Rebellion 33: New Generation this Saturday, March 22, will feature undefeated fighter Daniel Matthews, while the undercard Roots 28: Catch a Fire event will have Reese McMaster make her professional debut.
Matthews has constructed an undefeated 6-0 record in his professional career since debuting in September 2022.
Fight number seven poses as the local’s toughest test, taking on Victorian number one and Australian number nine Carter Lawrence at 70kg in Matthews’ first five-round fight.
“This fight is pretty big for me,” Matthews said.
“(Lawrence) has been really active in Thailand fighting in the big stadiums over in Bangkok, so it's pretty big.
“He's number one in Victoria and number nine in Australia at the moment, so it's going to be a big step up.
“It's my first five-round fight and it's going to be (about) his 20th, so it's going to be a good fight.”
Matthews had his own stint in Thailand in the second half of last year, winning a fight before returning home for his most recent contest at the last Rebellion event in November.
Potentially fighting for five rounds adds a new element to the fight for Matthews, who has won all six of his previous fights by decision, a result that requires the fight to go the distance.
Despite his inexperience at the longer format, Matthews says he won’t be looking to cut corners to end things quickly.
“I'm not looking for the knockout,” he said,
“If it comes, it comes, but I'm not going to be overextending for it.
“I'm just going to play my game and play my cards right.”
Meanwhile, having turned 18, the minimum age to fight professionally, McMaster will be making her debut, fighting a familiar opponent from the amateurs, Alisha Khaddour, at 48kg.
“I'm pretty excited to fight her again,” McMaster said.
“We've gone through all of our old fights and picked up on her tells and everything, what she likes to do.”
McMaster and Khaddour faced off twice in amateur contests, where competitors are required to wear protective gear, McMaster prevailing in the first fight before Khaddour got her back in the second meeting.
The local prospect was hand-selected by Wickhams trainers for a 2.5 week Thailand trip where she gained experience in the birthplace of the sport, including taking on an unpadded fight.
“It was so good,” McMaster said of the trip.
“It was so different training in the village and fighting over there was amazing.”
McMaster started her fighting journey at about the age of 12 and was soon after considering the possibility of fighting professionally, taking more serious steps over the past few years.
Like the rest of Wickhams professionals, she trains six times a week guided by the centre’s Muay Thai trainer and champion in his own right Kiw Eikkasit.
“There would be no journey with us without Kiw and (team manager) Tracey, they've really done a lot for me and for us as a team,’’ she said.
“(Kiw’s) got such a wealth of knowledge and he's so committed to the team and just wants to see us perform our best.”
Rebellion 33/Roots 28 will be held at Q Room in Thomastown and can be streamed on pay-per-view at livecombatsports.com.au with the undercard scheduled to kick off from 5pm.
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