Recently crowned AFC middleweight champ, Steve Kennedy, and 2013 NAGA champion, Savas Caruso, will headline the upcoming MMA Down Under 5 card in Adelaide. The two fighters will meet at a catch weight of 91kg.
Fresh off a submission victory over TUF ‘Smashes’ alumni, and 1 time UFC fighter, Manuel Rodriguez, at AFC 7, Steve Kennedy will be kicking off his 2014 campaign when he enters the MMA Down Under cage for the first time. The Perth based veteran, who is currently riding a 3 fight win streak, enjoyed an undefeated 2013 with additional wins over Dean Roberts and Cole Davids. Outside of MMA, Kennedy recently won the WA 86kg Freestyle and 87kg Greco Roman Wrestling titles.
Savas Caruso, a BJJ purple belt who trains out of the Northside Boxing and Jiu Jitsu gym in Adelaide, is a multi-time South Australia, and Victoria state BJJ champion, and with just a pair of amateur MMA bouts behind him, will be making his pro debut on the night. October 2013 saw the submission specialist take out the NO-GI Mens Heavyweight Expert Advanced division, as well as the GI Mens Purple Belt Super Heavyweight Advanced division at the NAGA (North American Grappling Association) Southwest Grappling Championship in Oklahoma.
Co-headlining the show will be a lightweight tilt between Bellator veteran, Cleber Luciano, and Perth based Irish fighter, Patrick Conroy.
Fourty year-old Cleber Luciano, who holds a 5th degree BJJ Black Belt under Royler Gracie, is a 7 time BJJ world champion with a MMA record of 9 wins and 5 losses. The Huntington Beach native is coming off a decision win over Joe Camacho at Bellator 106.
Patrick Conroy, 27, is a kickboxer from Stradbally, Ireland, who now fights out of the Academy of Mixed Martial Arts in Perth. He’ll take a 4-2-1 MMA record into the fight.
All up, 13 bouts have been announced at his stage for the event, which will take place on April 5, once again at the Adelaide Arena.
Fight Card:
- Sav Caruso vs Steve Kennedy
- Cleber Luciano vs Patrick Conroy
- Nick Hughes vs Myles Simpson
- Eddie Alba vs Michael Flaherty
- Jerick Panes vs Zach Hook
- Michael Fitzgerald vs Trent Deboo
- Richard Blake vs Shane Mitchell
- Daniel Lawson vs Dylan McPherson
- Tyson Van Den Ende vs Goran Olujic
- James Blair vs Jack Scudd
- Jake Hearl vs Michael McKitterick
- Lauchy Price vs Jarrad Ali
- Gavin Toyama vs Sean Gauci
