Eternal 102 delivered a stacked night of action featuring multiple championship bouts and several breakout performances on the Australian regional scene. Below is a full fight-by-fight breakdown of Eternal 102, including results, performance analysis, and the next fights to make for every key contender.
Darcy Vendy (9-3) def. ‘Chili’ Kancharee (1-2) via 1st Round TKO
Eternal Middleweight Championship
Darcy Vendy did as expected and made light work of Chili, taking the fight to the ground and unleashing ground-and-pound that prompted the ref to step in. Unfortunately, due to a premature stoppage from the referee, Vendy was unable to properly capture the breakout performance in front of UFC executive Hunter Campbell that he would’ve been hoping for. Nonetheless, he still showed an impressive grappling game and a slick top game paired with dominating, yet aggressive, control.
Vendy engaged briefly on the feet, but grounded the fight quickly by pushing Chili up against the cage, securing the body lock, and easily securing the takedown before quickly securing top position. On top, Vendy showcased his effective and aggressive ground-and-pound, which had Chili quickly shelling up and reacting poorly to shots. Truthfully, the premature stoppage likely just saved Chili from more damage, but it robbed Vendy of his big moment in front of Hunter Campbell in what was his audition for the UFC.
Next Fights to Make
Darcy Vendy v Christian Lapham
‘Chili’ Kancharee v Fergus Jenkins
Matty Iann (4-0) def Ben Watson (9-3) via 1st Round KO
Eternal Interim Bantamweight Championship
This was a real breakout performance for Matty Iann, who made real light work of the experienced Watson, showing off an aggressive, yet technical, striking game while destroying Watson’s legs in an overall impressive beatdown. Watson really had no answers for anything Iann had on the feet, getting rocked on multiple occasions and overall having issues being able to defensively deal with the pressure Iann was bringing. He also had no success initiating the grappling, with Iann able to easily shrug off any attempts.
I was already high on Iann as a prospect prior to this fight, but this outing really proved just how ready he is at such a young stage in his career. The sky really is the limit for Iann as he continues to quickly ascend through the regional scene, en route to an eventual run in the UFC.
Next Fights to Make
Matty Iann v Kuya Ito (Eternal Bantamweight Championship Unification Bout)
Ben Watson v Kris Ustijanovski/Jake Piper Winner
Anthony Drilich (10-3) def. by Joseph Larcinese (5-0) via 3rd Round TKO
Eternal Flyweight Championship
The rise of Joseph Larcinese has been remarkable to say the least. Having made his amateur debut less than four years ago, Larcinese has already climbed the mountain of attaining Eternal Flyweight Gold and put himself right in the frame as one of the hottest prospects Australia has to offer regionally in 2026.
Larcinese showed a tight, technical guard paired with a lightning-quick striking game that overwhelmed Drilich up until the stoppage eventuated. Larcinese also showed nice defensive grappling awareness and was able to quickly thwart any of Drilich’s attempts to push Larcinese up against the cage for takedowns. He looked composed against high-level opposition, delivering a barrage of damaging strikes to a diverse array of targets on the feet that had Drilich stunned on multiple occasions.
It was an impressive showcase of skill that acted as a real breakout performance for those who didn’t already know about his talent, and a fight that will inevitably put him in good standing for a DWCS or Road to UFC opportunity soon.
Next Fights to Make
Joseph Larcinese v Perci Mwambi
Anthony Drilich v Cooper Royal
Luke Dally (5-2) def. Matt Fordham (4-1) via 3rd Round Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Lightweight
In what felt like a close fight on paper going into it, Luke Dally made it feel anything but that, showing off an impressive, well-rounded game as he snatched up a third-round rear naked choke victory against the previously-undefeated Matt Fordham, proving he’s a genuine prospect at 155lbs.
Dally put any questions about his grappling from his loss to David Martinez to bed, showing an improved ground game that defensively frustrated Fordham whenever he was able to get top position. He was constantly threatening submissions and throwing strikes off his back, all whilst constantly blocking Fordham from passing guard. What was most impressive though was Dally’s damaging striking, where he mixed in vicious elbows that cut Fordham badly on the side of his head.
Overall, in a real make-or-break spot, Dally passed with flying colours and set himself up for a big opportunity next. His biggest issue now might be finding willing opponents on the Australian Regional Scene to fight him, similar to his teammate Harry Webb. Perhaps a good next step for Dally would be a returning Blake Donnelly, or the fast-rising, highly-touted Brodie Mayocchi.
