EFC 36 Fight Review

The last fight night of 2014 saw a packed house at the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg for EFC 36. MMA fans were treated to a 12 bout fight card with some epic fights. Here’s our review from each fight.

Fight 1 – Lightweight: Alain Ilunga vs Conrad Seabi

Summary: Ilunga went in and got the takedown, got into control and tried to submit Seabi with and Armbar but Seabi got out. In round Seabi went in with the punches but Ilunga took the fight to the ground got a Triangle choke in and forced Seabi to tap out.
Winner: Alain Ilunga
By way of: Triangle Choke
Time: 2:08 into round 2

Fight 2 – Welterweight: Pietie Coxen vs Cameron Pritchard

Summary: Pritchard came into his debut fight confident and it paid off. On the ground Pritchard got into top position and controlled, getting a D’arce Choke in seeing Coxen tap out.
Winner: Cameron Pritchard
By way of: D’arce Choke
Time: 3:46 into round 1

Fight 3 – Featherweight: Koba Iokobidze vs Kanyeba Anicet

Summary: After a quick trade the fight wint into the clinch and then to the ground. Iokobidze quickly got Anicet’s back and got in the Rear Naked Choke, Anicet tapped out.
Winner: Koba Iokobidze
By way of: Rear Naked Choke
Time: 1:44 into round 1

Fight 4 – Featherweight: Mthobisi Buthelezi vs Tshilomba Mulumba

Summary: A close fight that went the distance. Mulumba went in hard in opening stages of the fight landing strikes but tired himself out by midway through round 2. Buthelezi engaged for the rest of the fight landing strikes and getting takedowns. Mulumba fought back until the end. The fight went to the judges.
Winner: Mthobisi Buthelezi
By way of: Split decision

Fight 5 – Catchweight: Cameron Meintjes vs Charl Hurter

Summary: Hurter went in hard with the strikes but Meintjes managed to avoid and took the fight to the ground. Meintjes got into full mount and landed Ground and Pound but Hurter turned it at the end of the round. Round 2 played out the same but this time Meintjes took Hurter’s back and got the Rear Naked Choke in forcing Hurter to tap out.
Winner: Cameron Meintjes
By way of: Rear Naked Choke
Time: 3:07 into round 2

Fight 6 – Heavyweight: Sors Grobbelaar vs Michael Vermeulen

Summary: A hug trade right off the bat. A short time out was called due to a low blow to Grobbelaar. Vermeulen then went in hard and fast with heavy strikes dropping Grobbelaar to one knee. The ref called the fight.
Winner: Vermeulen
By way of: TKO
Time: 1:09 into round 1

Fight 7 – Middleweight: Gareth Sawyer vs Warren Allison

Summary: Allison went straight in for the takedown and got it. For the rest of round 1 Allison dominated on the ground from the top position. Sawyer defended well. In round 2 Allison surprised everyone when he came out and KO’d Sawyer.
Winner: Warren Allison
By way of: Knock Out
Time: 0:25 into round 2

Fight 8 – Bantamweight: Oumpie Sebeko vs Marino Cutendana

Summary: Cutendana engaged and went into the clinch before taking the fight to the ground. Cutendana tried with and Armbar seeing Sebeko turning to get out giving Cutendana the opportunity to lock in the Triangle Choke. Sebeko tapped out.
Winner: Marino Cutendana
By way of: Triangle Choke
Time: 2:25 into round 1

Fight 9 – Flyweight: Nkazimulo Zulu vs Francois Groenewald

Summary: Gronewald wanted the fight on the ground while Zulu wanted it standing. Standing they both traded well with Zulu landing more damaging strikes. In round 1 on the ground Groenewald tried with two Rear Naked Chokes but Zulu got out of both. In round 2 and 3 Zulu got the takedowns, avoided Groenewald’s submission attempts and landed knife like elbows leaving Groenewald a bloody mess. The fight went to the judges.
Winner: Nkazimulo Zulu
By way of: Unanimous decision

Fight 10 – Lightweight: Igue Kabesa vs Barend Nienaber

Summary: A long and tentative fight with both fighters landing kicks and punched now and then. Nienaber went in with great combos but for some reason stopped advancing when Kabesa was on the back foot. Kebesa got the takedowns. The fight went to the judges.
Winner: Igue Kabesa
By way of: Unanimous decision

Fight 11 – Welterweight: Dino Bagattin vs Gordon Roodman

Summary: Round 1 saw a great standup trade from both fighters and was set to be the fight that the anticipation had built up. In round 2, as they touched gloves, Bagattin tagged Roodman, Roodman fought back but slipped to the ground. Bagattin took advantage of this and went in landing destructive elbows hurting Roodman. The ref called the fight.
Winner: Dino Bagattin
By way of: TKO
Time: 1:06 into round 2

Fight 12 – Featherweight Title Fight: Boyd Allen vs Wade Groth

Summary: An exchange of kick and punched took place before Allen landed and bit right sending Groth stumbling. Groth then recovered in the clinch and the fight went to ground with Allen in top position. Allen quickly took Groth’s back and got the Rear Naked Choke. Groth tapped out. Boyd Allen remains the undefeated EFC Featherweight Champion.
Winner: Boyd Allen
By way of: Rear Naked Choke
Time: 2:21 into round 1