Thrive MMA owner and head coach Paul Traish along with Damien Dutheil and Jason Stuart headed to Cowra for battle in Adrenaline Rush 5 MMA cage fighting promotion.

Dutheil was the first fight of the night in the lightweight division and also his debut fight against Hussein Wasette from a very strong gym Australian Top Team Sydney.

The fight was a war with both fighters landing heavy shots, executing take downs and attempting submissions.

This fight went all three rounds in a very close contest, however Dultheil showed his dominance throughout with his excellent grappling skills and sheer determination to take the win by a split decision.

Jason Stuart has been training the house down and was determined to get his hand raised in the octogon for the first time.

Stuart has shown he has what it takes to survive in this brutal sport having competed several times in BJJ and MMA.

At the young age of 43 Stuart was the oldest competitor on the event.

His opponent Donald Nairne, who was half his age and fighting out of Brotherhood MMA in Newcastle, was also chasing his first victory.

Both fighters came out guns blazing in an exciting stand up battle.

Nairne was the first to land a big shot that had Stuart a little dazed.

Nairne took advantage and quickly landed consecutive shots earning him a TKO victory.

The small but vocal crowd were entertained with more quality fights, with the best in the west on display against some of Australia’s toughest fighters.

Plenty of Lithgow locals came out to support including Thrive MMA sponsors Andrew Slattery and Jeramy and Michelle McGrath.

Traish thanks all their sponsors the Grand Central Hotel, Health and Fitness Supplies Australia, J and M Pets, Slattery’s Outdoor Power Centre, Sportspower, Lithgow Freerange Meat, Joe Inzitari Electrical, Tripple C Consulting and BRD Automotive for their continued support.

Traish was matched against Peter Cross fighting out of Storm MMA Canberra who has been fighting professionally since 2011 and this being his fifth title bout.

This fight was for the MASA featherweight 65.8kg NSW title and was scheduled for five rounds.

In Traish’s corner was Keith Gordon, the Thrive MMA assistant coach, and Traish’s father Chris, head coach at BMMAC Leura.

In the first round both fighter exchanged blows with Cross throwing several head kicks and Traish landing a solid leg kick before clinching.

Traish executed a double leg take down as Cross came in with some heavy hands.

Traish was doing a good job controlling the fight on the ground utilising his ground and pound.

Cross fought his way out from underneath and unleashed some heavy strikes before traish managed to lock up a triangle choke.

Cross did well to escape the submission late in the round and quickly taking Traish’s back and sinking a sleeper choke with 10 seconds remaining.

Traish managed to defend the choke long enough to take the fight into the second round.

Cross came out with some heavy hands as expected and Traish went straight into a clinch landing a good knee strike in the process.

Cross then managed a take down off the fence putting Traish on his back.

Traish was quick to attempt another triangle choke, but again Cross began to escape and traish quickly transitioned to an armbar and finished the fight by submission late in the second round and being declared the new champion.

Thrive MMA now holds two of the MASA NSW titles as Blake Sheppeard holds the welterweight 77.1kg division title.

Sheppeard had his debut fight early in 2014 and tore his way through the welterweight division winning three consecutive fights before been offered the title shot in November last year.

In what has hailed as the best fight ever in the Adrenaline Rush promotion Sheppeard won the title via a unanimous decision.