main event slot.
Both former UFC fighters and former training partners, Ebersole vs Kennedy was contested mostly on the canvas in a grappler vs grappler match. There, Kennedy looked to hold a noticable size and strength advantage and held top position well via a number of takedowns. The striking exchanges were back and forth with Ebersole looking dangerous, however Kennedy utilised his kicking game effectively, at one point landed a solid head kick on the MMA veteran. In the end, the fight resulted in a well deserved unanimous decision win for Kennedy over his former coach.
Post fight, Perth native Kennedy, 33, announced his retirement from MMA competition while also paying respect to Ebersole for his impact on himself as a fighter and the influence he had on the local Western Australian MMA scene. Ebersole had previously stated that the fight would be his last and he reiterated that on the night.
The co-headliner was a short-lived welterweight bout between hometown favourite Nick “Banjo” Patterson and his American opponent Josh Calvo. The bout began with Patterson initiating a boxing exchange. Calvo shot in for a takedown which forced Patterson down to the canvas. Calvo was active from top position with ground and pound. Following a flurry of heavy strikes from Calvo, Patterson was forced to submit verbally after injuring his shoulder. The bout was put to an end at 3:10 of the first round.
Local Victorian Callan Potter made an impressive debut at lightweight against tough Kiwi fighter Matiu Thoms. Potter showed continued improvement in his striking, frustrating Thoms in the stand up before Potter took the fight to the ground. After multiple submission attempts, Potter was able to sink in a rear-naked choke, forcing his opponent to tap late in the first round.
A welterweight rematch between fellow Americans JJ Ambrose and Frank Trevino was on the cards. Trevino looked to keep the fight standing and score his second win over Ambrose. Ambrose, however, was able to out grapple Trevino and submit him by Guillotine Choke late in the second round. Post fight, a defeated Trevino strongly called on Ambrose for a third meeting.
Among other fights on the night, Stu Dare stopped Ben Kelleher with strikes in just 23 seconds. Matt Eland and Jeremy Wharerau met in a crowd pleasing war which saw Eland victorious via TKO mid-way through the second frame. Kitt Campbell proved too much for NZ veteran, and late replacement, Matt Cain. In the first ever WMMA Hex fight, ATT Sydney product Amira Hafizovic submitted Meg Gallager with a Triangle Choke. Aiden Aguilera knocked out Allen Chong with a clean one punch uppercut and Saeed Karsaz opened the big night of fights with a guillotine choke submission against the fence of late replacement Joep Beerepoot.
Results:
- Steven Kennedy def Brian Ebersole via Decision (Unanimous) – Hex middleweight title
- Josh Calvo def Nick Patterson via Submission (Injury), Rd 1, 3:10
- Callan Potter def Matiu Thoms via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1, 3:21
- JJ Ambrose def Frank Trevino via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Rd 2, 4:35
- Stu Dare def Ben Kelleher via TKO (Strikes), Rd 1, 0:23
- Matt Eland def Jeremy Wharerau via TKO (Strikes), Rd 2, 2:16
- Kitt Campbell def Matt Cain via TKO (Strikes), Rd 1
- Hoshi Friedrich def Dane Beeby via Submission (Arm Bar), Rd 1, 1:27
- Jim Crute def Mike Turner via Decision (Unanimous)
- Raphael Berthet def Myles Simpson via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 4:41
- Amira Hafizovic def Meg Gallager via Submission (Triangle Choke), Rd 1, 2:39
- Aiden Aguilera def Allen Chong via KO (Punch), Rd 1, 1:40
- Saeed Karsaz def Joep Beerepoot via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Rd 1, 1:35