Next Fights to Make
Luke Dally v Brodie Mayocchi
Matt Fordham v Arte Trepca
Justin van Heerden (18-9) def. Jesse Swain (2-1) via Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)
Featherweight
In a fight where many had written van Heerden off, he was able to show again why you can never do so by turning back a hungry, powerful, young prospect in Jesse Swain over the course of three rounds in a vintage van Heerden grappling performance.
Van Heerden was clinical, sharp, and purposeful in his intentions, showing off his renowned grinding wrestling style that has won him so many of his previous fights. His methodical movements both on the feet and the ground had him able to quickly secure takedowns and a dominant position. Swain proved that he is still a prospect to keep a close eye on, surviving tough positions on the ground and showing some nice, damaging striking on the feet; but Van Heerden was able to ground the fight, secure top position, and threaten submissions to secure himself the victory.
At such a young stage in his career, this fight showed Swain the levels he needs to get to as he continues his push towards the UFC. To get this high-level experience so early in his career will put him in good stead to bounce back and exponentially surge towards the global stage, and from van Heerden’s perspective, a win has vaulted him right back into title contention.
Next Fights to Make
Justin Van Heerden v Kevin Kophamel (Eternal Featherweight Title)
Jesse Swain v Jett Fisher or Jake Piper if he loses
Michael Alsop (2-1) def. by Perci Mwambi (4-1) via 1st Round TKO (Doctor’s Stoppage Between Rounds)
Flyweight
Perci Mwambi put on a vicious performance against Michael Alsop that put him firmly in the championship conversation at Flyweight.
Mwambi put on an aggressive show on the feet, unleashing a barrage of violent elbows that created one of the gnarliest cuts I’ve ever seen that cut Alsop skull-deep, forcing the doctor’s stoppage in between rounds. Mwambi landed a tonne of big shots at range, as well as elbows against the cage that showed just how multifaceted he is, given his last three fights had all been submission victories and Alsop was perceived by many to have the edge on the feet going into the fight.
Alsop showed enormous courage to stay in the fight to the end of the first, refusing to go down and absorbing some really big strikes on the feet that would have put many men out cold. This was, however, the Perci Mwambi show, where he made a big statement to his future intentions and solidified himself as a prospect that demands attention. Given many of the names in Australian MMA at Flyweight, Mwambi could very well find himself fighting for Eternal Flyweight Gold in his next bout.
Next Fights to Make
Perci Mwambi v Joseph Larcinese (Eternal Flyweight Championship)
Michael Alsop v Frank Jankowski
Christian Lapham (4-0) def. Seb Temesi (4-5) via Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)
Middleweight
Christian Lapham made relatively light work of Seb Temesi, wobbling him on multiple occasions in a fight he arguably should have probably finished.
Lapham looked improved from his last bout, throwing more volume on the feet and landing some heavy looping strikes that had Temesi on wobbly legs. He was able to thwart any attempts Temesi made to grapple, even if they were few and far between, and showed exactly the right types of steps you’d want to see him make. To his credit though, Lapham did make pretty light work of the experienced Temesi, and given the desperate need for talent at 185 lbs. globally, Lapham has a fundamental skillset he can build on to the point he becomes a genuine contender in the global scene.
In a thin middleweight division with not many names available, Lapham is probably next up for a title shot if they don’t fly in an international for Vendy. I would personally prefer the latter, and for Lapham to get one more fight in at least before a title fight, just because I think it would give Lapham the opportunity to further develop his game and cardio, but in reality he’s probably next up for Vendy. Given that Lapham didn’t take much damage in this spot, that fight could eventuate in the next couple months, if both men agree.
Next Fights to Make
Christian Lapham v Darcy Vendy (Eternal Middleweight Title)
Seb Temesi v Toby Tsang
Josh O’Brien (1-1) def. by Mitch Kelly (2-0) via Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)
Featherweight
In what was a very closely-contested fight that arguably could have gone either way, Mitch Kelly edged out a 29-28 decision, primarily through his grappling against a game Josh O’Brien.
This fight played out primarily with O’Brien getting the better on the feet and Kelly the better on the ground, with Kelly showing an improved game on the feet, but still getting caught with some big shots from O’Brien. To his credit, Kelly showed that he has an aggressive ground game that he can employ where needed and is able to secure takedowns and top control with little resistance. There, he was able to work for submissions and get off enough ground-and-pound to negate O’Brien’s impact on the feet up until that point.
While there are some who call this fight a robbery, and I did personally think O’Brien probably won, I personally thought it was a close fight where either man could have ultimately walked out victorious, due to just how the close the first round was. That was Mitch Kelly, and while he’s still green as a prospect, he showed he has the fundamental skillset to build on and is worth keeping an eye on as his MMA career progresses.
Next Fights to Make
Mitch Kelly v Joe Davis
Josh O’Brien v Ollie Schmid