It’s a massive weekend for Australian MMA fans, with the eyes of the combat sports world descending on Perth. On Saturday night, the UFC returns to Perth in a primetime slot packed with Australian and Kiwi prospects. But before all that, Friday night belongs to the regional scene – and Eternal 105 is ready to steal the show.
The Eternal 105 card delivers on multiple fronts: an interim middleweight title fight, a heated lightweight #1 contender bout, and a string of exciting prospects looking to make statements on a big stage. With UFC staff in the building and the whole globe’s attention on Australian MMA this weekend, the timing couldn’t be better. Here’s a full breakdown of the key fights and what to watch for on fight night.
Aldin Bates (9-3) vs. John Martin Fraser (11-5) – Interim Eternal Middleweight Championship
With Darcy Vendy forced out after rupturing his ACL in training back in March, an interim title fight was quickly put together to keep the Eternal MMA middleweight division moving. Two veterans of the weight class – Aldin Bates and John Martin Fraser – step up, and the winner will either defend the interim belt or wait for Vendy’s expected return in 2027.
Bates comes in off a fourth-round KO win over UFC fighter Jono Micallef in early 2024, with three consecutive victories that also include wins over recent PFL signee John Vake and Israel Adesanya question mark kick victim Stu Dare. That said, Bates is stepping up a weight class after a two-year layoff at 39 years old, so there are real questions about which version of him shows up at Eternal 105.
Martin Fraser is a former two-time Eternal Middleweight Champion riding a three-fight win streak, most recently picking up an impressive victory over Imamshafi Aliev at UAE Warriors 64. A genuine cornerstone of the Australian regional MMA scene, he brings a level of quality that is hard to find at this weight class outside of the major organisations, and remains a serious litmus test for any rising contender.
A matchup between a 33-year-old and a 39-year-old doesn’t always jump off the page, but this one does. With Blair Bretag and Christian Lapham meeting at Eternal 106, the winner of that fight figures to be next in line for the interim title, and the division is further energised by the likes of Fergus Jenkins – who suddenly has a range of options – as well as newcomer Auryn Parmley, who has the potential to quickly reinvigorate what had been a stagnant weight class.
Whether it’s Bates proving his agelessness once again or Fraser cementing himself as arguably the greatest regional middleweight in Australian history with a third Eternal championship, this is a fight well worth watching.
Luke Dally (5-2) vs. Antonio Caruso (10-3) – Lightweight #1 Contender Fight
After years of Harry Webb calling for this matchup on behalf of his team, Caruso will finally face an Infinite MMA representative at Eternal 105 – just not Webb himself, who remains sidelined through injury. Instead, he’ll take on Webb’s white-hot teammate Luke Dally, coming off a dominant and brutal performance against formerly-undefeated Matt Fordham.
On paper, Caruso holds the experience edge – more professional fights and six years on Dally in age – but it’s worth noting that Dally has arguably faced stiffer competition, with wins over the likes of Abdalla Biayda and Fordham, and having faced David Martinez. Caruso has admittedly more often been matched against fighters with inflated records, or those past their prime.
Stylistically, this fight comes down to a simple question: can Dally create enough space to let his striking breathe and put Caruso on the back foot, or will Antonio Caruso grind the fight into the clinch and against the cage?
Dally feels like the pick here, particularly given how long his team has been angling for this fight and the detailed game-planning that comes with it – but Caruso is the kind of fighter who can frustrate anyone and grind out a decision, so don’t sleep on him.
The stakes are high, regardless of outcome. A Caruso win sets up a fascinating title fight against Webb, while a Dally victory likely earns him an interim belt shot, given his relationship with the champion.
Laurence Whitesmith (1-0) vs. Michael Tepou (0-2) – Welterweight
Laurence Whitesmith, one of the most exciting young welterweight prospects in Australian MMA, makes his second professional appearance after announcing himself with a big KO win over Kaan Husmek in his debut. Originally set to face fellow rising prospect Artemios Trepca, Whitesmith now meets Michael Tepou, who stepped up on short notice to keep the bout alive.
Full credit to Tepou for accepting this fight on roughly two weeks’ notice, but the matchup looks heavily-weighted in Whitesmith’s favour. Tepou is 0–2 with two stoppage-losses, hasn’t competed in nearly three years, and is stepping up in weight. Whitesmith, by contrast, is a young and improving fighter with genuine knockout power, and one that Eternal MMA are actively building toward bigger things.
Fighting throws up surprises, but Whitesmith should cruise here and could well be the most-talked about performer coming out of Eternal 105.
Moses Deng (2-2) vs. Lucas Cannon (1-3) – Flyweight
If you appreciate slick, technically-refined striking, then you’re already a fan of Moses Deng – you just don’t know it yet. Coming off a sharp first-round KO in late 2025 that revived the momentum he built throughout his standout amateur career, Deng was originally set to face Zac Gregson in February before that fight fell through. After a longer-than-expected wait, he finally returns at Eternal 105 to showcase his dynamic striking and explore his grappling game, if the opportunity arises.
Cannon comes in out of Rival Gym, looking to rebuild confidence and prove he belongs at this level. Having been stopped in all three of his professional losses, Cannon will need to show improved striking defence and the ability to blend in his grappling effectively when fighting under constant pressure.
This one has all the ingredients for a violent and entertaining scrap, and should go a long way toward establishing one of these Australian flyweights as a name to watch at 125 lbs.
Others to Watch at Eternal 105
- Reif Delpino – One of the most exciting young fighters on the Eternal 105 card, Delpino burst onto the scene earlier this year with a first-round KO in his Eternal debut, showing an impressive and well-rounded skillset for someone so early in their career. All three of his amateur wins have come by stoppage, and he’s well worth keeping a close eye on as fight night unfolds.
