Former two-time Eternal champion John Martin Fraser reminded everyone that he is still a force to be reckoned with in the middleweight division with a first-round stoppage against Alfred Stoddart.
The bout headlined the Eternal MMA 88 card which took place at Southport Sharks in Queensland on Saturday.
Fraser pressed the action though both headliners were throwing with intention. Fraser rocked Stoddardt against the cage and as Stoddart was trying to gather his bearings, Fraser finished it off with a pair of short right uppercuts that dropped his opponent. Fraser followed up with ground-and-pound to get the referee stoppage.
The win came 3:21 into the contest as Fraser takes his record to 8-4.
Fraser spoke about his appreciation for Stoddard taking the fight before crediting his new team and calling for another title shot.
“I joined Team Compton and they have taken me under their wing. They have developed me so much. Another person I want to thank is Ryan Doyle. He doesn’t get enough credit. He is the man and has done a lot for my career,” Fraser told the crowd after his fight.
“I want to get that title back. I’m not sure if Ben [Johnston] will have any more fights. If he is retired all the respect in the world to Ben.”
“I would love to run it back but if he is not going to fight again that’s cool. I would like to fight Darcy Vendy, I have been trying to get a fight with him for a while.”
Tasar Malone secured the biggest win of his professional career to date, with a second-round rear-naked choke submission against the veteran Jesse Medina.
Having been awarded the 2023 breakthrough fighter by the promotion, the CMBT Training Centre athlete moved his career to 4-0 with the win.
Earlier David Martinez secured a unanimous decision victory against Luke Dally which was overshadowed due to another weight-cut miss, something Martinez was not making any excuses for post-fight.
“He did not need to take this fight. I did the unprofessional thing and failed half of my contract, which is to show up on weight and that’s a disgrace. That’s all I have to say tonight about that. I’m sorry guys and I want to apologise for my lack of professionalism.”
“Give it up for my opponent and his team, for taking the fight.”
When queried about what is next and if a move to welterweight is on the cards
“It can not [happen again]. Let me talk to my team about the best path forward but until then, consider me semi-retired.”
Main Card:
- John Fraser def. Alfred Stoddart via TKO, Rd 1, 3:21
- Tasar Malone def. Jesse Medina via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 2, 0:45
- David Martinez def. Luke Dally via Decision (Unanimous)
- Christian Lapham def. Damian Volar via Decision (Unanimous)
- Nathaniel Law def. Connor Downey via TKO, Rd 1, 4:43
- Matty Iann def. Jean Alexander Romano via Decision (Unanimous)
Undercard:
- Bailey Rach def. Isaac Small via Decision (Unanimous)
- Jake Hyland def. Cooper Martin via Decision (Split)
- Jake Pitfield def. Ashkaan Latkaee via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
- Randall Rowan def. Dario Strbac via TKO, Rd 2
- Mitch Rapson def. Ethan Kratzman via Submission
- Kyle Higginbotham def. Finn Rattigan via TKO
