The finalised lineup for AFC 5 has been released. Eleven bouts are slated for the show, which will take place at the Melbourne Pavilion on May 10.
A matchup between West Australian standout — and serial division hopper — Steve Kennedy, and African born Kiwi Cole Davids has been added to the middleweight tournament.
With notable wins including victories over Queensland’s Hale Vaa’sa and WA based Kiwi Sam Brown, Steve Kennedy has established himself at the top end of both the Aussie middleweight, and light heavyweight divisions. The Fitness and Fight Centre product has also fought five times at welterweight, and in his most recent outing, “The Steamroller” stopped Dean Roberts in a heavyweight tilt at Bragging Rights 5.
Cole Davids will be looking to keep his unblemished record intact at 84 kg. The Christchurch native is enjoying an impressive seven bout win streak in the division, with five wins coming by knockout and one by submission. His sole loss was to fellow Kiwi — and undefeated former ICNZ light heavyweight champ — Brandon Ropati in his light heavyweight debut at Legend FC 10 back in August, 2012. “Showtime”, who accepted the fight on just two weeks notice, was submitted in the first period.
Finishing out the first stage of the middleweight tournament is a clash between Sydney fighter and TUFFA veteran Rick Alchin — who will be looking to make it two in a row after submitting Marc Gehret at Brace 19 — and making his Australian debut, Slovenia’s Bor Bratovz (6-3).
Both tournaments will be contested over the next three shows, with the finalists to face off for the middleweight and welterweight titles.
As previously announced, local favorite Rusty McBride will look to avenge a loss to New Zealand’s Daniel Hooker in the main event when the two men rematch for the AFC lightweight title.
Single Fights:
- Daniel Hooker (Champion) vs Rusty McBride – AFC Lightweight Title Fight
- Ivo Dos Santos vs Rory O’Connell
- Joel Fisher vs Jordan Lucas
Welterweight Tournament:
- Dean Purdon vs Peter Davenport
- Zein Saliba vs Walber Tete
- Nick Patterson vs Luke Jumeau
- Alex Volankovski vs Jhunior Guarnido
Middleweight Tournament:
- Daniel Kelly vs Chris Birch
- Vik Grujic vs David Gibb
- Cole Davids vs Steve Kennedy
- Rick Alchin vs Bor Bratovz
