Duke Didier keeps his promise at Capital Fight Show

It was a pre-fight promise the 7-1 mixed martial artist kept as he submitted Jeff King in the first round at Capital Fight Show 17 at the Hellenic Club of Canberra on Friday.

Now Didier has set his sights on getting back in the cage twice more before the year is out in a bid to bury the demons of a near two-year layoff.

The light heavyweight looms as a chance to fight on domestic show in Melbourne next month - just as the eyes of the fighting world are locked on the city for UFC 243.

Then Didier will return to Canberra with Capital Fight Show promoter Nick Boutzos spreading his wings further into the MMA landscape in November.

"They're going to whack a cage in the Hellenic Club and I am keen as. I'd love to headline a bunch of local MMA guys," Didier said.

MORE BOXING/MMA NEWS

"I think the public want to see more MMA, we're starved of it in Canberra.

"We've got a fair bit of talent here so it's good we're finally going to get the platform I feel like we all deserve.

"If we can keep getting turnouts like that, I can't see any reason why the fight scene doesn't get bigger in Canberra.

"Everyone looks keen to come out and support the shows, so hopefully we can get more frequent and bigger shows.

"To go from pretty much inactive for two years coming off a loss, I think I can make some pretty big leaps and strides to where I want to be come 2020.

"I haven't come this far not to see it all the way through. I've still got plenty of years left fighting in me.

"I feel like if I can throw together some good performances, then there will definitely be an opportunity overseas for me.

"I like trying to reach the pinnacle of every sport I do, so hopefully I can reach the pinnacle of MMA."

Didier's return to action sent the 1200-strong crowd into raptures and was just one highlight of a show rounded out by a thrilling main event between two boxers with a point to prove.

Alas, Canberra's Ben Dencio (7-3) fell agonisingly short in his bid to claim the ANBF Australasian super featherweight title in a split decision loss to Fijian Sachin Mudaliar (8-1).

The judges' scorecards read 75-74, 75-74, 74-75 for Mudaliar to hand Dencio a second straight loss, after he fell short in his bid to claim the ANBF Australian strap earlier this year.

Dencio was the only hometown hopeful to go down on the eight bout card, leaving him with a massive point to prove come next year with televised boxing slated to make its way into the capital.

The result of the main event suggests Sachin Mudaliar had a far better trip home to Fiji than his namesake Krishna Mudaliar.

Because the latter ran into emerging super welterweight Alex Cooper in his professional debut - and what followed was enough to suggest the hype is real.

Cooper was dominant from the outset in his first round knockout victory over Mudaliar (6-8-2) on the first step of a journey he hopes will lead to a world title shot.

But the knockout of the night? That belongs to Cameroonian heavyweight Arsene Fosso (2-0), who floored Petero Qica (6-2) inside the opening minute to continue his unbeaten run.

Awaiting him may well be a bout with Queensland-based heavyweight Joseph Goodall.

AT A GLANCE

Capital Fight Show 17:

Boxing card -

ANBF Australasian super featherweight championship - Sachin Mudaliar (8-1) bt Ben Dencio (7-3) via split decision (75-74, 75-74, 74-75)

Middleweight - Beau Hartas (6-1) bt Mark Gadaleta (4-7-2) by TKO (R1)

Heavyweight - Arsene Fosso (2-0) bt Petero Qica (6-2) via KO (R1)

Super welterweight - Alex Cooper (1-0) bt Krishna Mudaliar (6-8-2) via KO (R1)

Super welterweight - Abe Archibald (3-0-1) bt Dillon Bargero (5-9) via SD (38-37, 38-37, 36-38)

Super welterweight - Jorge Kapeen (1-0) bt John McLaughlin (1-1-1) via SD (39-37, 39-37, 36-39)

Super featherweight - Dylan Hadley (1-0) bt William Mel (1-2-1) via SD (40-36, 40-36, 40-36)

MMA card -

100 kilogram catchweight - Duke Didier (7-1) bt Jeff King via submission (R1)