David Martinez vs Matt Vaile Headlines Eternal MMA 98 at Southport Sharks on September 13

Eternal MMA 98 lands at the Southport Sharks on the Gold Coast this September 13th, showcasing a stacked card that highlights Australia and New Zealand’s best MMA talent. Fans can catch the main card live on UFC Fight Pass, while the undercard streams exclusively at eternalmma.com.

From a championship main event to future stars making their debut, Eternal MMA 98 promises high stakes, highlight finishes and the continued rise of Oceania’s MMA scene.

Main Event: David Martinez vs Matt Vaile (Australian Welterweight Championship)

The headline fight sees David Martinez defend his Australian Welterweight Championship against Matt Vaile.

David Martinez is a multiple time, multi promotion champion and is considered one of the most dominant forces in Australian MMA. Known for his relentless grappling and physical presence, Martinez has sharpened his game under Team Compton whilst still maintaining his Team Ignite roots under Ryan Dunstan. Questions remain about whether a UFC call up is still within reach due to his age and struggles with the scales, a win here would solidify his legacy as one of the best regional fighters ever.

Matt Vaile made waves early in his career but faltered with losses to Road to UFC victor Kitt Campbell and UFC’s Jono Micallef. Recently, Vaile rebounded with a fourth round stoppage of Lyle Karam, who trained with former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis. A win over Martinez could reignite Vaile’s path to the global stage.

This fight is not just about a belt. It is about survival at the highest level of the regional scene.

Co Main Event: Tasar Malone vs Justin Van Heerden (Featherweight Division)

The co main event has all the makings of a passing of the torch moment.

Tasar Malone has only one professional loss, a decision against Seb Szalay who is now one fight away from a UFC contract. Malone is a former Eternal Breakthrough Fighter of the Year and is seen as a future face of the promotion.

Justin Van Heerden was once the number one pound for pound fighter on the Australian regional scene and a former champion. He has struggled in recent outings with his last three bouts going to decision, two ending in defeat. This fight could determine whether he reclaims his former glory or starts considering life after competition.

Feature Fights to Watch

Loni Filimoehala vs Quinlan Kelly (Welterweight Division)
Quinlan Kelly is fresh off a thunderous knockout win over Farhood Khalabtar, a fight he took even after Khalabtar came in heavy. Loni Filimoehala earned a statement victory against highly regarded prospect Declan Wolfdinen. Expect fireworks.

Jake Piper vs Korey Sutcliffe (Bantamweight Division)
Jake Piper is quickly becoming a cult figure in Aussie MMA. After knocking out Patrick Hill, Piper lit a cigarette and smoked it inside the cage. Beyond the antics he is a legitimate finisher with serious momentum.

Jon Aiello vs Perry Smith (Bantamweight Division)
Jon Aiello, known to many as the former Eternal MMA ring announcer, makes his pro debut with a 7-1 amateur record. Behind the humor and personality is a skilled fighter with genuine potential to be a future contender.

Adnan Larry vs Danny Hartwell (Heavyweight Division)
Adnan Larry is always entertaining but needs a statement win after dropping fights he was favored to win. Against Hartwell, Larry gets another chance to prove he belongs among the heavyweight contenders.

Full Eternal MMA 98 Fight Card

Main Card (UFC Fight Pass) & Undercard (eternalmma.com) Fight Order TBD

• (C) David Martinez vs Matt Vaile, Welterweight Championship
• Tasar Malone vs Justin Van Heerden, Featherweight Division
• Loni Filimoehala vs Quinlan Kelly, Welterweight Division
• Jake Piper vs Korey Sutcliffe, Bantamweight Division
• Zac O’Brien vs Nikita Laptsevich, Featherweight Division
• Jon Aiello vs Perry Smith, Bantamweight Division

• Luke Melrose vs Louie Tran, Flyweight Division
• Adnan Larry vs Danny Hartwell, Heavyweight Division
• Andrew Patara vs Matt Kindness, Lightweight Division
• Issaac Rendall vs Jayden Murphy, Welterweight Bout
• Paiariki Cook vs Daniel Matheson, Bantamweight Bout
• Daniel Ross vs Cyprian Rogozinski, Featherweight Bout
• Bailey Rach vs Callam Baird, Featherweight Bout
• Mitchell Rapson vs Jay Jay Ioane, Featherweight Bout
• Jonas Solari vs Jayden Le Petit, Featherweight Bout
• Baxter Pickering vs TBC, Featherweight Bout
• Finn Noonan vs Makani Gray, Lightweight Bout
• Gus Muirhead vs Jayden Turner, Featherweight Bout

Final Thoughts

With a mix of championship stakes, rising prospects and fan favorite personalities, Eternal MMA 98 at Southport Sharks is shaping up to be one of the promotion’s most exciting nights of the year. Whether you are tuning in on UFC Fight Pass or streaming the undercard at eternalmma.com, fight fans will not want to miss this event.

Australian MMA continues to produce elite talent and September 13 on the Gold Coast could be the stage where the next breakout star emerges.

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