Fighting Words: Whittaker on hand as cage returns to WA

Liam CroyThe West Australian
VideoWho will prevail in WA's first cage event since 2013? Video: Facebook / Hex Fight Series

Australia's first UFC champion Robert Whittaker will fly to Perth this weekend to officially open WA's first MMA event in the cage in more than four years.

The McGowan Government honoured an election promise this year when it lifted the ban on the "cage" or Octagon which was brought in under former Premier Colin Barnett in 2013.

Melbourne-based Hex Fight Series jumped at the chance to welcome the cage back to WA - as it did in Victoria after a similar ban ended in 2015.

Whittaker had his knee in a brace in the wake of his come-from-behind victory over Yoel Romero at UFC 213 in Las Vegas this month.

The UFC interim middleweight champion will cut a ribbon and take the first steps into the cage in front of a packed house at Hex FS 10 at Metro City.

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The Sydney fighter has competed in Perth twice in his career, winning his first MMA fight in 2009 and his first domestic title three years later.

Camera IconRobert Whittaker celebrates after his victory over Yoel Romero earlier this month. Credit: Getty Images

He told Fighting Words last week he would love to challenge Michael Bisping for the undisputed UFC middleweight championship at Perth Arena early next year.

Hex FS 10 will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and headlined by a welterweight title clash between Australia's Kitt Campbell (7-2) and New Zealand's John Vake (11-3).

They were booked to fight in June but the Australian pulled out with a foot injury.

Campbell, just 23 years old, is coming off a first-round knockout win over promising Perth welterweight Aldin Bates (5-1) in March.

He's a well-rounded fighter who has four knockout wins on his record despite a background in judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling.

Vake, 26, is coming off a three-fight win streak in China.

Hex FS chief executive Trent James said both men were on the UFC's radar.

"It's a huge match-up," Mr James said.

"John Vake is 11-3. He's a super dangerous fighter in all areas of MMA. From what I've been told he's on the brink of the UFC.

"I know the UFC are watching both of these fighters."

In the co-main event Kiwi Brandon Ropati (8-2) will be desperate for a win over Finnish fighter Glenn Sparv (14-4).

Ropati took an 18-month break from MMA then returned in March with a disappointing loss to South Australian Shane Mitchell (9-3).

The 28-year-old earned a decision victory over UFC middleweight Sam Alvey in 2012.

Sparv will be riding high after his win over Japanese Pride and UFC veteran Yuki Sasaki (25-22) at Australian Fighting Championships 18 in April.

Sasaki has gone the distance with the likes of Rodrigo Gracie, Ricardo Almeida, Dean Lister and Kazuhiro Nakamura.

Sparv, 28, stopped him with strikes in the the opening round.

The Fin has the form but Ropati is a physically imposing opponent with one-strike knockout power.

Perth featherweight Daniel Jones (3-0) is taking a big step up in competition in his clash with Victorian Jordan Cameron (8-1-1).

Cameron was narrowly beaten by Joshua Culibao (5-0) in a featherweight title fight at Hex FS 8 in March.

He has a significant experience advantage over Jones, 26, who is fighting on the same card as his brother, Luke (2-1).

Perth's Aldin Bates will be looking to bounce from defeat when he meets South Australian Luke Howard (4-1) in another match-up of top local prospects.

Bates took a gamble when he fought Kitt Campbell less than a month after a gruelling encounter with Nick Wood in Perth.

The quick turnaround was a risk which didn't pay off, with Campbell handing the Mach 1 product his first loss.

Bates is no slouch on the mat but the British export's strength lies in his striking and athleticism.

In contrast, Howard is a judo specialist who's been working on his Muay Thai at Bali MMA.

His last outing in March was a split decision win over Damien Fraser, who Bates stopped in the first round last year.

Bates met Howard years ago when they trained at the same gym in Adelaide.

He said the powerfully built judoka must have lost a lot of mass to make welterweight.

His physical strength, particularly from top position, was something to watch out for.

"When I met him about four years ago I reckon he would have been pushing triples figures," Bates said.

"He had some massive legs, massive quads. To get to 77kg, he's cut down a lot.

"That's the one thing that I take from that. He should be strong.

"You'd imagine he's going to be trying to grab hold of me and get it to the ground.

"He said he's happy to keep it standing but we'll see."

Howard demands his full attention for now, but Bates admits his last loss still eats at him.

A win on Saturday night will take him one step closer to redemption.

"I want a rematch with Kitt Campbell and I want that Hex title," he said.

Also at Hex FS 10, Suman Mokhtarian (6-0) is back in action after his historic teepee triangle submission win at Hex FS 9.

Mokhtarian, the brother of UFC flyweight Ashkan Mokhtarian (13-2), is booked to fight Malaysian Sam Chan (5-2).

Both featherweights have four submission victories on their record.

Hex Fight Series 10 - Saturday, July 29 at Metro City, Perth

Kitt Campbell vs John Vake - Hex FS welterweight title

Glenn Sparv vs Brandon Roparti

Jordan Cameron vs Daniel Jones

Aldin Bates vs Luke Howard

Luke Jones vs Rocky Lee

Stephen Erceg vs Richard Lockett

Ryan Robertson vs Allen Chong

Nicko Flessas vs Anthony Cowley

Kim Piper vs Edilah Johany

Phil Warwicker vs Sefita Funaki

Suman Mokhtarian vs Sam Chan

Dean Abramo vs Luke Armstrong

Matt Jarvis vs Luke McKenzie (amateur bout)

Dane Platyes vs Tyrown Waigana (amateur bout)

James Wong vs Pio Sofa (amateur bout)

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