Geraldton’s Declan Rhodes and Kyle Dobney put Perth fighters on notice after strong performances

As the MMA scene grows in Geraldton, Valhalla fighters Declan Rhodes and Kyle Dobney put their gym on the map during the DMMA 8 fight night in Perth on the weekend.

The Valhalla MMA gym opened just last year but has already produced two fighters who have put up solid performances against seasoned veterans of the sport.

Gym owner and trainer Waylon Prater said the pair put on a show despite both coming away with losses.

“It was Declan Rhodes second fight and I think Kyle’s had about six now, but it was both their second MMA,” he said.

“Declan went the distance and got fight of the night against a top gym in Perth.

“Kyle was just spectacular…from where they’ve come from boxing to see him now is just unbelievable.”

In his second fight, Rhodes went the distance against Fin Johnson from one of the top gyms in Perth, Scrappy MMA.

Although he lost by decision, their bout was named fight of the night with the pair putting on a show for the Perth crowd.

Rhodes could not stick around to accept his fight honours, having to go to hospital for a gash to his face suffered in the final round.

“It’s not something I want to be doing too much, going to the hospital after a fight but in saying that it’s a combat sport,” Prater said.

“Right at the very end he got tagged and that’s when it happened, but it was lucky there was no fracture, just an open wound, it looked worse than what it was.”

Dobney was up against another member from Scrappy MMA in Jett Waller, with the Geraldton local going the full fight but losing via judges’ decision.

Prater said it was a credit to both fighters for going the distance with far less experience than their metro competition.

“These guys have only done 18 months training, that’s how long the gyms been open, and these guys in Perth have been doing it for years,” he said.

“They have heaps more sparring partners, got more experience and these guys just shined.

“There was no taking a backward step, the guys were so tough, they are just relentless and didn’t give up.”

Following the fight, the Mid West pair earnt the respect of the Perth competition after coming out of the young gym.

“What bugged me the most is when we went there, we were almost shunned like we weren’t good enough to be there,” Prater said.

“Then after the fight show they were ringing us, it was incredible.”

Prater plans to bring a full promotion fight night to Geraldton later this year.

“We’re looking at holding a show here, full rules MMA cage fight night on October 12,” he said.