Kings of Kombat 12 takes place tonight at the Dandenong Stadium in Melbourne. The show will be headlined by a 72.5 kg title fight between Steve Moxon and Brad Riddell — which will be contested under modified kickboxing rules.
Moxon will be looking to bounce back from a second round TKO loss at the hands of Niclas Larsen at Glory 15, while New Zealand’s Brad Riddell suffered a unanimous points decision loss late last year to John Wayne Parr.
Also slated for the event, ‘TUF: Nations’ alumn Jake Matthews (pictured left) takes his first step back locally following his time in Canada in the Ultimate Fighter house, where the 19 year-old Aussie was upset in the opening round of the series by Canadian welterweight finalist Oliver Aubin-Mercier. Matthews faces Stuart Dare (pictured right) of the Hybrid Training Centre in Tasmania.
The Kombat Kings middleweight title along with $5000 in prize money will also be up for grabs tonight with 8 fighters competing in a one-night eliminator tournament — also to be contested under modified kickboxing rules — to decide who takes home the gold.
Jake Matthews vs Stuart Dare – Play-by-play
Round 1:
Touch of gloves. Big swings from both men to start. Matthews lands with a straight right. Matthews landing the cleaner shots as both fighters throw combinations. The fight hits the canvas briefly and they’re back standing once again. Matthews lands a left hand and follows up with a double-leg take down, landing in half guard. Dare does well and sweeps Matthews. Dare on top now and the referee intervenes and re-centres the action. Matthews works for a triangle then pushes dare away with his feet before standing. Big right hand lands from Matthews. Matthews engages with a flying knee before tying Dare up however the round ends soon after.
Round 2:
Matthews opens up to begin the second frame with more punch combinations. Dare hits the canvas and Matthews pounces landing in full guard. They’re soon standing once again and Matthews continues to land as Dare shows great resilience. Dare with his hands low as they size each other up. Matthews ties him up against the ropes, briefly. They break. Dare stumbling forward and lands a punch before Matthews again ties him up before scoring another takedown and the second round comes to a close.
Round 3:
Matthews pushes Dare to the canvas as they reengage, however he lets the Tasmanian back up. Matthews charges forward looking for a takedown which he gets. The ref stands them up after a short period of inactivity. Matthews lands a left hook to the body, Dare attempts a spinning heel kick in response. Dare ties Matthews up and gets the fight to the ground. Half guard now with 40 seconds to go as Matthews searches for a kamura. He finds his feet but Dare drags him back down and the fight ends.
Result: Jake Matthews def Stuart Dare via Decision (Unanimous)
Full Results:
- Steve Moxon def Brad Riddell via Decision (Unanimous) – Modified KB middleweight title
- Dinesh Kanth def Chase Haley via Decision (Split) – 72.5 kg Mod KB tournament final
- Jake Matthews def Stuart Dare via Decision (Unanimous) – MMA
- Kayne Clarke def Nathan Gamble via TKO, Rd 2, 1:15 – Mod KB
- Ramesh Habbib vs Artit Jumpatong (Draw) – Mod KB
- Mehmet Ceyhan def David Tsung via Decision (Unanimous) – K-1 rules
- Les Clarke def Kemal Farid via TKO, Rd 1 – K-1 rules
- Chase Haley def Martin Tchong via Decision (Unanimous) –Tournament semi-final
- Dinesh Kanth def Daniel Soeurream via Decision (Unanimous) – Tournament semi-final
- Kamil Kay Yucel def Richard Tom via Decision (Unanimous) – Mod KB
- Aiden Aguilera def David Simmons via Submission (Triangle Choke), Rd 3, 1:40 – MMA
- Mark Mullan def Steven Baldachino via Decision (Unanimous) – Mod KB
- Martin Tchong def Bentley Shefford via TKO (injury), Rd 1 – 72.5 kg Mod KB tournament
- Chase Haley def Piotr Lagodzki via TKO, Rd 2 – 72.5 kg Mod KB tournament
- Daniel Soeurream def Jun lee via Decision – 72.5 kg Mod KB tournament
- Dinesh Kanth def Jake Cole via Decision – 72.5 kg Mod KB tournament
*Image via the Kings of Kombat Facebook Page
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