Michael “The Great White” Tobin secured another first-round submission as he tapped Shindo New Breed fighter Garret Gross in the main event of Eternal MMA 35.
The event took place at the Southport Sharks AFL Club on Queensland’s Gold Coast on Saturday night and broadcast live via an online stream.
Tobin wasted no time in taking the fight to the ground setting it up with a strong right that found it’s mark. Ground-and-pound followed from the 25-year-old who quickly transitioned to side-control and then mount. Gross attempted to cage walk to free himself but Tobin, who has 13 submission victories on his record, was waiting and locked up a tight armbar. A battle ensued as Gross wriggled to free himself but as Tobin tightened it, the pain became to much and Gross was forced to tap for his third straight loss.
The win takes Tobin’s record to 14-2 15-2 as he remains undefeated against local opposition. His two career losses came at the hands of English fighters Dean Garnett and Mike Grundy.
With Hibberd winning in the co-main event, a match-up between Tobin and Hibberd looks to be next.
“So I was supposed to fight Sam (Hibberd) in May but unfortunately my nan (Grandmother) passed so I asked Cam for the fight at this one but he was already matched with Blackie so they scrambled together to find an opponent,” Tobin answered when asked about the match-up post-fight.
“I’m very excited to fight him.”
Sam Hibberd edged out the previously undefeated Aaron Blackie in the co-main event. A former Judoka, Blackie struggled to take the fight to the ground and when he did, Hibberd was able to pop straight back to his feet which led to the two often stalling against the cage. Hibberd nearly caught Blackie with a straight armbar in the first round with Blackie having to use all his knowledge to escape.
With Blackie constantly pushing for the takedown, he started to tire and along with the sweat made the takedown attempt even harder to finish. Hibberd was able to find openings including a head-snapping uppercut to start the third round. As cuts started to open on Blackie’s face he defaulted to standing and brawling which worked into Hibberd’s advantage. Blackie took his opponents back late in the fight however was unable to capitalise. Both fighters gave it there all in the final minute in an attempt to steal the decision in a tightly contested fight.
Not expecting to get awarded the decision, Hibberd was shocked as they announced him as split-points decision victor. He moved to 6-2 as a professional.
“I thought he had it,” Hibberd commented in his post-fight speech.
“I’m usually pretty hard with myself with these type of things. It took me two rounds to get going and that’s a testament to him. He came out and brought the pace from the get-go.”
“Me and Michael Tobin have a bit of unfinished business so let’s hope he gets the nod next and I’ll come back. That wasn’t the best of me. That was after a long lay-off so see me in September.”
Originally from the United Kingdom and now training at Phuket Top Team in Thailand, Ben Royle put on a striking clinic in the first round against Adam Russo. Wanting to change it up in the second round, Russo shot in for a takedown though Royle pounced to take his back where he locked up the rear-naked choke submission and got the tap. The submission came only 33-seconds into the second round.
Earlier, Integrated MMA trained Matt Lee-Manwar outworked Choi Sung Wook from Absolute MMA to take the unanimous decision victory and move his record to 2-0.
Results (Pro):
- Michael Tobin def. Garret Gross via Submission (Armbar), Rd 1, 1:56
- Sam Hibberd def. Aaron Blackie via Decision (Split)
- Ben Royle def. Adam Russo via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 2, 0:33
- Matt Yung Lee-Manwar def. Choi Sung Wook via Decision (Unanimous)
Results (Amateur): def.
- Josh Grove def. Mitch Bayliss via Decision (Unanimous)
- Michael Letizia def. Jayden Binnie via Decision (Unanimous)
- Ryan Cooper def. Mark Richardson via Decision (Unanimous)
- Jordan Payne def. Luke Davies via Decision (Unanimous)
- Jonny Wark def. Josh Neisler via Decision (Unanimous)
- Luke Dwyer def. Jesse De Giusti via Decision (Uanimous)
- Arik Hassett def. Jack Williams via Submission (D’Arce), Rd 1, 1:10
- Chris Thorne def. Ethan Wulf via KO (Punch), Rd 2, 1:30
- Kyle Mayocchi def. Chazaq Mongi via Decision (Unanimous)
Updated 16 July 2018 at 16:57 : Article was corrected to accurate reflect Tobin’s record as 15-2
