Josh Togo will leave Queensland this weekend with a brand new belt.
In dominant display, the Australian Top Team product defeated champion David Martinez to claim the lightweight title at Eternal MMA 49, which took place at Southport Sharks on the Gold Coast on Friday, November 1.
Over three rounds, Togo effected cleaner, crisper striking than Martinez to yield the unanimous decision victory. Martinez was unable to take Togo down into his area of expertise, and with few answers for him on the feet “The Smiling Assassin” started to wear the damage low and high. Togo kicked to the legs, body and head with a good amount success, but was simply more cadent everywhere it counted. In doing so, he handed Martinez (6-1) his first professional loss and snapped an incredible 15-fight win streak. With his second-straight win, Togo is now 7-3, 1 NC.
In the co-main event, Diego Pereira knocked out Michael Tobin with a head kick in the third round of their featherweight contest. After edging “The Great White” on the feet for two rounds, Pereira landed the brutal strike just 30 seconds into the third, and two follow up shots on the ground before the referee stepped in.
“If you watch Michael Tobin, you don’t wanna come out crazy and give the guy a chance to do what he does best,” Pereira said of the fight. “We wanted to make sure we were calculated, we picked our shots and felt him out in the first round. Then we picked him apart and got comfortable, and then we started to open a little bit as the fight went on. … We took our time and we reap the rewards.”
Announcer Dave Eller confirmed on the broadcast that Pereira (6-3) will be fighting for the featherweight title in his next bout. When quizzed who he’d like for that bout, “Black Panther” answered with the last man to defeat him.
“Aaron Blackie, if you’re in the crowd, I feel like we have unfinished business,” said Pereira. “You got me in the first one, but I came out here and I took out the number one ranked guy in the country, so I deserve and I earned the right to call somebody out. So I want Aaron Blackie to come out here and dance with me again. Let’s run it back.”
Chelsea Hackett picked up her second professional win after knocking out Nicole Szepesvary in unlikely fashion. Barely after touching gloves at the beginning of the second round, Hackett caught Szepesvary’s leg off a kick and swiftly kicked the other leg out from underneath her. In the resulting dump, Szepesvary landed on her shoulder and her head hit the mat, appearing to knock her unconscious. In her post-fight interview, “Hammer” expressed little surprise in the outcome due to some last minute advice from her father and head coach, Jeff Hackett.
“The last thing my dad said coming out here tonight was, ‘You catch her kicks and you dump her on the canvas,’” Hackett said. “And that’s exactly what I did and got the knockout.”
Results (Professional):
- Josh Togo def. David Martinez via Decision (Unanimous) – Eternal lightweight title
- Diego Pereira def. Michael Tobin via TKO (Head kick and punches), R3, 0:42
- Chelsea Hackett def. Nicole Szepesvary via TKO, R2, 0:08
- Dimps Gillies def. Sam Flint via TKO (Doctor stoppage), R1, 4:22
- Mitch Heron def. Brett Jacobsen via TKO (Head kick and punches), R3, 3:46
Results (Amateur):
- Josh Kuhne def. John Benson via TKO (Punches), R1, 0:38
- Tasar Malone def. Luke Smoother via TKO (Punches), R3, 2:09
- Reon Mahima def. Mohammed Mustafa via TKO (Punches), R1, 2:36
- Guy Slacksmith def. William Rosen via Decision (Unanimous)
- Korey Sutcliffe def. Nav Goundar via Decision (Split)
- Boston Caines def. Justin Bikoff via TKO (Punches and knees), R1, 0:52
- Nick Field def. Dean Abbott via KO (Punch), Rd 1, 1:48
