Daniel Hooker and Rusty McBride are set to rematch for the Lightweight Title as Australian Fighting Championship 5 kicks off this Friday night at the Melbourne Pavilion.
McBride will be looking to even the score with the Kiwi after suffering a disappointing TKO loss when the two first vied for the title back in mid 2012 at AFC 3. On that night, the doctor called a halt to the bout after the local favorite sustained a bad cut.
Australian combat sports veteran Ian Schaffa will make his much anticipated return after nearly three years on the sidelines when he faces 24 year-old New Zealander Kieran Joblin, while the first of two Judo Olympians on the card Ivo Dos Santos will look to keep his unblemished record intact against Rory O’Connell.
AFC 5 will also showcase the first stages of the promotion’s Middleweight and Welterweight Title tournaments.
The Middleweight element will see Kiwi standout Cole Davids make his Australian debut as he takes on former K-OZ Entertainment Light Heavyweight champion Steve Kennedy. Fresh off a first round submission win over South Australian veteran Kym Robinson, Olympic Judo representative Daniel Kelly will be looking to continue his unbeaten start to the sport when he meets Queensland’s Chris Birch. After dropping his last promotional appearance back in December, Vik Grujic will now look to rebound against Daniel Way in an all local encounter while TUFFA veteran Rick Alchin will search for his second win on the trot after submitting Marc Gehret at Brace 19 when he faces Slovenia’s Bor Bratovz.
Recently crowned Brace 77kg champion Corey Nelson and the undefeated Alex Volankovski will vie for a second stage birth in the Welterweight tournament when the two NSW fighters meet. Zein Saliba drops down from Middleweight to meet Brazilian veteran Walber De Barros. Jake Mathews will take a step up in competition and take on former Legend FC title challenger Luke Jumeau of New Zealand, and rounding off the Welterweight tournament matchups, Dean Purdon faces Peter Davenport.
Stay tuned to fightnewsaustralia.com for event results this Friday night (May 10).
AFC Lightweight Title Fight:
- Daniel Hooker (Champion) vs Rusty McBride
Welterweight Tournament:
- Dean Purdon vs Peter Davenport
- Zein Saliba vs Walber De Barros
- Jake Matthews vs Luke Jumeau
- Alex Volankovski vs Corey Nelson
Single Bout:
- Ivo Dos Santos vs Rory O’Connell
Middleweight Tournament:
- Daniel Kelly vs Chris Birch
- Vik Grujic vs Daniel Way
- Cole Davids vs Steve Kennedy
- Rick Alchin vs Bor Bratovz
Single Bouts:
- Joel Fisher vs Jordan Lucas
- Ian Schaffa vs Kieran Joblin
- Lana Kate vs Amy Adam
