EFC 40 Fight Review

After some disappointments at the last EFC, EFC 40 came back swinging with a fight card that has MMA fans excited throughout fight night. Here’s our review of what went down at Carnival City on Saturday night (6 June).

Fight 1 – Lightweight: Robert Simbowe vs Stephan Pretorius

Summary: Pretorius came into the fight and controlled it by getting the takedown and getting into top mount. Pretorius got Simbowe’s back on two occasions trying with the Rear Naked Choke but with no luck. In the closing stages of Round 1 Simbowe got the Heel Hook in and forced Pretorius to tap out.
Winner: Robert Simbowe
By way of: Heel Hook
Time: 4:52 into Round 1

Fight 2 – Welterweight: Gorilla Okosso vs Pietie Coxen

Summary: After taking some strikes by Coxen, Okasso took the fight to the ground and landed some heavy hits. In Round 2 Coxen came out swinging and landed nonstop heavy hits to Okosso seeing the ref call the fight.
Winner: Pietie Coxen
By way of: TKO
Time: 1:26 into Round 2

Fight 3 – Bantamweight: Bill Thusi vs Jasen van der Merwe

Summary: Van der Merwe went in for the takedown early and started working from there, Thusi defended well from the bottom. Van der Merwe tried with the Armbar at the end of Round 1 but Thusi got out.
In Round 2 Van der Merwe got the takedown again, got into full mount landing Ground and Pound intill the ref called it.
Winner: Jasen van der Merwe
By way of: TKO
Time: 3:46 into Round 2

Fight 4 – Featherweight: Anthony Mailer vs Anicet Kanyeba

Summary: Round 1 saw Kanyeba take the fight to the ground. Mailer tried with an Armbar but Kanyeba body slammed out of it.
In Round 2 Kanyeba landed strik after strike hurting Mailer and resulted in Mailer throwing in the towel.
Winner: Anicet Kanyeba
By way of: Verbal Submission
Time: 4:10 into Round 2

Fight 5 – Heavyweight: Wilhelm Strauss vs Steve Nwosu

Summary: Strauss caught Nwoso with a right early into the fight sending him to the ground. Nwoso recovered quickly and worked the fight on the ground before it went back to standing. Nwoso landed heavy blows but Strauss stood through them and retaliated with his own strikes.
Round 2 saw the slugfest continue but Strauss punished Nwosu seeing him collapse and the ref calling the fight.
Winner: Wilhelm Strauss
By way of: TKO
Time: 4:39 into Round 2

Fight 6 – Bantamweight: Nelson Feiteira vs Marino Cutendana

Summary: A 3 round battle that featured an awesome display of stand up, ground and clinch warfare from both fighters. It could have gone either way.
Winner: Marino Cutendana
By way of: Split decision

Fight 7 – Heavyweight: Elvis Moyo vs Tomasz Kowalkowski

Summary: This fight was done and dusted in just a few seconds when Polish fighter Kowalkowski came out with a Flying Knee landing on point and sending Moyo to the ground. Kowalkowski followed up with a few strikes until the ref called it.
Winner: Tomasz Kowalkowski
By way of: TKO
Time: 37 seconds into Round 1

Fight 8 – Featherweight: Daniel Henry vs Hanru Botha

Summary: As expected Botha shot for the takedown early but Henry fought it off, turned it and got a tight Triangle Choke in forcing Botha to tap out.
Winner: Daniel Henry
By way of: Triangle Choke
Time: 1:58 into Round 1

Fight 9 – Featherweight: Brendon Katz vs Wade Groth

Summary: Fight of the night. A 3 round battle that had the fans on the edge of their seats and screaming for more. This fight was a full out stand up brawl that saw both Groth and Katz enjoying the fight as much as the spectators. In Round 3 the fight went to the ground with both fighters maneuvering for position and turning it. In the end it went to the judges.
Winner: Wade Groth
By way of: Unanimous descion

Fight 10 – Lightweight: Igeu Kabesa vs Peter Queally

Summary: Another close fight that went the distance. Kabesa was on form and withstood whatever the Irishman, Queally brought to the fight.
Winner: Igeu Kabesa
By way of: Split Decision

Fight 11 – Heavyweight: Ruan Potts vs Cyril Asker

Summary: In the clinch Potts landed devastating knees hurting Asker and almost saw the ref call the fight. The fight went to the ground with Potts in top position and landing strikes. Asker took it into the clinch and back to the ground, this time in top position and landed bombs hurting Potts.
At the start of Round 2 Potts called it.
Winner: Cyril Asker
By way of: Verbal Submission
Time: Start of Round 2

Fight 12 – Welterweight: Dino Bagattin vs Dricus du Plessis

Summary: The fight everyone had been waiting for and it did not disappoint. Both fighters came out exchanging strike for strike. Du Plessis tagged Bagattin hurting him but Bagattin recovered quickly.
In Round 2 Du Plessis took it to the ground, Bagattin turned it but Du Plessis tuned it back. Standing and trading Du PLessis took the fight to the ground again. Bagattin tried with submission but Du PLessis took his back and got in a Rear Naked Choke. Baggatin tapped out.
Winner: Dricus du Plessis
By way of: Rear Naked Choke
Time: 3:33 into Round 2

Photos by Anton Geyser, Ruby Woolf / EFC Worldwide