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Pride and pain: Inside WA’s last MMA ring fight

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Liam CroyThe West Australian
VideoWe followed professional MMA fighter Michael Addison on his gruelling journey to the Australian bantamweight title fight against Mitch Martin.

Soaring highs and crushing lows - in sport, they often come in pairs.

In mixed martial arts the connection between the two is particularly raw, at times brutal.

Perth's Mitch Martin won his first domestic MMA title on a triumphant Saturday night two months ago at the WA Italian Club.

The end came early in the second round, a technical knockout which earned him the vacant Eternal MMA bantamweight championship.

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Martin's supporters erupted when the referee stepped in to save his opponent from more damage.

As his coaches from The MMA Clinic lifted him into the air, the bumps and scratches didn't bother him.

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For him, it was an unforgettable moment and a leap forward in his budding MMA journey.

But he couldn't have done it without the man sitting in the corner of the ring, his head bowed, an embodiment of defeat.

That man was Michael Addison, a name well known in the Australian motocross community.

Addison transitioned to MMA after a successful professional motocross career which included seven state titles.

Mitch Martin celebrates his win over Michael Addison.
Camera IconMitch Martin celebrates his win over Michael Addison. Credit: Kim Johnson / Hitman Photography

He compiled an amateur MMA record of 5-2 then won his first two fights as a professional.

His early success put him in the right place at the right time for a title shot.

Addison's motocross experience meant he was more accustomed than most to putting his body on the line and dealing with adrenaline.

But all that risk-taking had taken a toll.

He'd been concussed so many times in motocross that he sometimes struggled with blurred vision after a heavy hit in MMA.

He knew it was a problem he couldn't ignore forever.

The birth of his first child last year brought those concerns into sharper focus.

But the offer of a title shot was too good to turn down.

Eternal MMA's previous two bantamweight champions were poached by two of the world's biggest organisations - One FC and the UFC.

Addison returned to his gym, Evolution MMA in Wangara, and trained as if it was his last fight.

If he won, he would reassess and probably try to defend his belt.

If he lost to Martin, a former training partner, it could be the end of his MMA dream.

Watch the video above and read the recap of Eternal MMA 25

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