In February, Brian Ebersole, an Australian fighter, made a striking debut in the UFC.
Ebersole seized the last-minute opportunity to step in for the injured Carlos Condit at UFC 127 in Sydney.
His surprising win over UFC veteran Chris “Lights Out” Lytle, decided by unanimous decision, turned heads and earned him a Fight of the Night bonus.
However, it was his entertaining and unorthodox fighting style that captured the most attention. With flying knees, cartwheel kicks, and his unique “hairrow” (an arrow shaped into his chest hair pointing towards his chin), he left fans eager for more.
As a result, Ebersole was called back to fight Dennis Hallman at UFC 133 on August 7, and he has been recently recognized as one of the UFC’s top newcomers.
Despite having 63 professional fights on his record, Ebersole is anything but inexperienced.
After spending years in the tough American Midwest “meat grinder” circuit, a contract offer from the International Fight League (IFL) was within reach for him, but that chance evaporated when his theatrical antics led to a suspension by the California State Athletic Commission in 2006.
Subsequently, Ebersole moved to Australia to coach as well as compete in the XFC.
This provided him with the chance to truly concentrate on fighting, and he claims to have discovered great Australian talent during his coaching.
“Some of the most talented kids aren’t fighting,” he shared with foxsports.com.au
“They’re training in the gym, improving their skills.
“These guys are not just fighting for the sake of it, like I used to do.
“I aimed to give them focus, which also helped me reflect on my own past.”
Ebersole elaborated that this reflection meant realizing he hadn’t fully utilized the opportunities he had, which explains his eagerness to accept the fight against Lytle and secure another chance in the UFC.
He promises fans an equally energetic performance in his upcoming fight against Hallman in Philadelphia.
The 30-year-old welterweight plans to maintain the drama and his chest hair.
Beyond the entertainment factor, Ebersole intends to keep the action flowing, recognizing that Hallman comes with a wrestling background and is recognized as a grappler.
“I’ll try to annoy him as much as possible,” he said.
However, Hallman, at 35, is also seasoned.
Together, they possess an impressive 97 professional victories, and Ebersole acknowledges the challenge of catching the veteran off balance.
“I don’t think I’ll surprise him, but I aim to make him work harder than he wants to,” he states.
“My goal is to wear him down and show that he’s an aging fighter.”
While Ebersole has had more preparation time for this fight compared to his rushed UFC debut, it also means Hallman has had the chance to study Ebersole’s unpredictably distinctive style.
“You watch him on tape, and it’s astounding what he gets away with in his fights,” Hallman commented to HD.net’s Inside MMA.
“Cartwheel kicks, spinning back knuckles, flying knees, completely unorthodox.
“He approaches your power hand and does everything differently than any other fighter.”
That said, Ebersole is not planning to evade the close-range exchanges. His bold approach is supported by his infamous iron jaw.
Ebersole has never faced a knockout, and he intends to risk that record to entice Hallman into the fight.
“I always lead with my head; that’s my strategy,” he stated.
Since moving to Australia, he has been given a new nickname, “Bad Boy,” by his XFC peers. The country has also made a significant impact on the American transplant.
“I’ve lived here long enough to have an Aussie girlfriend,” he mentioned.
“I feel like an adopted Aussie.”
Moreover, Australians will have an opportunity to leave a physical mark on their new compatriot.
Ebersole has committed to replacing his signature “hairrow” with a design chosen through a web competition…the design will be unveiled on the day of the Hallman fight.
Ebersole has no idea what to expect but is confident that “it will be embarrassing.”
by Buford Balony